There are still a few weeks left before teams have to decide on their 53-man rosters. These are the main areas of need that clubs should keep an eye on before the regular season begins when they create their depth charts in the summer.
Hutchinson led the NFL in quarterback pressures during the previous season, maintaining a significant lead over Travon Walker, the edge rusher selected before him in the 2022 draft. Although the Michigan product is among the top young pass rushers in the NFL, no suitable complimentary player has emerged for the Lions’ otherwise well-planned reconstruction. After Minnesota, Detroit took a chance on Marcus Davenport, a former first-round pick by New Orleans whose last successful season was in 2021. Josh Paschal, a 2022 second-round pick with three career sacks, has not shown much promise. Hutchinson is a strong player at most spots, but the Super Bowl contenders should use a senior rotational player at minimum.
Ja’Quan McMillian was instrumental in the Broncos’ defensive comeback last season, and he was seen as a potential slot cornerback solution early on. However, the group will have a competition to determine who would start on the outside opposite Surtain. Riley Moss, a third-round pick, is in the lead after an unsuccessful rookie season. After Kevin Kaesviharn in 2003, the Iowa graduate is aiming to be the first white cornerback to start an NFL game. As possible insurance, the Steelers have benched former Bills starter Levi Wallace during the previous campaign. Adoree Jackson is still in need of a group. During training camp, Denver’s realization that there is a man down near the corner would not be shocking.
For the first time in twenty-one years, the Raiders defense concluded the season ranked in the top half in 2023. Despite losing starting players Marcus Peters and Chandler Jones toward the conclusion of the season, the club managed to get there. Jack Jones, the former Arizona State recruit who has outstayed his welcome in several locations, was reunited with Antonio Pierce. In his first few weeks in Las Vegas, Jones showed promise by scoring two defensive touchdowns. However, after losing starting quarterback Amik Robertson and delaying filling the void until the third round of the draft, the Raiders are now depending on him. The most well-known players positioned to join Jones as Nate Hobbs’ sidekicks are journeyman Brandon Facyson and 2023 fourth-round pick Jakorian Bennett.
By bidding farewell to veterans Xavier McKinney and Adoree’ Jackson, the Giants essentially depleted their secondary with experience. With the exception of rookie contract players Tre Herndon and backup Darnay Holmes, the Giants’ secondary is made up of slot players from the mid-season. The squad will rely on players like Dane Belton, Cor’Dale Flott, and youngsters Tyler Nubin and Dru Phillips from Day 2. Deonte Banks, a 2023 first-round pick, is now the No. 1 cornerback for New York, although Pro Football Focus placed him 110th at the position last season. Additionally, McKinney got a top-five safety contract, indicating how highly the league regarded the former second-round pick. Most likely, the Giants need another experienced DB.
The Bears targeted Rome Odunze with their second first-round selection, and after selecting an O-lineman with their third-round pick, they selected a punter in the fourth round. Though Chicago signed Montez Sweat to an extension, the team doesn’t have any other front-line disruptors with track record. Jake Martin is included as a backup rusher, with DeMarcus Walker continuing to be a supporting player. The Bears don’t have any players back that had more than three sacks in 2023, except from Sweat. The Bears face the danger of being short on the inside and outside up front given their draft trajectory. It’s likely that Yannick Ngakoue, the DE nomad, will rejoin him.
The Buccaneers did not add a starter-caliber replacement or use a draft pick on the position when they dealt Carlton Davis to the Lions. As a result, Todd Bowles’ squad will rely more on younger players to support Jamel Dean. A few CBs (Dean, Davis, and Sean Murphy-Bunting) have been developed by the Bucs recently, however they were all selected on Day 2 of the draft. Among regular CBs, Zyon McCollum, a nine-game starter, was ranked in the bottom-10 by PFF last season, and he is not far behind. Although Tavierre Thomas, a former special teamer who now plays in the slot, was added by the Bucs to complement Christian Izien, the team still lacks at least one outside linebacker.
Given how well the Ravens have performed lately to assemble a reliable offensive line in spite of losing players, this may be overstated. After having successful contract years, John Simpson and Ben Powers went from being peripheral roster players to highly sought-after free agents. With right guard Kevin Zeitler and right tackle Morgan Moses also out, Simpson’s departure left the Ravens needing to fill three holes up front. Moses and Zeitler have 325 starts between them. Although Baltimore has several promising players, such as Josh Jones, a UFA addition, and Andrew Vorhees, a 2023 draft pick who took a de facto injury redshirt, they will have significantly less experience up front. The lack of seasoning is correlated with Ronnie Stanley’s injury problems.
This offseason, the Vikings were linked to players like L’Jarius Sneed and former Lion Jerry Jacobs. Last season, the squad could not get enough from Byron Murphy, a free agent acquisition; as the closest defender, the former Cardinal let up six touchdowns. While the team did sign Shaquill Griffin, the former Seahawks starter played for three teams in the last two seasons. Third-round rookie Mekhi Blackmon showed some potential last season. Although Josh Metellus, who is versatile, also lives here, the Vikings might be lacking a bit given their 24th-place pass defense ranking. Tragically, things have gotten worse when Khyree Jackson, a rookie selected in the fourth round, passed away in a vehicle accident.