Most pressing need for each NFC team in 2024 NFL Draft

For the 18 NFL teams that didn't make the postseason, it's on to free agency (starts March 13) and the NFL Draft (April 25-27 in Detroit). 

Some teams have multiple huge holes to fill in the draft — we're looking at you, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals — while other teams only need re-tooling. 

As compiled by Yardbarker NFL writers, here's the most pressing need for every NFC team in the draft.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | Most pressing need: offensive line | First-round pick: TBD | With Tyler Biadasz and Tyron Smith becoming free agents, Dallas may have to replace two starters on its offensive line. Someone like Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton could fit the bill and, according to recent mock drafts, the 6-foot-7 tight end-turned-offensive tackle should be available toward the end of the first round.

NEW YORK GIANTS | Most pressing need: A passing game | First-round pick: No. 6 | After averaging a dismal 15.6 points per game this season, the Giants must do whatever they can to improve their 31nd-ranked passing game (169.8 YPG). A quarterback such as Southern Cal's Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye could do the trick, but a receiver like Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is a great Plan B if the team can wait for Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders in 2025.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Most pressing need: linebacker | First-round pick: TBD | When it comes to positional spending, the Eagles are typically at or near the bottom of the league when it comes to linebackers. The team has become too reliant on waiver-wire players such as Shaquille Leonard, and it showed as the defense's collapse against lesser teams down the stretch.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Most pressing need: defensive end | First-round pick: No. 2 | Washington traded two of its top three pass-rushers in Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline. Assuming the team sticks with quarterback Sam Howell, the Commanders must do better than the combined six sacks they got from starting ends Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Most pressing need: wide receiver | First-round picks: No. 4 and No. 21 (from Houston) | The Cardinals' only wide receiver with more than 40 catches and 500 yards this season was pending free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. If we work on the assumption that Kyler Murray is back as the starting quarterback, he is going to desperately need an impact wide receiver to give him — and the Cardinals — a chance for success.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | Most pressing need: cornerback | First-round pick: TBD | The Rams never adequately replaced star cornerback Jalen Ramsey after trading him to Miami, and Ahkello Witherspoon — one of their co-leaders in interceptions — is a free agent after this season. The Rams were 20th against the pass this season (231.1 YPG), so finding a young, potential lockdown corner should be at the top of the priority list.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Most pressing need: offensive tackle | First-round pick: TBD | The 49ers have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL but could use additional offensive line depth and flexibility, especially at tackle. As great as Trent Williams has been, he will be 36 next season and has had injury concerns in recent years.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Most pressing need: defensive line | First-round pick: No. 16 | The defense was a major weakness for the second year in a row, and the defensive line is a huge part of those struggles. Seattle had the second-worst run defense (138.4 YPG) and has not generated much of a pass rush from its interior linemen either. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | More pressing need: offensive weapons | First-round picks: No. 1 (from Carolina) and No. 9 | Should the Bears stick with quarterback Justin Fields, grabbing him an elite weapon becomes paramount. Whether they keep the No. 1 pick or trade down, selecting Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. should be a no-brainer, He would create an electric playmaking combo in the Windy City alongside D.J. Moore. 

DETROIT LIONS | Most pressing need: cornerback | First-round pick: TBD | Adding a talented corner to a defense ranked 27th (247.4 YPG) against the pass would help. Iowa's versatile defensive back Cooper DeJean fits the team's mold, and the strategy of selecting Hawkeyes has worked out great recently for the franchise, yielding core pieces in linebacker Jack Campbell and tight end Sam LaPorta.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Most pressing need: defensive line | First-round pick: TBD | The Packers have holes at cornerback and safety, but they could use a disturbing force along the line to help improve the NFL's 28th-ranked defense against the run (128.3 YPG). With projected picks at No. 19 and No. 40 in the first two rounds of April's draft, Green Bay could potentially target one of the better run-stoppers, such as Byron Murphy (Texas) or Kris Jenkins (Michigan). 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Most pressing need: quarterback | First-round pick: No. 11 | The Vikings haven't selected a quarterback higher than the third round since 2014 (Teddy Bridgewater, No. 32), but the time is now. Barring a trade-up, they're likely out of the running for Williams (Southern Cal), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Jayden Daniels (LSU), but Washington standout Michael Penix Jr. might be an attractive option at No. 11, especially if Kirk Cousins returns on a short deal. — Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Most pressing need: quarterback | First-round pick: No. 8 | Head coach Arthur Smith’s firing likely also means the end of Desmond Ridder’s run as starting quarterback. Atlanta is in a position to quickly improve at the position, possibly with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS | More pressing need: wide receiver | First-round pick: None | Adam Thielen, who turns 34 before the start of next season, was quarterback Bryce Young’s most consistent target in 2023. Carolina must get more talent on the perimeter — it could target Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka or Texas’ Adonai Mitchell — to get an accurate gauge of Young’s NFL potential. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Most pressing need: defensive line | First-round pick: No. 14 | For the second consecutive season, the Saints finished in the bottom third in the league in rush defense after finishing in the top four from 2018-2021. New Orleans also lacks a consistent pass rush from its front four, finishing 31st in the league in ESPN’s pass-rush win-rate rankings and tied for 29th in sacks (34), which makes Florida State edge-rusher Jared Verse and Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton prospects worth considering.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Most pressing need: offensive line | First-round pick: TBD | As impressive as the Bucs were in winning their third consecutive division crown, they’d be considerably better with a running game. Tampa ranked 32nd in ESPN’s run-block win rate and averages 3.4 yards per rush attempt, the worst in the league. The Bucs’ draft position isn’t finalized, but they should be in the range to target a member of Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, Troy Fautanu. — Eric Smithling