NFL: Every Team’s Three Biggest Off-Season Needs (Part One)

The landscape of the NFL will drastically change on March 12th when the new league year begins and teams are allowed to start signing free agents. Many players will switch teams either through free agency or by trade. But before the free agent frenzy begins, it’s important to identify the biggest areas of need that each NFL team has.

With that in mind, let’s go down the list and determine the three biggest needs that each NFL team has this off-season.

Arizona Cardinals – Edge, DT, OL

The Cards were a middle-of-the-road team in terms of sacks while finishing in the bottom half of the league in run defense (20th in rushing yards allowed per game). Adding a skilled edge rusher and an interior defensive lineman could lead to a marked improvement on that side of the ball.

They also need to bolster their offensive line because quarterback Kyler Murray has been forced to miss games due to injury in three of the last four seasons.

Atlanta Falcons – Edge, CB, S

The Dirty Birds were the second-worst pass-rushing team in the league last season with 31 total sacks. They must find a guy who can get after opposing QBs.

Atlanta should address the secondary, too. They were 29th in passer rating allowed (100.1) and 31st in passing touchdowns allowed (34). It doesn’t matter if it’s free safety, nickel back, cornerback, or strong safety, the Falcons need to see improvements on the back-end.

Baltimore Ravens – OL, WR, CB

Four of Baltimore’s 11 offensive linemen are scheduled to be free agents this off-season. Whether it’s through the draft, trades, or free agency, they need to add some bodies in the trenches.

Their depth at the wide receiver spot is troubling as well. I would like to see another consistent producer lining up next to Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

With Tre’Devious White and Brandon Stephens set to become free agents, another cornerback is necessary after Marlon Humphrey took over the nickel corner spot.

Buffalo Bills – DL, WR, CB

With only two sacks in the AFC Championship game and several members of the defensive line expected to test free agency, I think the Bills will want to add some depth to the front seven whether it’s at the defensive tackle or edge rusher spot.

I want to see Josh Allen with an elite number-one wide receiver. Amari Cooper is good, but he isn’t the Pro Bowler he used to be.

Buffalo could also use some more cornerback help. They were 24th in passing yards allowed per game and could lose starting corner Rasul Douglas to free agency.

Carolina Panthers – Edge, DT, WR

Carolina was tied for 30th in sacks and finished last in rushing yards per game allowed (179.8 yards per game, 38.4 more yards than the next closest team). Bringing in an edge rusher and another interior defensive lineman to play next to rising star Derrick Brown is a necessity.

Another wide receiver threat will help with quarterback Bryce Young’s development. They can’t expect 34-year-old wideout Adam Thielen to be their number-one receiver forever.

Chicago Bears – OL, Edge, RB

The Bears’ most glaring needs are along the offensive line after Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times last year (tied for the third most sacks ever taken in a single season). They could stand to make improvements at center, guard, or tackle.

Adding another edge rusher to play opposite Montez Sweat could help Chicago move into the top half of the league defensively.

Meanwhile, D’Andre Swift has an out in his contract this off-season, so it’s possible the Bears could be in the market for a new running back.

Cincinnati Bengals – Edge, TE, S

I don’t think Tee Higgins will be going anywhere this off-season, so Cincy addresses other key needs.

Since Sam Hubbard could be a cap casualty and Joseph Assai is set to be a free agent, the Bengals need to bring in another pass rusher to take some of the attention away from Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season.

Tight end Mike Gisecki could demand a substantial contract extension, which Cincy might not be able to provide if they want to extend Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Hendrickson. Therefore, they’ll probably be looking for a new tight end.

They need to add some help in the secondary, too. The Bengals were 29th in passing touchdowns allowed.

Cleveland Browns – QB, Edge, RB

Deshaun Watson has been a complete disaster since arriving in Cleveland. The Browns just need to bite the bullet and move on from him as their quarterback. Almost any other free agent or rookie quarterback would be better than him.

Myles Garrett requested a trade out of Cleveland earlier this month, so they’ll need a new game-wrecking edge rusher to replace his high level of production.

The offensive line could be another area to address, but I think running back is more pressing. I am worried that Nick Chubb will never be able to return to the elite form we were used to seeing from him following his knee injury during the 2023-24 season.

Dallas Cowboys – OL, RB, DT

Since Zack Martin is retiring from the NFL, the Cowboys’ biggest need this off-season is along the offensive line. I could see them adding a tackle or a guard depending on who Jerry Jones likes.

Dallas got rid of Ezekiel Elliott but has a solid player in Rico Dowdle. They could bring in a top-flight running back and make Dowdle the backup or add a respectable number-two guy to take some pressure off of the fifth-year back.

Bringing in a big body in the middle of the defensive line is also key after the ‘Boys finished the season with the 29th-ranked run defense.

Denver Broncos – TE, RB, LB

Denver’s four tight ends finished the season with 483 receiving yards (12.7% of the team’s passing offense). A reliable safety blanket tight end will do wonders for Bo Nix’s progression.

The Broncos could lose starting running back Javonte Williams to free agency. They’ll need another back to make up his production (26.9% of the team’s rushing yards).

Since starting linebacker Cody Barton and reliable backup Justin Strnad are unrestricted free agents, the linebacker spot will be an area of emphasis for Denver as well.

Detroit Lions – Edge, CB, OL

Edge rusher Marcus Davenport will be a free agent this off-season, and Aidan Hutchinson is still recovering from a devastating leg injury. They have Za’Darius Smith, but he is turning 33 years old and has played for four different teams since the start of the 2021 season.

The secondary also saw a lot of injuries last year, so adding another cornerback should help Detroit improve its 30th-ranked pass defense.

It wouldn’t hurt to find guard Kevin Zeitler’s successor since the former first-round pick turns 35 next month. Plus, Graham Glasgow was terrible in pass protection. I could see the Lions adding more than one offensive lineman.

Green Bay Packers – CB, Edge, OL

It sounds like Jaire Alexander won’t be back in Green Bay next season while former first-round pick Eric Stokes will test free agency. Cornerback is the Packers’ most pressing need this off-season.

Adding another edge rusher is another necessary move after Green Bay was held to just four combined sacks in their final three games of the season.

I don’t think the Pack will want to pay center Josh Myers big money after he finished last season as Pro Football Focus’ 49th-ranked center out of 64. Adding a center or depth elsewhere along the offensive line so somebody else can play center is imperative.

Houston Texans – WR, OL, S

Stefon Diggs is going to be a free agent, and Tank Dell may not play at all during the 2025-26 season, so bringing in another wide receiver to take pressure off of Nico Collins is a must.

Bolstering the offensive line will help with quarterback C.J. Stroud’s development after he was sacked 54 times during the regular season (tied for the third-most in the NFL).

They could add a cornerback, but I think bringing in safety help is a little bit more important for Houston with M.J. Stewart and Eric Murray expected to test free agency.

Indianapolis Colts – TE, OL, S

Adding a top-flight tight end to the offense is a great way to aid in the progression of quarterback and former number-four overall pick Anthony Richardson.

Indy should also dedicate resources to the offensive line since Richardson has yet to play a full season in the NFL, and center Ryan Kelly could leave in free agency.

The Colts will want to shore up the back end of their secondary after finishing the regular season 26th in passing yards per game allowed and 22nd in quarterback rating allowed.

Jacksonville Jaguars – OL, CB, DL

The Jags need to add a tough interior offensive lineman or two to help improve their rushing attack, which finished the regular season ranked 26th in the league.

Cornerback help is essential because the Jaguars finished dead last in passing yards allowed per game and quarterback rating allowed last year.

Another top-notch defensive lineman on the inside will balance a line that already has two studs in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Now, they need to start getting some pressure up the middle, too.

Kansas City Chiefs – OL, WR, TE

Anybody who watched Super Bowl LIX saw that Patrick Mahomes was running for his life most of the game. Adding an elite offensive tackle or interior lineman could do wonders for the Chiefs this coming season.

Wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Watson, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman are all free agents this off-season. While I do expect some of those guys to return, I believe KC will bring in some new wideouts as well.

Travis Kelce is 35 years old and could reportedly take on a reduced role in the offense this coming season. Therefore, the Chiefs need to start planning for life after Kelce by finding his eventual successor.