The 2020 NFL draft will be a virtual affair, taking place April 23-25 from remote offices all over the country.
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.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAC | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest need: Safety
The Cowboys have used free agency to fill the bulk of their glaring holes, signing Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe at defensive tackle, Anthony Brown at cornerback and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at safety. They should use the draft to fill the holes their roster will likely have in 2021, 2022 and 2023, when their bigger recent contracts for players such as Amari Cooper and (eventually) Dak Prescott will make it difficult to do so in free agency. Safety should be a big priority, with both Clinton-Dix (signed to a one-year deal) and fellow starter Xavier Woods hitting free agency in 2021.
Prospect who might fit: Xavier McKinney, Alabama
Quiet need: Pass rush
DeMarcus Lawrence is one of just 13 players with 30 or more sacks the past three seasons, and his total of 50 pass pressures last season, according to Sports Info Solutions, shows that he is not slowing down, despite his diminished total of five sacks in 2019. But Lawrence's individual success hasn't elevated the Cowboys' defense to pass-rushing excellence. They've finished 14th or worse in adjusted sack rate each of the past three years, and they lost both Robert Quinn (37 pass pressures) and Michael Bennett (24) in free agency. Aldon Smith could help if he rediscovers his early-decade form, but the team should still look to add pieces in the draft.
Prospect who might fit: Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Not a need: Linebacker
Linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch can be overlooked on a team full of stars, but they both have Pro Bowl résumés, despite being 24 years old. Smith allowed an excellent 14.1% broken tackle rate in 2019, and Vander Esch allowed a minuscule 6.6% broken tackle rate in his healthier 2018, the second-lowest rate among full-time players at the position (Bobby Wagner, 5.4%). Veteran Sean Lee backs them up and plays when the Cowboys need a third linebacker.
New York Giants
Biggest need: Offensive tackle
Left tackle Nate Solder was supposed to anchor the Giants' offensive line as the team kicked off the rebuild that landed them quarterback Daniel Jones. But since he signed his $62 million deal in 2018, Solder has underwhelmed. Last season, he finished in the bottom five of offensive linemen (minimum 300 pass-protection snaps), with a 5.8% blown block rate, according to Sports Info Solutions, and the team allowed the fifth-most offensive pressure (33.4%) overall. Solder's contract makes him a cut candidate after 2020, which is also when new right tackle Cameron Fleming's one-year deal expires. The Giants should invest at the position to give Jones his best chance for success.
Prospects who might fit: Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama; Mekhi Becton, Louisville
Quiet need: Linebacker
The Giants filled the most glaring hole in their linebacker group with the $30 million free-agent addition of Blake Martinez. But on a base 3-4 team with more strength than speed on the defensive line, they need to add athletic linebackers with the versatility to rush the passer, cover tight ends and slot receivers, and stop the run. David Mayo was a pleasant surprise as a first-time starter in 2019 and will return for the team in 2020, but he's a similar player to Martinez and relatively slow for the position, with a 4.83-second 40-yard dash time.
Prospect who might fit: Zack Baun, Wisconsin
Not a need: Interior defensive line
The Giants were well-positioned at defensive tackle, with first-round rookie Dexter Lawrence, Dalvin Tomlinson and B.J. Hill, before they traded for Leonard Williams in 2019. Now, with all four players under contract for 2020, the Giants could improve on their already-excellent 4.02 adjusted line yards allowed on defense, which was seventh in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest need: Linebacker
Eight-year veteran Nigel Bradham won't be a major loss, even if a declined $10 million option makes it seem like he would be. The Eagles' problem is that they don't have compelling internal candidates to replace Bradham. According to Sports Info Solutions, Nathan Gerry missed 29% of his attempted tackles, third-highest among linebackers with 50 such attempts. T.J. Edwards was undrafted in 2019 and played just 112 defensive snaps in his rookie season. Newly signed Jatavis Brown fell short of that total, transitioning to more of a special-teams role in his final season with the Chargers. The Eagles need a blue-chip player in the second level, and the draft gives them their best chance to find one.
Prospects who might fit: Patrick Queen, LSU; Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Quiet need: Offensive line depth
The Eagles planned for their need to replace longtime left tackle starter Jason Peters by drafting Andre Dillard in the first round of the 2019 draft, but he carries some risk after a position-worst 13.0% blown block rate on limited snaps in his rookie season, according to Sports Info Solutions. Although the team's other four offensive line starters are experienced, the backups -- Sua Opeta, Nate Herbig, Keegan Render, Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata -- were all either Day 3 draft picks or undrafted, and they have a combined 14 games of NFL experience with zero starts.
Prospects who might fit: Isaiah Wilson, Georgia; Robert Hunt, Louisiana
Not a need: Cornerback
The Eagles had four primary starters at cornerback in 2018, and three of them -- Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas -- allowed at least 8.7 yards per target. Darius Slay's 7.8 yards per target allowed in 2019 marked his worst rate of the past three seasons, and his trade to the Eagles should fill both outside corner holes as Avonte Maddox (6.9 yards per target) becomes an overqualified No. 2 corner. Nickell Robey-Coleman adds talent in the slot corner role.
Washington Redskins
Biggest need: Left tackle
The Redskins entered the 2019 season with three left tackles on their roster, and they might open the 2020 season without any of them. Donald Penn manned the position last season but is 37 years old and still a free agent. Ereck Flowers transitioned to guard to make way for Penn, had a surprisingly strong season and earned a big contract with the Dolphins. Seven-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams has not played for the team since 2018 and still wants to be released or traded. Neither former third-round pick Geron Christian nor free-agent addition Cornelius Lucas has much experience at left tackle, so the Redskins should seek to bolster this position in the draft.
Prospects who might fit: Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama; Mekhi Becton, Louisville (likely after trading down)
Quiet need: Quarterback
The Redskins were toasting Giants GM Dave Gettleman for reaching for Daniel Jones and allowing their preferred option, Dwayne Haskins, to fall to their selection at the 15th pick. But after Haskins' uninspiring rookie season, the team should consider hedging its quarterback-of-the-future bets. We're not trying to be overly critical of Haskins, given his inexperience and the lack of quality players around him last season, but his 26.9 QBR and -43.4% DVOA were both the worst at the position among players with 200 or more pass attempts. Jared Goff is a recent example of a quarterback who rebounded from a worse statistical start to his career, but Goff is much more the exception than the rule.
Prospects who might fit: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (early); Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (later)
Not a need: Linebacker
The Redskins were left scrambling to fill an unexpected hole at linebacker last offseason, when Reuben Foster suffered a terrible knee injury, but they have filled that void extremely well, so they should be fine at the position in 2020 even if Foster is unable to return. They re-signed Jon Bostic after his bounce-back season for the team, added veteran Thomas Davis and can be confident in sophomore Cole Holcomb after he surprised with an excellent 14.7% broken tackle rate as a fifth-round rookie.
-- Scott Spratt
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Biggest need: Offensive line
We doubt, highly, that the combination of Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles will finally solve Chicago's 70-year search for a quality starting quarterback. But considering that the Bears just used draft capital on acquiring Foles and that they don't draft until the second round, we are going to assume that Chicago is set at quarterback for 2020 and talk about something else, just for the sake of variety.
Chicago's offensive line took a huge step back in 2019, dropping to 21st in adjusted sack rate after ranking seventh in 2018 -- just what a struggling young quarterback needs. The run blocking remained terrible, as the Bears ranked 28th and 29th in the league in adjusted line yards the past two seasons. Adding holes to poor play, Kyle Long retired and is being replaced by Germain Ifedi, a move that brought much celebration among Seahawks fans tired of having to watch Ifedi play. Both Bobby Massie and Rashaad Coward ranked in the bottom 20 in Sports Info Solutions' total points earned metric (minimum 500 snaps), and James Daniels and Cody Whitehair joined them near the bottom of the run-blocking-specific tables. All in all, the Bears' linemen were charted with 124 blown blocks, which played a huge role in Chicago's offensive stuttering and stopping. With the possible exception of Whitehair, the entire line could stand to be improved. The void at right guard is Priority No. 1.
Prospects who might fit: Austin Jackson, USC; Robert Hunt, Louisiana
Quiet need: Inside linebacker
The Bears did re-sign Danny Trevathan, which is great. However, both Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis are gone, off to Oakland and Washington, respectively. While the duo of Trevathan and Roquan Smith is acceptable as a starting pair, both ended last season on injured reserve, and the cupboards are nearly bare behind them. All other interior linebackers on the roster have a combined total of 26 defensive snaps in their careers. The Bears need depth, both to contribute on special teams and to be prepared for an injury to the aging Trevathan.
Prospect who might fit: Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Not a need: Defensive line
Akiem Hicks should be back, healthy and ready to go, which is great because the Bears really missed him after he suffered an elbow injury in October. Bilal Nichols should also be fully recovered from his hand injury, and Eddie Goldman remains as stalwart as ever. Although it would have been nice to retain Nick Williams, who was a pleasant surprise in the void created by Hicks and Nichols' absences, this is probably the Bears' strongest position when everyone is healthy. There are far too many needs elsewhere -- and far too few picks in the cabinet -- for Chicago to be spending capital on the interior line in this year's draft.
NFL draft prospect Jeff Okudah expresses his thoughts to Maria Taylor on possibly getting picked right after Ohio State teammate Chase Young in the top of the draft.
Detroit Lions
Biggest need: Cornerback
The addition of Desmond Trufant isn't enough to bump cornerback from Detroit's top slot because Detroit traded its one competent corner, Darius Slay, to Philadelphia. Even if Slay were still in town, we'd probably still be asking for an improvement over Trufant; he ranked 84th out of 88 qualified cornerbacks in 2019, with just a 39% success rate, and hasn't been above 50% since 2017. Justin Coleman was ranked 56th with a 50% success rate, which makes him Detroit's top corner at the moment. With a pass defense DVOA of 26.1% last season, 29th in the NFL, Detroit needed plenty of help before Slay left town, and the situation has grown more dire. Paging Jeff Okudah to the Honolulu blue courtesy phone ...
Prospect who might fit: Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
Quiet need: Defensive tackle
The Lions have needs all across the defense, but the bright, flashing needs in the secondary and the linebacking corps might distract you from the quieter need inside. Mike Daniels, Damon Harrison and A'Shawn Robinson were all free agents; none of them is back with the team. Detroit did bring in Danny Shelton, tapping into Matt Patricia's New England connections, but neither he nor Nick Williams is a game-changer up front. The Lions have the depth. Now they need someone on top of it to win battles in the trenches.
Prospects who might fit: Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M; Ross Blacklock, TCU
Not a need: Center
The Lions should be happy if their first-round pick this year develops the same way their 2018 first-round pick did. Frank Ragnow took a huge step in his sophomore season, moving to center full-time and getting comfortable with the speed of the NFL game. In pass protection, his blown blocks total fell from 15 to eight, and he allowed just one sack after allowing five the season before. He isn't a fully finished product yet, but you could see how much more comfortable he looked last year, and there's no reason to believe he won't continue to improve in 2020.
Green Bay Packers
Biggest need: Wide receiver
Davante Adams remains one of the best receivers in the game, but there wasn't much behind him in 2019. Geronimo Allison had the second-lowest receiving DVOA in the league in 2019, at -37.2%. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had the worst catch rate in the league, at 46%. Those were your Nos. 2 and 3 receivers; that's simply not going to cut it. The Packers did add Devin Funchess, but he was sidelined for nearly all of 2019, thanks to a collarbone injury. He's had a positive DVOA in only one season, 2017. It's not that he has zero potential, but he's a gamble, a player who never reached his top potential in Carolina. He has never had a year as good as that of Allen Lazard, who impressed in a limited sample, with a 14.6% DVOA on 52 targets. What Green Bay could really use is a speedster; only Valdes-Scantling was clocked with a 40-yard dash under 4.5 seconds. In a deep receiving class, don't be surprised if Green Bay looks for a player such as Denzel Mims or Devin Duvernay in the second round.
Prospects who might fit: Denzel Mims, Baylor; Tee Higgins, Clemson
Quiet need: Guard
Elgton Jenkins was very good as a rookie, ranking eighth in ESPN's pass block win rate. This isn't about Jenkins. Lane Taylor is still technically on the roster, though he remains a potential cap casualty for a team sitting very close to the salary ceiling. No, this is about Billy Turner, who came from Denver last season. In his first year in Green Bay, Turner allowed 10 sacks, tied for the worst total for any guard in the league, per Sports Info Solutions charting. He had 36 blown blocks, which ranked fourth-worst among guards. Turner isn't without any merit -- he doesn't commit penalties, for one thing -- but he's really a depth lineman being forced into a starting position. Perhaps Taylor takes his slot, with Turner kicking to the outside, or perhaps lightning can strike twice and the Packers can find another player of Jenkins' caliber on the second day of the draft.
Prospect who might fit: Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
Not a need: Running back
Aaron Jones has been in the top 10 in both DYAR and DVOA each of the past two seasons, and the Packers wisely transferred more of the workload to him and away from Jamaal Williams as 2019 progressed. Not that Williams is bad, by any means; he ranked inside the top 30 in both rushing DYAR and DVOA, and he was top-10 among running backs in receiving DYAR and DVOA. He would be a starter for a fair number of teams. Add Dexter Williams and Tyler Ervin for depth, and there's no extra room in the Packers' backfield.
Minnesota Vikings
Biggest need: Cornerback
With massive salary-cap-related bloodletting going on this offseason, you could make an argument for any number of positions here; the cupboard is bare, and the Vikings desperately need to restock, with wideout and edge rusher particularly crucial. Cornerback continues to outshine them all, however. The Vikings' best cornerback in 2019, Trae Waynes, ranked 67th in success rate, at just 47%. He's in Cincinnati now. Xavier Rhodes was the worst starting cornerback in football, with an abysmal 32% success rate. He's now in Indianapolis. Even if you look at cornerbacks who didn't have enough targets to qualify for our leaderboards, only Mackensie Alexander had a success rate above 50%, and he's joining Waynes in Cincinnati. Minnesota's strong defensive DVOA came from its pass rush and stellar safeties; cornerbacks were a liability. A starting trio of Mike Hughes, Nate Meadors and Holton Hill is not good enough.
Prospects who might fit: Jaylon Johnson, Utah; A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Quiet need: Defensive tackle
Linval Joseph was cut in the great salary exodus of 2020, with Michael Pierce coming in via free agency to replace him. Pierce is one of the strongest guys in the league and is in the conversation about the best run-stuffing linemen in football. He's coming off of a down year, thanks to a bum ankle, but he's a very useful role player. He's also really only a role player, an early-down run-stuffer without a long track record of pass-rushing success. That's an upgrade over the Joseph of 2020, if not the Joseph of days gone by. Alongside him is Shamar Stephen, basically just a rotational piece. While the trade of Stefon Diggs, the release of Josh Kline and the general cornerback exodus all rightfully draw more attention to those positional groups, more depth on the interior would be a welcome addition.
Prospect who might fit: Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
Not a need: Tight end
Although the Vikings have the best safety duo in the NFL, they have no one on the roster behind Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, and they need depth. That leads us to point to tight end as Minnesota's most stocked position. Kyle Rudolph finished in the top three in DYAR for the third season in a row and is coming off the greatest season in his career by DVOA, ranking fifth overall, at 26.9%. Last year's second-round pick, Irv Smith Jr., had a very solid year for a rookie, and Tyler Conklin and Brandon Dillon provide young depth. There really isn't any room for another draftee to make the roster.
-- Bryan Knowles
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Biggest need: Cornerback
Following the release of longtime starter Desmond Trufant, the Falcons are left with three 23-year-olds in Kendall Sheffield, Isaiah Oliver and Jordan Miller, as well as career backup Blidi Wreh-Wilson at cornerback. Sheffield and Oliver have promise as draft picks from the first four rounds, but their 39% and 46% coverage success rates from 2019, respectively, landed them in the bottom 15 of qualified corners. Adding another corner in the draft wouldn't provide the veteran experience the Falcons want at the position, but it would give the team another option to try if Sheffield or Oliver fails to take a marked step forward in 2020.
Prospect who might fit: A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Quiet need: Pass rush
The Falcons' free-agent acquisition of Dante Fowler Jr. might have quieted the public cry for pass-rushing help, but it isn't enough. Among the team's purported pass-rushers from 2019, Vic Beasley Jr. and Adrian Clayborn fared the best, with 25 and 24 pressures, respectively, and they both left in free agency. Takkarist McKinley hasn't lived up to his first-round draft selection and might not justify his 2021 fifth-year team option. With a dire cap situation that should continue with Fowler's backloaded contract, the Falcons should draft more pass-rushers, as much for the future as for 2020.
Prospect who might fit: Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Not a need: Tight end
Former first-round pick Hayden Hurst was never able to pass midround gem Mark Andrews on the Ravens' depth chart, but he was even more efficient (28.1% DVOA) than the very efficient Andrews (12.1%) in a part-time role in 2019. Hurst has a chance for a breakout season as the new starter for the Falcons this season.
Carolina Panthers
Biggest need: Defensive tackle
The 2019 Panthers' 18.6% run defense DVOA was the worst by any team since the 1996 Redskins. You could reasonably argue, then, that the team shouldn't stress the losses of starting defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, but they don't have much behind them. Kawann Short missed most of 2019 with a torn rotator cuff and is now 31 years old. Newly signed Zach Kerr is a journeyman with just 12 starts in his six-year NFL career. And the Panthers don't have linebacker Luke Kuechly and his excellent 10.6% broken tackle rate to clean up their poor line play anymore.
Prospect who might fit: Derrick Brown, Auburn
Quiet need: Offensive line
The rebuilding Panthers may not mind a defense in shambles, but they should be worried about their current protection for new quarterback starter Teddy Bridgewater. Overmatched fill-in quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Will Grier share some responsibility for the team's 8.6% adjusted sack rate -- fourth-worst in football -- but their offensive line still allowed pressure on 30.0% of the team's dropbacks. And that was before the team traded five-time Pro Bowl right guard Trai Turner for the less-expensive-but-not-as-good left tackle Russell Okung and lost starters Greg Van Roten and Daryl Williams in free agency.
Prospects who might fit: Damien Lewis, LSU; Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
Not a need: Quarterback
Bridgewater's front-loaded $63 million deal doesn't bind the team to him beyond 2021, but the Panthers will likely still forgo their chance to draft a rookie potential quarterback of the future. Instead, new head coach Matt Rhule signed his former starter at Temple, P.J. Walker, who most recently excelled in the XFL and can serve as the team's quarterback prospect behind Bridgewater.
New Orleans Saints
Biggest need: Linebacker
With maybe the most complete roster in football, the Saints don't need much. Even at linebacker, they have a blue-chip player in Demario Davis, whose 8.0% broken tackle rate was third at the position in 2019 (minimum 50 tackle attempts). But the Saints did lose starter A.J. Klein to the Bills, and incumbent veteran Kiko Alonso put a lot of miles on his body in his seven-year career before he tore his ACL in the team's playoff loss to the Vikings. He could be ready for the start of the 2020 season, but the Saints would be prudent to add some depth at the position.
Prospects who might fit: Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma (early); Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State (later)
Quiet need: Cornerback
Marshon Lattimore has a blue-chip reputation, but that might have been built on his five interceptions as a rookie in 2017. He has just three in the two years since, and he has never finished in the top 30 among qualified cornerbacks in coverage success rate or yards allowed per target. The Saints shouldn't pay Lattimore top dollar, and if he wants it, their relationship could go the way of the Jaguars and Jalen Ramsey, who at least justified his demands with top-30 coverage success rates in his first three seasons. The Saints should plan for their future at the position in this year's draft.
Prospect who might fit: A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Not a need: Wide receiver
Michael Thomas had too much of the Saints' receiving burden on his shoulders in 2018 and 2019, but new teammate Emmanuel Sanders should rectify that. The 33-year-old Sanders might have ceded the focus of the offense to rookie Deebo Samuel down the stretch of the 49ers' Super Bowl run, but Sanders continued to excel on a per-target basis with a 10.5% receiving DVOA in 2019.
Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't foresee Mekhi Becton's draft stock dropping too far despite his flagged drug test.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest need: Offensive line
It is a core tenet of Football Outsiders that pass protection is more dependent on the quarterback than people realize, but the Buccaneers probably shouldn't take that chance with their new, 42-year-old, $50 million quarterback. The Buccaneers allowed a 29.0% pressure rate on offense in 2019. That was middle-of-the-pack in the league but nearly 2% worse than the worst showing the Patriots had with Tom Brady in the past five seasons (27.2%, 2017). Meanwhile, Brady's reputation as a quick decision-maker didn't lead to a quicker trigger in 2019. He and Jameis Winston had nearly identical 2.75- and 2.77-second average times to throw, according to Next Gen Stats.
Prospects who might fit: Andrew Thomas, Georgia; Mekhi Becton, Louisville
Quiet need: Slot receiver
Brady has made a habit of turning late and undrafted slot receivers into stars. Perhaps sixth-round sophomore Scotty Miller can be next in line behind Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, but his -15.5% receiving DVOA as a rookie in 2019 doesn't inspire confidence. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard all averaged more than 10.0 air yards per target last season. Their targets will likely come shallower with Brady under center, but the Bucs should consider adding a better slot prospect to elevate this offense to "terrifying."
Prospects who might fit: Tyler Johnson, Minnesota; James Proche, SMU
Not a need: Running back
After a terrible rookie season, Ronald Jones II bounced back in 2019 with an average -2.3% rushing DVOA that likely would have been better with better line play. Both his 21.2% broken tackle rate and his 9.2% receiving DVOA suggest that he could be a positive contributor with quality blocking. He is a capable lead back who could thrive alongside what should be an explosive passing attack.
-- Scott Spratt
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Biggest need: Offensive line
The trade for DeAndre Hopkins was the biggest story of Arizona's offseason, and general manager Steve Keim also managed to add pass-rushing and linebacker help to his defense. The next order of business is to improve an offensive line that allowed an adjusted sack rate of 8.4% last season, 26th in the league. Left tackle D.J. Humphries blossomed in 2019 and signed a three-year deal with $29 million guaranteed in February, but there is room to improve everywhere else. A.Q. Shipley, last year's starting center, remains unsigned. Starting guards Justin Pugh and J.R. Sweezy are both on the wrong side of 30. So is Marcus Gilbert, the penciled-in starter at right tackle who missed his first season in the desert because of a torn ACL. Gilbert re-signed with the team on a one-year deal in March, but with only $150,000 guaranteed, his job is hardly secure. Louisville's Mekhi Becton and Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. have been frequent selections for Arizona's pick at No. 8 in recent mock drafts.
Prospects who might fit: Mekhi Becton, Louisville; Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
Quiet need: Cornerback
With a future Hall of Famer on one side and a young second-rounder on the other, this isn't an obvious weakness for Arizona, but Vance Joseph's defense could use some help on the outside. Patrick Peterson is entering the final year of his contract. Byron Murphy started 16 games as a rookie but ranked 81st out of 88 qualifying corners, with a 42% success rate in coverage, according to Sports Info Solutions charting. Third corner Robert Alford will turn 32 during the 2020 season and missed all of 2019 because of a broken leg.
Prospects who might fit: Bryce Hall, Virginia; Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame
Not a need: Wide receiver
Let us count the riches. Since he was drafted in 2013, DeAndre Hopkins is among the top three NFL players in catches, yards and touchdowns. He joins another Hall of Famer-in-waiting in Larry Fitzgerald, the active leader in all three categories. They'll be backed up by 2018 second-round draft pick Christian Kirk (averaging better than 50 yards per game in his career) and a trio of sophomores in Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson. Few teams in the league can match Arizona's receiver corps in either past accomplishments or youthful potential, let alone both.
Los Angeles Rams
Biggest need: Offensive line
To be fair, this looked like an even bigger need going into free agency, but general manager Les Snead was able to re-sign left tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard/center Austin Blythe to new deals. That means every Rams starter on the offensive line will return in 2020 ... but then, that line wasn't terribly effective in 2019, ranking 24th in pressure rate allowed and 26th in stuff rate. Whitworth signed a three-year deal worth $30 million ($12.5 million guaranteed), though with him now 38, it's fair to wonder if he'll see all three of those years. The other four positions are questions. Blythe will compete with Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, David Edwards and Joe Noteboom for the three interior spots. At right tackle, Rob Havenstein missed the middle part of the season because of a knee injury. When he returned to health, the Rams kept him on the bench, preferring to start youngster Bobby Evans. It would be nice for the Rams to find another concrete starter in the draft, but that will be difficult without a first-round pick.
Prospects who might fit: Josh Jones, Houston; Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
Quiet need: Running back
Todd Gurley II's departure leaves L.A. with zero proven options in the backfield. Darrell Henderson was strictly a role player in his rookie season, peaking with 11 carries for 49 yards against Cincinnati in Week 8. Malcolm Brown has never been more than a role player in five NFL seasons; his best performance in 2019 came in Week 1, when he gained 53 yards on 11 carries against Carolina. The good news for the Rams is that Henderson's potential is worth exploring for a full season. The third running back taken in the 2019 draft, Henderson averaged an astonishing 8.2 yards per carry in three seasons at Memphis, and he was the top runner in his class, according to our BackCAST projections.
Prospect who might fit: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Not a need: Interior defensive line
All Aaron Donald did in 2019 was lead the NFL in tackles for loss for the second year in a row while collecting his fifth consecutive first-team All-Pro selection. His tag-team partner, Michael Brockers, had been a rock for the Rams at nose tackle since their days in St. Louis, but he reached a deal with Baltimore in free agency. Los Angeles looked to replace him by signing 330-pound A'Shawn Robinson away from Detroit. Then Brockers failed his physical with the Ravens, who were concerned about an ankle injury, so he returned to the Rams on a three-year deal. If he's healthy -- and the Rams could answer that question as well as anyone else -- then L.A. could field a Bear front of Brockers, Robinson and Donald that would strike terror in the heart of any offense in the league.
San Francisco 49ers
Biggest need: Wide receiver
Deebo Samuel broke out as San Francisco's top wideout in the postseason, but the crushing loss of Emmanuel Sanders in free agency left the 49ers woefully thin on the depth chart behind him. Kendrick Bourne is the only other wideout on the roster who caught more than a dozen passes last season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan did not have encouraging words for Marquise Goodwin or Dante Pettis at the combine, saying the former might be traded while the latter "took a documented step back in his second year."
Prospects who might fit: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma; Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Quiet need: Safety
It's hard to find too many flaws in this roster -- the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl for a reason -- but San Francisco's safeties were practically invisible last year. They were bottom-five in tackles by players at that position, and San Francisco was the only team in the league whose safeties failed to record a single interception. Obviously, a lot of this is scheme-based, as 49ers safeties were frequently asked to line up deep and take away the big play, but they were nothing special in that department, either, ranking 12th in open-field yards allowed (runs past 10 yards) and 10th in coverage against deep passes. Jimmie Ward signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract in March, but neither he nor Jaquiski Tartt has ever started more than 13 games in any of their combined 11 NFL seasons, usually finishing far below that threshold.
Prospect who might fit: Grant Delpit, LSU
Not a need: Running back
San Francisco's depth here is ridiculous. Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida are both established starters. Raheem Mostert is averaging 6.0 yards per carry in his career and scorched the Packers for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs. Jeff Wilson re-signed with the team in March. Jerick McKinnon, who missed the past two years with a torn ACL, is still on the roster. That's not even counting fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who averaged 10 yards per target -- more than any of San Francisco's starting wideouts or tight ends.
Seattle Seahawks
Biggest need: Pass rush
The Seahawks were 30th in adjusted sack rate last season, and only the lowly Dolphins were worse in pressure rate, according to Sports Info Solutions charting. Part-time starter Rasheem Green led Seattle with only 4.0 sacks. Though he had only 3.0 sacks, Jadeveon Clowney led the team with 41 hurries, nearly twice as many as any of his teammates. Clowney remains unsigned, stubbornly insisting on being paid like a top-flight edge rusher despite never amassing 10 or more sacks in a season. The Seahawks did sign a pair of free agents, Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa, who combined for 15.5 sacks last year with the Panthers and Ravens, respectively. But more help is needed if Seattle is going to be a Super Bowl contender.
Prospects who might fit: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa; Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Quiet need: Running back
There may not be a lot of Seahawks fans clamoring for yet another high draft pick to be used on a running back, but Seattle's top two options at the position are both facing serious injury concerns. Chris Carson fractured his hip in Week 17 last year, and though he is expected to be ready for Week 1, his status for training camp is uncertain. Things are even worse for Rashaad Penny, who could begin the season on the PUP list (putting him on the shelf for six weeks) as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in December.
Prospect who might fit: Zack Moss, Utah
Not a need: Secondary
In the past seven months, general manager John Schneider has acquired safety Quandre Diggs from the Lions and cornerback Quinton Dunbar from Washington, for the low price of three draft picks, each in the fifth round or later. The Seahawks went 4-1 with Diggs in the lineup last season, plus another win in the playoffs, while Dunbar can line up on the right side and allow Tre Flowers to move inside to nickelback, a position Seattle didn't really have in 2019. With holdovers in cornerback Shaquill Griffin and safety Bradley McDougald, the Seahawks haven't exactly rebuilt the Legion of Boom, but they should still have one of the better secondaries in the league.
-- Vincent Verhei
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Biggest need: Edge rusher
General manager Brandon Beane has put together one heck of a roster. In just a couple of offseasons, Beane fixed the offensive line, reloaded at wide receiver, pieced together an elite secondary and more. No roster is perfect, however, and Buffalo's glaring blemish is at pass-rusher. Buffalo lost Shaq Lawson -- who quietly earned 30 pressures last year -- in free agency, and had to say goodbye to a retiring Lorenzo Alexander. The Bills operated on a heavy rotation of four pass-rushers that included those two, with the others being Trent Murphy and Jerry Hughes, who are still on the roster. Hughes and Murphy will not cut it alone, and adding Mario Addison in free agency likely is not enough to make up for the lost production, either. The Bills would be best served swinging on a pass-rusher or two on Day 2 of the draft.
Prospect who might fit: Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Quiet need: Guard
For as improved as Buffalo's offensive line was a year ago, it still has some room for improvement at right guard. Quinton Spain held down the fort on the left side, but 2019 free-agent signing Jon Feliciano did not cut it at right guard. Feliciano was more or less expected to be a Band-Aid signing at the time, considering he earned only a two-year deal with just over $7 million total. This is an opportunity for the Bills to reload at that spot. Unfortunately, the 2020 draft class is not well stocked in quality interior offensive line talent, but perhaps a roll of the dice on Day 3 could net them a surprise starter.
Prospects who might fit: John Simpson, Clemson; Shane Lemieux, Oregon
Not a need: Cornerback
Even before free agency, cornerback was only arguably a borderline need for the Bills. Buffalo entered the offseason with a stud No. 1 in Tre'Davious White, aided by Levi Wallace on the opposite side and Taron Johnson in the slot. That was not the best secondary in the league, but it was well above the threshold. Then the Bills went after Josh Norman on a one-year, prove-it deal in free agency. Additionally, E.J. Gaines was re-added to the roster after spending a year in Cleveland. At the very least, the Bills added some decent depth to an already solid cornerback room with the potential for Norman to rebound and outshine Wallace at the No. 2 spot.
Dan Orlovsky explains how Tua Tagovailoa's skills are far superior to Justin Herbert's ahead of the NFL draft.
Miami Dolphins
Biggest need: Quarterback
No need to beat around the bush here. It was rather clear from the get-go that Miami's plan in 2019 was to scrap the roster and finish with as high a pick as possible. The team gambled a second-round pick last year on former Cardinals first-round pick Josh Rosen, but it became apparent rather quickly they may as well have just lit the draft card for that pick on fire. In the end, cunning vet Ryan Fitzpatrick guided the Dolphins to a few wins, so they ended with the fifth overall pick instead of the first. The Dolphins may now need to trade up in order to secure the QB they want, be that Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert, but there is almost no way the Dolphins leave the first round of the draft without their new potential franchise quarterback. This has been the plan all along.
Prospects who might fit: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama; Justin Herbert, Oregon
Quiet need: Offensive line
If nothing else, the left side of Miami's line seems settled for 2020. Left tackle Julie'n Davenport, left guard Ereck Flowers and center Ted Karras are a good bet to be locked into their positions for the season. Now, whether or not they will serve as a competent trio is another discussion, but they at least seem to be more or less expected to be starters. Right guard and right tackle are a different story. For now, Michael Deiter and Jesse Davis assume the right side of the line. Deiter, a 2019 third-round pick, was atrocious as a rookie. He gave up 31 blown blocks on 663 pass-blocking attempts, according to Sports Info Solutions, which was the second-most among NFL guards. Davis was equally bad, as he surrendered 34 blown blocks on 657 pass-blocking attempts, which tied for second most among NFL tackles, behind only Nate Solder. Something has to change, especially considering the right side of Miami's line would be the "blind side" if they end up with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback.
Prospect who might fit: Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
Not a need: Cornerback
There is a case to be made that the Dolphins have the best starting cornerback tandem in the league. Teams such as the Ravens and Patriots have strong arguments of their own, but the Dolphins shelled out the cash to sign Byron Jones this offseason to pair with Xavien Howard. Both players have been the No. 1 cornerback on their respective defenses. The Dolphins' depth at cornerback is not too shabby, either. Bobby McCain, primarily a nickel for Miami, is the only cornerback drafted in 2015 (out of 35) to still be on the team that drafted him. He needs to get back to 2016 and 2017 form, when he allowed less than 7 yards per target, but the potential is there, health permitting. Miami also has Nik Needham, who was an undrafted rookie in 2019 forced into action due to injuries around the rest of the depth chart. Needham earned a 58% success rate in coverage on 74 targets, which put him right in the range of other solid cornerbacks such as Baltimore's Brandon Carr and New England's Jonathan Jones.
New England Patriots
Biggest need: Quarterback
The departure of Tom Brady makes this an easy call. While Brady's best days are behind him, there is no denying that he was still a pillar for the Patriots' offense and kept them afloat in 2019, all things considered. New England's only two quarterbacks on the roster right now are 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham and veteran backup Brian Hoyer. It is safe to say Stidham and/or Hoyer will not cut it if the Patriots plan on rebounding from Brady's absence right away. Look for New England to take a swing on a quarterback in the draft or perhaps piece together a draft-day deal with a team looking to ship off its current starting quarterback.
Prospects who might fit: Jordan Love, Utah State; Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Quiet need: Pass-catchers
All that being said about Brady and a need for a new quarterback, part of Touchdown Tom's downfall in 2019 was the Patriots' poor pass-catching corps. Had New England had either a bad wide receiver corps or a bad tight end unit, perhaps they could have made do as they have before, but having both units be subpar handcuffed one of the best playcaller/quarterback duos in recent history. 2019 first-round pick N'Keal Harry taking a step forward in 2020 would give the Patriots a much-needed boost, but they still need to add talent at wide receiver and tight end. The wide receiver group lacks speed in particular, while the tight end unit lacks receiving talent of any kind. Considering the strength of the wide receiver class and weakness of the tight end class, it is much more likely and reasonable for the Patriots to satiate their needs at wide receiver with this draft.
Prospects who might fit: Justin Jefferson, LSU; Adam Trautman, Dayton
Not a need: Defensive back
In bringing back safety Devin McCourty, the only potential need in New England's secondary was filled. McCourty is one of the league's top free safeties and "center fielder" types, which only increases his value in a Bill Belichick defense that has recently favored Cover 1 over other coverages. To run a Cover 1 defense as Belichick wants, the roster must be loaded with cornerback talent, which is absolutely the case for New England. Stephon Gilmore is the best cornerback in the league and can lock down any No. 1 receiver on an island, while Jason McCourty, J.C. Jackson and Jonathan Jones make for an athletic, multifaceted group of cornerbacks to handle the rest of an opposing offense's weapons. Even 2019 second-round pick Joejuan Williams showed promise in very limited action last season.
New York Jets
Biggest need: Wide receiver
In a vacuum, letting Robby Anderson walk was not the worst thing in the world. The discount price tag for which he eventually signed does make it look worse for the Jets, but there is a world where saving that money could make sense. The issue, however, is the Jets had almost nothing behind him on the roster, and their only moves in free agency have been shots in the dark. The Jets signed Josh Doctson and Breshad Perriman this offseason. Perriman is coming off a hot end to 2019 but is likely just a lesser version of Anderson. Docston is an oft-injured 2016 first-round pick who has yet to piece together his talented skill set as an outside threat. Quincy Enunwa, who is a decent No. 3 wide receiver on a good offense, is the best returning receiver from the 2019 roster. Drafting one or two wide receivers in the top 100 is an absolute must for the Jets.
Prospects who might fit: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma (early); Chase Claypool, Notre Dame (later)
Quiet need: Edge rusher
To be clear, edge rusher is as much of a need for the Jets as wide receiver. As of now, Jordan Jenkins and Tarell Basham are the Jets' top two pass-rushers. The pair combined for 43 pressures and 10 sacks in 2019, which is rather lackluster for a team's starting duo. Ideally, both players would be a third or fourth pass-rushing option for a defense, not the top two. While the Jets finished middle-of-the-pack in overall pressure rate, that was much more because of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' blitz-heavy nature. The Jets needed to swing on a free-agent pass-rusher earlier this offseason, but missed their chances there. Making up for lost opportunities via the draft will be necessary if the Jets want to field a decent pass rush in 2020.
Prospect who might fit: Josh Uche, Michigan
Not a need: Quarterback
While his first two seasons have been far from perfect, Sam Darnold has shown promise when healthy, and there is zero reason to look for another starting quarterback right now. The Jets do not need to touch their backup situation, either. David Fales has been a longtime backup for Adam Gase dating back to their time together in Miami. Though not an elite backup, Fales is fine, and clearly someone Gase is comfortable with in his QB room. New York also has Mike White on the roster, who was exceptionally accurate coming out of Western Kentucky in 2018 and could provide capable play as a No. 3 quarterback.
-- Derrik Klassen
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Biggest need: Inside linebacker
After losing Josh Bynes in free agency, the Ravens are currently down to L.J. Fort, Chris Board and Otaro Alaka on the second level of the defense. Board and Alaka have almost no NFL experience between them. While it might be a bit of a pipe dream to see Clemson's Isaiah Simmons fall all the way to Baltimore in the 20s, it makes some sense for them to pop a name like Oklahoma's Kenneth Murray or LSU's Patrick Queen with their first pick so they can finally fully replace the departed C.J. Mosley.
Prospects who might fit: Patrick Queen, LSU; Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Quiet need: Interior offensive line
Marshal Yanda's retirement has thrown this area into disarray, though the Ravens focused most of their resources this offseason on shoring up their defense. 2019 fourth-rounder Ben Powers will likely be asked to step in, but between Matt Skura (injured at midseason), backup Patrick Mekari and last year's left guard Bradley Bozeman, there's a wide range of possible outcomes in the interior. Michigan's Cesar Ruiz seems to be one of the names picking up the most buzz on the interior line, and that could be a fit.
Prospect who might fit: Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
Not a need: Tight end
With Nick Boyle on a big deal and Mark Andrews breaking out in a big way in his sophomore season -- not to mention the versatility Patrick Ricard brings -- it would be surprising to see real draft capital spent here.
Peyton Manning details his conversation with Joe Burrow after Burrow called him for advice ahead of the 2020 NFL draft.
Cincinnati Bengals
Biggest need: Quarterback
Joe Burrow had one of the most statistically impressive quarterback seasons of all time. The Bengals did the "let's see how Andy Dalton does under new leadership" dance, and it ended predictably, with Dalton finishing with 19 DYAR (26th) and a minus-10.6% DVOA (also 26th). This has seemed like a fait accompli since the draft order first spilled out, and perhaps the only way it would change is if the Bengals decided they preferred Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert and were offered the motherload of assets they'd need to get off the No. 1 overall pick.
Prospect who might fit: Joe Burrow, LSU
Quiet need: Offensive line
The Bengals did some rare heavy spending this offseason, but the line is still in a dire place. Jonah Williams missed all of last season with a labrum repair but should be ready to step in at left tackle. Trey Hopkins was solid, if uninspiring, at center. Right tackle Bobby Hart's contract became a joke the minute it was signed, and remained that way. Billy Price hasn't developed at all. Xavier Su'a-Filo was signed as a stopgap, but this is an area the Bengals could legitimately spend multiple draft picks on. It's considered a deep tackle class as well, so perhaps someone like Houston's Josh Jones or USC's Austin Jackson will be around near the top of the second round.
Prospects who might fit: Josh Jones, Houston; Austin Jackson, USC
Not a need: Defensive line
D.J. Reader, Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap and Sam Hubbard are a pretty effective starting four. Atkins and Dunlap are getting up there in years but have shown no signs of slipping yet. Players such as Carl Lawson and Ryan Glasgow give the Bengals reasonable depth as well.
Cleveland Browns
Biggest need: Left tackle
With Jack Conklin added to solidify right tackle, the Browns have to wrangle with the fact that Chris Hubbard isn't really a left tackle and that nobody on the roster currently is, either. They could make a sign-and-trade for Washington holdout tackle Trent Williams. They could also just sit at 10th overall and take the best tackle available in what seems to be a stacked class at the position. Iowa's Tristan Wirfs, Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr., Georgia's Andrew Thomas and Louisville's Mekhi Becton are often cited as the best of the group.
Prospects who might fit: Tristan Wirfs, Iowa; Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
Quiet need: Inside linebacker
In the wake of losing Joe Schobert to the Jaguars, the Cleveland depth chart at inside linebacker includes 2019 third-rounder Sione Takitaki (105 career defensive snaps), longtime Giants linebacker B.J. Goodson and 2019 fifth-rounder Mack Wilson. This position could probably use a little extra shoring up in the middle rounds of the draft, perhaps with someone like Oregon's Troy Dye or Appalachian State's Akeem Davis-Gaither.
Prospects who might fit: Troy Dye, Oregon; Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
Not a need: Running back
The Browns have both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield, so they look set to weather any potential issues there. We suppose a third-down back could be on the shopping list, but it's probably not a big point of emphasis.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Biggest need: Quarterback
Maybe Ben Roethlisberger can play another few years, maybe he can't. It's plain to see that he's not exactly mobile at this point, and he has missed time with injury in four of his last five seasons. He's also 38. The Steelers saw both Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges become liabilities in limited playing time last year, moving to an extremely short-focused passing offense with only occasional big shots down the field. The Steelers probably should be looking harder at the opportunity to sign Jameis Winston or Cam Newton to have an established quarterback ready for the snaps Roethlisberger will inevitably miss. They could also try to address this problem in the second round, with someone like Utah State's Jordan Love or Georgia's Jake Fromm.
Prospect who might fit: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Quiet need: Interior line
Stefen Wisniewski has been a solid NFL player for a long time. Maurkice Pouncey has been a great NFL player for a long time. But with Ramon Foster retiring, we have to acknowledge that there isn't much depth here behind a 31-year-old who has not started 16 games in a season since 2015 and a 30-year-old who has been on the decline for a bit. David DeCastro is also 30. This could be a good landing spot for a prospect to grow and learn for a year, maybe with a brief starting spell. Players such as Fresno State's Netane Muti or Ohio State's Jonah Jackson fit the bill.
Prospects who might fit: Netane Muti, Fresno State; Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
Not a need: Defensive line
The Steelers can definitely use young role players, but even after losing Javon Hargrave, they have an intimidatingly good front three with Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward. Both Chris Wormley and Tyson Alualu could see additional playing time.
-- Rivers McCown
AFC South
Houston Texans
Biggest need: Pass rush
Trades necessarily dominate any discussion of the Texans' needs this offseason, for good or ill. The trade of Jadeveon Clowney and another major injury to J.J. Watt left Whitney Mercilus overmatched as the top pass-rusher on the Texans for much of 2019. With only Mercilus and Watt surpassing 3.5 sacks, the team finished No. 29 in adjusted sack rate and No. 26 in pressure rate, per SIS charting. Mercilus is fine as a second option, but he needs a premium player opposite him. Watt can be that player, but he has missed two full seasons' worth of games over the past four years. Clowney could have been that player, but he isn't coming back. With the trade for Laremy Tunsil leaving Houston with no first-round pick to use on a top prospect, the Texans need either to build a much deeper rotation or to stumble upon a hidden gem.
Prospect who might fit: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa (if he falls)
Quiet need: Wide receiver
The trade of DeAndre Hopkins made offseason headlines for all the wrong reasons, at least from Houston's perspective, and the trade for Brandin Cooks did little to alleviate that. In theory, a receiver depth chart of Kenny Stills, Will Fuller V, Cooks and Randall Cobb is perfectly adequate, but in practice, Fuller's nagging injury problems have cost him 14 games over the past two seasons, and none of those players has come close to Hopkins' level as a true No. 1 target. Stills and Fuller are also out of contract at the end of the year, at which point retaining both might be tricky. The Texans can't hope to draft a player to replace Hopkins for this year, but they should probably be considering how to replace at least one of their current group for 2021.
Prospects who might fit: Devin Duvernay, Texas; K.J. Hill, Ohio State
Not a need: Cornerback
With most of last season's cornerback starts in Houston headed for free agency in March, this looked like a position of grave concern coming into the offseason. The re-signing of Bradley Roby looks like the team's best offseason move so far, and the current depth chart of Roby, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Gareon Conley and the re-signed Vernon Hargreaves should be strong enough that the team doesn't need to look too hard at the position with its limited draft picks.
Indianapolis Colts
Biggest need: Tight end
With last year's top receiving tight end, Eric Ebron, now in Pittsburgh, the top options at this spot are currently Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox. Neither is a bad player, but between Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry, new quarterback Philip Rivers is used to a slightly different caliber of option at this spot. Most of the receiver positions should be set, assuming Parris Campbell develops in his second year, but the tight end has always been an integral target for Rivers. A true pass-catcher at this spot would go a long way toward making the veteran signal-caller comfortable in his new home.
Prospect who might fit: Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Quiet need: Quarterback
How things have changed from a year ago, when this position was firmly in the "not a need" category. Nobody foresaw the retirement of Andrew Luck, and while the team appears to have addressed that immediate issue with the signing of Rivers, neither he nor Jacoby Brissett is the long-term answer as the starting quarterback for the Colts. Neither is under contract past this season, so the team needs to be at least looking at possible contingencies even as they go all-in for 2020.
Prospect who might fit: Jake Fromm, Georgia
Not a need: Front seven
The addition of DeForest Buckner should make an already decent front seven even better for 2020. Kemoko Turay and Justin Houston are strong edge rushers, Buckner greatly enhances the interior line, and Darius Leonard, Anthony Walker and Bobby Okereke could become one of the most dynamic linebacker groups in the league. The edge rotation would benefit from an upgrade, but that's true for almost every team in almost every season in league history. There isn't a position in the Colts' starting front seven that currently needs an upgrade.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest need: Secondary
Remember when the Jaguars had the best pass defense in the NFL? An exciting, dominant secondary headlined by Jalen Ramsey and including A.J. Bouye, Tashaun Gipson, Barry Church and nickelback Aaron Colvin? That was two years ago. Not one of those players remains on the Jaguars' roster, and the pass defense last year ranked No. 22 in DVOA. The overall defensive DVOA dropped from No. 1 in 2017 to No. 6 in 2018, then plunged to No. 29 last year. That group was left starting an undrafted rookie across from the one remaining veteran of 2017, A.J. Bouye, who has since been cut. The safeties are young enough to retain some optimism, but the cornerback group needs to be completely retooled.
Prospect who might fit: CJ Henderson, Florida
Quiet need: Quarterback
There's no such thing as a quiet need in Jacksonville right now, as the Jaguars enter the latest version of rebuilding. Gardner Minshew II made headlines and highlights in the first half of last season after taking over for Nick Foles, but Minshew's limitations came to the fore more in the second half of the campaign after he returned to the starting lineup. He should have a long career as the most popular backup in town, but he hasn't (yet) shown that the Jaguars' age-old search for a franchise quarterback is anywhere close to over. Foles is gone, packed off to Chicago, so former Steelers backup Joshua Dobbs is the other option at present. At the very least, the team needs to look at available veterans; but if they have the chance to grab a player they think can be a franchise passer, they should be very keen to make that happen.
Prospect who might fit: Jake Fromm, Georgia
Not a need: Receiver
While injuries have tended to deprive us of seeing the entire group on the field together, the Jaguars' top five of Marqise Lee, DJ Chark Jr., Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley and Keelan Cole compares favorably to just about any five-deep receiver group in the sport. The team has a well-earned reputation for developing receivers, and this is the one position at which they justifiably have no depth or talent concerns ahead of 2020.
Michael DiRocco explains how the Jaguars attempting to trade Leonard Fournette propels the team into a full rebuild.
Tennessee Titans
Biggest need: Right tackle
The departure of Jack Conklin opens a clear and obvious hole on the Titans' roster, one they are very much expected to fill in the draft. Dennis Kelly remains available if required, but a new right tackle could be key for a team that has built its offensive identity around its outside zone running game. That would go a long way toward maximizing the potential returns on newly franchise-tagged running back Derrick Henry and newly re-signed quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Prospect who might fit: Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
Quiet need: Defensive line
This was a need even before cap constraints forced the trade of perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. Casey and 37-year-old Cameron Wake were the only Titans other than top edge rusher Harold Landry III to record double-digit quarterback hits in 2019, and departed slot cornerback Logan Ryan was one of the team's most effective blitzers. The re-signing of Kamalei Correa helps on the outside, and the signing of Vic Beasley Jr. could be a steal if Beasley can recapture his 2016 form, but the losses of Casey, Austin Johnson and Brent Urban hurt the defensive line depth a great deal. Adding at least one interior defender looks like a necessity to help restock a rather bare rotation behind the starting three.
Prospects who might fit: Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State; Ross Blacklock, TCU
Not a need: Linebacker
One position that this division features in abundance is quality linebackers. The Titans are no exception: Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown are young, dynamic players who are good enough to be locked in at the starting spots for 2020 and beyond. The departure of Wesley Woodyard hurts depth, but Woodyard was more a strong veteran voice than on-field contributor in 2019. A late-round pick might be worth a flier for depth or special teams, but the Titans' starting roles look set for the next few years as long as their top two can stay healthy.
-- Andrew Potter
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Biggest need: Wide receiver
Courtland Sutton exploded onto the scene in 2019, but in the wake of the Emmanuel Sanders trade, the rest of the Broncos' wideout depth chart is a group of players who haven't made much impact yet in the NFL. Tim Patrick and DaeSean Hamilton are probably the leading candidates to play outside and in the slot. The next good NFL season either one of them puts together will be his first. This is one of the deeper wideout drafts in some time, so the Broncos can probably wait this out until the second round if they don't love anybody at No. 15 overall.
Prospects who might fit: Justin Jefferson, LSU; Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Quiet need: Quarterback
Did Drew Lock show enough to get a full-season trial? That's a tough question to answer. Lock finished with a 2.2% DVOA and 138 DYAR; the 138 DYAR was the third-most among unqualified (under 200 pass attempt) starters. Lock was also mashed with a heavy short-passing focus on offense; his average completed pass of 4.6 yards was tied for the second-lowest in the NFL. We would lean toward quarterback still being an open question and advise the Broncos to take one in the first two rounds if they like one. Or bring in Jameis Winston or Cam Newton if they want more of a sure thing. The defense needs the offense to be a little more relevant if the Broncos want to start making playoff games again.
Prospect who might fit: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Not a need: Running back
Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman. That's a lot of capital on running backs. Frankly, the Gordon signing was a weird use of found money to tick off one of the best finds the organization has had over the past three years in Lindsay.
Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest need: Inside linebacker
Anthony Hitchens has been woeful in his first two seasons as Arrowhead's main linebacker to replace Derrick Johnson, and neither Damien Wilson nor Ben Niemann played a lot better. The Chiefs finished 29th in rush defense DVOA and were hovering closer to dead last before their playoff push. Kenneth Murray of Oklahoma could fall to them at the end of the first round, or they could look at someone like Wyoming's Logan Wilson in the second round.
Prospects who might fit: Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma; Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Quiet need: Edge rusher
Frank Clark had a somewhat disappointing first season, though he turned up big in the playoffs, while Emmanuel Ogbah (5.5 sacks in four starts) fled for the Dolphins in free agency. Holdover Alex Okafor didn't provide as much pass rush in Ogbah's injury absence. This is an area where the Chiefs replaced Dee Ford (with Clark), but have yet to really replace Justin Houston. The Chiefs obviously aren't getting Chase Young, but there are some solid edge rusher prospects such as Notre Dame's Julian Okwara and Iowa's A.J. Epenesa that could be there at 32.
Prospects who might fit: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa; Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
Not a need: Safety
Between Juan Thornhill and Tyrann Mathieu, the Chiefs were able to cover up a lot of different looks last season and have a ton of versatility on their back end. Daniel Sorensen and Armani Watts provide depth. It would be very surprising to see an early pick at this position.
Las Vegas Raiders
Biggest need: Wide receiver
The Raiders still haven't replaced Amari Cooper in any real way after last year's Antonio Brown implosion left them with nothing. Nelson Agholor has had some productive seasons but was also part of the reason that Philly's deep passing game sputtered last season when DeSean Jackson was injured. Neither Agholor nor Zay Jones is scaring a lot of defenses, and Tyrell Williams is better as a complementary deep threat than as a No. 1 option. The Raiders may pick too late in the first round to find CeeDee Lamb or one of the Alabama wideouts, but this is a deep class. LSU's Justin Jefferson or Baylor's Denzel Mims could be appealing at 19.
Prospects who might fit: Justin Jefferson, LSU; Denzel Mims, Baylor
Quiet need: Cornerback
After jettisoning Gareon Conley to the Texans -- Conley was just the latest in a long line of Jon Gruden cornerback rage quits -- the team is currently looking at a starting trio of 2019 second-rounder Trayvon Mullen, Nevin Lawson and either Lamarcus Joyner or Nick Nelson. Joyner was set on fire last season. This is a strong cornerback draft and Clemson's A.J. Terrell or Florida's C.J. Henderson could be good fits with Oakland's first-round pick.
Prospect who might fit: CJ Henderson, Florida
Not a need: Offensive line
The combination of Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, Richie Incognito, Trent Brown and two high 2018 picks in Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker will probably keep the Raiders from focusing on this area much.
Los Angeles Chargers
Biggest need: Quarterback
While Tyrod Taylor was solid with the Bills and brings a lot of added rushing value, there were obvious holes in his game that Buffalo fans will be happy to tell you about over and over again. Taylor will turn 31 before the season and has never thrown more than 20 touchdown passes; he is three years removed from starting more than a few games. The Chargers will have to make a long-term move to replace Philip Rivers eventually. More than a few mock drafts have connected the dots to have them trade up for Tua Tagovailoa at No. 3 with the Lions, and Justin Herbert could also be in consideration.
Prospects who might fit: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama; Justin Herbert, Oregon
Quiet need: Middle linebacker
Since the Chargers signed Denzel Perryman to an extension, he has been unable to stay on the field and hasn't provided much impact when he has been active. Nick Vigil is a stab at fixing cover linebacker, but his high tackle totals are primarily caused by being in the middle of a Cincinnati defense that faced a lot of ball carriers. Last year's fourth-rounder, Drue Tranquill, might be able to take a step up in playing time in his second season, but the Chargers could use some more talent here to secure good play from the position.
Prospect who might fit: Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Not a need: Edge rusher
The Chargers are set between Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III, with Uchenna Nwosu waiting in the wings as Bosa enters his contract season.
-- Rivers McCown