The perfect NFL roster doesn’t exist. Every team, no matter if they’re the Super Bowl winner or the worst in the league, has an area they would like to upgrade. It’s simply the nature of the business. Of course, how glaring those needs are varies from team to team but they exist regardless.
The goal for all 32 franchises – either via free agency or through the draft process – is to upgrade those areas of weakness, turn them into strengths, or at the very least bolster them in the short term.
We’re going to take a crack at figuring out the most obvious need for each team. Some of them are going to be specific to particular positions, and some of them are going to be more player-centric, as you’ll discover pretty early on. Starting with the Cardinals, let’s get rocking.
Arizona Cardinals: Offensive line
A particularly obvious need for anyone that watched the Cardinals in 2022. Rodney Hudson can still be one of the better centers in the NFL, but he’s almost 34 years old and is coming off a season where he played in just four games. Betting on him long-term isn’t a wise choice.
Beyond him, there isn’t a lot of talent along the line. D.J. Humphries is a solid tackle, but even he is upgradeable. Starting with the interior of the line should be the Cardinals’ priority, something they can address in the draft or free agency.
Atlanta Falcons: Any sort of pass-rush
This has been a long-standing problem for the Falcons. They’ve had just 39 sacks over the last two seasons, fewer than 17 teams had in the 2022 regular season alone. The team hasn’t had more than 30 sacks in a season since 2018. Eugh.
Any semblance of a pass-rush threat would be pivotal in helping a Falcons defense that finished 29th in EPA per play in 2022. The team added Arnold Ebiketie in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft to help alleviate some of those needs, but expecting him to change the fortunes of the franchise in one year is tough. Targeting someone in the 1st round is a smart play for a team in need of something, anything, along the defensive line.
Baltimore Ravens: Keeping Lamar Jackson in the building
There might not be a bigger priority for any team this off-season. Keeping Lamar Jackson with the team is the goal for the Ravens. By hook or by crook, it must be done. Right now, the word on the street is that the Ravens will franchise tag him – but what happens from there is anyone’s guess.
A long-term deal is a must, though. When healthy, Jackson has proven to be one of the five or six best quarterbacks in the NFL – and he’s only 26. Even with a king’s ransom of draft picks sent their way in any potential deal, losing Jackson could set the Ravens back a few years. He’s a true franchise quarterback and one any team couldn’t afford to lose.
Buffalo Bills: Interior offensive line
The Bills’ loss to the Bengals in the playoffs shed light on their deficiencies. The roster is good. There’s no reason to doubt that, but there are a couple of needs. Protecting Josh Allen is a must for the Bills – their success is tied to him – but that didn’t happen during the postseason. Allen was constantly hounded and pressured and was sacked eight times in two games.
The two tackle positions are relatively safe with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, but the real problem stems from the interior, like with the Cardinals. It’s the quickest route to the quarterback. Upgrading from the inside out makes sense for the Bills.
Carolina Panthers: A long-term answer at quarterback
Now that the Panthers have Frank Reich, it’s time to address the quarterback position and finally get it right. That’s the main concern here. The Panthers have missed on addressing the position on their last two attempts. Sam Darnold showed some flashes upon returning from injury, but he can’t be trusted to be a long-term answer while Baker Mayfield lasted just 7 games before being jettisoned.
Reich has shown that he can help develop young quarterbacks and with the 9th overall pick in the draft, the Panthers have the chance to go out and draft a young stud like C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson. There’s also a plethora of bridge quarterbacks who could help them like Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo. Finding some sort of solution is needed though.
Chicago Bears: Help for Justin Fields
You could argue that the Bears should be targeting defense. You wouldn’t be wrong – they finished dead last in EPA per play and registered the fewest sacks in the NFL – but if the Bears truly believe that Justin Fields is the future of the franchise, they need to do everything in their power to get him the help he needs.
That starts with help at the receiver position. The Bears traded the 32nd overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Chase Claypool – a deal that may scar them – but that’s not enough. The depth at receiver is truly lacking with Darnell Mooney and Claypool the only real impact players. If the Bears trade down for the 1st overall pick, they could position themselves to land one of the top receivers in the draft this year. It’s sorely needed to keep Fields’ development on track.
Cincinnati Bengals: Retooling a productive defense
The Bengals have plenty of tough decisions to make this offseason, with the likes of Jessie Bates, Germaine Pratt, Eli Apple, and Von Bell all hitting free agency. Realistically, the Bengals can’t afford to keep all of them. Bates alone will command around $14 million on the open market.
If the Bengals can’t afford to keep all of their guys, they have to find ways to retool the defense while keeping its productivity. The core might take a dent, but having guys like D.J. Reader, Trey Hendrickson, Logan Wilson, and Chidobe Awuzie on the roster keeps them in good stead. Good teams find ways to stay relevant even while losing top talent. The Bengals have to prove they can do that with a shrewd off-season.
Cleveland Browns: Defensive line
The Browns’ defense fell well below expectations in 2022, and much of the problem lies with the defensive line. Sure, they have Myles Garrett, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, but the rest of the defensive line isn’t up to snuff. Addressing the defensive tackle position, and maybe the edge if they don’t re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, is a must.
The run defense was the worst in the NFL in EPA per play, allowing 135 yards per game at a 4.7 yards per run clip. For a team that has clear aspirations of making a Super Bowl soon, they can’t be like swiss cheese up the middle. Not having a wealth of high draft picks or a lot of cap space could come back to bite them.
Dallas Cowboys: An outside threat at receiver
The Cowboys’ offense is one of the better units in the league. Dak Prescott can be a top-10 quarterback, the offensive line is always impressive, and CeeDee Lamb is growing into a superstar with every passing game. But the Cowboys need more at receiver. They need a true outside threat who can stretch the field.
Michael Gallup has been inconsistent since returning from injury and hasn’t entirely found his feet yet, and the Cowboys were relying on T.Y. Hilton to stretch the field in the postseason. That’s not a viable strategy long-term, even if Hilton did impress. Someone to give the Cowboys a little more juice when everything starts to feel compact and condensed on offense would help this offense.
Denver Broncos: Offensive line
As much as some people will want the Broncos to move on from Russell Wilson, it’s just not feasible for a very long time. So instead, let’s address what’s around Wilson and try to put him in the best environment possible. The defense is already fantastic and there are a wealth of weapons around Russ, but he needs help up front on the offensive line.
The Broncos could be losing Dalton Risner, Billy Turner, and a host of backups from the unit in free agency. With just over $12 million in cap space and limited draft picks after trading for Wilson and head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos are going to have a tough task finding playable offensive linemen this off-season. Considering Wilson was sacked a league-high 55 times, that’s a worrying thought.
Detroit Lions: Defense, defense, defense!
The Detroit Lions were one of the stories of the NFL season. After starting the season 1-6 and in serious peril, Dan Campbell’s men rattled off 8 wins in 10 games to finish 9-8 and give the Lions their first winning season since 2017. It’s hard to say that the defense kept the Lions in it down the stretch. They certainly improved but still finished second to last in EPA per play, ahead of only the Bears.
Rookie Aidan Hutchinson proved to be a huge contributor on the defensive line, and the Lions have a few other interesting pieces like Jeff Okudah, who had a promising bounce-back year, and interior lineman Alim McNeil. But they need more. There’s a huge talent deficit on the Lions’ defense – something coaching can only do so much about. Any sort of star talent helps.
Green Bay Packers: Finding a trade partner for Aaron Rodgers
For the third or fourth off-season in a row, there’s quarterback drama in Green Bay. It ends now. The Packers have to decide if they stick with Rodgers for another year or if they find a trade partner, amicably part ways and move on to getting a good look at Jordan Love. Realistically, it’s probably time to move on from Rodgers.
He’s still a very, very good quarterback, but his play did decline from his back-to-back MVP seasons – which is unsurprising given how well he has been playing. But there just can’t be any distractions any longer in Green Bay. Moving on will hurt in more ways than one, but do it now, get some decent draft capital from the trade, and give Love a chance. Rodgers shouldn’t be short on suitors and it’s time to go in a different direction.
Houston Texans: Draft Bryce Young
The Houston Texans have a reason to be excited! The last few years have been anything but pleasant for the Texans, but after hiring DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach and adding Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator, things are looking up. The next step for the Texans is free agency and filling out their roster with NFL talent. But they also need to address the quarterback situation sooner or later.
The answer is right in front of them: Bryce Young. The Texans currently hold the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and the chance to draft Young is right in front of them. He’s the best quarterback in the class with a blend of natural arm talent, mobility, and accuracy. During his time in the NFL, Slowik has spent time around some of the best offensive minds in the game – Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, and Matt LaFleur – and is sure to have taken some wisdom from them. Pairing him with Young could be a match made in heaven.
Indianapolis Colts: Make the right decision at quarterback
The Colts have scoured the depths of the Earth in search of a franchise quarterback for long enough. They haven’t drafted a quarterback worthy of much fanfare since Andrew Luck in 2012 when they had the 1st overall pick. This time around, the Colts are picking at 4th overall. A quarterback has to be on the cards, and it has to be the right choice.
If they can afford to trade up to 1st overall and snag Bryce Young then that’s encouraged, but in this scenario, they can stick around until their pick and draft a quarterback. Will Levis’s physical traits and strong arm might be appealing, but the Colts should steer clear and instead look toward C.J. Stroud. He’s the better prospect. Plain and simple.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cornerback
The Jaguars made a huge impression in Doug Pederson’s first year as head coach and will look to make strides in their second season under his tutelage. The offense looks to have real potential, so we’ll concentrate on the defense and go for cornerback here.
Tyson Campell is young and slowly improving and Darious Williams is good, if undersized, but the Jaguars don’t have much depth outside of those two. And this is a unit that ranked 28th in passing yards allowed in 2022. An upgrade in free agency (Jamel Dean springs to mind) or a young cornerback in the draft are all options for this hungry Jaguars team.
Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive line
This could have easily been a wide receiver, but the Chiefs have proven that they don’t need to trade for a star receiver or pay them $30 million a year to get production. They could still certainly address the position through the draft, but it’s unlikely their biggest need. We’ll chop that one up to the defensive line.
Frank Clark is likely a cap casualty this off-season to give the Chiefs more financial flexibility, and Derrick Nnadi and Carlos Dunlap – two key contributors – plus Khalen Saunders are all free agents. That leaves the Chiefs a little light on the defensive line and in need of some upgrades. Look for them to potentially draft a defensive lineman in the 1st round or early in Day 2.
Las Vegas Raiders: Find a ready-to-go quarterback
The Las Vegas Raiders should waste no time in replacing Derek Carr after releasing him on Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a bridge starter, Aaron Rodgers, or a rookie who can step in from the word “go”, the Raiders need to address the situation. This roster, on offense, in particular, has star talent and isn’t in a position to go through a rebuild. The likes of Davante Adams, Darren Waller, and Chandler Jones aren’t players who would likely stick around for that.
A disappointing season in 2022 should be enough to put any talks of a rebuild on hold in Vegas, and instead, they should be targeting quarterbacks who can help them win now. Does that likely point toward Rodgers? Of course, but they won’t be the only team in the hunt for him.
Los Angeles Chargers: Juice on the outside
The Chargers had more pressing needs in 2022, but this is something they still should have addressed. They need speed and lots of it. Mike Williams is an excellent contested catch receiver and a downfield threat, but he’s not a burner. Neither is Keenan Allen. Nor is Joshua Palmer.
The criticism of Herbert and the Chargers’ offense is that they play too condensed – similar to the Cowboys. The addition of Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator hopefully means that the Chargers are about to mix things up. If they do, expect them to target a receiver like Jalin Hyatt in the draft. His speed could shake things up.
Los Angeles Rams: Offensive line
The stars and scrubs philosophy of the Rams backfired tremendously last season, as a lack of replacement-level talent reared its ugly head as the injuries piled up. Sure, losing your starting quarterback is a disaster for any team not named the San Francisco 49ers. But the Rams spiralled for a multitude of reasons.
Upgrading the offensive line should be the priority for the Rams. If Matt Stafford sticks around, and all signs point towards it, then the Rams have to keep him upright with some solid protection. They don’t have the cap space to effectively sort out their troubles in free agency, but having a 2nd round pick could feasibly help.
Miami Dolphins: Cornerback
We’re not subscribing to the idea that the Dolphins need to make a move at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa was great when healthy and was second among all quarterbacks in EPA per play in 2022. For now, the Dolphins are set at quarterback and, for the most part, along the entire offense. They could stand to upgrade an offensive line spot or two, but upgrading at cornerback seems to be the smart move.
Xavien Howard is still a great corner, but he’s almost 30 years old with his best days behind him. The other de facto starter, Byron Jones, is also on the wrong side of 30 and didn’t even play in 2022. Change is coming for the Dolphins and the chances that both are on the team in 2023 are slim. The Dolphins don’t have a 1st round pick and are heading into free agency with a cap deficit. They’ll need to swing some moves in-house before they’re able to improve their roster, but expect them to target improvements in the secondary.
Minnesota Vikings: Secondary
Likewise with the Minnesota Vikings. Their need to get good in the secondary isn’t just by virtue of an ageing roster, though. The Vikings’ pass defense was just atrocious in 2022, allowing the second-most passing yards in the NFL. They’ve already taken steps to overhaul the defense by firing defensive coordinator and hiring Brian Flores in his stead.
The front office drafted Andrew Booth in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft, and while he showed flashes, he was only able to play in six games. The rest of the secondary just isn’t chock-full of talent. Harrison Smith is 34 now, and 1st round rookie Lewis Cine also suffered a season-ending injury early on. The Vikings still have their own 1st round pick and should really use it on the secondary for the second year in a row.
New England Patriots: Wide receiver
The Patriots don’t have a lot of recent success with drafting or even signing wide receivers. It’s a blind spot for this front office. They just don’t seem willing to splash the cash at a position that is becoming one of the game’s most important – especially for teams who are weaker at quarterback. The Mac Jones experiment isn’t over yet, but it’s in dangerous waters. That’s why the Patriots need to target a receiver.
Jakobi Meyers, inarguably the Patriots’ best receiver, is about to hit the open market and likely get a better deal elsewhere. But even he is a slot-heavy receiver, and the Patriots need help on the outside to just give this offense a chance to do anything. Using the 14th overall pick on a Jordan Addison type player is a must.
New Orleans Saints: Bring in an experienced quarterback
Despite a 7-10 record in 2022, the Saints’ pathway to an NFC South crown is wide-open thanks to Tom Brady calling time on his career. The roster is still talented enough, even if the better players are aging. That’s why the Saints must cash in and target an experienced quarterback who can help lead them to the postseason.
Figuring out the cap space kinks will be tough, the Saints have the second-least amount of cap space in the NFL, but the front office always finds creative ways to manipulate the cap to open space. If they want any signal caller that isn’t on the roster right now, they’re going to have to do it once more.
New York Giants: Wide receiver
Plain and obvious. The Giants were the surprise team of 2022 with Brian Daboll taking a basement roster to the playoffs in his first season in charge. His presence had a real positive impact on Daniel Jones as the former 1st-rounder had the best year of his career. Now, it’s about re-signing Jones and putting him in an even better position to succeed.
How do they do that? Well, by adding star quality at receiver, of course. With most of the Giants receiving core hitting free agency, there’s an opportunity to upgrade at the position. Something that’s sorely needed. Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Richie James have all been willing contributors at one point or another – and re-signing Slayton would be a smart move – but the Giants should really target some excellent talent, whether it’s in the draft, via a trade or free agency. It’s a must.
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers
Things with Zach Wilson never really panned out and it’s paramount to the success of this team that they figure it out now rather than give Wilson one more year. This roster has too much talent on it to finish with another losing record. Like the Saints, the Jets should be targeting a quarterback with experience.
Aaron Rodgers is the answer. His time with the Packers is close to finished, and a fresh start for both sides is for the best. That means the Jets should pounce on Rodgers. He’ll absolutely be the best quarterback on the market and the prospect of going to a loaded roster that feels like they’re just a quarterback away from competing should be appealing. Despite being 39, Rodgers is still a top-10 quarterback in the NFL. The Jets would be Super Bowl contenders with Rodgers.
Philadelphia Eagles: Secondary
How do you improve one of the best rosters in the NFL? Well, the Eagles have some decisions to make this off-season. Javon Hargrave, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and James Bradberry are all free agents and key contributors to a team that made the Super Bowl and had a franchise-record 14 regular season wins.
The Eagles have depth on the defensive line so they could afford to let Hargrave walk if the price becomes too high, but the same couldn’t be said if they lost Bradberry and Gardner-Johnson. Even losing one of them, as well as safety Marcus Epps, could deal a big blow to a secondary that was the best in the NFL in EPA allowed per pass play in 2022. Finding a way to keep the bulk of that secondary, or pursuing replacements with one or both of their 1st round picks is something they’ll look into.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Offensive tackle
The Steelers offensive line was better in 2022 after a miserable 2021. Signing James Daniel and Mason Cole in free agency last year helped solidify the interior offensive line, but the issues at tackle still persist. Dan Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor don’t inspire confidence at both tackle spots and upgrading to protect Kenny Pickett – who was sacked 27 times in 12 starts.
Keeping Pickett upright, and aiding his development, is key. The Steelers already have a good quartet of skill players in Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth, so they’re set on that front. But they have the 17th overall pick in the draft, and if Broderick Jones, Paris Johnson Jr, or Peter Skoronski are available, the Steelers should snap them up and try to be active in free agency.
San Francisco 49ers: Figure out their long-term answer at quarterback
What a conundrum. The 49ers entered 2022 confident in their decision to give Trey Lance the keys to the franchise. Raw, but possessing buckets of talent, Lance looked set to lead the 49ers for the next decade until he suffered a broken ankle in Week 2. Jimmy Garoppolo stepped in and, well, you know the rest. It ended with the final pick in the 2022 draft, quarterback Brock Purdy, leading the 49ers to the brink of the Super Bowl before suffering an injury of his own in the NFC championship against the Eagles.
The speculation regarding who was going to start in the 2023 season before the Purdy injury was in overdrive. And while Lance is the likely starter heading into next season, what happens when Brock Purdy comes back? Does it depend on how Lance – a quarterback who has just 102 pass attempts in his pro career – plays up until then? Questions, questions, questions. The 49ers need to be ready to answer them.
Seattle Seahawks: Defensive line
Yes, the Seahawks need to re-sign Geno Smith to a long-term deal. The NFL’s newly-minted Comeback Player of the Year had a career year leading the Seahawks to the postseason, but it sounds like that contract is at the one-yard line, so we’ll go elsewhere and concentrate on the defense, particularly in the form of defensive lineman.
The Seahawks’ defense ranked 26th in EPA per play against the run and 30th in rushing yards allowed in 2022. Bolstering the defensive front in any way possible is a must and with the 5th overall pick in the draft, there’s an excellent chance the Seahawks could land one of the big defensive hitters in Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter. Acquiring either of them and making some moves in free agency (the Seahawks are blessed with $30 million in cap space) could really help this team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quarterback
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a good quarterback, are still contenders. But the window won’t be open for long. Some key cogs in the Bucs’ machine are ageing and don’t have much of their prime left. With a cap deficit of $55 million, no team has less cap to work with in 2023, so swinging for the fences and grabbing a quarterback is going to be hard work.
But not impossible. There are ways the Buccaneers can create cap space by converting base salaries into roster bonuses or by moving on from costly contributors. It’ll be tough though. If the Buccaneers are stuck, they could gamble on drafting a quarterback in the 1st round. It won’t be C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young, but they could take a chance on Anthony Richardson or Will Levis.
Tennessee Titans: Offensive line
It’s time for the Tennessee Titans to make a change. That change could be at quarterback, with Ryan Tannehill set to count for $36 million against the cap in 2023 and there’s a chance to save some cash if they cut him post-June 1st. But Tannehill can still play at a high level, so keeping him and upgrading the offensive line is a viable strategy.
Starting guard Nate Davis is set to hit free agency, and Taylor Lewan is a likely cap casualty, meaning the Titans likely have to upgrade an offensive line that already struggled in 2022, giving up 49 sacks. Drafting an offensive tackle in the 1st round, potentially Broderick Jones would be a good way to ensure whoever starts at quarterback in 2023 has more protection.
Washington Commanders: Offensive line
The Commanders’ needs aren’t too dissimilar from the Titans. Sam Howell is the likely starter heading into 2023. If the right opportunity to draft or obtain a quarterback through free agency presents itself, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Commanders make a change but, for now, it’s Howell under center.
If that’s the case, protecting him becomes the key. Sam Cosmi struggled at right tackle in 2022 and left tackle Charles Leno will be 32 when the 2023 season starts. On top of that, the interior offensive line is a hodgepodge of veteran free agents. Injecting some youth into an offensive line that needs a shake-up can begin in the draft, but the Commanders could have some money to play with in free agency with a few moves.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
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