Free agency has reshaped rosters across the NFL, but as the dust settles, clear holes remain — and for many teams, the most important work is just beginning.
Whether it’s protecting a franchise quarterback, rebuilding a pass rush or finding a true No. 1 weapon, every front office still has a glaring need that could define its 2026 season — and with the draft looming April 23 in Pittsburgh, the pressure to get it right is only intensifying.
Below, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the glaring need for each team after the first wave of free agency.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Need: Cornerback | The defense was the weakest unit last season, so Dallas made moves in free agency to bolster the trenches and add depth. Still, those moves won’t really matter if it doesn’t have at least a cornerback who can cover a WR1. At this stage of free agency, however, the Cowboys may have to look to the draft for a viable solution.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Need: Defensive line |
New head coach John Harbaugh has remade Big Blue closer to the type of physical team he wants, but the defensive line needs work. All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II can’t clog up the interior by himself, so the Giants must get him aid to fix one of the league’s worst run defenses.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Need: Pass-rusher | To get to a Super Bowl, the Eagles must revitalize their rush. In-house option Jaelan Phillips left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency, and Philadelphia missed out on the Trey Hendrickson sweepstakes, so GM Howie Roseman must get creative. The Eagles had 42 sacks last season (13th in the NFL).
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Need: Wide Receiver | To keep QB Jayden Daniels healthy, the Commanders must invest in a wide receiver corps that can complement No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin so Daniels isn’t forced to choose between “Scary Terry” and taking off himself. Keeping Daniels fresh will be the key to Washington’s long-term success. — Conor Killmurray
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Need: Right tackle |
QB is a clear area of need after losing Kyler Murray to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. But with their current first-round draft position (No. 3), finding a long-term answer at RT should be the move. The Cardinals signed Elijah Wilkinson to a two-year deal in free agency, but at 31, he’s not a cornerstone. Miami’s Francis Mauigoa would be a good fit to strengthen the OL.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Need: Wide receiver | Puka Nacua and Davante Adams combined for 2,504 receiving yards and 24 TD catches last season. But WR Tutu Atwell signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, and Adams is entering the final year of his contract. So, the Rams need a WR3 to pair with their stars and to maximize their window as Matthew Stafford nears the end of his career.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Need: Defensive end | Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are coming off ACL tears, and Bryce Huff shockingly announced his retirement. This team is built to contend, especially after bringing in WR Mike Evans in free agency. Staying healthy will be crucial to San Francisco’s success in a loaded division, but its priority should be on adding DE depth after a league-low 20 sacks last season.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Need: Running back |
Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III left for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the beginning of the 2026 season as he recovers from a torn ACL. The Seahawks added former Packers RB Emanuel Wilson on a one-year deal, but depth is an issue at RB. — Colby Colwell
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Need: Secondary | The Bears suffered a mass exodus in free agency in their secondary, losing CB Nahshon Wright and safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III. Chicago offset some of those losses by signing safety Coby Bryant to a three-year, $40M contract, but GM Ryan Poles must add at least one safety and a cornerback.
DETROIT LIONS | Need: Edge-rusher |
Outside of Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions are extremely thin at edge. Al-Quadin Muhammad left in free agency for the Buccaneers, and Marcus Davenport has played in only 14 games over the past three seasons, so Detroit desperately needs another pass-rusher. The Lions should grab a top edge with the 17th overall pick in the draft and add a veteran pass-rusher on a team-friendly one-year deal.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Need: Cornerback | The Packers love building toward the future while remaining competitive, and that should be on their mind at cornerback. Green Bay added Benjamin St-Juste for depth, but it must add another young cover corner with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine set to hit free agency in 2027.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Need: Safety |
Veteran Harrison Smith is expected to announce his retirement, which would leave the Vikings with just three safeties on their active roster. With Josh Metellus coming off a poor season and Jay Ward lacking starting experience, Minnesota should target a safety with the 18th overall pick in the draft. — Jack Dougherty
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Need: Defensive tackle | After ranking No. 25 in yards allowed per rush attempt (4.6) a season ago, the Falcons have gotten worse along the defensive interior after losing DT David Onyemata to the New York Jets in free agency. According to NFL Pro data, the 10-year veteran accounted for 49 stops, defined as “tackles that result in a successful play for the defense (negative [expected points added])” last season, the most on the Falcons.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Need: Interior offensive line | Injuries plagued the Panthers up front last season, with 2024 free-agent guard Robert Hunt missing 15 regular-season games with a torn biceps tendon and guard-turned-center-turned-guard-again Austin Corbett suffering a third knee injury in four seasons. Center Cade Mays appeared in 14 games (12 starts) and signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency. The team replaced him with dependable backup Luke Fortner, who played 678 snaps for the New Orleans Saints last season, but more is needed to ensure QB Bryce Young’s protection doesn’t become an issue.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Need: Wide receiver | The Saints checked off several boxes at the start of free agency, adding a playmaking RB (Travis Etienne Jr.), arguably the best guard on the market (David Edwards) and filling the void left by linebacker Demario Davis’ departure (Kaden Elliss). But they haven’t attacked wide receiver. Adding another elite wideout next to Chris Olave, a legit No. 1, could make the offense scary.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Need: Cornerback | The Buccaneers ranked No. 27 against the pass in 2025, allowing 238.2 yards per game. Veteran corner Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay’s 2019 third-round pick, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency, setting up Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish as the team’s top returning corners. All three struggled in coverage last season. — Eric Smithling
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Need: WR | Buffalo traded for DJ Moore, who’s coming off the worst year of his career (682 yards with the Bears), but it still needs receiving targets for QB Josh Allen. Is Buffalo GM Brandon Beane listening?
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Need: WR | Until the March 17 trade of Jayden Waddle to Denver, you could have argued that cornerback was the biggest need. With Tutu Atwell currently WR1, expect Miami to target big-body receivers in the draft. The entire roster has gaps as it heads into a rebuild, but rebuilding the passing game is crucial for Malik Willis.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Need: Edge-rusher | The Patriots added Dre’Mont Jones to their core but still lack consistent, elite pressure and sack production off the edge. Losing K’Lavon Chaisson to free agency doesn’t help, so targeting a long-term pass-rusher will be crucial in the draft.
NEW YORK JETS | Need: Everywhere | The Jets added Geno Smith, but he’s not the long-term answer at QB. Adding weapons at WR, and reinforcing a rebuilding defense, particularly at defensive tackle and linebacker, should be paramount. — Colton Edwards
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Need: Defensive end | DE John Franklin-Myers, who ranked third on the team in sacks (7.5) in 2025, signed a three-year, $63M contract with the Titans in free agency. To replace him, Denver should consider targeting a DE on Day 2 or 3 of the draft, perhaps Ohio State Buckeyes standout Caden Curry (6-foot-3, 257 pounds), who tied for ninth in the FBS in sacks (11) last season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Need: Cornerback | The Chiefs haven’t replaced star corner Trent McDuffie, whom they traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Taking LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane (6-foot, 187 pounds), a 2025 first-team All-American, would be wise. Per Sports Info Solutions, he allowed nine completions in pass coverage last season, the fourth fewest among 36 CBs in the site’s draft matrix.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Need: Right tackle |
The Raiders signed three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81M contract in free agency, but they must continue to fortify the O-line by improving right tackle. Per Pro Football Focus, Raiders right tackle DJ Glaze allowed 10 sacks last season, 88th among 89 eligible tackles. Vegas should consider using pick No. 36 in the second round of the draft on Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (6-foot-6, 321 pounds), who earned a 2025 second-team All-Big 12 nod.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Need: Right guard | Right guard Zion Johnson (65 games in four seasons for the Chargers) signed a three-year, $49.5M deal with the Browns in free agency, leaving another hole on an already shaky O-line. L.A. tied for second in the league in sacks allowed (60) last season. Taking Penn State guard Vega Ioane (6-foot-4, 320 pounds), a 2025 second-team All-American, with pick No. 22 in the draft could help provide better pass protection for Justin Herbert. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Need: Interior offensive line | The Ravens had issues at guard last season, and they also must replace starting center Tyler Linderbaum, who departed for Las Vegas in free agency. He is one of the best offensive linemen in the league. Baltimore needs stellar blockers for one of the NFL’s best running games.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Need: Edge-rusher | The Bengals have finally made big additions to their defense, but the departure of edge Trey Hendrickson in free agency to Baltimore opens a pass-rush void. Boye Mafe is a nice signing, but they still need more help at edge.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Need: WR | The only WR on the roster who caught more than 25 passes in 2025 was Jerry Jeudy (50 for 602 yards). That is not enough for a WR1. Even if you think Jeudy can be more productive and better with consistent QB play, the Browns still have a massive need for a No. 2 WR.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Need: QB | Even though the Steelers have had a strong start to their offseason, they still have a massive issue at the most important position on the field and the position that has consistently held them back. They are waiting on Aaron Rodgers, but he is not a long-term option (and he is barely a passable short-term option), and the 2026 NFL Draft offers little in the way of attractive options. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Need: Offensive line |
The Texans have made needed changes along their offensive line, most recently with the signing of former All-Pro guard Wyatt Teller and veteran Evan Brown. Both are injury-prone, however, and Houston needs a long-term answer on the interior OL. It will almost certainly look to address that need in the draft.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Need: Linebacker |
The Colts have a leadership void to fill after they traded LB and defensive captain Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers. Fellow starter Germaine Pratt remains a free agent, and it is unclear if Indianapolis plans to re-sign him. Either way, the Colts must make multiple moves at linebacker to avoid having the unit take a significant step back in 2026.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Need: Edge-rusher | The Jaguars had just 32 sacks last season, 27th in the NFL. Defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker need help to generate more consistent pressure on QBs. Jacksonville has not made significant splashes in free agency, so perhaps the draft will be a different story.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Need: WR |
Calvin Ridley agreed to a restructured contract with the Titans, but they desperately need to add another playmaker for QB Cam Ward. Tennessee will likely consider drafting a WR with the No. 4 overall pick. Ohio State star Carnell Tate is a name to watch. — Steve DelVecchio
