Biggest Needs - AFC/NFC EAST/WEST

Below you will find one man's opinion on what the biggest need is for each team of the NFC and AFC East and West divisions. You can find the rest of the league in my follow-up article.

Bills

Speed. This may be the slowest Moji coached team I’ve seen. Roby Anderson has some wheels, but even guys like Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb have low acceleration. The secondary is also lacking the kind of coverage players Moji prefers.

Dolphins

D-lineman. Outside of aging Snacks Harrison, there isn’t anyone on this line to be excited about. This line will have trouble generating pressure and stopping the run. Look for Miami to spend some serious draft capital into the d-line.

Jets

Wide receiver. The Jets are a complete team, which is what you’d expect from a squad coming off a 13-3 record. But they could use another playmaker out wide. T.Y. Hilton is a nice pickup, but he isn’t the superstar he once was and no one is confusing Marqise Lee for a game changer.

Patriots

QB/RB. The Patriots have arguably the most dynamic receiver duo in the league between Brandon Cooks and Davante Tracy. They need someone to get them the ball and a running back who can take pressure off the passing game. Seeing these two WR’s reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald and Aquan Boldin in Arizona before Kurt Warner arrived.

Cowboys

General manager. This team is bereft of talent across the board. The only quality players on the team are left over from the previous regime. It’s disgusting how far this team has fallen in a short time. They have an atrocious receiving core, a d-line that is in worse shape than the Dolphins, and just two above replacement starters on defense, LB Skinner and FS Jones. As expected, the Cowboys did nothing in the first two rounds of free agency.

Eagles

Receiver. While the defense is in need of some young talent to blossom, there is a reason the Eagles have been aggressively after a receiver all off-season. They have no playmakers on the outside and an otherwise solid roster up and down. I see them going after receiver in the draft to keep pace with the Giants off-season spending spree.

Giants

Defensive playmaker. The Giants finished first in total defense in season 39, so it seems odd saying they need help on defense. Still, the defense is solid top to bottom and the players fit the scheme they run perfectly. Though, I can’t help but think how dominate this team could be if they had a special player on defense – a top 5 player at any position. Like a Von Miller, Aaron Donald, Jamal Adams, or Jalen Ramsey.

Redskins

Defensive back. The Redskins are super young in the defensive backfield, with just one player older than 25 (Moreau is 27). But their also very raw, with no one grading above replacement level at corner or safety. They need some help in the back end.

Broncos

O-lineman. QB was too easy. After trading away Mariota, it was clear Denver is going to be drafting a QB. The Broncos have just 3 lineman above replacement level and they are 29, 31, and 33 years old. They are in need of a serious youth movement upfront to give young Derek Spencer some running room.

Chargers

Middle Linebacker. The defense is stacked outside of MLB for the Chargers. With Bosa and Jordan upfront and Brown and Attaochu flanking the front 7 on the outside, only the middle man is in need of an upgrade. Eric Wilson is a solid backup at best, but with an impact rookie, this defense could be dominate.

Chiefs

Running back. They lost Kareem Hunt to free agency and have little ready to replace him. Zenner and West are both aging vets and the young guys don’t look to have the type of upside you want at the position. I’d be shocked if running back wasn’t a top target for the Chiefs on day one of the draft.

Raiders

Quarterback. The Raiders just spent all the money on Godwin to pair him with Amari Cooper. Kenyon Bell is a great young back. The o-line is stacked. If Blueprint can find a signal caller in the draft, he’ll have the makings of a top 10 offense on his hands.

49ers

Running back. The 49ers released long time back Carlos Hyde and only have young speedsters Payne and Girault on the roster at the position. With neither one of those two looking like workhorses at running back, it looks as though the Niners will be upgrading the position during the draft.

Cardinals

Tight End. Coming off a surprising 14-2 season, the Cardinals have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. But 29 year old Will Tye is best used as a second tight end for blocking. This offense could take another leap if they are able to grab a difference maker at the tight end position through draft or trade.

Rams

A plan. The Rams have good players. They make reasonable moves to make the team better. But this team cannot seem to settle on a long term strategy for team building. One off-season they spend big on free agents, the next they’re gone. They’ll trade for T.Y. Hilton and claim Desean Jackson and watch them walk. It seems like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic at times.

Seahawks

Tight end. I did not think I would anoint two teams with needing a tight end when I started this exercise. None the less, Seattle has a fairly solid roster throughout. But 29 year old O-Leary just isn’t going to do much to help the offense. Can they find another Jimmy Graham?