The 2019 NFL draft takes place from April 25-27 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Below, Football Outsiders takes a look at the biggest need positions for all 32 teams going into the draft. Each team is listed with its biggest need, a lesser-known need, and a position where there's no need at all.
Many of the descriptions reference Football Outsiders stats, which are explained here. The most common is DVOA, or defense-adjusted value over average, which compares every play of the NFL season to a league average and adjusts based on situation and opponent.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Biggest need: Wide receiver
The Bills spent heavily in bringing in John Brown and Cole Beasley in free agency, but still lack a true No. 1 wideout. Beasley fits best as an underneath slot option, and Brown's deep speed works well with Josh Allen's arm, but he has never held up as a main target for a full season. This is a situation screaming for Hakeem Butler or N'Keal Harry to come in and slowly push Brown and Beasley into roles more appropriate for their skill sets.
Quiet need: Running back
LeSean McCoy turns 31 before the season, and Frank Gore was old for a running back in 2014. Every other back on the roster has more bona fide credentials as a special-teamer than as an actual chain-mover. This draft class is regarded as deep and lacking in top-end running back talent, so perhaps the Bills can spend a midround pick on a player such as David Montgomery or Miles Sanders.
Not a need: Safety
The Bills don't truly have a position where they're completely and totally set, but both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde have multiple years left on their contracts and backup Rafael Bush was a priority free-agent acquisition for the club in 2018. Buffalo also signed free agent Maurice Alexander this offseason, though he's expected to play more of a linebacker role instead of safety.
Miami Dolphins
Biggest need: Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick will give the club a veteran who can absorb some punishment in the event that development goes slowly, but your team's future path to the playoffs does not go through his arm. It's highly likely that Kyler Murray will be off the board by the time Miami selects, but there are draftniks out there who prefer Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins. The Giants have seemingly gone away from Haskins as an early target, so he could slide into Miami's range (either at pick 13 or with a trade up).
Quiet need: Offensive line
This isn't really even quiet. The Dolphins lost Ja'Wuan James to free agency and released Josh Sitton. You can argue that the only position that should be regarded as settled is Laremy Tunsil at left tackle. The trenches are a strength of this draft and both Miami's second- and third-round picks could be used on players such as Oklahoma's Dru Samia or Boston College's Chris Lindstrom.
Not a need: Safety
Reshad Jones and Minkah Fitzpatrick are a strong pair of safeties, and the Dolphins have no reason to dispatch Jones given how much cap space they'll have available in 2020. T.J. McDonald had a bounce-back season in 2018.
New England Patriots
Biggest need: Receivers
The Patriots have lost Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen and Chris Hogan. Julian Edelman will return, and Josh Gordon will be on the roster -- whether he will actually be available to play is anyone's guess. Phillip Dorsett provides some solid depth. But they need difference-makers both on the outside at wide receiver and on the inside at tight end. While the Patriots likely aren't high enough in the draft to snag one of the highly touted Iowa tight ends, T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant, San Diego State's Kahale Warring might be in play in the early rounds. The Patriots have a weird history with drafting wide receivers that bust, but perhaps an early-round prospect such as Ole Miss' DK Metcalf or Oklahoma's Marquise Brown would appeal to them.
Quiet need: Edge rusher
Michael Bennett will provide some short-term stability for the Pats, but he has worn out his welcome at every NFL stop. After losing Trey Flowers in free agency and cutting Adrian Clayborn, the Pats don't have much depth on the edge. Derek Rivers hasn't developed the way they had hoped in run defense, either. This is a spot where they could easily spend multiple picks, although Bill Belichick doesn't have a history of taking pass-rushers in the first couple of rounds.
Not a need: Running back
Between Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead, New England should be well-set on both early downs and receiving options out of the backfield.
New York Jets
Biggest need: Edge rusher
The Jets somehow came out of one of the deepest edge rusher free-agent classes in recent memory with no notable additions. They've been linked to Nick Bosa and Josh Allen pretty much from the beginning of the draft process, with Kyler Murray's reported rise making one of them likely to land in New York. Allen's statistical pedigree is at odds a bit with a careful watching of what he did at Kentucky, but the Jets simply must make a move at this position. It has been a gaping hole for far too long.
Quiet need: Tackle
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum is more of a stopgap than a superstar, and right tackle Brandon Shell simply hasn't panned out and ended the year on injured reserve. The Jets are without a second-round pick and can't really vie for the top tackles without a trade down or a surprise first selection, but a developmental tackle in the third round, such as USC's Chuma Edoga or Alabama State's Tytus Howard, should be in play.
Not a need: Safety
Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye are as good a young tandem as any team in the NFL has right now, and Darryl Roberts is solid depth.
-- Rivers McCown
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Biggest need: Wide receiver
With John Brown off to Buffalo and Michael Crabtree released, the Ravens are missing any sort of difficult one-on-one coverage matchup for opposing defenses. (Not that Crabtree was giving them that last year, but he at least soaked up targets.) Expect receivers such as N'Keal Harry and Hakeem Butler to be on the first-round board. You could see multiple receivers selected by Baltimore too, with only Chris Moore and Willie Snead on the depth chart as dependable veterans. Without multiple additions, the Ravens will have to get something out of two 2018 rookies who never saw the field, fourth-rounder Jaleel Scott and fifth-rounder Jordan Lasley.
Quiet need: Interior offensive line
Marshal Yanda is 35, Alex Lewis struggled last season, and Matt Skura didn't make anyone forget Ryan Jensen. If the Ravens opt to really go in on the run-first, option-heavy philosophy Greg Roman featured toward the end of last season, you can argue this is a bigger need than wideout. NC State's Garrett Bradbury is someone who could be a fit in the first round.
Not a need: Cornerback
Between Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr and Tavon Young (who received a big contract extension this offseason), the Ravens have both quantity and quality in place at cornerback. Even their top special-teamers (Justin Bethel, Cyrus Jones) provide depth at the position.
Cincinnati Bengals
Biggest need: Offensive line
While the Bengals invested heavily in Billy Price last draft, he was hurt and struggled when healthy. Cordy Glenn was mediocre as a fill-in left tackle, and only Christian Westerman really showed any signs of solid play among Cincy's other young linemen. Signing Bobby Hart to a big extension did exactly nothing to help the situation. John Miller had his best season last year and was so valuable the Bills let him leave for nothing. Except perhaps for Price at center, the Bengals shouldn't feel that any position on this line is settled at this point.
Quiet need: Quarterback
OK, so we're going to give Zac Taylor's magic Rams dust a chance to make Andy Dalton better. We don't think Dalton is beyond winning a Super Bowl with the right offense around him, like he had in 2015. But really, if we're honest with ourselves, Dalton is not the kind of dynamic quarterback you want to build your offense around as the NFL heads to the 2020s. Luckily for the Bengals, this isn't a deep quarterback draft and there's little pressure on them to draft Dalton's replacement this year anyway. But come 2020 ... this could be something to watch.
Not a need: Interior defensive line
Andrew Billings came on strong last year, and Geno Atkins is a longtime war daddy. The Bengals could draft for depth at the position, but they don't need anybody to play major snaps right away.
Cleveland Browns
Biggest need: Offensive tackle
Cleveland's play to go with Greg Robinson and Desmond Harrison outside isn't ridiculous -- Robinson played well down the stretch and Harrison still has all the physical attributes you want in a left tackle. But neither of them are sure things, and Chris Hubbard wasn't exactly dominant in his first year on the lake either. After dealing their first-round pick in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, the Browns will probably not be in a position to do more than add another tools goof at the position, but it might still be worth another body or two on the depth chart.
Quiet need: Cornerback
Denzel Ward played extremely well in his rookie season but was prone to concussions and missing time. The Browns have plenty of decent depth at the position -- T.J. Carrie, Phillip Gaines, Terrance Mitchell -- but nobody who you're ready to leave one-on-one outside every down. It's hard to forecast who might fall to the second round at this point, but someone like Vanderbilt's Joejuan Williams or Notre Dame's Julian Love might be on Cleveland's target sheet in the middle rounds.
Not a need: Running back
Duke Johnson Jr. is begging to get off this depth chart because Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb are already stellar on their own.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Biggest need: Wide receiver
The Steelers are in a good position to draft the best player available, but they should not be content with Donte Moncrief and the hope that former second-rounder James Washington and Ryan Switzer will be good players with more consistent snaps. JuJu Smith-Schuster is going to need a running mate. A one-for-one Antonio Brown replacement is a possibility with their first-round pick, but the Steelers have done such a good job of finding wideouts later in the draft that they might just hold on and fill the need later.
Quiet need: Linebacker
Mark Barron hardly impressed in Los Angeles last year, and the Steelers have been light a good inside linebacker next to Vince Williams for most of the past two seasons, i.e., since Ryan Shazier's devastating injury. The Steelers might consider someone like Michigan's Devin Bush in the first round as an answer to the loss of Shazier.
Not a need: Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers are talking contract extension, and Pittsburgh has taken two midround quarterbacks in the past two years, in Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs.
-- Rivers McCown
AFC South
Houston Texans
Biggest need: Cornerback
The Texans' top four cornerbacks are Briean Boddy-Calhoun, a restricted free agent not tendered by the Browns; Aaron Colvin, a prominent free-agent acquisition last offseason who was a healthy scratch in the postseason; Johnathan Joseph, whose recovery speed dropped off in 2017; and Bradley Roby, a necessary free-agency acquisition but on just a one-year deal. Houston had the top run defense by DVOA but ranked only 19th against the pass and the same split seems nigh inevitable this year.
Quiet need: Running back
Lamar Miller was around average by rushing DVOA, but last year's backup Alfred Blue was one of the least effective runners in the league and is now in Jacksonville. D'Onta Foreman was mostly ineffective as a rookie and had only seven carries last year coming off an Achilles tendon tear. The secondary and offensive line will likely command attention early in the draft, but it would be an oversight for Houston not to add a back at some point.
Not a need: Safety
The surprise retirement of Andre Hal creates a need for additional depth at the position, but third-round pick Justin Reid looks like a potential star after a strong rookie season and free-agent import Tashaun Gipson fills the void created by Tyrann Mathieu's departure.
Indianapolis Colts
Biggest need: Wide receiver
The Colts' depth chart at receiver remains T.Y. Hilton and not much else that looks good. One-year rental Devin Funchess replaces one-year rental Ryan Grant. Funchess never lived up to his second-round billing, ranking outside the top 60 in receiving DVOA three of four seasons in Carolina. Addressing the position early instead of late like last year seems like the right move to help move the Colts' offense from good to elite.
Quiet need: Secondary
The Indianapolis defense was better than expected last year, ranking 10th by DVOA. But that was split into fourth against the run and 20th against the pass. The top three corners all played reasonably in Matt Eberflus' scheme, but none is a real shutdown type and the Colts could also use insurance at strong safety given the re-signed Clayton Geathers' injury history.
Not a need: Quarterback
Andrew Luck had his best season by Total QBR, ranking fifth in the league. Jacoby Brissett was not a quality starter in Luck's absence two seasons ago but is still one of the more promising backups in the league and is still cheap.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest need: Offensive line
Jacksonville's MASH unit up front went through a dozen different starters in 2018, second to Arizona, and the team fell from fourth to 27th in adjusted sack rate, reversing Blake Bortles' multiyear improvement in that category. Cam Robinson's return from injury should solidify one tackle spot, but Jacksonville seems likely to find its starter at right tackle later this month.
Quiet need: Quarterback
Nick Foles should be an upgrade on Bortles' fourth-worst Total QBR among qualifying quarterbacks in 2018. But Foles has both great and lousy play on his résumé. As recently as 2017, his Total QBR in the regular season was just 31.1, and it was 28.9 with the Rams in 2015, significantly worse than teammate Case Keenum's. Backup Cody Kessler was even worse than Bortles last year, so a draft pick could be both an immediate and long-term upgrade for the position.
Not a need: Linebacker
Myles Jack and Telvin Smith both posted a stop rate of at least 63 percent against the run, ranking them in the top quarter of linebackers with at least 100 plays, and helping the Jaguars rank third in second-level yards per carry (yards gained between 5-10 past the line of scrimmage) and in the top eight of DVOA against running backs in the passing game.
Tennessee Titans
Biggest need: Outside linebacker
Veteran mainstay and pending free agent Brian Orakpo retired. Veteran mainstay Derrick Morgan remains a free agent and seems unlikely to return. Free-agent acquisition Cam Wake ranked in the top 15 in hurries, per Sports Info Solutions charting, but at 38 looks best in a rotational role. 2018 undrafted free agent Sharif Finch is next on the depth chart, so the Titans need bodies here at a minimum.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
Adding Adam Humphries solidifies slot receiver, but Tennessee still could use an impact wideout. Corey Davis was much better in his second season but still ranked just below average by DVOA. Tajae Sharpe and Taywan Taylor were worse and still struggle with consistency and winning against man coverage.
Not a need: Quarterback
Jon Robinson has a big decision to make on Marcus Mariota with his contract up after 2019. But when available, Mariota is an average or better starter. And as bad as Ryan Tannehill's 35.4 Total QBR was, it was still better than Blaine Gabbert's or what Matt Cassel did in 2017. Tennessee has long-term quarterback concerns, but the present depth is better than it has been in a long time.
-- Tom Gower
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Biggest need: Quarterback
Color us unconvinced that Joe Flacco is a long-term solution at the position, even coming off of his best season since 2014 per QBR. There's not an obvious successor waiting in the wings either, as John Elway is 0-for-5 in drafting quarterbacks since taking over as general manager. Flacco is a decent option as a placeholder while a rookie gets ready; that's the Patrick Mahomes strategy. Of course, that relies on Denver finally finding their Mahomes. This could be a slot for Drew Lock, a four-year starter who wound up with the third-highest QBASE projection in this year's class.
Quiet need: Tight end
Jake Butt was supposed to be the answer here, but he suffered the third ACL tear of his young career at the beginning of the 2018 season. Maybe he'll one day get healthy and realize the potential Denver saw in him, but counting on that isn't a great long-term strategy. The Broncos did re-sign Jeff Heuerman, but he ranked just 46th in DYAR last season. That gives the Broncos four tight ends under contract with 649 combined career receiving yards. In fact, add in the lack of experience at wideout behind Emmanuel Sanders, whose contract expires at the end of this season, and Denver could use more promising young pass-catchers all over the roster.
Not a need: Running back
Phillip Lindsay came out of undrafted free agent obscurity to be one of the most valuable running backs of 2018. Last year's third-round pick, Royce Freeman, had a decent season as well, as a bowling-ball-esque complement to Lindsay's more manic, aggressive style. Even Devontae Booker managed to stay mildly relevant as a pass-catching option, albeit not a particularly exciting one. There's enough depth here, and enough need elsewhere on the roster, that Denver doesn't need to spend any more draft capital bolstering the position for now.
Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest need: Edge rusher
Dee Ford and Justin Houston combined for 73.5 pass pressures (per Sports Info Solutions charting) and 22 sacks in 2018; both are gone. Both players might have had awkward transitions as the Chiefs transition to Steve Spagnuolo's 4-3 defensive front, but replacing your top two edge rushers from a year ago is never an ideal situation. Kansas City has made moves, trading for Emmanuel Ogbah and adding Alex Okafor in free agency, but there's still a talent deficit at the position. Honestly, the Chiefs need to have a serious revamp of their entire defense, which had the worst DVOA of any playoff team a year ago. A dominant pass-rusher is the fastest way to improve the entire unit.
Quiet need: Interior offensive line
Mitch Morse is gone, moving to Buffalo in free agency. That puts Austin Reiter into the starting lineup; he was adequate as a fill-in starter last year, but could certainly stand some competition, at least. Even if the Chiefs are comfortable with Reiter, they'd still need to add talent to their interior line, as left guard Cam Erving was clearly the weakest link on last year's highlight-reel offense. At the very least, someone who could give Reiter and Erving a challenge in training camp would be nice for a team that finished only 20th in adjusted line yards up the middle.
Not a need: Quarterback
It's not exactly groundbreaking analysis to suggest that the Chiefs are satisfied with league MVP Patrick Mahomes under center. Chad Henne and EJ Manuel are the backups; both have starting experience, and can fill in for a game or two if something were to happen to Mahomes. Obviously, any long-term injury for Mahomes would tank Kansas City's 2019 season, but for a team that's a player or two away from hoisting the Lombardi trophy, using a pick on depth at the quarterback position would be a waste.
Los Angeles Chargers
Biggest need: Right tackle
Sam Tevi had 28 blown blocks in 2018 per Sports Info Solutions charting, and may well have been the worst pass-blocking starting tackle in the league last season. He wasn't the only one on the Chargers' line to struggle last season -- both Dan Feeney and Michael Schofield blew their fair share of blocks as well -- but Tevi's inability to match up with speed rushers is the most concerning of the lot; it's not something likely to improve with more reps. Keeping 37-year-old Philip Rivers upright has to be Los Angeles' top priority. A first-round pick like Cody Ford or Dalton Risner would help improve the Chargers' 32.4 percent pressure rate allowed from 2018.
Quiet need: Backup quarterback
The Chargers are actually fairly well off from top to bottom, without many exceptionally pressing needs. With that in mind, it may be time to start quietly looking for Rivers' eventual replacement. Rivers had a phenomenal year in 2018 and showed no signs of slowing down, but at age 37, his days are numbered. It's not unheard of for quarterbacks, even Pro Bowl-level players, to suddenly hit a wall in their late 30s. Yes, the success of Tom Brady and Drew Brees in their twilight years makes it seem like quarterbacks can play forever with today's rules protecting them from harsh hits, but those Hall of Famers are very much the exceptions to the rule. You'd rather find your potential replacement a year too early than a year too late.
Not a need: Running back
Melvin Gordon had a tremendous season in 2018, ranking third in DVOA and fifth in DYAR. Austin Ekeler is a top-tier change-of-pace back; if anything, he needs to be more involved in the receiving game in 2019. Last year's seventh-rounder, Justin Jackson, also looked promising in limited action. Even when Gordon or Ekeler was out, the Chargers got useful touches from practice-squadder Detrez Newsome. Gordon's expiring rookie contract is something to keep an eye on, but that's a problem for the 2020 Chargers.
Oakland Raiders
Biggest need: Edge rusher
The Raiders ranked dead-last in pressure rate in 2018, at just 22 percent according to Sports Info Solutions charting. While Arden Key led the team with 27.5 pressures -- a solid number -- the next four guys on the team combined for just 35. For comparison, Khalil Mack had 38 by himself in his first year in Chicago. Oakland's 13 sacks were less than half of the next worst team total; its pass rush was simply nonexistent last year. What's done is done, and the first-round picks from the Mack trade will help the Raiders rebuild over the next few seasons, but part of that rebuild has to be finding a replacement for Mack: the sort of dominating pass-rusher that simply does not grow on trees.
Quiet need: Quarterback
Derek Carr is going to get at least one more season under center for the Raiders, but his long-term status as a franchise quarterback is, at the very least, in question. Carr's 2018 season was a significant step back from his past few years, with a sub-50 QBR and a negative DVOA. Some of this can be explained by the lack of talent the Raiders had at wideout a year ago; perhaps adding Antonio Brown will help Carr's numbers rise. However, with four picks in the top 35, the Raiders can take a gamble on a new long-term plan for their move to Vegas. Remember, the current regime did not draft Carr, and he hasn't played like a top-10 quarterback since 2016. If Jon Gruden falls in love with someone like Drew Lock, he has the resources to trade back up into the top 10 and pull the trigger.
Not a need: Offensive tackle
The Raiders needed to find a new tackle across from last year's first-round pick, Kolton Miller. When Donald Penn went down with an injury last season, the results weren't pretty; Brandon Parker was not ready for prime time. So Oakland went out and signed Trent Brown, who should slot into left tackle and bump Miller back to the right side as he develops, thus vastly improving both positions. On a team with as many holes as Oakland has, that's the closest the Raiders really come to a strength.
-- Bryan Knowles
NFL draft prospect Josh Jacobs reflects on his time at Alabama and playing for Nick Saban. Watch episodes of "Draft Academy" exclusively on ESPN+.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest need: Safety
Cowboys fans were really excited for Earl Thomas to come over in free agency. Thomas had made clear his desire to play for Dallas, and the Cowboys have needed help in the secondary for essentially the entire decade at this point. But it didn't happen. Instead, Thomas went to Baltimore, and the Cowboys settled for adding George Iloka -- not exactly a satisfying consolation prize. He might be an upgrade over Jeff Heath, who never saw a tackle he couldn't miss, but it's not even close to enough at the position. With no first-round pick thanks to the Amari Cooper trade, the Cowboys could be looking at someone like Alabama's Deionte Thompson in the second round.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
Amari Cooper provided an immediate boost for the Cowboys when he arrived midseason, but Dallas still needs to add some talent to its receiving corps. In particular, the departure of Cole Beasley leaves them in need of a slot receiver. Randall Cobb is supposed to be the replacement, but he has struggled with injuries over the past few seasons and had less than 400 yards a year ago, ranking 76th out of 84 qualifying receivers in FO's DYAR stats. Even assuming Michael Gallup continues to trend upward after a slow start to his rookie season, the Cowboys need more playmakers in the receiving game.
Not a need: Interior offensive line
Center Travis Frederick missed all of 2018 battling Guillain-Barre syndrome, and his absence really hurt the Cowboys' offensive line. It looks like he will be returning for 2019, however, which should provide some much-needed relief. Zack Martin remains one of the top guards in the game as well. Those two alone make the interior line a strength, even if the duo of Connor Williams and Xavier Su'a-Filo are still question marks at left guard.
New York Giants
Biggest need: Quarterback
Eli Manning is no longer a quarterback who should be starting for a team that is attempting to compete; he hasn't had a positive DVOA since 2014, and hasn't been in the top 20 in QBR since the year after. At age 38, he's also not a quarterback who should be starting for a team that is attempting to rebuild; by the time the Giants are realistic playoff contenders again, Manning will almost assuredly be out of football. It remains surprising that the Giants picked up Manning's roster bonus in March, and even more surprising that some reports have them considering extending him through 2020. The time to find his replacement was last year's deeper quarterback draft, but the Giants need to make a move at some point, surely.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
The Giants really don't have quiet needs; they have glaringly obvious ones and slightly less glaringly obvious ones. Adding Golden Tate to replace Sterling Shepard as the Giants' second wideout was a solid move and would have meant the Giants were all right at wide receiver ... if it weren't for the trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. out of town. Instead, Shepard will be stretched as the No. 1 while a series of journeymen will compete to be the No. 3 option. A rebuilding team might be able to get by with a Tate/Shepard/Corey Coleman trio, but no one is going to confuse that for a top-flight receiving corps. It's not as pressing a need as quarterback, or edge rusher, or a replacement for Chad Wheeler on the offensive line, but losing OBJ just adds wideout to the ever-growing pile of Giant needs.
Not a need: Running back
You can question the wisdom of drafting a running back high, or whether the Giants would have been better off with taking a quarterback last season, but at least Saquon Barkley turned out to be everything he was advertised to be. The first-team All-Pro immediately became the focus of the Giants' offense, running through and over defenders all year long. He'll be facing a lot of eight-man boxes in 2019, and the Giants could consider upgrading Wayne Gallman to give him a break occasionally, but that's not anything even remotely in the same ZIP code as a priority.
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest need: Linebacker
The Eagles needed help at linebacker even before Jordan Hicks signed with the Cardinals; they never really did manage to replace Mychal Kendricks last season. Nigel Bradham is an option to replace Hicks, though the Mike position isn't his ideal position. They did add L.J. Fort, a solid run defender from Pittsburgh, and both Nate Gerry and Kamu Grugier-Hill have shown some potential, but Hicks leaves some very big shoes to fill.
Quiet need: Running back
At time of writing, Jay Ajayi remains a free agent, recovering from his ACL tear. The Eagles did trade away a 2020 sixth-round pick for Jordan Howard, but Howard has been less successful every year he has been in the league. The rest of the depth chart is crowded -- Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams -- but none of them have ever put up a positive DVOA season with enough runs to qualify for our tables (100 carries). Josh Jacobs is an option as a back-of-the-first-round running back.
Not a need: Quarterback
Eagles fans will miss Nick Foles -- after leading the Eagles to their first Super Bowl win, he's enshrined in Philly's sports lore forever. But carving out the room to use the franchise tag on him was never a realistic option. Carson Wentz hasn't been fully healthy for two years now, but even the somewhat injured Wentz was still a top-12 quarterback last season. I wouldn't slap Wentz with the injury-prone label at this point in his career, either; he has been unfortunate more than anything else to miss time. Nate Sudfeld has experience in the system as Wentz's backup; some competition for him wouldn't be a terrible idea, but the departure of Foles does not suddenly make this a huge need.
Washington Redskins
Biggest need: Wide receiver
Washington's future at quarterback is murky, as Alex Smith may never play football again after his gruesome leg injury a year ago. However, adding Case Keenum gives Washington clarity at the position for 2019, bumping QB down a rung or two on its list of needs. Instead, we'll highlight Washington's depleted receiver corps. With Jamison Crowder going to New York, that leaves Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson and Trey Quinn in the starting lineup. None of those are playmakers who force defenses to account for them. Washington hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Pierre Garcon in 2016, and they haven't had a top-10 receiver since Garcon's 2013 season. With a deep class of receivers in this year's draft, Washington has a chance to finally get that playmaker it has been looking for since Garcon and DeSean Jackson left town.
Quiet need: Safety
Yes, Washington added Landon Collins in free agency. That's a huge boost for Washington's secondary and more than adequately replaces D.J. Swearinger. The problem is, with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix headed to Chicago, Washington actually needed two new safeties, not just one. Montae Nicholson would be the other starter at the moment, but his legal issues put his 2019 season in jeopardy. That leaves ... Deshazor Everett? Jeremy Reaves? Not good. A midround pick would find a wide-open path to a starting job.
Not a need: Running back
Derrius Guice suffered several setbacks in his ACL recovery last year, but it appears that he'll be ready to go even by organized team activities. That's a free second-round pick for 2019, and a good one; Guice was the third-highest rated running back in our BackCAST projections at this time last year. He'll join Adrian Peterson, who was one of the big surprises of 2018: one of only five players ever to have a 1,000-yard season at age 33 or older. If Chris Thompson can stay healthy, that's a solid top three in the backfield.
-- Bryan Knowles
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Biggest need: Cornerback
Without a first- and second-round draft pick, the priorities in Chicago's draft plan are different than they are for most NFL teams. Third-round picks and beyond should not be expected to step in immediately and start the way first-rounders should. Therefore the Bears' draft strategy should be about identifying developmental players at positions where they might soon need help. Cornerback is the most glaring opportunity for the Bears to do this. Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara are an excellent duo, but declining an Amukamara option after the 2019 season would save the Bears some much-needed cap space. Additionally, the roster of depth cornerbacks behind Fuller and Amukamara is not good, save for flashes from Sherrick McManis last year. The Bears would be smart to grab a cornerback with one of their earliest picks to secure depth and potentially develop a starter for when the roster needs to be turned over down the line.
Quiet need: Edge rusher
While the Bears put up a third-best 50 sacks last season, there is no such thing as having too many good pass-rushers. Considering the roster has few clear holes and the team is without a first- and second-round pick, this deep pass-rusher class provides the perfect opportunity for the Bears to use their mid- and late-round picks on supplementary pass-rushers. Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd will be the obvious starters, but there is no third pass-rusher on the roster who clearly stands above the rest. The Bears should use one of their picks to help fill out a top-heavy portion of their roster.
Not a need: Offensive line
In a league with poor offensive line play across the board, it is rare for any team to not be worried about its offensive line. The Bears, however, are in a luxurious position where most of their offensive line is established. Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. is a good-not-great blindside tackle, while the combination of guard James Daniels, center Cody Whitehair and guard Kyle Long makes up one of the best interiors in the league. Right tackle Bobby Massie is the line's weakness, but with as good as the other four starters are, the Bears should be in a comfortable spot with their offensive line in 2019.
Detroit Lions
Biggest need: Guard
There is a gaping hole at right guard in Detroit. Now-retired T.J. Lang was signed prior to last season as a potential fix, but injuries, including season-ending neck issues, shortened his season to just six starts. Lang was cut earlier this offseason, followed by his retirement. Kenny Wiggins, who started in place of Lang in 2018, cannot be the starter this season if the Lions plan on keeping Matt Stafford protected. With Darrell Bevell now serving as the Lions' offensive coordinator, the offense will surely be a pass-heavy unit, which means the Lions need to prioritize pass protection when evaluating guard prospects in the upcoming draft.
Quiet need: Cornerback
An All-Pro in 2017, Darius Slay is a stud lockdown cornerback on the outside, but he needs help. Opposite Slay is Teez Tabor, who struggles down the field and has yet to show consistent success in his two seasons in the league. Though the Lions did already add Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin in free agency, they do not fix the team's cornerback issues in full. Coleman is a nickel cornerback and Melvin should be a depth player, which still leaves a question mark opposite Slay as a starter on the outside. It would be surprising if the Lions did not use one of their first three picks in this draft on a cornerback.
Not a need: Running back
Health permitting, Kerryon Johnson is the answer at running back. He maintained a 5.4 yards per carry average on 118 carries for 641 yards last season. Johnson also had 32 receptions in 10 games and can develop into a more complete pass-blocker, making him a true three-down back. The Lions also have Theo Riddick and the recently acquired C.J. Anderson behind Johnson, each of whom offer drastically different skill sets. With a young star in Johnson and other holes in the roster, there is no need for the Lions to burn draft resources on a running back unless the value is too good to pass up.
Green Bay Packers
Biggest need: Receivers
It is already abundantly clear the Packers intend to restructure their offense this season. With Mike McCarthy out and new head coach Matt LaFleur in, the identity and pace of the offense is going to change from a West Coast style to some variation of Kyle Shanahan's offense. Aside from Davante Adams, though, there are no established wide receivers on the roster, and starting tight end Jimmy Graham, now 32, is nowhere near the player he was in New Orleans. The Packers need to bring in at least one player with a premium draft pick who can help attract attention away from Adams and enable the offense to show variety.
Quiet need: Linebacker
Inside linebacker Jake Ryan left the Packers after two seasons as a starter to sign with the Jaguars this offseason. As the roster stands now, there is no real answer to immediately replace Ryan. Blake Martinez will continue his role as one of the starting linebackers, but Antonio Morrison, who replaced Ryan when he was injured last season, has been cut. James Crawford and Oren Burks are the only two other linebackers on the roster, not including safety Josh Jones, who can play a bit of linebacker if necessary. Crawford and Burks were mostly special-teamers last season and did not prove ready to be starters. Unless they have something creative up their sleeve, the Packers should address linebacker at some point in the draft.
Not a need: Pass-rusher
After years upon years of not spending in free agency during the Ted Thompson era, the Packers finally broke the bank on a pair of pass-rushers this spring. Former Ravens outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith and former Redskins outside linebacker Preston Smith are now the Packers' starting edge defenders, replacing Clay Matthews and Nick Perry from last season. With Kyler Fackrell, who broke out with 10.5 sacks last season, also in the mix as a third pass-rusher, the Packers are set at the position for now.
Minnesota Vikings
Biggest need: Offensive line
Signing guard Josh Kline cannot be the end of the Vikings' quest to fix the offensive line this offseason. An interior trio of guard Aviante Collins, center Pat Elflein and guard Kline is not going to cut it next season, especially with other teams in the division such as the Packers and Lions making strong efforts to improve their defensive fronts. The Vikings need to invest in better insurance for their expensive quarterback, Kirk Cousins. If Cousins is forced to play in the same disastrous pockets he was a year ago, the Vikings will not take the next step as top NFC contenders.
Quiet need: Running back
Dalvin Cook's talent has never been a question in the NFL. However, he has suited up for only 15 of the team's 32 games over the past two seasons due to an ACL tear in 2017 and lingering hamstring issues in 2018. In an ideal world, the Vikings can move forward with Cook as the clear feature back, but it would be foolish to be confident in Cook's health at this point. Furthermore, the backup group of Michael Boone, Roc Thomas and Ameer Abdullah is not a depth chart the Vikings should be aiming to start the season with. Even if they just take a late-round swing, the Vikings need to add a running back.
Not a need: Cornerback
Cornerback talent is rarely an issue for Mike Zimmer's defenses. Dating back to his days as the Bengals' defensive coordinator, Zimmer has always kept an abundance of starting-quality cornerbacks on the roster. He is willing to burn premium pick after premium pick to make sure he always has good cornerbacks on the field. With a current stable of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Mackensie Alexander, the Vikings have more than enough talent to suppress Zimmer's desire to draft cornerbacks.
-- Derrik Klassen
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Biggest need: Edge rusher
Vic Beasley Jr. has now descended from leading the league in sacks in 2016 to warming the bench for the latter part of 2018, as midseason acquisition Bruce Irvin almost immediately took over Beasley's starting spot. Irvin is now in Carolina, so the spot once again belongs to Beasley, but this season he is playing on an expensive fifth-year contract option and there is little to indicate that he can or will return to his 2016 form. Takk McKinley has one starting edge spot sewn up, but when the options for the other spot are Beasley and journeyman Steven Means -- even Brooks Reed has moved on, in his case to the Cardinals -- it is clear that the Falcons require an upgrade. They are widely expected to prioritize this position at the top of a deep rookie class at the position.
Quiet need: Cornerback
The Falcons have a significant need on the back end of their defense too. Six-year starter Robert Alford is now in Arizona, and free agent Brian Poole left for the New York Jets after starting nine games for the Falcons in 2018. Desmond Trufant remains, but his pay is generally considered to outweigh his performance. 2018 second-round pick Isaiah Oliver played 14 games as a rookie, but started only two of those despite a slew of injuries and poor performance around him. Safety Damontae Kazee is expected to make the move to cornerback, which is neither a ringing endorsement of Kazee nor the rest of the cornerback room. Blidi Wreh-Wilson may get an opportunity to start after impressing as a backup last season, but a weak Falcons cornerback group has only been weakened further this offseason.
Not a need: Receiver
After an explosive, touchdown-filled start, Calvin Ridley's numbers regressed toward the mean somewhat as the season went on. Still, the rookie receiver finished his debut campaign with a very respectable 821 yards and 10 touchdowns. All three of the team's top receivers -- Ridley, Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu -- had more than 800 receiving yards and at least four touchdowns. Most teams would be very happy to see two players reach those numbers, never mind three. The Falcons can make a convincing argument that they have the league's best trio of starting receivers, giving them both strength and depth at the position. Jones and Sanu will both be 30 by opening day, but the Falcons should have another couple of years before age becomes a concern, so any use of resources on this spot would appear superfluous given the issues elsewhere on the roster.
Carolina Panthers
Biggest need: Edge rusher
Since Julius Peppers retired and Wes Horton was not retained, the Panthers have added only Bruce Irvin -- who spent portions of 2018 on the Falcons and, previously, the Raiders -- to their extremely shallow roster at defensive end. Returning starter Mario Addison turns 32 in the first week of the regular season, and the other two players to earn significant playing time in 2018 -- Nigerian-born former BAFA prospect Efe Obada and third-year Bryan Cox Jr. -- have precisely zero career starts (and only two sacks, both by Obada) between them. Horton remains unsigned through the beginning of April, and the team could probably bring him back if they so desire, but there is no doubt that the Panthers could do with a serious investment at a position that is traditionally one of the cornerstones of their defense.
Quiet need: Tight end
Greg Olsen started every game and had more than 800 yards receiving in every season from 2012 to 2016, leading the Panthers in receiving in four of those five seasons. Since then, Olsen has missed a full season's worth of games with a recurring foot fracture, and the veteran has not gained 500 total yards across the 16 games he has been deemed healthy enough to start. Olsen is now 34, and his career is probably winding down. His prospective replacement, 2018 fourth-round pick Ian Thomas, had 333 receiving yards from a position at which rookies do not normally generate much production, but Thomas is a raw player who will likely need more time to learn the nuances of a position at which Olsen was something of a master. The Panthers appear set at every other ballhandling position on offense, so the need is hardly urgent, but there is definitely an opportunity here for the right player to become an extremely productive part of the Panthers' offense for much of the next decade.
Not a need: Wide receiver
Even with Devin Funchess now in Indianapolis, the Panthers appear set at both receiver and running back. A 2015 second-round pick, Funchess departs after piling up more than 2,200 yards across his four seasons in Carolina, including a team-leading 840 in 2017; but the big target finished third on the team in receiving yards in 2018 and was considerably less important to the Panthers' receiving corps than either speedy rookie DJ Moore or the versatile Curtis Samuel. Moore and Samuel have another year of experience now, and veterans Jarius Wright and Torrey Smith round out a depth chart which, though not quite as impressive as division rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay, should be more than adequate to allow the Panthers to focus their attention elsewhere with their draft selections.
New Orleans Saints
Biggest need: Defensive tackle
The departure of free agent Tyeler Davison and the Achilles tendon injury suffered by Sheldon Rankins during the 2018 postseason leave the Saints with a significant hole at what was previously a position of some strength. The free-agent acquisition of Malcom Brown from the Patriots should help alleviate those losses, but with Rankins likely to start the season on the reserve (PUP) list, the Saints are still set to start the regular season with only two established players (Brown and David Onyemata) at defensive tackle. Undrafted rookie Taylor Stallworth impressed in his 318 snaps last season, but the team should be looking to add another player who can immediately take over Davison's workload and benefit the rotation even after Rankins returns. This class is acclaimed for the depth of talent on the defensive line; so even with only a single second-round pick remaining for the first two days of the draft, the Saints should be able to find a player who fits that bill.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
When Ted Ginn Jr. missed a large portion of last season with a knee injury, the 34-year-old veteran's absence exposed just how developmental the developmental portion of the Saints' receiving depth chart actually was. Running back Alvin Kamara (709 yards) was the team's second-leading receiver behind Michael Thomas (1,405), and no pass-catcher other than those two had even 450 yards. The acquisition of Jared Cook should fill the gap left by Benjamin Watson's retirement; another year of experience should benefit Tre'Quan Smith; and the team still hopes to have Cameron Meredith back at something close to full health. Still, the Saints' offense is much more effective when it features more than one reliable wideout, and right now every wide receiver other than Thomas carries a question mark.
Not a need: Quarterback
For the Saints, the backup situation and potential succession plan at quarterback has been a significant question at this point in the offseason for much of the past decade. This year, for once, it is not: The relatively unexpected retention of former Vikings first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater, for whom the Saints traded at the end of the 2018 preseason, means that the Saints now have both a viable backup should Brees miss time and another chance to evaluate a potential starter for the long term. That leaves the Saints, for once, not needing to consider drafting a quarterback prospect when they have other, more immediate needs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest need: Cornerback
With the addition of several rookies at both cornerback and safety, last season's Buccaneers made significant strides toward rectifying their long-term problem area ... and still finished dead last in defensive DVOA. Brent Grimes, a favorite of departed defensive coordinator Mike Smith, talked his way out of town. But for all the headaches he caused, Grimes was still clearly the closest the team had to a genuine No. 1 cornerback. Rookie M.J. Stewart made a positive impression in his debut campaign, and Vernon Hargreaves still has potential, but neither is that true top cornerback who would make such a difference to this Buccaneers secondary. The good news is that such prospects are probably available in this draft; the less good news is that rumors abound that the Buccaneers intend to spend their top pick on linebacker Devin White instead. It's not that the team doesn't need a linebacker -- more on that shortly -- but the difference in value of the two positions should make grabbing a potential top cornerback the more expedient use of draft capital.
Quiet need: Linebacker
The consolation, and indeed the justifiable reasoning, if the Buccaneers do indeed take White is that he fills another position of obvious need. Last offseason, the Buccaneers appeared set at this spot, with Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander an established tandem and the impressive Kendell Beckwith heading a deep group of backups behind those two. Since then, Beckwith suffered a broken ankle in a car wreck that kept him out for the entire 2018 season; he may not return for 2019. Alexander tore his ACL in midseason and then left for San Francisco in free agency. Despite the free-agent addition of Deone Bucannon (ex-Arizona), the linebacker depth chart looks considerably more precarious now than it did 12 short months ago. It's hardly a quiet need insomuch as the team is widely expected to use the No. 5 overall pick in filling it, but the Buccaneers' need at linebacker is probably a touch less significant than the use of such a resource at that spot would lead us to believe.
Not a need: Tight end
Somehow, the Buccaneers enter 2019 still with Cameron Brate alongside O.J. Howard in their tight end room, and with talented Canadian Antony Auclair lurking behind those two in search of an opportunity. With a change of offense looming under Bruce Arians and Byron Leftwich, and the departure of Adam Humphries to Tennessee, all three players may well have the opportunity to make a significant contribution next season. Tight end is an odd position at which to have the deepest group in the league, but that looks to be the case in Tampa Bay.
-- Andrew Potter
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Biggest need: Receivers
Christian Kirk showed promise as a rookie before a broken foot ended his season, but aside from him, the Arizona receiving corps did not show much to be excited about for the future. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald is still around, but after finishing 72nd in receiving DYAR out of 84 wide receivers with at least 50 targets, he may be reaching the end of the road. The tight end picture is similarly gloomy, as former undrafted free agent Ricky Seals-Jones finished dead last among qualifying tight ends in DYAR. Hopefully the change from Mike McCoy to Kliff Kingsbury running the offense will help spice things up and be a rising tide that lifts all boats, but this group still needs some major work.
Quiet need: Offensive line
The Cardinals' simplistic rushing attack and lack of continuity along the offensive line certainly didn't help matters, but it doesn't change the fact that they ranked 25th in adjusted line yards and 26th in adjusted sack rate. The Cardinals used 13 starters on the offensive line in 2018, and they are hoping that the acquisitions of tackle Marcus Gilbert and guard J.R. Sweezy can bring some stability to this unit. Given that the other three projected starters for 2019, D.J. Humphries, A.Q. Shipley and Justin Pugh, have struggled with injuries in recent years, some additional depth outside of 2018 third-round pick Mason Cole will be needed as well.
Not a need: Lead pass-rusher
Not much went right for the Cardinals in 2018, but at least they were able to rely on their pass rush, finishing third in adjusted sack rate. Chandler Jones played a big role in that, reaching double-digit sacks for the fourth season in a row, including all three of his seasons in the desert. Given that Arizona had a very bad run defense and was consistently playing from behind, the fact that Jones still racked up 30 pass pressures was quite impressive.
Los Angeles Rams
Biggest need: Interior offensive line
After losing left guard Rodger Saffold in free agency and declining their option on center John Sullivan, the Rams will need to fill two holes on what was the best run-blocking offensive line by adjusted line yards. The Rams have said they feel comfortable replacing those two veterans with young players Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen, who were both drafted in 2018. Los Angeles has an excellent zone-blocking scheme that could make their running game productive regardless of who is in the middle of the line, but relying on a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick, respectively, to step in without missing a beat when neither of them started a game in 2018 is cause for concern.
Quiet need: Interior defensive line
It feels weird talking about interior defensive line as a need for the team that employs two-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and another solid starter in Michael Brockers, but outside of those two, the Rams have a real need on the defensive line. Ndamukong Suh is a free agent and unlikely to be back, and the depth behind the two remaining starters leaves a lot to be desired. Even with Suh available in 2018, the Rams were a poor unit defending the run, finishing 27th in run defense DVOA, and that starts up front. As talented as he is, Donald can't make every single play, so the Rams will need to look to the draft for answers on the interior.
Not a need: Wide receiver
The Rams had an absolutely loaded offense in 2018, and their talented trio of receivers had a lot to do with that. Between Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp (prior to going on injured reserve), the Rams had a dominant group of pass-catchers. Todd Gurley II's skills as a receiver out of the backfield certainly helped the quality of the Los Angeles aerial assault, but when your top three wide receivers rank seventh, 12th, and 16th in receiving DVOA, you clearly have a good thing going.
San Francisco 49ers
Biggest need: Defensive back
Outside of Richard Sherman, the 49ers entered the offseason with a lot of work to do in the secondary. Cornerback Jason Verrett could be a solid buy-low pickup if he manages to stay healthy, but given that he has played more than six games in a season only once since entering the league in 2014, his health should not be assumed. He missed all of 2018 with a torn Achilles tendon. Jimmie Ward and Antone Exum are back for depth at safety behind Jaquiski Tartt and Adrian Colbert, who each missed half of 2018 with injuries as well. While the 49ers have some pieces back in place, it is highly unlikely that all those ifs and maybes will come to fruition. There just needs to be more here.
Quiet need: Offensive line
San Francisco was an effective run-blocking unit in 2018, but its pass protection left a bit to be desired, as it finished only 19th in pressure rate allowed, according to Sports Info Solutions charting. Left tackle Joe Staley has been in the lineup for a decade, but he will be 35 at the start of the season. While Mike McGlinchey is likely the long-term replacement after playing right tackle as a rookie, the 49ers are going to need another tackle in the relatively near future. Center Weston Richburg was banged up in 2018 after coming over from New York via free agency, so the 49ers could use some depth on the interior as well.
Not a need: Quarterback
Though Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending ACL injury early in the 2018 campaign may have doomed San Francisco's playoff hopes, the 49ers emerged from the season fairly set at the position. Garoppolo will be back in 2019, and though C.J. Beathard may not have impressed in Garoppolo's absence, the 49ers stumbled on a capable backup in Nick Mullens. After spending 2017 on the San Francisco practice squad, Mullens exceeded expectations filling in for Garoppolo late in 2018. Despite the fact that he entered the season third on the depth chart, Mullens finished the year ranked 18th in passing DVOA. Not bad at all for a backup.
Seattle Seahawks
Biggest need: Defensive line
Defensive line was the biggest area of concern for the Seahawks at the outset of free agency, and even though they placed the franchise tag on Frank Clark, their only other moves to address the position on the free-agent market were picking up Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard in the latter wave of free agency. Seattle drafted Marsh in 2014, and though he never developed into much more than a rotational player in his time with Seattle, New England and San Francisco, he did set a career high with 5.5 sacks in 2018. Orchard spent his first three years in Cleveland before being cut at the end of training camp in 2018 and then subsequently bouncing between Buffalo and Kansas City during the season, appearing in four games. Those two do not inspire confidence in the defensive line depth, so Seattle will likely look to address the defensive line in the draft.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
In spite of Tyler Lockett leading the league in receiving DVOA and DYAR and the Seahawks employing a run-first (and then some more) offense, wide receiver has emerged as a trouble spot for the team. Doug Baldwin spent all of 2018 dealing with injuries and is undergoing multiple surgeries this offseason, and given that 2019 is his age-31 season, it is fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank. Beyond those two, Seattle's wide receiver options are worrisome. 2017 seventh-round pick David Moore showed some upside as a big body on the outside, but he did not record more than two catches in a game after the calendar hit December. Jaron Brown was mostly a nonfactor after coming over from Arizona, and Brandon Marshall was cut early in the season. Seattle's current receiver depth will not be able to hold up if Baldwin or Lockett is forced to miss time in 2019.
Not a need: Running back
The internet collectively had some fun at Seattle's expense on draft night last year when the Seahawks used a first-round pick on Rashaad Penny of San Diego State. Penny showed promise as a rookie, ranking sixth in DYAR among running backs with fewer than 100 carries in 2018, but he received that low level of volume because he was third on the depth chart behind Chris Carson and Mike Davis. Davis signed with the Bears in free agency, but with Carson and Penny still in the fold along with J.D. McKissic, who missed most of 2018 with a broken foot, and C.J. Prosise (technically), the Seahawks have no shortage of young ballcarriers on cheap contracts.
-- Carl Yedor