For the 18 NFL groups that did not make the postseason, it is on to free company (begins March 13) and the NFL Draft (April 25-27 in Detroit).
Some groups have a number of big holes to fill within the draft — we’re taking a look at you, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals — whereas different groups solely want re-tooling.
As compiled by Yardbarker NFL writers, here is essentially the most urgent want for each NFC crew within the draft.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Most urgent want: offensive line | First-round choose: TBD | With Tyler Biadasz and Tyron Smith turning into free brokers, Dallas might have to switch two starters on its offensive line. Somebody like Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton might match the invoice and, in line with latest mock drafts, the 6-foot-7 tight end-turned-offensive deal with needs to be out there towards the tip of the primary spherical.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Most urgent want: A passing recreation | First-round choose: No. 6 | After averaging a dismal 15.6 factors per recreation this season, the Giants should do no matter they will to enhance their 31nd-ranked passing recreation (169.8 YPG). A quarterback reminiscent of Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye might do the trick, however a receiver like Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is a good Plan B if the crew can look forward to Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders in 2025.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Most urgent want: linebacker | First-round choose: TBD | In the case of positional spending, the Eagles are usually at or close to the underside of the league in terms of linebackers. The crew has turn out to be too reliant on waiver-wire gamers reminiscent of Shaquille Leonard, and it confirmed because the protection’s collapse towards lesser groups down the stretch.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Most urgent want: defensive finish | First-round choose: No. 2 | Washington traded two of its prime three pass-rushers in Montez Sweat and Chase Younger on the commerce deadline. Assuming the crew sticks with quarterback Sam Howell, the Commanders should do higher than the mixed six sacks they obtained from beginning ends Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Most urgent want: extensive receiver | First-round picks: No. 4 and No. 21 (from Houston) | The Cardinals’ solely extensive receiver with greater than 40 catches and 500 yards this season was pending free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. If we work on the belief that Kyler Murray is again because the beginning quarterback, he’s going to desperately want an impression extensive receiver to present him — and the Cardinals — an opportunity for fulfillment.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Most urgent want: cornerback | First-round choose: TBD | The Rams by no means adequately changed star cornerback Jalen Ramsey after buying and selling him to Miami, and Ahkello Witherspoon — one in all their co-leaders in interceptions — is a free agent after this season. The Rams have been twentieth towards the move this season (231.1 YPG), so discovering a younger, potential lockdown nook needs to be on the prime of the precedence listing.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Most urgent want: offensive deal with | First-round choose: TBD | The 49ers have one of the vital full rosters within the NFL however might use extra offensive line depth and suppleness, particularly at deal with. As nice as Trent Williams has been, he will probably be 36 subsequent season and has had damage issues lately.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Most urgent want: line of defense | First-round choose: No. 16 | The protection was a serious weak spot for the second yr in a row, and the line of defense is a large a part of these struggles. Seattle had the second-worst run protection (138.4 YPG) and has not generated a lot of a move rush from its inside linemen both. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Extra urgent want: offensive weapons | First-round picks: No. 1 (from Carolina) and No. 9 | Ought to the Bears persist with quarterback Justin Fields, grabbing him an elite weapon turns into paramount. Whether or not they hold the No. 1 choose or commerce down, deciding on Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. needs to be a no brainer, He would create an electrical playmaking combo within the Windy Metropolis alongside D.J. Moore.
DETROIT LIONS | Most urgent want: cornerback |
First-round choose: TBD | Including a proficient nook to a protection ranked twenty seventh (247.4 YPG) towards the move would assist. Iowa’s versatile defensive again Cooper DeJean matches the crew’s mould, and the technique of choosing Hawkeyes has labored out nice just lately for the franchise, yielding core items in linebacker Jack Campbell and tight finish Sam LaPorta.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Most urgent want: line of defense | First-round choose: TBD | The Packers have holes at cornerback and security, however they might use a disturbing power alongside the road to assist enhance the NFL’s Twenty eighth-ranked protection towards the run (128.3 YPG). With projected picks at No. 19 and No. 40 within the first two rounds of April’s draft, Inexperienced Bay might probably goal one of many higher run-stoppers, reminiscent of Byron Murphy (Texas) or Kris Jenkins (Michigan).
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Most urgent want: quarterback | First-round choose: No. 11 | The Vikings have not chosen a quarterback increased than the third spherical since 2014 (Teddy Bridgewater, No. 32), however the time is now. Barring a trade-up, they’re doubtless out of the working for Williams (Southern Cal), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Jayden Daniels (LSU), however Washington standout Michael Penix Jr. could be a pretty choice at No. 11, particularly if Kirk Cousins returns on a brief deal. — Mike Santa Barbara
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Most urgent want: quarterback | First-round choose: No. 8 | Head coach Arthur Smith’s firing doubtless additionally means the tip of Desmond Ridder’s run as beginning quarterback. Atlanta is able to shortly enhance on the place, presumably with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Extra urgent want: extensive receiver | First-round choose: None | Adam Thielen, who turns 34 earlier than the beginning of subsequent season, was quarterback Bryce Younger’s most constant goal in 2023. Carolina should get extra expertise on the perimeter — it might goal Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka or Texas’ Adonai Mitchell — to get an correct gauge of Younger’s NFL potential.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Most urgent want: line of defense | First-round choose: No. 14 | For the second consecutive season, the Saints completed within the backside third within the league in rush protection after ending within the prime 4 from 2018-2021. New Orleans additionally lacks a constant move rush from its entrance 4, ending thirty first within the league in ESPN’s pass-rush win-rate rankings and tied for twenty ninth in sacks (34), which makes Florida State edge-rusher Jared Verse and Illinois defensive deal with Jer’Zhan Newton prospects price contemplating.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Most urgent want: offensive line | First-round choose: TBD | As spectacular because the Bucs have been in profitable their third consecutive division crown, they’d be significantly higher with a working recreation. Tampa ranked thirty second in ESPN’s run-block win fee and averages 3.4 yards per rush try, the worst within the league. The Bucs’ draft place isn’t finalized, however they need to be within the vary to focus on a member of Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, Troy Fautanu. — Eric Smithling
