Some NFL teams draft for need, and some draft strictly with an eye on talent. Either way, most teams still have weaknesses on the roster after the draft is over.
Below, Football Outsiders looks at the biggest hole on each roster now that the 2021 NFL draft is complete. Many of the advanced stats referenced below are explained here.
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NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Safety
The Cowboys could not have expected the quarterback-needy Panthers and Broncos to select cornerback prospects Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II with the two picks before Dallas was set to pick at 10. That likely motivated Dallas' decision to trade down and draft Micah Parsons, a player who was closer to "best available" than to a team need. But given their required audible, the Cowboys did a tremendous job of filling their holes. They landed corners Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright in the second and third rounds. They bulked up their defensive line with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and edge rusher Chauncey Golston, also in the third. And in the fourth, they drafted a Day 2 talent in offensive tackle Josh Ball, who presumably fell because of off-field issues.
If healthy, the Cowboys have a complete roster for 2021. But health motivates the need they might develop at safety. They added Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee from the Falcons this offseason, but Neal tore his Achilles in 2018 and ACL in 2019, and Kazee tore his Achilles in 2020. Meanwhile, Dallas wants to try Neal at linebacker, in any case. The team probably will have to rely on an incumbent or two at safety. That should be fine for Donovan Wilson, who started 10 games last year. But fourth-round sophomore Reggie Robinson and sixth-round rookie Israel Mukuamu played cornerback in college, and neither has taken a defensive snap in the NFL at his new position. And Darian Thompson is entering his sixth year in the league. He probably would have started more than 11 games the past three seasons if he had a future as a full-time starter.
New York Giants: Offensive line
Analytically inclined Giants fans probably threw a party when GM and notorious trade-upper Dave Gettleman traded back in the first round and netted a bounty of draft capital. The move was tremendous in a vacuum. But his subsequent selection of wide receiver Kadarius Toney seemed a bit superfluous after the team added Kenny Golladay for big money in free agency. This is a critical year for the Giants' evaluation of quarterback Daniel Jones, yes. But Jones needs better pass protection to help him avoid the sacks and turnovers that have his future with the team in doubt. Andrew Thomas, last year's No. 4 pick, will hopefully improve in his second season, but in his first he blew 6.5% of his pass blocks, the highest rate among tackles with 300 or more pass-block snaps, according to Sports Info Solutions charting. Returning 2020 opt-out Nate Solder was barely better (6.3%) when he last played in 2019. And guard Kevin Zeitler left for the Ravens in free agency.
Philadelphia Eagles: Linebacker
Eagles GM Howie Roseman seems to have read one division rival in the Giants perfectly with a trade up to the 10th pick and selection of wide receiver DeVonta Smith. It's ironic, then, that the Cowboys -- another division rival and Roseman's trade partner -- settled on the draft's top linebacker in Micah Parsons and left the Eagles wanting at the position. That may seem strange to hear since Eagles incumbent Alex Singleton and free-agent addition Eric Wilson each accumulated 120 tackles in 2020. But both players were productive because of volume rather than efficiency. In fact, Singleton, Wilson and middle linebacker T.J. Edwards all finished in the bottom third of linebackers with 25 or more tackles allowing between 18.3% and 19.5% broken tackle rates, according to Sports Info Solutions charting.
Sophomore Davion Taylor and rookie JaCoby Stevens offer some internal hope at the position, but the former played just 32 defensive snaps in his first season, and the latter is a tweener linebacker/safety whose size spurred his fall to the sixth round. Recent roster management suggests the Eagles do not value the position the way that some teams do, but just once it would be nice to see a plus linebacker play behind the team's consistently excellent defensive line.
Washington Football Team: Tight end
Ryan Fitzpatrick is the perfect caretaker quarterback. Not only has he gracefully accepted demotions behind prospects including Jameis Winston, Josh Rosen and Tua Tagovailoa in recent seasons, but he also has been a capable passer with above-average DVOA rates in each of his last four seasons.
That said, Fitzpatrick will turn 39 during the 2021 season. He now has played for nine teams in his 17-year NFL career, but he never has played with Tom Brady to learn the secrets of the TB12 method. His play will almost definitely decline in the next few seasons. Last year's strong performance was fueled in part by the league's best performance under pressure, which is not usually sustainable for a quarterback who was far from the best in the league when not pressured. And while backup Taylor Heinicke opened some eyes with his gutty playoff performance last season, the 28-year-old has just 121 career pass attempts and would rival Kurt Warner's rags-to-NFL-riches story if he went on to become a successful starting quarterback.
-- Scott Spratt
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Wide receiver
The Bears addressed their two biggest shortcomings with appropriate fanfare when they drafted quarterback Justin Fields and offensive tackle Teven Jenkins early in the first and second rounds. But the trade-ups those selections required exhausted Chicago's supply of Round 3 and 4 picks and left the Bears with a handful of roster holes, none more apparent than at wide receiver.
Allen Robinson II is a star. He overcame uneven quarterback play in 2020 to produce an above-average receiving DVOA rate. But he has just one year of team control remaining on a franchise tag, and the receivers behind him range from inefficient to unproven. Fifth-round sophomore Darnell Mooney offers the most hope, with 4.38 speed and coming off a breakout Week 17 with 11 catches and 93 yards before an ankle injury kept him out of the team's playoff loss. But he is out of developmental runway as the Bears' expected No. 2 receiver. And while sixth-round rookie Dazz Newsome might outplay his draft position with a skill set that fits perfectly in the slot, an opportunity there would likely have to make up for the loss of Anthony Miller, whose rookie deal runs out after 2021 and whom the Bears have aimed to trade this offseason.
Detroit Lions: Wide receiver
The Lions probably won't be ready to compete for the playoffs in 2021, and they showed great discipline in drafting offensive and defensive linemen with their first three picks when they had obvious deficiencies at the flashier skill positions. That said, for the Lions to reach their goal of Super Bowl contention, they will eventually need to address their receiver group. None of Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, Marvin Hall and Mohamed Sanu will return to the team in 2021. Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman are perfect placeholder signings, but on one-year deals and playing this season at age 29 and 28, respectively, they are unlikely to be part of the next Lions contender.
Fourth-round rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown has the body control and route-running savvy to at least contribute from the slot, but he probably will need a bigger or faster running mate on the outside to stretch the defense and create space for him in the middle of the field.
Green Bay Packers: Inside linebacker
Wide receiver was a virtual lock to be the Packers' biggest post-draft need given the recent history of their front office. But lo and behold, in Amari Rodgers the team drafted the perfect receiver to complement their roster just in time for star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to demand a trade. That drama probably will dominate the discussion of this franchise for the time being. But much more quietly, the Packers placed a lot of trust in undrafted and fifth-round sophomores Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin with their eschewal of a linebacker selection on Day 1 or 2 of the draft. With veteran Christian Kirksey released and now in Houston, Barnes and Martin are Plans A, B and C at the position.
Sixth-round rookie Isaiah McDuffie could help in time. He has an excellent motor and great instincts as a coach's son. But he's also undersized much like Barnes. The Packers frequently rely on dime defenses with the defensive back depth to support that decision, so the Packers may ask less of their interior linebackers than most teams do. But they still carry a major risk with their inexperience at the position that could bite them when they face run-oriented teams like the division rival Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings: Safety
The Vikings' need at safety is relative since they still have five-time Pro Bowler Harrison Smith at the position. But Smith is now 32 and on the back nine of his career. And free-agent addition Xavier Woods signed the one-year, $1.75 million contract of a placeholder as the team now starts its search for a long-term replacement for Anthony Harris, who left for the Eagles in free agency.
The Vikings probably view fourth-round rookie cornerback Camryn Bynum as a safety prospect. His abilities might not work for the press-man coverage required by a cornerback in head coach Mike Zimmer's defensive scheme. But unlike his predecessor Harris, Bynum has no college experience at his new position. Things would have to develop perfectly for him to start in 2022 and possibly even anchor the team's defensive secondary with Smith a risk to retire after his contract expires at the end of this season.
-- Scott Spratt
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Edge rusher
The Falcons entered the offseason with a glaring hole at safety, but between incoming free agents Erik Harris and Duron Harmon, second-round pick Richie Grant and the returning Jaylinn Hawkins they now at least have an actual depth chart at that position. At edge rusher, they currently have Dante Fowler Jr. and his 30 career sacks on one side, Barkevious Mingo's 12.5 (in eight seasons!) on the other, then pretty much crickets.
None of Atlanta's other veteran edge rushers has averaged more than one sack per season as a professional, and their only draft investment was developmental fifth-round pick Adetokunbo Ogundeji of Notre Dame. This would be a great spot to sign one of the remaining veteran free agents -- top option Melvin Ingram may be out of their price range, but Justin Houston, Olivier Vernon or even a third stint for Adrian Clayborn would at least provide a modicum of depth and perhaps help the unit resemble an actual rotation.
Carolina Panthers: Safety
Unlike their division rivals, the Panthers did basically nothing to address a similar, albeit more specific hole in their own last line of defense. Tre Boston's release leaves Juston Burris and, presumably, safety/linebacker tweener Jeremy Chinn as the projected starters and very little behind them. Burris is more of a journeyman backup or rotational strong safety than an ideal starter, and the Panthers themselves listed Chinn at OLB for the Pro Bowl ballot last year. Both are more comfortable playing closer to the line of scrimmage, leaving no obvious deep safety option.
There are a couple of approaches the Panthers could take to fill the hole. One is to use some of their roughly $16 million in projected cap room on a free agent such as Malik Hooker or Bobby McCain, assuming a return for Boston himself is not an option. Another is to look at their suddenly cramped cornerback depth chart and see if they can convince a veteran such as A.J. Bouye or Rashaan Melvin to move back deep. The rest of the defense looks stronger than last season, with the possible exception of edge rusher, so filling the hole at deep safety could help the Panthers be significantly better than their No. 24 DVOA finish in 2020.
New Orleans Saints: Wide receiver
There may be no position in football with a higher chance of an undrafted free agent breaking out this season than wide receiver on the Saints. Behind starters Michael Thomas and Tre'Quan Smith, almost the entire group is undrafted players from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 draft pools; seventh-round rookie Kawaan Baker is the only other player who was drafted into the NFL. Given the usual shallowness of the Saints' depth chart, Smith has been a popular breakout pick for every season of his three-year career, but his career-high total last season was just 448 yards. Meanwhile, the four players behind Thomas and Smith have 508 career receiving yards and two touchdowns combined. Thomas struggled last season to overcome a nasty high ankle sprain, but the team had Emmanuel Sanders to pick up the slack. This season, even if Thomas is healthy, the Saints will need somebody to break out from what is a very inexperienced group.
Should they decide they need some veteran help, Golden Tate and Marqise Lee appear to be the most proven options available. Tate tailed off last year in a bad Giants offense but previously had nine straight seasons with more yards than any Saints receiver other than Thomas has ever recorded, while Lee had two very productive seasons catching passes from Blake Bortles before tearing his ACL in 2018. However, between the knee injury, a 2019 shoulder injury and his COVID-19 opt-out, the 29-year-old has caught only three passes since the end of the 2017 season. Neither is a great option, which is why both are available in mid-May.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Depth
What do you get for the roster that has everything? The Buccaneers entered April's draft in search of a backup quarterback. They picked Kyle Trask out of Florida in the second round. They needed some youth at edge rusher. They picked Joe Tryon of Washington in the first. They could have done with some depth at linebacker, so they spent a couple of Day 3 picks at the spot. Add a backup tackle to replace the outgoing Joe Haeg and a Day 3 wideout for some depth at the one spot where they had injuries last year and there really don't appear to be any obvious flaws in the Buccaneers' roster.
The one point worth making here is that the Buccaneers are likely to need their depth more this season than they did last time out. Despite those midseason pains at wide receiver, they lost the fewest overall games to injuries of any team in the league. Depth is likely to be tested more in 2021, meaning their backups are likely to be more important. Fortunately, absent a shocking reversal of fortune, the team appears well placed to handle that at just about every position.
-- Andrew Potter
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: Cornerback
We have been preaching all offseason that cornerback is Arizona's biggest need, and it remains their biggest need even after the draft and with most free agents off the market. Yes, the Cardinals signed Malcolm Butler away from Tennessee, but he is 31 and has been steadily declining for years. From 2017 to 2019, he failed to make the top 40 cornerbacks in either success rate or yards allowed per target in coverage, per Sports Info Solutions. Last year, he gave up 829 yards on 111 targets, both the highest totals in the league. Robert Alford, the other penciled-in starter, missed all of 2020 with a torn pec after missing all of 2019 with a broken leg. His last healthy season was 2018, when he ranked next to last in both success rate and yards per target. He also turns 33 on Halloween.
Nickelback Byron Murphy has failed to make the top 60 corners in success rate in either of his two pro seasons. No other corner on the roster has meaningful experience; the only depth to speak of consists of a handful of special-teamers and a trio of late-round or undrafted rookies.
Los Angeles Rams: Inside linebacker
For the moment, let's assume that either David Long (a third-round pick in 2019) or Robert Rochell (a fourth-round rookie) is ready to step into the third corner role. That would move the Rams' biggest need to inside linebacker, where they are desperate for some highlight-reel plays. L.A.'s inside linebackers produced only 28 defeats (plays that resulted in a turnover, a loss of yardage, or a stop on third or fourth down) last season, among the bottom five teams at that position in the league. For comparison's sake, Devin White and Lavonte David, two linebackers on Tampa Bay's Super Bowl-winning defense, each topped that number with 33 and 29 defeats, respectively.
Micah Kiser had 77 tackles in only nine games, but not one of those tackles resulted in a loss of yardage. Kenny Young and Troy Reeder each played all 16 games but managed only eight tackles for loss between them. The only significant addition this offseason was Ernest Jones, a rookie out of South Carolina drafted late in the third round, 103rd overall.
San Francisco 49ers: Edge rusher
Assuming everyone stays healthy this year, the 49ers have one of the league's more complete rosters, with no obvious weakness on offense or defense. The one spot where another proven starter would make the biggest difference might be edge rusher. Nick Bosa was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 when he had 9.0 sacks in the regular season and 4.0 more in the playoffs, but he missed 14 games in 2020 after tearing his ACL. It's a similar story for Dee Ford -- he had 6.5 sacks (in only 11 games) in the Super Bowl year but missed 15 games in 2020 with a back injury. Arik Armstead has topped 3.5 sacks only once in his six NFL seasons.
San Francisco also signed Samson Ebukam away from the Rams, but he's a complementary piece, never getting more than 4.5 sacks in four seasons in L.A. Only two other edge rushers on the roster have ever sacked a quarterback in the NFL: Jordan Willis has 5.5 sacks in five years with the Bengals, Jets and 49ers, while Arden Key had 3.0 in three years with the Raiders.
Seattle Seahawks: Center
Between trades, free agency, and the draft, Seattle managed to find potential new starters at wide receiver (D'Wayne Eskridge), guard (Gabe Jackson), edge rusher (Kerry Hyder) and cornerback (too many to list here). The one spot the Seahawks failed to address was center. Yes, they re-signed Ethan Pocic, last year's starter, but only after allowing him to test the free-agent waters. And they got him back for peanuts (effectively a one-year, $3 million contract) because nobody else felt he was worth even that weak commitment.
Before the draft, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll made it clear that Pocic would have to win a camp battle against Kyle Fuller to maintain his grip on the starting job. Fuller, a seventh-round draft pick by the Texans in 2017, has appeared in 20 NFL games (including three starts) for Houston, Washington and Seattle. It's hardly a ringing endorsement for Pocic that Carroll has openly said that a player with as weak a résumé as Fuller's might be the better option.
-- Vince Verhei
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Guard
Trying to find a hole on the current Bills roster is difficult; this is a very well-built team. We'll point to the question marks at the guard position. Buffalo added a pair of midround tackles to bolster the offensive line; both Spencer Brown and Tommy Doyle are solid depth options. They're definitely tackles, however; the only interior lineman the Bills drafted was Texas Tech's Jack Anderson in the seventh round.
That leaves Cody Ford penciled in at right guard, which is the closest thing the Bills have to an offensive weak point. Ford started only seven games due to injuries but still had 13 blown blocks on the season; his blown block rate of 3.7% was the sixth worst among interior linemen with at least 300 snaps last season. Ford is only 24, so there's still reason to hope that a fully healthy season will result in some improvement, but he should at least be challenged by Forrest Lamp for a starting job in camp.
Miami Dolphins: Center
The Dolphins addressed their offensive line by taking Notre Dame's Liam Eichenberg in the second round. He'll compete at tackle, letting Robert Hunt slide inside, or at guard. The one position he definitely won't play is center, where Miami has downgraded from Ted Karras to Matt Skura in free agency.
Skura suffered a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap in November 2019 and was not the same player last season. His blown block rate of 2.2% was his worst since his rookie season, and he was benched in November after struggling to get the snap back to Lamar Jackson in pistol formations. Michael Deiter could slide over if he loses the camp battle at guard, but Miami just had too many offensive line problems to solve in one draft.
New England Patriots: Wide receiver
Color us skeptical that seventh-rounder Tre Nixon of Central Florida is the balm that will soothe New England's receiving woes. The Patriots did upgrade their pass-catchers this offseason, signing tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry to massive deals, but they'll have to have a wideout or two on the field occasionally.
New England is betting heavily that Nelson Agholor's shockingly good 2020 season (28.0% DVOA, fourth best in the league) is prelude and not outlier (three of his previous four seasons saw him rank outside the top 75). Their most proven receiver might well be Kendrick Bourne, who became expendable in San Francisco. Julian Edelman is not walking through that door; now is the time for N'Keal Henry or Jakobi Meyers to step up.
New York Jets: Edge rusher
Robert Saleh's defenses in San Francisco didn't jell until 2019, when he switched to a wide-9 alignment and added both Nick Bosa and Dee Ford to his pass rush. Saleh built himself a deep stable of players coming off the edge.
The Jets did add Carl Lawson, who immediately becomes a focal point for Saleh's defense, but New York entered the offseason arguably needing two or three more bodies at the position, thanks to the departure of Jordan Jenkins. Then again, the Jets needed two or three bodies basically everywhere and opted to use their first four draft picks on the offensive side of the ball, passing up such talents as Jaelan Phillips and Kwity Paye. That puts a lot of pressure on John Franklin-Myers to step up, taking advantage of Saleh's scheme and playcalling to bolster an anemic pass rush.
-- Bryan Knowles
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Offensive line
The Ravens knew it would be hard to replace Marshal Yanda; they didn't expect to have to replace Orlando Brown Jr. The big man's trade demands made that a reality, however, leaving tackle -- a position of unmatched strength just two seasons ago -- a large maybe. Alejandro Villanueva, whom tackle-challenged Pittsburgh was quite content to let walk, was signed to take over on the right side, with Tyre Phillips there as depth. And we still don't know how long it will take All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who tore an ACL last season, to return to full strength. The situation is dire enough that Baltimore brought in Andre Smith, who opted out in 2020 and hasn't been useful in at least half a decade, as insurance.
The interior also has question marks. Bradley Bozeman was a center at Alabama but has played only guard in the NFL. He's being moved back into the middle. Kevin Zeitler is still a competent right guard, but the only thing certain about the left side is that a guy named Ben will be the starter. Whether that is Bredeson, Powers or Cleveland remains to be determined. The first two Bens are gentle young vets who have shown little thus far, while the latter is this year's big third-rounder from Georgia, who the team hopes will seize the spot.
Cincinnati Bengals: Defensive tackle
Cynics in Cincy will insist the biggest need remains offensive line, though the Bengals threw a second-round pick (Jackson Carman) at the hole at right guard, drafted two other linemen as backups and signed Riley Reiff to be the right tackle. Certainly, the team feels it is in a better place than in 2020, when it trotted out a sieve that consumed Joe Burrow. On the other hand, the defensive front is still a question mark. Other than free-agent signee Larry Ogunjobi, there isn't anyone on the roster who can be a 3-technique pass-rusher from tackle. D.J. Reader, Mike Daniels, opted-back-in Josh Tupou and newly drafted Tyler Shelvin are all two-down run-stuffers.
That would indicate that Cincy probably will use ends inside on passing downs, and indeed Sam Hubbard is often used in that capacity. Cincy did offset the loss of Carl Lawson by signing Trey Hendrickson, but beyond second-year man Khalid Kareem, the team is relying on rookies to provide the rest of the rotation. Third-rounder Joseph Ossai and fourth-rounder Cam Sample are solid prospects, but counting on them to withstand the rigors of a 17-game season and make a large impact is optimistic at best. The Bengals were forced to trot out street free agents as starters last year after a devastating run of injuries; the depth is somewhat better but still has plenty of room to grow.
Cleveland Browns: Defensive line
There has been a furious swapping of names on the Browns' depth chart along the defensive line, but the front four remains an area of doubt, if not actual need. Myles Garrett is an obvious anchor and by himself lifts the unit into average territory. The unknowns follow: Will Jadeveon Clowney shake off injuries and underperformance to ever approach his former top-overall-pick status? Can Takk McKinley stay healthy in a new spot? How will opting out in 2020 affect defensive tackle Andrew Billings, at the moment penciled in to start in the wake of the surprise release of Sheldon Richardson? Is Jordan Elliott ready to take over at the other tackle spot, or will aging but still peppy Malik Jackson have to shoulder the load?
On a team with enviable depth elsewhere, the defensive line remains the unit with the most question marks.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Cornerback
Pittsburgh has managed to cobble together an offensive line it feels will be nasty and better in the run game (where it has nowhere to go but up). That's certainly arguable, but the front five looks positively glowing next to the state of the team's corners. After the loss of Mike Hilton to the Bengals and the surprising release of Steven Nelson, the depth chart consists of the solid but aging (32) Joe Haden, versatile Cam Sutton and a whole lot of question marks.
Can either Justin Layne or James Pierre take a step up in quality to claim the third spot? Can vet Trevor Williams be resurrected to play a role? Will the vaunted Steelers pass rush make the weakness at corner bearable? We shall see in September.
-- Robert Weintraub
AFC South
Houston Texans: Running back
While the Texans have done an admirable job in having enough mediocre-to-average types on the roster to not have gaping holes, it's hard to understand anything about their running back room at this point. It didn't make any sense that they kept and restructured David Johnson, 30, after a few big runs into open holes salvaged his lost 2020 season. It didn't make any sense that they signed Mark Ingram II, 31, after he was left inactive in several Ravens games last year. Picking up Phillip Lindsay made some sense, but Lindsay forced a career-low 11% missed tackle rate in 2020, per Sports Info Solutions, far off his 17.4% rate in 2019.
And the Texans not only didn't target the position in the draft, but they also managed to find no playing time for 2020 UDFA Scottie Phillips last year. Unless Lindsay claims the job in camp and comes out blazing hot to show that last year was an injury-related fluke, where is the juice in this backfield? Ingram can provide good reads behind the line, and Johnson can provide some underneath targets. But that's about it.
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback
This was slated to be left tackle, but then the Colts went out and signed Eric Fisher, closing up one of their few remaining holes. We're not believers in the idea of a Carson Wentz comeback -- he led the NFL in adjusted interceptions in 2020 -- but we must admit that it could happen and that the supporting cast around him now looks quite strong, if maybe not quite what it was in Philadelphia's best days.
But this is more about the complete unknowns behind Wentz at backup quarterback. Neither Jacob Eason nor Sam Ehlinger has gotten a chance to show us anything. The Colts just happen to be in the exact position where a steady backup could be the difference between winning 17-10 and losing 20-17 after a few bad interceptions. Even having to beat out someone like Nick Mullens or Robert Griffin III in training camp might give us a little more confidence going forward that the Colts are OK behind Wentz.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Tight end
After dealing Josh Oliver to the Ravens, the Jaguars are left with a tight end depth chart that is essentially barren. Chris Manhertz comes over from the Panthers as a blocking specialist. The Jaguars drafted Luke Farrell in the fifth round as an Urban Meyer legacy pick, as Meyer recruited Farrell to Ohio State. Farrell is also more of a blocking tight end who showed off 4.8 speed at his pro day. Somehow James O'Shaughnessy is the main receiving tight end in the room, and that feels like a glitch in the matrix. O'Shaughnessy is fine roster depth, but he's not threatening anything beyond running 8 yards, curling and falling down. As for Tim Tebow, at age 33 he is more of a media story than a realistic alternative at the position.
Trevor Lawrence didn't exactly fill up the stat line at tight end, targeting Braden Galloway 27 times for 369 yards last season and Davis Allen for an additional 16 catches for 247 yards. But at a position that has been very much generalized as a "young quarterback's best friend" in NFL decision-maker lore, it's surprising that the Jaguars have simply decided to employ blockers.
Tennessee Titans: Pass-catchers
The Titans didn't pick a wideout until the fourth round, when they took Louisville's Dez Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is an honest stab at filling the void, but draftniks roundly criticized his route-running, and play-action can't hide everything.
Back to that void: A.J. Brown is back, but the only other Titans wideout or tight end with as many as 15 targets who returns is Anthony Firkser. Corey Davis signed with the Jets, the team cut Adam Humphries, and Jonnu Smith got huge money from the Patriots. To put it another way: The player with the third-most returning targets is Derrick Henry, who had 31.
There are still some wideouts on the free-agent market who could patch up some of this. Kenny Stills would seem to fit well with how the Titans play. But for a team that was already going to be replacing Arthur Smith with Todd Downing, this is yet another source of unsteadiness for a pass offense that doesn't need it.
-- Rivers McCown
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Quarterback
For all any of us know, Aaron Rodgers could be a Denver Bronco by the time the season rolls around. That probably will not be a reality until after June 1, though, because of how Rodgers' cap hits can be divided after that point. The Packers would have to eat $38 million in dead cap money if Rodgers were to be released or traded before June 1, but that number falls to $21 million if he's released or traded afterward, with the remaining $17 million getting pushed to the 2022 cap.
Until then, if it happens at all, the Broncos have a need at quarterback. The organization isn't as high on Drew Lock as it once was, while Teddy Bridgewater is little more than a segue to the next attempt to find a franchise passer. Denver could have taken Justin Fields at ninth overall but opted to fix its other pressing need, at cornerback. The roster would be playoff-ready if the Broncos had a quarterback right now, so they will probably be doing everything they can over the next month or so to secure Rodgers' services.
Kansas City Chiefs: Edge rusher
Kansas City spent its priority draft picks on the offensive line. The Chiefs traded for Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown with their first-round pick, then snagged Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey with a second-round pick. Pass-rusher was not addressed until the fourth round with the Chiefs' selection of Florida State's Joshua Kaindoh. Kaindoh can add quality depth, but it's highly unlikely that he'll become the No. 2 opposite Frank Clark that this defense needs.
The Chiefs' second and third pass-rushers right now are Taco Charlton and Mike Danna. Though Charlton did post 10 pressures on just 51 pass-rush snaps last season, he was never close to that production in any of his first three seasons with larger samples. Danna, on the other hand, is a strong run-defender and quality rotational player, but his 7.8% pressure rate (according to Sports Info Solutions) is uninspiring.
Las Vegas Raiders: Interior offensive line
Center Rodney Hudson, one of the best in the league at his position, was traded to the Cardinals and replaced by free agent Nick Martin. Martin is a quality pass-protector, missing just 24 blocks on 2,443 pass-protection reps in his four years with the Texans, but his run-blocking skills are some of the worst among the league's 32 starters. The Raiders also traded outstanding right guard Gabe Jackson to the Seahawks. Jackson is being replaced by Denzelle Good, who has been OK as a fill-in for the Raiders the past couple of years but is not high-quality starter material, especially as a pass-protector (17 blown blocks in 2020).
Las Vegas' best interior offensive lineman is Richie Incognito, a 38-year-old coming off a season-ending ankle injury. If Incognito cannot play up to his normal standard following this injury, the Raiders' offensive line will be in huge trouble, especially with a rookie also starting at right tackle.
Los Angeles Chargers: Edge rusher
Joey Bosa is about as good of a No. 1 pass-rushing option as it gets. The rest of the Chargers' pass-rushing crew leaves something to be desired. As it stands now, Uchenna Nwosu is set to take over the other starting spot. Nwosu handled that responsibility for parts of last season as Melvin Ingram, who has since walked in free agency, dealt with injury. Nwosu is not bad by any means, but he has never seen more than 37% of the team's snaps and is best suited for a No. 3 role off the bench. The Chargers' other option is Kyler Fackrell, who earned just 21 pressures on 355 pass-rushing snaps (5.9%) with the Giants last year.
All the Chargers did to address this in the draft was to take Duke's Chris Rumph II in the fourth round. Rumph may well provide good depth value right away, but he is not going to be an above-average starter across from Bosa out of the gate, if ever. Perhaps new coach Brandon Staley can work some magic and get more from either Nwosu or Fackrell than anticipated.
-- Derrik Klassen