| Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com tries to match the 8 of the top remaining free agents with new homes: We all know Aaron Rodgers will dominate the spotlight as he decides whether to continue his career as the next quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Amari Cooper is the hottest name still available at wide receiver, and a handful of teams have been discussed as possibilities for him. Like every other player who will be mentioned in this column, these veterans have relied on patience and analysis of the market to see how best to move forward. The franchises obviously want to find experienced talent, but the players want their next team to work wonders for them as well. That’s why this edition of The First Read is devoted to the best fits for the remaining free agents. Rodgers has received enough attention already while Cooper’s future was discussed on this site last week. Here are some more players that could benefit from the right marriage with their next teams. This is where one writer believes those players should land: Asante Samuel Jr.CB · Age: 25San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco makes sense for Samuel for two reasons. One is that he’s likely to be available at a very affordable price now that the draft has passed. The other is that the 49ers are thin at cornerback — they lost Charvarius Ward, Rock Ya-Sin and Isaac Yiadom from last year’s team — and play a zone-heavy system that could allow Samuel to flourish. The big knocks on Samuel after his four seasons with the Chargers were his tackling and lack of consistency in press coverage. He also dealt with a lingering neck/shoulder injury that limited him to four games last season (and continued to dog him earlier this offseason). If the 49ers could land Samuel on a one-year, prove-it deal, he might flourish under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and create a chance for a massive long-term deal. Samuel is only 25 and one of the best remaining free agents on the market. This could be a win-win for both sides. J.K. DobbinsRB · Age: 26Chicago BearsChicago head coach Ben Johnson has gotten nearly everything he could ask for this offseason with one exception: There’s still a question as to whether he’ll be able to replicate the two-headed backfield monster he created when he was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. This is where Dobbins could help immensely. Johnson loved the idea of using the punishing David Montgomery with the electric Jahmyr Gibbs in the Detroit offense. That duo combined for 2,187 rushing yards in powering the league’s highest-scoring offense. As much as the Bears want to unleash quarterback Caleb Williams and a bevy of receivers this fall, improving the run game will go a long way toward making that happen. D’Andre Swift was a prized free-agent acquisition last year, a player who can thrive as a runner and receiver. Dobbins can do the exact same things, as long as he can stay healthy. He’s dealt with two knee injuries and an Achilles tear, but he played well in 13 games with the Chargers in 2024 (running for a career-high 905 yards and scoring nine touchdowns). Dobbins is also 26 years old, which means he would be more attractive than somebody like Nick Chubb, who is a more physical ball-carrier but also turns 30 in December. The Bears already have rebuilt their interior offensive line and loaded up on pass catchers in the draft (tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III were their first two picks). It’s time to solidify the backfield and think about all the ways their offense might explode this fall. Za’Darius SmithOLB · Age: 32Detroit LionsDetroit traded for Smith last season after a broken leg ended the season of star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Now the Lions can bring Smith back to Detroit to help create the pressure this team has sorely needed. The upside on Smith is that he played solidly last season in an emergency role. He generated 40 pressures in his nine games with the Lions and his pass rush win rate of 21.5 percent was third on the team (after Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, who also was lost to an injury), per Pro Football Focus. Davenport is returning to Detroit on a one-year deal, but there’s nothing that says Smith can’t do the same thing. In fact, the Lions reportedly haven’t completely dismissed that idea. This is a team that saw its Super Bowl dreams crushed by injuries last season. Even though Smith is on the wrong side of 30 (he’s 32), adding more depth on the edge wouldn’t be a bad thing. Justin SimmonsS · Age: 31Philadelphia EaglesThis one makes too much sense. Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler and four-time second-team All-Pro who played some of his best football for the Denver Broncos when current Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was that franchise’s head coach (2019-2021). The Eagles also have an opening at safety after trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson following last season’s Super Bowl win over Kansas City. Gardner-Johnson’s ballhawking skills were an essential part of Philadelphia’s stellar defense. Simmons could bring the same talents to the Eagles, as he’s familiar with Fangio’s system and known for taking the ball away (his 32 interceptions rank tied for fifth among active players). It’s fair to say Simmons declined some in his lone year in Atlanta last season. It’s also exciting to think about how he could bounce back in a secondary that includes Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean at cornerback and Reed Blankenship at safety. Stephon GilmoreCB · Age: 34Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati needs as much depth and experience as it can find in its secondary after fielding one of the league’s worst pass defenses last season. Even though he turns 35 in September, Gilmore could help with that cause. For one, he’s still proven to be a competent man-coverage cornerback, which is a skill set the Bengals will covet with new defensive coordinator Al Golden replacing Lou Anarumo (Golden relied heavily on man coverage as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator last season). Cincinnati also is hoping that Daxton Hill can rebound from a torn ACL that limited him to just five games in 2024. Gilmore can provide depth in case Hill is slow to return to form. Gilmore also has done everything a cornerback can do in this league — a list that includes winning a Super Bowl in New England and being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 — so his leadership would be invaluable for a team with so many young players at that position. Finally, Gilmore would be cheap. He played on a one-year deal valued at $10 million in Minnesota last season. For a team that just gave huge extensions to wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — and continues to not be on the same page with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson — a bargain like this at cornerback would be ideal. Keenan AllenWR · Age: 33Arizona CardinalsThere are plenty of teams who need veteran help at wide receiver, but Allen fits in Arizona because the Cardinals must unlock all the potential in Marvin Harrison Jr., who was the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft. Arizona leaned on young players like Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch to work with Harrison at receiver in 2024. That’s not going to get it done, not for a team that displayed flashes of being closer to a playoff team than anybody imagined at this time last year. The 33-year-old Allen isn’t the same player he was in his prime — he had four 100-catch seasons in the previous five years before being traded to Chicago in 2024 — but he still knows how to operate from the slot. He delivered solid production with the Bears (70 receptions, 744 yards and seven touchdowns), and he can give quarterback Kyler Murray another dependable target to go along with tight end Trey McBride. Julian BlackmonS · Age: 27Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay came into this offseason needing to bolster its defense, and safety remains a position that Blackmon could help fix. There’s no doubt that Antoine Winfield Jr. is a star. The problem is what the Buccaneers are working with after that. Veterans Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards are no longer with the team, and there are only two other safeties on the depth chart with more than one year of experience (Christian Izien and Kaevon Merriweather). Blackmon, on the other hand, started 62 games in five years in Indianapolis. He played on a one-year deal with the Colts after testing free agency last season and displayed immense toughness while playing 16 games with a torn rotator cuff. That injury likely factored into some problems Blackmon had with missed tackles, but the overall numbers for his career are solid (300 tackles and 10 interceptions). The Bucs managed to make the playoffs last season despite weaknesses and injuries impacting their defense. Adding Blackmon would help them avoid having to do that in two consecutive years. Mike HiltonCB · Age: 31Tennessee TitansHilton isn’t a huge name but he was a valuable slot cornerback for the Bengals when they evolved into championship contenders a few seasons ago. It just so happens that current Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan was the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati during those years, which is why advocating for this marriage isn’t a bad idea. The Titans obviously need help in multiple areas, which is why they held the first pick in this year’s draft. The secondary has been a concern because both of last year’s key acquisitions at cornerback disappointed (L’Jarius Sneed only played in five games while Chidobe Awuzie bombed so badly that the team released him in March). Hilton is feisty and a leader, which are two qualities the Titans need badly. The team does have a solid player in the slot already — Roger McCreary has embraced that role after struggling as an outside corner — but he’s also the only option at that position on the depth chart. Finding more able bodies in the secondary is a must. |
| NFC NORTH |
| GREEN BAYWe don’t think the Packers will be paying a tariff for signing this Canadian import. University of Wilfrid Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma went undrafted last month, but the Canadian had a successful tryout at the Packers’ rookie minicamp last weekend. The Packers are expected to sign Elgersma, Dave Naylor of TSN reports. Elgersma had an invite to the Bills’ rookie minicamp this weekend but now will not attend. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected Elgersma in the second round of the 2025 Canadian Football League draft last week, the 18th overall pick. He won this year’s Hec Crighton Trophy as the top football player in U Sports, helping the Golden Hawks advance to the Vanier Cup where they lost to Laval. Elgersma passed for 4,252 yards with 35 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 13 games this past season. He added seven rushing touchdowns. He was the first quarterback from a Canadian university to participate in the Senior Bowl. Malik Willis is the backup to Jordan Love, so Elgersma will compete with Sean Clifford for the No. 3 quarterback. Elgersma is from London, Ontario and there was a time he played hockey. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASWR GEORGE PICKENS is headed to Dallas – basically for a third round pick. Kate Magdziuk of YahooSports.com: The Dallas Cowboys acquired wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade Wednesday morning, the Cowboys confirmed. As part of the deal, the Cowboys will also receive a 2026 sixth-round draft pick from the Steelers. Pittsburgh will receive a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick from Dallas in the trade. Pickens, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, having functioned as the WR1 in Pittsburgh following the trade of Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers last offseason. Pickens tallied 900 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 103 targets over 14 games in 2024, struggling as he has through most of his young career with inconsistent quarterback play. Pickens posted his best campaign in 2023, when he totaled 1,140 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 106 targets, leading the NFL averaging 18.1 yards per reception. Over his three seasons, Pickens has caught passes from Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph as Pittsburgh has struggled to find an answer at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season. The Steelers have three quarterbacks on the roster coming out of the draft, including Rudolph, career backup Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard, who was selected in the sixth round of this year’s draft. The Steelers have been hoping to sign 41-year-old veteran Aaron Rodgers, who visited the facility and met with head coach Mike Tomlin in March, though no contract has been signed to date. Now, Pickens puts those question marks behind him and is set to play with three-time Pro Bowler and 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner Dak Prescott. Prescott is coming off a season-ending hamstring injury but threw for 4,516 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his last full season played. Prescott shared a positive update on his recovery in April, stating, “If I had to play a game today, I definitely could do that.” The trade has been in the works dating back to the 2025 NFL Draft, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported. “Talks stalled, but Dallas came back with an improved effort that eventually lands Pickens from Pittsburgh,” Russini shared on X as the trade news broke Wednesday morning. It’s unclear whether the Cowboys will look to sign Pickens to a long-term extension before he hits the free-agent market. While that might eventually be a desirable outcome for both sides, it could also make for an awkward conversation. Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, the same agent who represents star pass rusher Micah Parsons. With Parsons and the Cowboys in the midst of extension talks, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t offer a glowing review of Mulugheta in April. With an eye to how Pickens might get along with QB AARON RODGERS, a Steelers insider says Coach Mike Tomlin was the force behind the deal. This from The Express Tribune: The Pittsburgh Steelers’ surprise trade of wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys was reportedly driven by head coach Mike Tomlin, according to new reporting by team insider Mark Kaboly. Despite leading the Steelers in receiving yards during the 2024 season, Pickens was sent to Dallas on Wednesday along with a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth. The move raised eyebrows after Pittsburgh made no significant upgrades to its receiving corps during the 2025 draft. But sources now suggest the decision came from Tomlin, who had grown frustrated with the 24-year-old wideout. Kaboly shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the Steelers coach, who had previously defended Pickens through multiple off-field issues, was ready to “end the rehabilitation project a year early.” He added, “Make no mistake about it, Tomlin is the one who decided.” Neither Pickens nor general manager Omar Khan reportedly initiated the deal. While talented, the Georgia product was entering a contract year, and there were internal concerns he could become a distraction—especially as the team continues to pursue veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A potential clash of personalities between Rodgers and Pickens may have factored into Tomlin’s thinking. The trade also follows the Steelers’ acquisition of DK Metcalf earlier in the offseason, a move that would have reduced Pickens’s role in the offence regardless. With Tomlin reportedly ready to move on, the front office executed the deal quickly. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reminds us of the history that led to the trade: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin usually does a very good job of keeping problems quiet and contained. That approach didn’t work with receiver George Pickens. The signs had been there, for a while, that it wasn’t going to end with Pickens signing a second (or third) contract and becoming one of the all-time franchise greats. We’ll go back to the 2023 season. His frustrations during a Thursday night game against the Titans became a multi-day talking point for the Steelers. He promptly removed all references to the team from his Instagram page. Tomlin called the situation a “pebble in my shoe.” It was the moment it seemed apparent that, in time, the relationship would end. The vibe lasted through 2023 and 2024. The indications became even stronger late last season. After a game against the Bengals during which Pickens drew two personal fouls, Tomlin said this: “He’s just got to grow up, man. This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.” That was December 1. After a Christmas Day home loss to the Chiefs, Pickens interrupted the big-ass red coat interviews of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce for hugs and hellos. It came off as a “come get me” gesture to the best team in the AFC. The scene prompted us to ask whether team and player were headed for a divorce. Then, after the wild-card playoff loss to the Ravens, Pickens was asked whether he’s optimistic about the team’s offense moving forward. “Uh, nah,” he said. While things got quiet from Pickens’s perspective after that (but for his draft-week decision to unfollow the Steelers on social media), it got very loud when the Steelers traded for receiver DK Metcalf and signed him to a five-year, $150 million contract. It meant that Pickens wouldn’t be getting a similar deal from the Steelers, ever. It also meant that, during his contract year, he’d be relegated from WR1 to WR2 — and that his targets would yield to the effort to justify paying Metcalf $30 million per year. So, yes, this was coming. Even if, as some are suggesting, Pickens didn’t ask to be traded, the request was implied. And pending. For a while. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAIs this the end of the line for EDGE JADEVEON CLOWNEY? Brigid Kennedy of SI.com: The Carolina Panthers are releasing linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday afternoon, per sources. Prior to the news, general manager Dan Morgan was notably “noncommittal” about Clowney’s future with the team while answering questions at the 2025 NFL draft, the outlet added. Clowney, who was drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 1 pick of the 2014 NFL draft, had just finished his first season with the Panthers, where he recorded 46 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four passes defended in 14 games. Following five seasons with Houston at the start of his career, the three-time Pro Bowler jumped around a lot starting in 2019, when he played with the Seattle Seahawks. He then spent a year with Tennessee, two years with Cleveland, one with Baltimore, and, most recently, one with Carolina. The South Carolina export signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Panthers last offseason. And RB JONATHON BROOKS is already done for 2025 as he is placed on the PUP list. “The running back tore his ACL during Week 14 last season,” the announcement read. “By placing the second year back on PUP now, he will be out for the 2025 season. The move allows him time to get healthy after his second such tear in as many years.” |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAMark Dalton of Cardinals Media Relations with a topical tweet: @CardsMarkDSpeaking with the media at 12:45 today will be CB Will Johnson who, like the new Pope, was selected by the Cardinals on day #2 (47th overall). |
| THIS AND THAT |
| UPCOMING DRAFTSHere is a quick history of where the draft has been held since it moved out of New York after 2014: 2015 – Chicago2016 – Chicago2017 – Philadelphia2018 – Dallas (Arlington) 2019 – Nashville 2020 – Remote 2021 – Cleveland2022 – Las Vegas 2023 – Kansas City2024 – Detroit 2025 – Green Bay With two more scheduled: 2026 – Pittsburgh2027 – Washington, DC Now we learn that Baltimore wants to host a draft. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Via Todd Karpovich of the Baltimore Sun, the Maryland Stadium Authority is exploring the possibility of hosting the draft in 2029, 2030, or 2031. Ravens president Sashi Brown has said the team will “eventually” make a pitch to host the draft. For now, the process is in the “exploratory phase.” This from Cincinnati – where Matthew Dietz of WLWT.com also mentions Denver and Buffalo as vying to be a draft host. Could the NFL Draft be held in Cincinnati soon? Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval said the city is pursuing it. The 2025 NFL Draft is being held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, bringing a lot of money to the small city across the three-day event. On Friday, Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval said the city is putting together a team to make a pitch for Cincinnati to host the NFL’s marquee offseason event. “We’re trying to not only think about our built environment like the convention center and our hotel capacity but also putting together the team and the resources to proactively bid on these large events,” Pureval said. The 2026 NFL Draft is set to be held in Pittsburgh, while Washington DC and Denver are battling to host the 2027 draft. The site of the 2028 NFL Draft remains unconfirmed, though the Bills are pushing to host it. Their new stadium is set to open next year, bringing infrastructure improvements with it. Pureval said he hopes that the NFL Draft will come to the Queen City “very soon.” The Bengals, Hamilton County and the State of Ohio will have to agree on a new stadium deal first. |
| BIGGEST HOLESAaron Schatz of ESPN.com tells us what is the biggest remaining weakness for each team after an offseason of efforts to improve: AFC EAST Buffalo BillsPosition of need: Outside wide receiverKeon Coleman had a quietly efficient rookie season. Although he missed four games due to injury and had only 29 catches for 556 yards with four touchdowns, Coleman ended with an excellent receiving DVOA of 11.4% — ranked 30th out of 91 qualifying receivers. The Bills added Joshua Palmer in free agency; he’s a useful player with an average DVOA and back-to-back seasons of at least 580 receiving yards. But there’s no clear No. 1 option and very little depth behind Coleman and Palmer. The next three receivers — Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore — are slot options. The third-best outside option is probably seventh-round pick Kaden Prather. The Bills should consider bringing Amari Cooper back, if just for depth purposes. General manager Brandon Beane might be OK with the wide receiver depth, but it’s not optimal. Miami DolphinsPosition of need: Slot receiverTyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle make an excellent top two, but who is the third option? Free agent arrival Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is an outside receiver. Veterans Erik Ezukanma and Dee Eskridge never really developed. Right now, the top slot options are two low-round draft picks from 2024. Malik Washington had 26 catches for 223 yards with no touchdowns, while Tahj Washington missed last season with an undisclosed injury. New England PatriotsPosition of need: Cornerback depthThe Patriots have three starting cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez covered the opposition’s No. 1 option more often than any other corner in the league last season, according to FTN data charting. He’s joined by veteran Carlton Davis III on the outside and Marcus Jones in the slot. But there’s a problem if injuries hit. Alex Austin started four games over the past few seasons but isn’t a strong option. There are a couple of late-round draft picks — Marcellas Dial Jr. from 2024 and seventh-rounder Kobee Minor this year. Fourth-round safety Craig Woodson might be able to play some slot, but there’s a significant drop-off from the top three. New York JetsPosition of need: QuarterbackJust because a team thinks it has filled a hole doesn’t mean it’s filled. There is a possibility that free agent pickup Justin Fields will finally fulfill his NFL potential in his fifth season. But those odds are long. Fields had his best season in 2024 with a 50.8 QBR, but it came in a six-game sample. And that QBR would have ranked 23rd in the NFL if he had thrown enough passes to qualify. That’s better than what the Jets got from Aaron Rodgers last season, but it still isn’t good, and there is no guarantee Fields can match or improve on it. Tyrod Taylor is a fine backup, but you don’t want him starting an entire season. AFC NORTH Baltimore RavensPosition of need: Left guardThis is more of a mystery projection. Andrew Vorhees fell to the seventh round of the 2023 draft after being injured at the combine. He missed his rookie season, then started three games in 2024. He had a strong 97.6% pass block win rate, but the sample size was small. We don’t really know how good Vorhees is quite yet, and he’s penciled in to start. Veteran Ben Cleveland and seventh-round rookie Garrett Dellinger are his backups. Cincinnati BengalsPosition of need: SafetyBengals fans expected an upgrade at safety during the draft, but no such luck. Vonn Bell is gone, leaving Geno Stone and Jordan Battle as the starters. Both are solid in coverage, but they’re not known as big playmakers. Stone has tackling issues, too, as his broken tackle rate of 24.2% was the third highest in the league for defenders with at least 40 solo tackles. There’s also very little depth in case of an injury. Daijahn Anthony played only 11 defensive snaps last season, while Tycen Anderson played only special teams. Cleveland BrownsPosition of need: Wide receiverJerry Jeudy is great and just fine as a No. 1 receiver. It’s everything behind him that’s the issue. The No. 2 receiver is Cedric Tillman, who had only 339 receiving yards in 11 games last season. The No. 3 option is veteran Diontae Johnson, who had a strange 2024 in which he played for three teams. After that comes either veteran Michael Woods II, who had only seven receptions for 65 yards last season, or Jamari Thrash, who had three receptions for 22 yards as a rookie. Behind them are return man DeAndre Carter, fourth-year player David Bell and not much else. Pittsburgh SteelersPosition of need: QuarterbackAs of this writing, we still haven’t determined whether Aaron Rodgers will play in Pittsburgh this season. If he doesn’t, Mason Rudolph is the starter. Rudolph was surprisingly reasonable for the Titans last season, and his 55.5 QBR would have ranked 20th in the league had he thrown enough passes to qualify. Still, nobody looks at Rudolph and thinks he’s a starter for a playoff contender. His current backup is sixth-round rookie Will Howard. AFC SOUTH Houston TexansPosition of need: GuardThe Texans have plenty of guards, but are any of them good? The starting left guard will probably be Tytus Howard, a natural tackle who has been up-and-down when playing inside. Behind him is veteran Laken Tomlinson, who ranked 44th out of 64 ranked guards in pass block win rate (91.1%) last season in Seattle. On the right side, there’s Juice Scruggs, who is more of a center but did have a 93.0% pass block win rate at guard last season. Veteran Ed Ingram, who ranked 54th among guards in pass block win rate (89.8%) last season in Minnesota, is next up. The Texans have thrown a lot of bodies at this position, but how much better will they be compared with last season’s debacle? Indianapolis ColtsPosition of need: CenterWhile linebacker was considered, the Colts’ current starting center is second-year man Tanor Bortolini. He started five games last season but had only a 91.3% pass block win rate as a center, far below the league average of 93.8%. His run block win rate was also below average. Backup Wesley French started three games in 2023 but didn’t play last season due to an ankle injury. Jacksonville JaguarsPosition of need: Edge rusher depthThe Jaguars have good starters in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. But there isn’t much behind them. The Jaguars recently added veteran Emmanuel Ogbah, but he’s 32 and had only five sacks as a full-time starter in Miami last season. Myles Cole had no sacks as a rookie last season despite playing 11.3% of Jacksonville’s defensive snaps. Yasir Abdullah, an edge/off-ball linebacker hybrid, also had zero sacks last year. The Jaguars can manufacture some depth by occasionally moving veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead outside. Tennessee TitansPosition of need: Inside linebackerThe Titans don’t really have credible inside linebackers on the roster besides veteran free agent addition Cody Barton. Otis Reese IV played only 8.4% of Tennessee’s defensive snaps last season. Second-year players James Williams and Cedric Gray played 10.5% and 4.5% of defensive snaps, respectively. One of the veteran LBs still on the market — Ja’Whaun Bentley, Kyzir White or Shaq Thompson — would fit here. AFC WEST Denver BroncosPosition of need: No. 2 receiverThis pick wasn’t easy, as the Broncos have a credible two-deep at every spot. The best I could come up with was the lack of a clear No. 2 receiver behind Courtland Sutton. The Broncos have a ton of players there, but nobody has really established himself as a strong WR2. Marvin Mims Jr. had 39 catches for 503 yards last season, while Devaughn Vele had 41 catches for 475 yards. There’s also rookie Pat Bryant, who might have trouble living up to his third-round selection, along with veteran Trent Sherfield Sr. and Troy Franklin, Bo Nix’s old college teammate. Kansas City ChiefsPosition of need: Left guardThe Chiefs have strong starters everywhere, as you’d expect from a team that has been to three consecutive Super Bowls. The biggest question is whether second-year man Kingsley Suamataia can be successful at left guard after struggling at left tackle last season. If Suamataia fails there, it falls to Mike Caliendo, who performed admirably during last season’s playoff run after Joe Thuney was moved to tackle. Las Vegas RaidersPosition of need: Outside linebacker The Raiders’ top outside linebacker right now is Devin White, who couldn’t get on the field for the Eagles last season and eventually went to the Texans, where he started one game. He’s known for overrunning plays and questionable pass-coverage instincts. Amari Burney is behind White and played only 9.1% of Las Vegas’ defensive snaps last season, slightly more than Tommy Eichenberg’s 7.2%. Los Angeles ChargersPosition of need: CenterVeteran center Bradley Bozeman ranked 29th out of 33 qualified centers with a 92.0% pass block win rate. The Chargers signed him to a two-year extension anyway, but they might have a better option behind him after signing free agent Andre James. James has always had shockingly high pass block win rates. He was at 95.7% last year, fifth among centers, and at 96.5% in 2023, second behind the Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey. NFC EAST Dallas CowboysPosition of need: Cornerback depthThe biggest hole was wide receiver, but that was solved with the George Pickens trade. So let’s pivot to cornerback. DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs are strong starters, but there are questions about whether Diggs will be ready to start the season after surgery late last year to repair cartilage damage in his left knee. There are also health questions about the No. 3 corner, third-round rookie Shavon Revel Jr. He was thought to be a first-round talent but fell because of an ACL tear. Depth is poor if Diggs or Revel isn’t ready for Week 1. Caelen Carson allowed a horrendous 98.4% coverage DVOA in limited time as a rookie, along with 10.9 yards per target. Kaiir Elam was a first-round pick but washed out in Buffalo. Safety Israel Mukuamu can line up in the slot but played only 18% of Dallas’ defensive snaps last season. New York GiantsPosition of need: Tight endTheo Johnson had a solid season for a fourth-round rookie, catching 29 passes for 331 yards and one touchdown. But the Giants need more production than that, and Johnson isn’t known as a strong run blocker. New York needs depth as well, as backup Daniel Bellinger had only 14 catches for 125 yards. Philadelphia EaglesPosition of need: No. 3 wide receiverA.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith might be the best starting receiver duo in the NFL, but there’s a steep drop after them. The other receivers combined for only 365 receiving yards last season, led by Jahan Dotson’s 19 catches for 216 yards. The only newcomer is former Panthers receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who had just three catches and 41 yards for the Raiders last season. Washington CommandersPosition of need: Linebacker depthIt’s a good thing the Commanders rarely play base defense (only 13% of the time last season), because their linebacker depth is terrible. There will be problems if Frankie Luvu or Bobby Wagner suffers an injury, as the backups are second-year players who were fifth-round picks: Dominique Hampton and Jordan Magee. Hampton didn’t play a defensive snap last season, while Magee played only 15. The Commanders also added Kain Medrano in the sixth round. NFC NORTH Chicago BearsPosition of need: Linebacker depthThe Bears don’t have a clear No. 3 linebacker. Their No. 3 ‘backer from last season (Jack Sanborn) is now in Dallas. That leaves very little behind veterans T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. Fourth-round rookie Ruben Hyppolite II might be counted on right away, a tough ask for a player drafted far ahead of where he was projected to go. Other options include Amen Ogbongbemiga, who played only 15 defensive snaps last season, and Noah Sewell, who played just five. Detroit LionsPosition of need: Edge rusher depthAfter all the injuries they suffered last season, it was a surprise that the Lions didn’t draft an edge rusher until Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round. Can the Lions keep an edge rusher rotation healthy behind Aidan Hutchinson — assuming Hutchinson himself can stay healthy? Marcus Davenport has played only six games the past two seasons. Al-Quadin Muhammad is 30 years old, though he had three sacks in nine games in 2024. Josh Paschal has only five sacks in three seasons. The rest of the depth chart is made up of street free agents. Green Bay PackersPosition of need: Edge rusherRashan Gary was the only Packers edge rusher with at least five sacks last season. Lukas Van Ness, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, has been a disappointment — he’s penciled in as a starter despite having only seven sacks in his first two seasons. Neither Kingsley Enagbare nor Brenton Cox Jr. has much upside, but they combined for 9.5 sacks last season. Fourth-round rookie Barryn Sorrell did not fare well in our SackSEER projections, with a projection of only eight sacks over five seasons. Minnesota VikingsPosition of need: CornerbackByron Murphy Jr. is back after a fabulous season in which he ranked seventh in the league in my coverage DVOA metric. But you need three starting cornerbacks in the NFL, plus depth behind them. Right now, the other two starters would be Mekhi Blackmon and Isaiah Rodgers. Blackmon missed last season with a torn ACL and had a below-average 9.8% coverage DVOA as a rookie in 2023. Rodgers was good with the Eagles last season but started only three games. Behind them are Jeff Okudah, a onetime high draft pick who played only 7% of Houston’s defensive snaps last season, and Tavierre Thomas, a 29-year-old slot corner who played only 4% of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps in 2024. NFC SOUTH Atlanta FalconsPosition of need: Defensive lineAtlanta has three clear starters for its 3-4 scheme, but how much should the Falcons trust those players? Atlanta ranked 26th in run stop win rate last season. Now, the Falcons are replacing Grady Jarrett with Morgan Fox, who turns 31 in September. David Onyemata wasn’t impressive last season and turns 33 in November. The team is counting on 2024 second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro, the third starter, to step up at nose tackle, but he played only 13.3% of Atlanta’s defensive snaps as a rookie. And third-year player Zach Harrison — who should be a backup — hasn’t lived up to his potential yet. This group also struggles rushing the passer, as it combined for 7.5 sacks a year ago. Carolina PanthersPosition of need: CornerbackCarolina has all sorts of corner questions. Jaycee Horn is no problem when healthy, but 2024 was the first time he played 14 or more games in a season. Veteran Michael Jackson struggled last season, ranking 79th out of 93 qualifying cornerbacks in coverage DVOA and 90th in yards allowed per target. Nickelback Chau Smith-Wade had good charting numbers as a rookie but in a very small sample size, as he played only 25% of defensive snaps. The main depth consists of Akayleb Evans, who didn’t work out in Minnesota, and Shemar Bartholomew, who played only 17 defensive snaps last season. New Orleans SaintsPosition of need: Edge rusherThe Saints ranked 30th in pass rush win rate last season and didn’t add much to their pass rush this offseason. Veterans Chase Young and Carl Granderson are still starters after getting 5.5 sacks each a year ago. Cameron Jordan is still here, too, but he is going to be 36 years old and had only 4.5 sacks in 2024. Isaiah Foskey has never lived up to his second-round billing, with zero sacks in two seasons. The new players are Jonah Williams, who bounced between three rosters last season and had no sacks, and seventh-round rookie Fadil Diggs. Tampa Bay BuccaneersPosition of need: Inside linebackerLavonte David is still really good, but he’s 35 years old. The bigger question is who will be playing next to him now that K.J. Britt is gone. The Bucs signed Anthony Walker Jr., but he was a bit of a disappointment last season for Miami. Another possibility is third-year man SirVocea Dennis, but he played only four games last season. Veteran Deion Jones appeared in two games for the Bucs, his fourth team in four seasons. NFC WEST Arizona CardinalsPosition of need: Inside linebackerThe departure of Kyzir White, who wore the green dot last season, underlines the Cardinals’ linebacker questions. Last season marked Mack Wilson Sr.’s first as a full-time starter since 2019. So there isn’t a long track record of success. Playing next to him will be Akeem Davis-Gaither, who started double-digit games for the first time last season but has had tackling issues in the past. The backups are third-year man Owen Pappoe and fourth-round rookie Cody Simon, who led Ohio State in tackles in 2024. Los Angeles RamsPosition of need: No. 3 wide receiverDavante Adams was a huge addition, but the departures of Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson produced a net loss of one starting wide receiver. Tutu Atwell is now the No. 3 option. He had a solid 2024 with 11.7% receiving DVOA to go with 42 catches for 562 yards, but he’s not regarded as a starting option around the league. And the depth behind him is poor. Jordan Whittington had 22 catches for 293 yards as a sixth-round rookie in 2024, but Xavier Smith had only two catches for 6 yards. The Rams didn’t draft a receiver until selecting Konata Mumpfield in Round 7. Los Angeles might not need a No. 3 receiver that often, though, as drafting Terrance Ferguson in Round 2 indicates more two-TE personnel groupings. San Francisco 49ersPosition of need: Outside linebackerFred Warner is a future Hall of Famer, but he needs help. Dee Winters earned mixed reviews while subbing for the injured Dre Greenlaw, and the third linebacker for base defense will probably be undersized third-round rookie Nick Martin. The backup at all three positions is Luke Gifford, a six-year veteran who turns 30 before the season. He has only five career starts and played on under 20% of Tennessee’s defensive snaps last season. Seattle SeahawksPosition of need: CenterThe Seahawks drafted Grey Zabel in the first round to play left guard, but they still need more at center. Olu Oluwatimi is slated to start at center and was below average last season in pass block win rate (92.4% vs. NFL center average of 93.8%) and especially in run block win rate (64.5% vs. NFL center average of 72.8%). Unless last year’s third-round draft pick, Christian Haynes, can move to center, the backups are undrafted free agents Jalen Sundell and Federico Maranges. |
