While free agency in the National Football League (NFL) does not officially end until July 22, the first day of training camp, many of the marquee players available have already been snatched up.

However, with the exception of the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it has been the contending playoff teams that have been doing most of the snatching. This year’s free agency period has been all about the rich getting richer, as the league’s elite have seemingly entered an arms race with one another.

Leading the charge has been the Denver Broncos, who are looking to rebound from their humiliating Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Favoring free agency to the unknown entities of the draft, general manager John Elway is looking to capitalize on his team’s short championship window with Peyton Manning at the helm.

With the release of Champ Bailey and retirement of Chris Kuper, Denver freed up enough cap space to sign Pro Bowlers Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and DeMarcus Ware on the defensive side of the ball.

But last season’s AFC runners-up are not far behind, as the New England Patriots signed two of the best cover and press corners respectively. With the acquisitions of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, along with Brandon LaFell at wide receiver, New England has their eye on dethroning the Broncos and returning quarterback Tom Brady to Super Bowl glory.

While some top teams got stronger, though, others have fallen by the wayside during free agency.

In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs, last season’s Cinderella team, have been heavily depleted following their demoralizing playoff defeat to the Indianapolis Colts.

In addition to losing offensive linemen Brandon Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz, Kansas City also lost defensive end Tyson Jackson and the all-purpose Dexter McCluster.

In the NFC, the 12-4 Carolina Panthers grew weaker at their two most vulnerable positions: defensive back and wide receiver.

Carolina now faces the task of rebuilding their entire receiving corps following the departure of LaFell, Steve Smith and Ted Ginn. The Panthers are also banking on newly-acquired Antoine Cason and Roman Harper to soften the loss of Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell in the secondary.

While the recent and shocking release of star wide receiver DeSean Jackson from the Eagles has created some buzz, the free agency shelves have largely been cleaned out. Running back Knowshon Moreno has recently signed with the Dolphins, and former Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen has finally decided on the Chicago Bears.

Only declining veterans such as Asante Samuel, Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes remain on the market, as contenders and desperate teams alike will be looking to fill utility positions and remaining holes on their rosters.