With free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, many NFL teams have filled their most pressing roster holes. But most clubs have at least one problem area remaining on their depth chart.
Let’s run through the league and identity the most significant weakness left on each potential contender’s roster. We’ll look at teams projected to win at least eight games in 2023, according to DraftKings, which culls our list to the top 20 clubs in the NFL.
Post-Draft NFL Roster Holes
Atlanta Falcons
Biggest remaining need: Wide receiver
The Falcons might be planning on deploying an all-running back offense after using the eighth overall pick on Bijan Robinson, but they still need help at wide receiver. While Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller can serve useful purposes behind Drake London, they’re more like WR4/5s than WR2s.
A free agent possession receiver like Jarvis Landry, who shouldn’t cost much after ending the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury, could make sense for the Falcons.
Baltimore Ravens
Biggest remaining need: Edge rusher
The Ravens addressed one of their holes on Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year deal with cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Next, they could think about adding a veteran pass rusher to play alongside Odafe Oweh, Tyus Bowser, and David Ojabo. Yannick Ngakoue, who played for Baltimore in 2022, could become an option, as could Leonard Floyd, who is still on the market after being released by the Rams.
Buffalo Bills
Biggest remaining need: Pass rush
The Bills addressed their interior offensive line issues by drafting second-rounder O’Cyrus Torrence, but the defensive trenches could still use work. Recent free agent addition Poona Ford should give Buffalo’s DT rotation a boost. However, there are still questions on the edge.
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Von Miller is 34 years old and recovering from a torn ACL. Gregory Rousseau managed eight sacks and finished top 40 in pressures, but Buffalo is still waiting on a breakout campaign from A.J. Epenesa or Boogie Basham.
Cincinnati Bengals
Biggest remaining need: Defensive tackle
Running back and right tackle are no longer needs for the Bengals now that Joe Mixon and Jonah Williams are expected to remain with the club. First-round pick Myles Murphy will buoy Cincinnati’s edge rush, but the Bengals need someone to handle snaps on the interior behind DJ Reader and B.J. Hill, even if 2022 third-rounder Zach Carter takes a step forward.
Murphy, Sam Hubbard, and Joseph Ossai all have the ability to slide inside, giving the Bengals a chance to use NASCAR packages in obvious passing situations. But another veteran tackle like Matt Ioannidis could help as a rotational piece on early downs.
Cleveland Browns
Biggest remaining need: Cornerback depth
The Browns have managed to fill most of their vacancies this offseason. Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman give Cleveland options at receiver, while Dalvin Tomlinson and Siaki Ika are new faces at defensive tackle.
However, the Browns could use more bodies at cornerback, where teams typically need four or five players capable of handling 300+ snaps. If something were to happen to Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, or Martin Emerson, Cleveland would be down to Mike Ford, A.J. Green (not that one), and fifth-round rookie Cameron Mitchell.
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest remaining need: No. 2 running back
While the Cowboys don’t have any glaring weaknesses after free agency and the draft, they could still use a complement for Tony Pollard, who handled a career-high 232 touches last season.
Rookie Deuce Vaughn could play a role next year, while a reunion with Ezekiel Elliott remains on the table. Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, and Darrell Henderson Jr. also remain available on the free agent market.
Denver Broncos
Biggest remaining need: Defensive line
Like the Cowboys, the Broncos might need another running back as Javonte Williams recovers from an ACL tear. But given that Denver is seemingly comfortable with Samaje Perine, they can turn their attention to the defensive line, which still needs reinforcements even after adding Zach Allen from the Cardinals. A blunt instrument like Mario Edwards Jr. could do the trick.
Detroit Lions
Biggest remaining need: Wide receiver
Cornerback depth sneakily remains a need for Detroit, but they should probably bring in another pass catcher now that Jameson Williams is suspended for the first six games of the year. Marvin Jones Jr. and Josh Reynolds would be Amon-Ra St. Brown’s running mates if the season began today.
There aren’t many free agent receivers left, but I wonder if Lions general manager (and former Rams executive) Brad Holmes could make a call about Los Angeles’ Van Jefferson, who is entering the final season of his contract on a rebuilding roster.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest remaining need: Cornerback
The Jaguars surprisingly waited until the fifth round to draft a cornerback, potentially signaling they’re content with their Tyson Campbell-Tre Herndon-Darious Williams trifecta. I have questions about Herndon playing full-time on the outside, so an experienced veteran like Eli Apple might fit as depth options.
Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest remaining need: Defensive tackle
Smart free agent decisions and outstanding draft classes in 2021 and 2022 have virtually filled all the holes on the Chiefs’ roster, but DT could be a short- and long-term need. Kansas City could use more depth behind Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi, both of whom are on track to reach free agency next spring.
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Last year, the Eagles made two in-season DT additions by signing Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph. A similar strategy could make sense for the Chiefs if they find a veteran they like on the open market.
Los Angeles Chargers
Biggest remaining need: Secondary
Cornerback could become a concern for the Chargers if J.C. Jackson isn’t ready for the season after tearing his patellar tendon in Week 7. (Given Jackson’s play in 2022, cornerback could be a problem even if he’s healthy.)
Meanwhile, Los Angeles is banking on Alohi Gilman taking on a more prominent role in the secondary after he played 45% of the club’s snaps last season. John Johnson III, who played under Chargers head coach Brandon Staley with the Rams, stands out as an obvious fit.
Miami Dolphins
Biggest remaining need: Offensive line
The Dolphins will again be relying on Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson at left guard and right tackle after failing to bring in replacements this offseason. Finding a competent offensive tackle at this stage of the game might prove difficult, but Dalton Risner would be a clear improvement over Eichenberg. Miami is almost capped out, but they could make a cheap deal for Risner work.
Minnesota Vikings
Biggest remaining need: Cornerback
Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, Cameron Dantzler, and Duke Shelley — the Vikings’ top 2022 corners by snap count — are all gone. 2022 draft picks Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans both played fewer than 200 snaps during their rookie campaigns, while free agent addition Byron Murphy has always had trouble staying healthy.
Minnesota needs more bodies, and they could look into a veteran like Shaquill Griffin, who was released by the Jaguars earlier this year.
New Orleans Saints
Biggest remaining need: Wide receiver
Chris Olave arguably should have won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, but the rest of the Saints’ WR depth chart is uninspiring. Undrafted free agent Rashid Shaheed flashed last season, while New Orleans can’t pin their hopes on Michael Thomas’ health given that he’s appeared in just 10 games over the past three seasons.
The Saints are unlikely to make a move for a high-profile veteran like DeAndre Hopkins, but perhaps a smaller-scale acquisition such as the Eagles’ Quez Watkins could help.
New York Giants
Biggest remaining need: Linebacker
The Giants likely overpaid to bring in Bobby Okereke this offseason, but their overzealousness was explainable given how desperately they need linebackers. The position is still a problem even with Okereke in town. Rashaan Evans or Myles Jack could profile as improvements over Jarrad Davis, who would probably start next to Okereke if the season started today.
New York Jets
Biggest remaining need: Offensive line
The Steelers snuck ahead of the Jets in the first round of the draft to select Broderick Jones, depriving New York of a much-needed tackle addition. The chronically injured Mekhi Becton and 37-year-old Duane Brown are currently penciled in as Gang Green’s starting tackles. A free agent like Donovan Smith or even Cameron Fleming could be on the Jets’ radar, while a guard could also make sense if New York wants to shift Alijah Vera-Tucker to tackle.
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest remaining need: Safety
Safety and linebacker can typically be viewed as “weak” areas of the Eagles’ roster, but that’s largely by design, as general manager Howie Roseman doesn’t believe in paying up at those positions.
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Philadelphia is projected to start Terrell Edmunds and Reed Blankenship at safety, while third-round pick Sydney Brown could also factor into the equation. The Eagles don’t necessarily need to add here, but it’s probably the biggest deficiency on their squad.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Biggest remaining need: Safety
The Steelers knocked the 2023 draft out of the park and likely found three Day 1 starters in Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr., and DT Keeanu Benton. However, Pittsburgh didn’t add any safeties in the draft, meaning Keanu Neal is still the projected starter alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. A free agent option like Adrian Amos could represent an upgrade over Neal, who’s been a part-time player over the past two seasons.
Seattle Seahawks
Biggest remaining need: Guard
After adding high-end talent at premium positions with first-round picks Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks don’t have a ton of weaknesses.
However, right guard Phil Haynes is relatively unproven, as he hadn’t played more than 60 offensive snaps until last season. But it’s a testament to Seattle’s roster-building that Haynes might be their most acute concern.
San Francisco 49ers
Biggest remaining need: Right tackle
The 49ers were comfortable using relatively unproven OL options like Jake Brendel, Aaron Banks, and Spencer Burford in 2022, and they’ll likely be doing it again this season. Colton McKivitz, who has five career NFL starts, projects as San Francisco’s RT now that Mike McGlinchey is with the Broncos. Former first-round pick Isaiah Wynn, who fell out of favor with the Patriots, could compete with McKivitz for a starting role.
