The Patriots among teams with most cap space left in NFL

Back when Tom Brady signed his extension around the beginning of March, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told Peter King that the Patriots were going to "spend to the cap."

So far, the most expensive players they've signed have been Danny Amendola and Sebastian Vollmer. The biggest name they signed might be Aqib Talib. With the Brady extension in context, some Patriots fans are wondering, where's the big spending?

ProFootballTalk:

Leading the way are the Bengals, who despite numerous re-signings still have $28.9 million to spend. The Browns come in a close second, with $28.7 million.

The Bucs get the bronze for saving their gold, with $26.8 million. Also, the Jaguars have $26.6 million, and the Eagles have $26.3 million.

Others with eight figures include the Packers with $18.3 million, the Bills with $16.8 million, the Dolphins with $15.7 million, the Cardinals with $14.0 million, the supposedly spending-to-the-cap Patriots with $13.4 million, the supposedly cap-strapped Jets with $13.0 million, the Colts with $11.7 million, and the Titans with $10.7 million.

Now you obviously have to factor in money in reserve for draft picks, emergency signings and money to re-sign players next February.

Really, this should probably still leave the Patriots with somewhere around $5-$7 million left to spend. So, what's the hold up?

For one, the Patriots are in on Dwight Freeney and John Abraham. With Elvis Dumervil already signing with the Ravens and Osi Umenyiora expected to soon sign with Atlanta, prices for those two should start to become clearer. Though, Dwight Freeney is asking for $6 million a year which he probably won't receive.

Aside from that, the Patriots might have an offer sheet out to Steelers restricted free-agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The contract would have to be slightly front loaded in order to make it harder for Pittsburgh to match. The Pats don't need to sign Sanders to that offer sheet until about the week before the draft, thus the delay. It's also still in the realm of possibility that the team brings back Brandon Lloyd, Julian Edelman or both.

There's still plenty of talent out there in free agency. I have a hunch the Patriots might be waiting to see how things develop with the veteran DEs before moving forward with some other more minor signings. If the team loses out on Abraham or Freeney, they could bring Trevor Scott back (who wasn't that bad last season) for much less money and turn those resources to other needs.