Even the most optimistic NFL general manager can find something to worry about as the 2017 regular season approaches. Here's what all 32 teams should worry about, according to execs from around the league.
Note: Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals
The worry: The hits will keep coming for QB Carson Palmer, leaving him diminished come playoff time.
Exec unfiltered: "They have [D.J.] Humphries starting at tackle, and that is a scary situation. They have had O-line issues in the past and still do. Humphries has never been consistent, and protecting a 36-year-old quarterback with a left tackle who has been inconsistent and hurt is an issue, especially when you know they are going to throw it a lot."
Atlanta Falcons
The worry: QB Matt Ryan and the offense will regress under a new coordinator, after Kyle Shanahan took the head-coaching job in San Francisco. Ryan (38 TDs, 7 INTs last season) averaged 27 TDs and 15 INTs from 2011 to 2015.
Exec unfiltered: "Kyle Shanahan got on such a roll calling plays for that offense last season, and now he is gone. Can you duplicate what they had with a new coordinator [Steve Sarkisian] who has never called plays in the NFL? I mean, every play Shanahan called worked. It was crazy."
Baltimore Ravens
The worry: Baltimore is spinning its wheels as a team that is not really rebuilding but not really contending.
Exec unfiltered: "I might rather be in the Browns' situation than be in Baltimore's situation. Baltimore is just stuck. They are paying Jimmy Smith like he is a top-five corner, but he is not. They are paying Joe Flacco like he is a top-five QB, but he is not. You have some old parts like Terrell Suggs getting phased out, and then they just have so many injuries. At least Cleveland has some flexibility."
Buffalo Bills
The worry: Buffalo lacks sufficient playmaking ability in the passing game after trading Sammy Watkins and losing Anquan Boldin to retirement.
Exec unfiltered: "They traded away their most explosive receiver [Watkins], and even though he was often hurt, when you get rid of that guy, who is your guy? You don't have Robert Woods, you don't have Watkins. Jordan Matthews is not an explosive guy. He is just a smart, tough possession receiver. Where do they get chunk yardage from in the passing game?"
Carolina Panthers
The worry: The defense will be less adept at covering for its weaknesses.
Exec unfiltered: "They have been able to cover up below-average talent in the secondary with their scheme and with their coordinator. Sean McDermott is gone now. They haven't changed much as far as personnel goes. Will they be able to do the same thing in a division where they will be facing Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston?"
Chicago Bears
The worry: Chicago's new quarterbacks will lack the weaponry needed to succeed.
Exec unfiltered: "Their receiving corps was bad even before they lost Cameron Meredith. I actually think Mike Glennon can be decent for them in the short term, but they clearly don't have the horses to help around him, and that is ultimately the downfall for Chicago."
Cincinnati Bengals
The worry: Cincy's defense won't be talented enough for the team to contend.
Exec unfiltered: "You lose [Domata] Peko up front on the defensive line, and then those other guys are getting older, and your defense did not perform as well as it had in the past, so are you getting too old up front, and who do you got? I know Geno [Atkins] is a guy, but are you lacking on that side of the ball?"
Cleveland Browns
The worry: With Joe Haden now gone, an already weak secondary becomes even weaker.
Exec unfiltered: "I just don't know where they want to hang their hat on offense or on defense, but their biggest weakness, besides quarterback, is in their secondary. They don't have any safeties outside of Jabrill Peppers."
Dallas Cowboys
The worry: Dallas' defense will take a step backward after a flurry of personnel changes.
Exec unfiltered: "They let a bunch of defensive guys walk. How talented are they on that side of the ball? [Defensive coordinator] Rod Marinelli will make the most of it, but I don't know if they have enough defense in the end. They are going to have to score points, but the offensive line is not as good and Ezekiel Elliott is suspended. It is going to be a little more difficult for Dak [Prescott] this season."
Denver Broncos
The worry: Denver didn't do enough in the short term to stabilize its QB situation for another championship run.
Exec unfiltered: "The fear for Denver is that they are wasting the final years with a great, aging defense because they haven't been able to shore up the quarterback position. [Trevor] Siemian is clearly the better QB over Paxton Lynch, and they will ride with Siemian, but he will not take them all the way to where they want to go. It's a little bit like Green Bay. Green Bay has wasted some prime years of Aaron Rodgers by failing to shore up their defense. Denver is wasting some prime years of a great defense by failing to shore up the QB spot."
Detroit Lions
The worry: Too much of the offensive load will fall on QB Matthew Stafford.
Exec unfiltered: "They have not done anything to address the running back position, where Ameer Abdullah has not proved he can stay healthy. It is inevitable that this guy is going to get hurt again. That and their lack of pass-rushers means they will again ask too much from their quarterback. [Matthew] Stafford pulled out a ton of come-from-behind victories in the fourth quarter last season. Can they really do that again?"
Green Bay Packers
The worry: A pass-rush led by Clay Matthews and Nick Perry won't be formidable enough to protect the defense's back end.
Exec unfiltered: "The biggest issue for Green Bay is rushing the passer and covering on the back end. If you show a weakness, you are going to see that weakness attacked every week until you fix it. You cannot rely on the Clay Matthews of 2010 or whatever it was, when he was in the race for MVP. These guys need to be a force out there rushing the passer."
Houston Texans
The worry: Houston's quarterbacks will be exposed without sufficient support around them.
Exec unfiltered: "Their tackle situation on their offensive line is pretty bad right now, and how deep are their backs? Because they are going to have to rely on their line and their backs to take pressure off either QB, Tom Savage or Deshaun Watson. That is going to be their problem on offense."
Indianapolis Colts
The worry: Andrew Luck, betrayed by his offensive line, won't be healthy enough to carry the team -- again.
Exec unfiltered: "They have struggled on the offensive line since Peyton Manning was there. It is the same thing. Now, their center is out. There is a direct correlation to Luck's health. When is that going to change?"
Jacksonville Jaguars
The worry: Blake Bortles is the next Blaine Gabbert.
Exec unfiltered: "They will run the ball well, they will play decent defense, they will win more games than they have in the last few years, but Blake Bortles is not accurate and he has never been and never will be, and when you put pressure on him, he just freaks out. It is the Blaine Gabbert effect."
Kansas City Chiefs
The worry: The passing game won't scare anyone down the field.
Exec unfiltered: "Their receiving corps is really, really young and kind of a question mark. They are built on dink and dunk, and they just don't have anyone that threatens you [deep] in their receiving corps. They are hoping [Chris] Conley will become that guy, but he really hasn't. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are their only weapons. Where will the big plays come from?"
Los Angeles Chargers
The worry: Philip Rivers will be going it alone once again.
Exec unfiltered: "They have always had trouble protecting Philip [Rivers]. They have to get that fixed, but now they've lost their rookie guard [Forrest Lamp] for the season, which hits at the thing they should be most worried about: all the injuries. I don't know that I can recall seeing a team lose so many guys so quickly, and it's the same old story. They are basically the same team they were last year and they were counting on better luck with injuries, but it looks like the same situation."
Los Angeles Rams
The worry: The bright lights of Hollywood won't provide the only distraction.
Exec unfiltered: "They've had distractions on defense with Trumaine Johnson making $17 million and Aaron Donald holding out. Getting that stuff nipped in the bud is important because you don't need those distractions. You're in a new city, you're trying to fight for respectability and you have a first pick [Jared Goff] who needs to grow. How is that going to work? Get the distractions out of the way."
Miami Dolphins
The worry: Jay Cutler will not hold up physically.
Exec unfiltered: "What is funny is, Jay Cutler and Ryan Tannehill are really about the same guy. What people don't realize is that Cutler is a lot like Tony Romo if you look at how many games they've missed in the last couple years. Essentially, it is going to be Matt Moore being the quarterback for Miami at some point during the season."
Minnesota Vikings
The worry: Minnesota won't get its money's worth on the offensive line.
Exec unfiltered: "They put all that money into the offensive line with Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers, but are they better? Their running back situation outside of [Dalvin] Cook is scary. [Latavius] Murray has been hurt. We will see Sam Bradford under pressure again, and you wonder if he will have enough help."
New England Patriots
The worry: The Patriots' emphasis on adding veterans over rookie draft choices will not pay off as hoped.
Exec unfiltered: "They have new pieces that look good in fantasy football, but how are those new pieces going to integrate into the offense and the defense? That is the biggest thing for them. Kony Ealy was already released. Case in point: Stephon Gilmore has had one winning season [9-7, 2014] in the NFL, has never done anything of substance. There has always been a lot of talent and ability, but not necessarily translating into 'I'm a shutdown guy,' which is how he was paid."
New Orleans Saints
The worry: Attempts to upgrade the defense, and cornerback specifically, will make no real difference.
Exec unfiltered: "I still think it is the same old story with the Saints, being unable to fix their defense as much as they need to fix it. They drafted the corner from Ohio State [Marshon Lattimore] who has been hurt his whole career. You worry about that spot and that guy's longevity and what he is going to be able to provide for them."
New York Giants
The worry: A weak running game will prevent the Giants from contending for a championship.
Exec unfiltered: "Offensive line play would be paramount to me. What do they get from Ereck Flowers? There were other linemen on the board when they took [tight end] Evan Engram in the first round this year. That was a luxury pick. The Giants have always been at their best when they could run the ball, too. It will come down to Eli Manning not declining, and then, do they have the run game to help him out?"
New York Jets
The worry: A shaky QB situation will look even worse without dynamic playmakers in the receiving game.
Exec unfiltered: "Who are their receivers? I just don't know where the offensive firepower comes from. Brandon Marshall is not there. Eric Decker is not there. And then the guy they planned on hanging their hats on [Quincy Enunwa] gets hurt and is lost for the season."
Oakland Raiders
The worry: There isn't enough substance to go with the star power in Oakland.
Exec unfiltered: "The Raiders had three huge hits in terms of Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. Those stars drive all the narratives, but people aren't paying that much attention to how poor their defense has been, and whether they've done enough to upgrade it, especially at middle linebacker. That is still the issue in Oakland."
Philadelphia Eagles
The worry: Philly's backs could be against a wall, on both sides of the ball.
Exec unfiltered: "Both backfields are concerning. Did you see [cornerback] Ronald Darby against Miami? Let's say Darby is good. Who is on the other side? On offense, outside of [LeGarrette] Blount, who may or may not fit their offense, they have a bunch of really little guys, like Darren Sproles and Donnel Pumphrey. Who is going to stand in there and pass protect on third down?"
Pittsburgh Steelers
The worry: The Steelers will be their own worst enemy.
Exec unfiltered: "The Steelers have the best offense in the league when all their guys are healthy. The biggest fear I have is Le'Veon Bell finally signing and rushing back for Week 1 and then pulling his hammy because he is not in game shape, and then you're going to miss him for three to four weeks. Martavis Bryant has his own issues, and Ben [Roethlisberger] has injury concerns and has talked retirement. The only thing that is going to slow them down is themselves."
Seattle Seahawks
The worry: Seattle's championship formula has been lost.
Exec unfiltered: "They lost their left tackle [George Fant] already and they've got a bunch of running backs -- Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise -- who have been injury prone. Russell Wilson needs the running game to really be effective. He had the perfect storm there for a couple years. Can they get back to the way it was before?"
San Francisco 49ers
The worry: A team without sufficient talent will be without some of its most talented young players.
Exec unfiltered: "They have a lot of worries. They have all these high draft picks on their defensive front, but they really haven't played together because they are out most of the time. I don't know who they have playing corner. Rashard Robinson? I don't see it. They are just building to draft the Wyoming quarterback [Josh Allen]."
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The worry: Doug Martin won't be enough to keep the running game going.
Exec unfiltered: "They have good weapons on offense and I think they will be good on defense. Maybe for them, it's just their running game. If it's not Doug Martin, who is suspended for the first three games, then who is going to step up and carry them on the ground? Is it going to just be on Jameis [Winston] to throw it every down, because if it is, he's going to turn it over."
Tennessee Titans
The worry: Marcus Mariota will get injured again and fail to take the next step.
Exec unfiltered: "It's the health of the quarterback [Marcus Mariota], and then, is he going to take that next step? They gave him some weapons. He is coming off an injury. He did not throw it well during the third preseason game. You have to put together consistency in the passing game because they are going to have a running game that could be top-five, and top-10 at the worst."
Washington Redskins
The worry: Washington is losing ground at the QB position.
Exec unfiltered: "Even though I think Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback, they could end up having the fourth-best quarterback in the division. It could happen this season with Carson Wentz developing, and then it could explode in the offseason with Cousins' price tag becoming basically prohibitive, and him possibly leaving."