NFL Draft - Team Needs

[Tetsujin]

Dolphins:

* If Tua is deemed not suitable to play anymore, QB is #1

1a. RT

1b. LG

3. CB

4. NT

5. ILB

6. TE (who can block & catch)

7. RB

[MikeT14]

'Ders

1. QB

2. O-Line - all of it

3. CB

4. TE

5. LB

6. DLine Depth

7. Kicker

[Daniel]

The Titans have a lot of needs:

1. LT-Lewan is likely a cap casualty, hasn't played a full season since like 2019, and is older; depth is awful

2. WR2-Woods is an even more likely cap casualty, NWI is a free agent, and this whole position group is crazy weak

3. OGx2-Nate Davis may be re-signed on the right side, but otherwise, big need

4. TE2-Titans under Vrabel like 2 TE sets, Chig is a budding superstar, but Hooper is a FA

5. Edge3-Landry should be back in 2023, but Dupree will almost certainly be cut, and we need a third

6. DL-almost every DL not named Jeffery Simmons is about to hit free agency, and he's due a big payday

7. ILB-Cunningham is getting cut for cap space and David Long is a free agent who may want a big payday, but there are lots of young guys the team seems to like here

8. QB-Not exactly a need, but if they bail on Malik after this little time and cut or trade Tannehill for a full rebuild, this is something that might be looked at

9. K-we've been weak at the position for years, and would definitely like an upgrade

[Dr LBC]

On 1/13/2023 at 2:11 PM, Daniel said:

The Titans have a lot of needs:

1. LT-Lewan is likely a cap casualty, hasn't played a full season since like 2019, and is older; depth is awful

2. WR2-Woods is an even more likely cap casualty, NWI is a free agent, and this whole position group is crazy weak

3. OGx2-Nate Davis may be re-signed on the right side, but otherwise, big need

4. TE2-Titans under Vrabel like 2 TE sets, Chig is a budding superstar, but Hooper is a FA

5. Edge3-Landry should be back in 2023, but Dupree will almost certainly be cut, and we need a third

6. DL-almost every DL not named Jeffery Simmons is about to hit free agency, and he's due a big payday

7. ILB-Cunningham is getting cut for cap space and David Long is a free agent who may want a big payday, but there are lots of young guys the team seems to like here

8. QB-Not exactly a need, but if they bail on Malik after this little time and cut or trade Tannehill for a full rebuild, this is something that might be looked at

9. K-we've been weak at the position for years, and would definitely like an upgrade

Assuming the club sticks by Vrabel - which I'd expect them to do (though I'm talking in a "largely given immunity in 2023" term) - I don't think #8 is even really any option outside of maybe a Day 3 flier on a tools-guy.  Instead, I can easily see them focusing more on rebuilding the OL, bolstering the D, and leaning heavily on the run-game and keeping fingers crossed that Tanny stays healthy - because if not Malik either gets a prove-it/trial-by-fire where the worst end is they're in better position to angle for a QB prospect in a more favorable draft class.

Edited January 16, 2023 by Dr LBC

[Daniel]

6 hours ago, Dr LBC said:

Assuming the club sticks by Vrabel - which I'd expect them to do (though I'm talking in a "largely given immunity in 2023" term) - I don't think #8 is even really any option outside of maybe a Day 3 flier on a tools-guy.  Instead, I can easily see them focusing more on rebuilding the OL, bolstering the D, and leaning heavily on the run-game and keeping fingers crossed that Tanny stays healthy - because if not Malik either gets a prove-it/trial-by-fire where the worst end is they're in better position to angle for a QB prospect in a more favorable draft class.

That’s the right move, but there are all sorts of rumors, so who knows. I put it all the way down at 8 for a reason.

[Crimmage]

Patriots: * This is all assuming Mac isn't traded *

 

1. RT (They don't currently have one)

2. WR (Meyers likely gone, Bourne/Parker last year of deal, no #1 guy)

3. LT (Brown on last year of his deal)

4. CB (Jon Jones a free agent, Jalen Mills may move to FS, Need at least one outside CB)

5. LB ( Bentley on last year of his deal, Mack Wilson not coming back, Uche on last year of his deal)

6. TE (Henry last year of deal, could be cut to save 10M .. Jonnu likely cut after this upcoming season) 

7. FS (McCourty likely retiring, Jalen Mills may transition to FS but not much depth there)

8. P (Bailey suspended and could be cut this offseason, has been bad 2 years in a row)

[THE DUKE]

Cincinnati Bengals

1a. Cornerback - The Bengals very much value this position and they have dealt with injuries here the last two years as well.

1b. Offensive Tackle - Ideally a left tackle as the Bengals perhaps smartly have not extended Jonah Williams after he had his best season so far in 2021, he regressed in 2022 and is now hurt.

3. Linebacker - Conventional wisdom says the Bengals will only extend one of Logan Wilson or Germaine Pratt, if they happen to keep both long term than this need falls way down the list, but I don't see them committing that much money to off ball LB.

4. Wide Receiver - Seriously.  The Bengals have a great 1-3 WR, but the drop off is steep once you get to 4-6, and it's about time to start getting a Tyler Boyd replacement ready as he goes into the last year of his deal in 2023 and almost certainly will be gone unless he takes a major home town discount as the Bengals are likely to extend both Higgins and Chase over the next two years (not to mention Burrow) taking most of the resources.  Boyd is almost certainly in his last year here next year, and I also think they want to keep a top WR group for Burrow as he enters his prime.

5. Defensive Tackle - The Bengals could use both a better backup to man/monster DJ Reader at the nose, and could use another interior pass rusher.  Zack Carter has shown some nice progress this year, especially over the past 3-4 weeks, but they are one injury away from being real thin here.

6. Tight End - I don't think the Bengals view this position that highly, and if they can keep Hurst on a reasonable deal over the next 3 years then only depth is needed.  Even if they can't, I think they can go bargain hunting again and get Uzomah/Hurst levels of production and look to develop a guy here long term with a day 3 draft pick.

7. Safety - Jessie Bates is almost assuredly gone with his replacement drafted in 2022 in Dax Hill.  However, I do think the Bengals extend Vonn Bell and develop Tycen Anderson as depth and special teams.  I think they look for another centerfield FS type for a backup and special teams player, probably some time on day3.

8. OLine depth - They've had quite a few swings and misses on oline over the past few drafts, so i'll be shocked if they don't take more than one offensive lineman in this draft.  Just have to keep swinging and hope you make better contact.  With the offensive skill players about to get real expensive, have to start finding some value on cheap rookie deals elsewhere.

 

[jetsfan4life51]

Jets - QB and OC are #1 needs but those will be addressed before the draft. The Jets also have a bunch of vets who are potential cap savings which will change things. That being said…

1. OT- Duane Brown may retire, Fant is a FA, Becton was hurt two years in a row, Max Mitchell had blood clots. We need to make sure we have a capable starter incase they get decimated again. 
2. C- put this number two because Conor McGovern is a FA. Love the guys in Rounds 2-5 whether he’s resigned or not. 
3. LB- Quincy Williams is a FA, Kwon is a FA and had a huge drop off. Mosley is out after this year. We don’t have an athletic LB in coverage. 
4. Safety- arguably higher need especially if they save money cutting Whitehead. The Jets need a true FS. 

5. WR- Corey Davis may get cut to save money. Elijah Moore was a big disappointment. Berrios needs to remain a ST player

6. Pass rushing specialist and Nose Tackle- it’s not the top need but if someone big slips I can see the Jets taking DT early. 
 

Stop giving CBs to the Jets. Sauce, Reed and Michael Carter II are all great. And we still have our starters from 2021 backing them up. 

[Louis Friend]

Detroit Lions:

IDL

CB

S

RG

----------------------------- ^ Top needs by far

LB

K

---------------------------- ^ Needs but position value comes into play

RB

QB

TE

WR

OT

---------------------------- ^ Needs for depth/upgrades

EDGE

P

--------------------------- ^ Not needs but grabbing BPA could be a luxury

[onejayhawk]

Chiefs

The Chiefs signed OT Jawaan Taylor which has a huge impact on their draft priorities. That covers one of the two OT vacancies. Lucas Niang probably covers the other but he has an injury history. Assume an aging veteran--Lewan comes to mind--and a project OT. With Allegretti back, the IOL is set.

Chris Jones, Derick Nnadi, and Tershawn Wharton are the DT rotation but depth is still needed. FS Juan Thornhill and JuJu Smith-Schuster signed elsewhere and Frank Clark was released. Offsetting this is the signing of DL Charles Omenihu. The team is clearly signaling interest in third day edge rushers. 

The Chiefs have filled their WR room with the signing of Justin Watson--glue guy and blocking WR. They now have five solid players--MVS, Toney, Skyy, Richie James, Watson. I do not foresee a premium draft pick used on WR. Day #3, sure.

The Chiefs played rookie DB over 150 snaps in the SB yet both of their sacks were coverage sacks. Even with Thornhill signing elsewhere, this is not a priority. That said, a run support/dimebacker safety or a CB to FS conversion project is possible.

Updated 14 April 2023.

1a - Edge
1b - DT
3 - TE
4 - OT
5 - RB

Edited April 14, 2023 by onejayhawk

[babyatemydingo]

The Eagles need two corners (with James Bradberry leaving and Darius Slay turning 32), a solid DT (because they can't continue to pay Fletcher Cox $18M at his age), a LB (even with Nakobe Dean replacing Kyzir White), a RB (to replace Miles Sanders), assistance in the return game likely from a WR (because Britain Covey stinks and Quez Watkins regressed), help in the interior OL (if Isaac Seumalo leaves - which is likely), a QB prospect and a punter.

They will have very little wiggle room in free agency.

Look for them to trade down from 10 to acquire more picks.

Also, please please please stop mocking a RB to the Eagles at 10 or 30 or even 62.

Assuming they trade down and add another second round pick, CB, DT, CB, is the likely positioning of the first three picks.

They may trade down from 62 or even 95 to add more picks.

That's where you may see WR (preferably a returner as well), RB, QB, G, C (if Kelce retires), DE and possibly a LB in no particular order.

[OneTwoSixFive]

PACKERS 2023 DRAFT
Biggest needs. They really have to get a starter-level TE (and they need a second one as well) and they also really need a starter-level Safety. The chances are also fairly high that they get an Edge player early. Less likely early (round 1&2) choices are, in order from more to less likely, WR, DL, CB, OT. A trade with the Jets for Rodgers, involving one or more of their 2nd round picks, will impact the Packers draft strongly.

Cornerback. Never say never in the draft with Green Bay and corners, they love to collect DBs. The need isn't urgent, but might still happen. I don't see it myself in rounds one or two, but they might.

Safety is an area of real need. There is Savage and a bunch of not much after the loss of Adrian Amos. This will need addressing on day one or two of the draft if they don't trade for one or get a starter-level FA.

Edge. With the loss of Rashan Gary (ACL) for the early part of the season and Preston Smith and rookie Enagbare (last pick in round 5) holding the fort, they need another quality addition here. If you are mocking an edge to Green Bay, remember they like the bigger guys, at least 260lbs.

Linebacker. With Campbell and last years first round pick Quay Walker, depth only here - later day three pick.

DL There is room on the roster for another DL, but they did take Devonte Wyatt in round one last year and they do have Kenny Clark. It is possible a couple of second round guys will interest the Packers, if they get an extra 2nd round pick from the Jets.

QB There will be a QB added after losing Rodgers. Chances are it's a vet, but they may also take a late pick here to develop as a backup.

WR Packers will probably get a low-tier vet WR, but should add one in the draft somewhere. There is depth in this years WR class although it is light at the top, so I could see a day 3 pick here (round 4-5) - it could be higher if there is someone they really like, but a lot of receivers this year are not really the Packers type (ideally tall and fast or powerful and elusive, think MVS/Christian Watson or Davante Adams).

TE. The Packers have nothing of significance in the TE room. there is Deguara (a HB) and projects who probably will not contribute much. This should be addressed early in the draft and it is an excellent year to get quality TEs

RB Aaron Jones (28) is on a 1-2 year deal, with Quadzilla (A.J.Dillon) backing him up. There are lots of nice RBs available later in the draft, so taking one anywhere from round three onwards might be the best value left on the board. I dont think the Packers invest a pick as high as a 2nd rounder on one.

OL The Packers could go more than one way here. Two guys drafted last year went in opposite directions. Rookie Guard Sean Rhyan (3rd, 92) couldn't crack the starting lineup and got busted for a PED violation - he will have to shape up or be shipped out. Zach Tom (4th, 140) was a very nice surprise who seems able to play anywhere on the line and just needs a little more weight. Currently, the line is David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom or Josh Nijman.

The Packers could add a tackle (but this isn't the year for value there). If Tom is looked at as a future tackle, the Packers could draft a C or C/G to push Myers (there are some nice Centers this year). Someone like Stromberg, Gaines or Oluwatimi in round four, could be attractive. I'm guessing the Packers keep trying to develop rookie tackle Rasheed Walker (7th, 249) - he has a lot of things going for him (good size, strength, quick feet) but needs to take big strides technically.

OTHER Finally, the Packers will get a kicker this year. Long-time starter Mason Crosby is probably gone.

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by OneTwoSixFive

[NYRaider]

Raiders: 

1. CB

2. OG

3. LB

4. Edge

5. TE

6. QB

7. DT

8. S

 

 

[OneTwoSixFive]

I'd look for Packers 2024 draft picks In something like this order: 

OT,S,RB,C,ILB,TE (blocking-type). The Packers have 2x 2nd round picks and 2x 3rds, so 5 of these picks are in the first 3 rounds and the new draftees would (hopefully) replace current starters. Depth players is not really what you want in rounds 1-3, you are hoping for starters (or at least eventual starters).

There should be a guard drafted somewhere in this draft too, unless Sean Rhyan looks good from now to the end of the season (he was subbed in for Jon Runyan on 5th Nov, playing for the first time in a while - and looked like an upgrade). The Packers need to re-make their O line and build around LG Elgton Jenkins and RT Zach Tom.

WR, DL, CB are other possible picks (Packers draft picks are hard to predict) but the positions I listed are (I think) most in need of upgrading. While the Packers could use help everywhere, some positions are just more in need of an upgrade or more important, than others.

Because the Pack could use help everywhere, this may be a year when Gutekunst surprises everyone with the his Packers picks, especially if he sees a good player sliding. For example, If Marvin Harrison JR ever made it to pick 6 (unlikely), if the Pack sat there they could surprise everyone and take him, especially surprising to those who know how long it has been since the Packers took a WR in the first round (a looonng time).

At this time everyone and their dog has the Packers taking an OT with their first pick - and they may well be right. Fashanu, Alt, Latham, Fuaga and possibly Mims will almost certainly get long looks before the draft, and maybe Suamataia if they wait until round 2.

Of course there are plenty of games still to play, so the Pack may draft anywhere between about 5 and 12 (they were on draft sites at pick 6, before the Nov 5th game vs the Rams (which they won).

Later Edit (28/Dec/2023)
As Rasheed Walker gets better at LT, with all his first team snaps this year, he is starting to look like a keeper, so the need for drafting an OT in round one, while still possible, has diminished. Zach Tom at RT is also a keeper (though I'm not sure which guy should play which tackle position).
As the need for an OT grows less, the need for a CB (or CB/S like DeJean) grows more. Although Wiggins is a good CB, he is not GB's 'type' (being too light). DEJean has a good 20lb on him. Another player that IS a GB type is the big edge guy Laiatu Latu - that's exactly how they like em in Green Bay and they may consider him as the eventual replacement for Preston Smith (if injury history checks out).

Current O line expectations are a day 2 pick at Center, an OT later (developmental) and a guard almost anywhere that isn't round one.

Edited December 29, 2023 by OneTwoSixFive

[jebrick]

Steelers for 2024 needs ( in no order)

Center

RT

5 tech DE/DT - (Think Cam Heyward)

CB

ILB

S

I do not think they will take a QB and give Pickett another year but...