NFL: Every Team’s Two Biggest Needs They Must Address During The Draft (Part Two)

Last time, we determined the biggest draft needs for the first 16 teams in the NFL. This time around, we take a look at the two biggest needs for the other half of the league heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.

Las Vegas Raiders – RB, WR

I am standing firm in my belief that the Raiders will select a running back (specifically, Ashton Jeanty) with their first pick. I would be shocked if they go in a different direction, considering they were the 32nd-ranked rushing team in the NFL last season by a wide margin (13 fewer yards per game than the 31st-ranked Jets).

They’re best receiving threat is tight end Brock Bowers. Now that teams have had a year to analyze his game tape, the Raiders will need another pass catcher to turn to whenever Bowers is covered. Jakobi Meyers is a solid option, but there is a major drop-off after him. Another wideout is vital to this group’s immediate success.

Los Angeles Chargers – WR, DL

The Bolts need another wide receiver option beyond Ladd McConkey, who far and away exceeded expectations last year. Quentin Johnston has been a bust, and Mike Williams is only under contract for this season. Therefore, the Chargers will likely be adding another wideout at some point in the first few rounds of the draft.

LA let Joey Bosa and Poona Ford go in free agency, so I expect them to find a new defensive lineman early in the draft. On top of that, two of the Chargers’ best pass rushers are on one-year contracts. Whether it’s inside or on the edge, the Bolts need more bodies along the defensive front.

Los Angeles Rams – CB, LB

I’m not convinced that the Rams are satisfied with the state of their secondary. Don’t get me wrong, I like their starting safeties and Cobie Durant. After that, though, I think there are some questions. Secondary help will solve the pass-defense issues they had last season (23rd in opponent passer rating).

Three of the Rams’ most veteran linebackers left in free agency. They also have nobody backing up reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse. I could see them adding inside and outside linebackers in the draft.

Miami Dolphins – DL, OL

Emmanuel Ogbah and Calais Campbell, two of the team’s most effective pass rushers last season, are now playing elsewhere. That’s bad news when you realize the ‘Phins finished with the 27th-ranked pass rush. Add to that the fact that Jaelan Phillips is a free agent next off-season, and it’s clear Miami needs defensive line help.

The Dolphins also need to bolster their offensive line for the sake of Tua Tagovailoa, who has a scary history of concussions and mulled over retirement at one point last season. It doesn’t help that Terron Armstead retired while the ‘Phins lost two other tackles to free agency.

Minnesota Vikings – CB, OL

The Vikes only have four draft picks. Thankfully, they addressed most of their needs through free agency, so they’ll have the chance to fill any remaining holes they might have, namely in the secondary and along the offensive line, later this month.

Minnesota only brought back one of their top four cornerbacks from last season (Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr.). They’ll need to find another defensive back to cover the side of the field that Murphy isn’t on.

Additional offensive line depth can’t hurt. Their starting center, Ryan Kelly, is turning 32 and is only under contract for two years. The Vikings should have a succession plan in place before they are stuck trying to find a new center on the fly.

New England Patriots – OL, DL

Now that the Pats have signed Stefon Diggs, they have a true number-one receiver and no need to spend premium draft capital on a wideout with the fourth overall pick. This gives them the option to use that selection on their offensive or defensive line.

They found their right tackle by signing Morgan Moses, but they still need to address their left tackle spot. The two guys they currently have on the roster who will play left tackle (Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace) ranked 102nd and 131st out of 141 tackles last season, respectively, according to Pro Football Focus. They need a new LT to protect franchise quarterback Drake Maye.

They’ll want to add another body along the defensive line as well. Christian Barmore has been battling blood clots, which caused him to miss multiple games last year. Meanwhile, their three nose tackles have combined for 20 career solo tackles. I think the Pats need to add a defensive end and a defensive tackle into the mix.

New Orleans Saints – CB, OL

With Derek Carr positioned to once again be the starting quarterback in The Big Easy, the Saints need to use their early-round draft picks to address the secondary and their offensive line. However, if the opportunity to pick one of the top two QBs in this draft class becomes available, I think they will take that chance.

I liked the signing of Justin Reid, but I want to see them improve the cornerback position. They traded away their number-one cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, and lost two other corners who made significant contributions to their defense last season. On top of that, their starting nickelback is only on a one-year deal.

They need to bring in some offensive linemen, too. It’s unclear who their starting left guard will be after Lucas Patrick left in free agency. Plus, there are questions about starting right tackle Trevor Penning, whose contract expires next off-season. They can resolve these issues by drafting a few offensive linemen.

New York Giants – OL, DL

With two veteran quarterbacks leading the way, I think the Giants will decide to use their early draft picks to address other areas of need, like the offensive and defensive lines.

Starting right tackle Evan Neal has not lived up to the expectations that came with being the seventh-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. At the same time, starting right guard Greg Van Roten is 35 years old and only signed to a one-year deal, which means they’ll probably have to find his successor next off-season.

The G-Men need another defensive lineman to play next to start defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. They could also use premium draft capital to find the eventual replacement for Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who is turning 32 and is set to become a free agent in 2026.

New York Jets – OL, WR

The Jets will be without their starting left tackle and their starting right tackle from last season. Olu Fashanu will fill one of those spots, but the Jets will still need to use a draft pick to find their other offensive tackle.

Davante Adams left in free agency, and Allen Lazard will probably be off the team in a couple of years. Add on the fact that there have been whispers that starting wide receiver Garrett Wilson might want out of New York, and it becomes clear that Gang Green needs to find a new number-two wideout who could maybe become the team’s number-one option if worse comes to worst.

Philadelphia Eagles – DB, DL

There are not many areas of need for the reigning Super Bowl champs, but they could stand to add some defensive linemen and defensive backs through the draft.

Cornerback James Bradburry remains unsigned, while safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and cornerbacks Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox, and Darius Slay Jr. left in free agency. That’s five meaningful contributors in the Eagles’ secondary who are no longer on the team. Even though Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are still there, I think they could stand to add more players on the back end of their defense.

Brandon Graham recently announced his retirement. Plus, the team lost two of their biggest Super Bowl performers along the defensive front with the departures of Milton Williams and Josh Sweat. I am confident Philly will draft at least one defensive lineman later this month.

Pittsburgh Steelers – QB, RB

Until Aaron Rodgers officially signs with the Steelers (which I think he eventually will), Pittsburgh needs to address its quarterback concerns early in the draft. If they don’t sign Rodgers, then their quarterback room consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Even the 1985 Chicago Bears couldn’t win with those guys leading the charge. They must have a backup plan in place if Rodgers isn’t there.

There were times last season when the Steelers could only generate offense with their rushing attack. Now that former first-round pick Najee Harris is playing for the Chargers, their best running backs are Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Neither one of those guys is worthy of being an NFL team’s starter.

San Francisco 49ers – DL, OL

The 49ers lost Leonard Floyd in free agency and missed out on signing Nick Bosa’s brother, Joey. Also, San Fran let go of both of their starting defensive tackles. I expect the Niners to add multiple defensive linemen on the inside and on the end.

Trent Williams is the oldest lineman in the NFL and missed multiple games last season due to injury. Additionally, his backup (Jaylon Moore) and starting left guard Aaron Banks departed in free agency. The 49ers need to bring in more bodies in the trenches after failing to add any offensive linemen this off-season.

Seattle Seahawks – OL, DT

Four of the Seahawks’ offensive linemen from last season are no longer on the team, including starting guard Laken Tomlinson as well as tackles Jason Peters and George Fant, who combined for multiple starts. Though they added Josh Jones as a guard, I think they still should bolster their interior offensive line.

I like that they re-signed Jarran Reed, but that doesn’t change the fact that they let go of three other defensive tackles this off-season. They could let Reed be their nose tackle, but he’s a more effective defensive end. Therefore, they should draft an interior defensive lineman and let Reed move back out to the edge.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB, DB

With Chris Godwin re-signed and Mike Evans showing no signs of slowing down, the Bucs can focus on fixing up their defense, which was middle-of-the-road when it came to points allowed.

Lavonte David is still the leader of the defense and is under contract for this coming season, but his future is up in the air. He’s 35 and will be turning 36 before the end of the 2025-26 season. They could get ahead of the curve and find his successor in this year’s draft. David would be a great teacher to any young linebacker.

The Bucs lost two cornerbacks this off-season and signed/re-signed two others to one-year deals. On top of that, six of their defensive backs are scheduled to be free agents next off-season after losing safety Jordan Whitehead this year. Tampa needs to add more players to its secondary, regardless of whether they’re cornerbacks or safeties.

Tennessee Titans – EDGE, WR

I just assume they are going to draft Cam Ward with the first overall pick. That means they’ll use their other selections to add some offensive weapons to the mix and bolster the defensive front.

Tennessee let longtime defensive star Harold Landry III go in free agency, which was a perplexing move because they were the third-worst pass-rushing team in the NFL last season. I wouldn’t be surprised if they use the 33rd overall pick in the draft to take the best available edge rusher.

There is also a glaring hole at the wide receiver position. They were 25th in receiving yards per game and have a potential out in Calvin Ridley’s contract next off-season. I don’t imagine they’ll want to take on his $26.7 million cap hit during the 2026-27 season, so they’ll need to use draft capital to find a new number-one receiving threat.

Washington Commanders – DL, DB

Two of the Commanders’ most important defensive linemen (Dante Fowler Jr. and Jonathan Allen) are no longer on the team. Even though they signed six defensive linemen, I don’t think that should stop them from spending a first- or second-round pick on that position group. I really want to see them draft a new edge rusher because they have a tall task trying to make up for the lost production of Dante Fowler.

They could end up addressing their wide receiver needs, but I think they’ll first have to add bodies in the secondary. They lost four DBs this off-season, including safety Jeremy Chinn, who was the team’s second-leading tackler behind Bobby Wagner. They’ll need another safety or (more likely) a cornerback to play on the other side of Marshon Lattimore.