5 free-agent tandems that could take a team to the next level

Free agency is a tricky time of the NFL offseason.

Teams look to balance the temptation of adding as much talent as possible with managing their cap space and current team chemistry. Sometimes an overhaul can turn a unit around like the 2016 New York Giants or it can prove to just cause more problems like the 2016 Jacksonville Jaguars.

For teams trying to make major improvements to their team without adding too many new faces, here are five free-agent tandems that could solve some key problems:

Stephon Gilmore, Tony Jefferson

Come one, come all. Transform your secondary with two contracts.

Gilmore looks to be the best typical shutdown cornerback on the market this year, coming off his first Pro Bowl season. The former Bills first-round pick can match up with top receivers on the outside and has the range to play bump-and-run coverage with the big guys.

Assuming the Chiefs don't let Eric Berry test the market, Jefferson will be the best free-agent safety out there. He's only 25 years old and has the versatility to play either safety spots with physical aggressiveness. Pairing him with a satisfactory safety partner, a young athletic cornerback, and Gilmore could turn a Swiss cheese secondary into a stout, respectable unit.

Teams who should be interested: Steelers, Colts, Lions, Bears, Saints, Panthers, 49ers

LeGarrette Blount, Chance Warmack

For any team looking to toughen up and shed the reputation of having a finesse style, loading up in the power run game is the way to go.

With little big-name talent expected to be available at running back, milking a few more bruising years out of 30-year-old Blount isn't a bad option. The 250-pound runner's age shouldn't be as much of an issue as he wasn't used much until recently, coming off his best career year in 2016 with 1,161 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Warmack, a 25-year-old guard, could be a bargain signing as he spent most of 2016 on injured reserve with a hand injury. The 2013 10th overall pick's 323-pound frame let him maul through defensive linemen and linebackers. Adding Warmack and Blount to a pass-heavy offense could create a solid balance and provide the team with a new physical presence.

Teams who should be interested: Rams, Lions, Chargers, Colts, Packers, Cardinals, Giants

Dontari Poe, Melvin Ingram

If your secondary is set, but it's been proven that they can't cover all day, some playmakers need to be added up front.

The Chiefs would be somewhat crazy to let Poe get away, but with a higher priority on locking up Berry and little cap room to work with, the big nose tackle could be on the market. Poe's numbers don't wow, but his presence in the middle of a defense does. The 346-pounder is one of the best run stuffers in the league and requires at least two men to block him, which creates room for perimeter defenders to penetrate the backfield.

Ingram's career had a rough start due to injuries, but over the last two years, he's proven to be a bona fide edge rusher. The 27-year-old best fits as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but can play as a 4-3 end like he did in college if necessary. Pairing his exterior speed with Poe's interior push along with one of two more competent linemen should be a big help to any team who struggles to pressure the quarterback.

Teams who should be interested: Colts, Saints, Ravens, Patriots, Chargers, Cowboys

Alshon Jeffery, Andrew Whitworth

Bringing in a haul of new receivers to fix a passing game can cause problems as finding chemistry between a quarterback and multiple targets take time - but there is a combination to help move the ball through the air.

Jeffery is far and away the best free-agent option at receiver, but likely won't see full value on the market while he comes off a suspension and his worst year of production since being a rookie. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-3 former Pro Bowler can fill the void atop the depth chart.

At age 35, Whitworth is coming off his second straight Pro Bowl season. His time to win a ring is running low, but he's still playing at an elite level and has the ability to shut down top-notch pass-rushers. He can play multiple spots on the line and his veteran leadership should help out with chemistry among his fellow blockers. As the quarterback works to find his timing with Jeffery, Whitworth can help to ensure the pair has enough time to smooth out the kinks.

Teams who should be interested: Eagles, Bills, Rams, Panthers, Chiefs, Vikings, Cardinals, Packers

Jason Pierre-Paul, A.J. Bouye

Have a great offense and a poor defense that only needs to be good enough not to lose the game? Grab some help in the front and back.

Pierre-Paul proved that he can still push the pocket with just one fully functioning hand and can play from all along the defensive front in 2016. He'll cost a pretty penny, but the 28-year-old's talents don't come across the free-agent market often and some teams may bow out of the running in fear of his questionable health.

Bouye was called upon to play more than he's ever had to after a few injuries hit the Texans' secondary. However, that was a blessing in disguise for the 25-year-old. He proved to be able to hold his own on the outside and excel from the nickel and dime cornerback spots. Like Pierre Paul, the four-year pro is versatile enough to slide into whatever scheme or role a defense needs from him. The pair of 2016 standouts could work similarly to how Janoris Jenkins and Olivier Vernon helped transform Pierre-Paul's Giants last season.

Teams who should be interested: Saints, Packers, Titans, Panthers, Colts, Cowboys, Lions, Steelers

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)