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Every NFL team’s biggest remaining need in 2024 offseason, from 49ers’ d-line to Texans’ secondary | Sporting News Australia

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NFL teams do the best they can to fill their positional needs in a single offseason, but with salary-cap limitations and a finite number of draft picks, there is always some unfinished personnel business.

Some contending teams are much more well-rounded than others and have few weaknesses left. Some rebuilding teams still have some clear voids to complement their strengths.

Here’s going around the league to examine the biggest roster need for all 32 teams ahead of 2024 training camp.

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Every NFL team’s biggest remaining need in 2024 offseason

Arizona Cardinals: Defensive tackle

Defensive-minded coach Jonathan Gannon had the interior as a strength in Philadelphia. The position continues to be lacking post-J.J. Watt in Arizona.

Atlanta Falcons: Edge pass rusher

The Falcons, by stashing first-round QB Michael Penix Jr., passed on top defensive prospects such as Jared Verse and Dallas Turner to boost their new defensive-minded coach, Raheem Morris. 

Baltimore Ravens: Guard

The Ravens are hurting a little here minus Kevin Zeitler, but they hope youngsters Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland can pan out inside.

Buffalo Bills: Linebacker

The Bills lost Tyrel Dodson in free agency and haven’t been this weak around ace cover man Matt Milano in a while under Sean McDermott.

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Carolina Panthers: Defensive tackle

The Panthers have Derrick Brown but are otherwise weak in their three-man front for returning defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. 

Chicago Bears: Defensive tackle

The Bears focused a lot on offense and ended up not addressing their one glaring weakness inside for defensive-minded coach Matt Eberflus to better support Montez Sweat.

Cincinnati Bengals: Cornerback

The Bengals have some promise but also some coverage inconsistency between young outside starters Cam Taylor-Britt and D.J. Turner.

Cleveland Browns: Offensive tackle

The Browns could have used some depth and a swing contingency starter given the recent major injury issues of left tackle Jedrick Wills and right tackle Jack Conklin.

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Dallas Cowboys: Wide receiver

The Cowboys were late to address running back but at least went back to Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas now has little behind CeeDee Lamb beyond Brandin Cooks, who turns 31 in September.

Brandin Cooks

Denver Broncos: Inside linebacker

The Broncos are rather weak removed from Josey Jewell with castoffs Alex Singleton and Cody Barton as two shaky starters.

Detroit Lions: Wide receiver

The Lions are asking a lot out of Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and others for support freshly paid Amon-Ra St. Brown for freshly paid Jared Goff.

Green Bay Packers: Guard

The Packers didn’t re-sign Jon Runyan, and this is the one concern on the offensive line after drafting Jordan Morgan to replace David Bakhtiari at tackle.

Houston Texans: Cornerback

The Texans are taking a shot on Jeff Okudah opposite Derek Stingley Jr., but the lack of depth at the position is a big concern for DeMeco Ryans.

Indianapolis Colts: Cornerback

The Colts are another AFC South team thin in the secondary, as they don’t have many reliable options at this position after Kenny Moore.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Cornerback

The Jaguars can join this club, too, as they are hoping Ronald Darby still has something left to help ace Tyson Campbell.

Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive tackle

The Chiefs took care of Chris Jones for DC Steve Spagnuolo, but they don’t have much more here with fading Derrick Nnadi leading the best of the rest.

Las Vegas Raiders: Quarterback

The Raiders have high hopes for Jack Jones, but there’s not much here with Jakorian Bennett and others.

Los Angeles Chargers: Edge rusher

The Chargers opted to add along the offensive line in the draft with Joe Alt before addressing wide receiver, but they didn’t have the resources to get some needed depth behind Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa in Jesse Minter’s new defense.

Los Angeles Rams: Offensive tackle

They have so-so Alaric Jackson and 32-year-old Rob Havenstein starting in front of Matthew Stafford, so they are in a similar situation as the Browns.

Miami Dolphins: Guard

Mike McDaniel should be concerned about his interior blocking with Robert Hunt leaving in free agency with Isaiah Wynn and Robert Jones as the current best options.

Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniels

Minnesota Vikings: Defensive line

Between the mix of Jerry Tillery, Harrison Phillips, and Jonathan Bullard, the three-man front is easily the shakiest starting group for DC Brian Flores after there was heavy investment in outside and inside linebacker.

New England Patriots: Offensive tackle

The Patriots didn’t re-sign Trent Brown opposite Mike Onwenu, leaving a big question mark at left tackle in front of rookie first-round QB Drake Maye.

New Orleans Saints: Defensive tackle 

With Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders set to start, this is the weakest spot for defensive-minded coach Dennis Allen in looking to support Cameron Jordan and newcomer Chase Young .

New York Giants: Cornerback

This is a really glaring defensive weakness behind an improved pass rush, as Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott both can be major coverage liabilities.

New York Jets: Safety

The Jets are loaded everywhere else in Robert Saleh’s defense, but they can be exploited on the back end inside with Chuck Clark and Tony Adams slated to start.

Philadelphia Eagles: Wide receiver

This is odd because the team just invested plenty in extensions for A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but adding Parirs Campbell, Johnny Wilson, and Ainias Smith doesn’t inspire they have any reliable options beyond their top two.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Wide receiver

The Steelers have been rumored to be making a deal, but nothing has materialized since moving Diontae Johnson to the Panthers. George Pickens can have a big breakout, but they need things to pan out with rookie Roman Wilson, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, and others to maximize the passing offense with Russell Wilson.

San Francisco 49ers: Defensive line

The 49ers have Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave on one side of the front four, but the other side is very weak in relation with newcomers Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins.

Seattle Seahawks: Safety

They could be a candidate to sign Justin Simmons late, as Rayshawn Jenkins doesn’t give them much joining Pro Bowler Julian Love.

Todd Bowles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge rusher

Todd Bowles once enjoyed the combination of Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul leading the 3-4 pass rush from outside linebacker, but there are some concerns about just how productive the combination of Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka can be.

Tennessee Titans: Edge rusher

The Titans did well to address offensive tackle, defensive line, and wide receiver as some of their primary needs for the new coaching staff, but with Harold Landry and Arden Key leading the depth chart, this position needed more help for new DC Dennard Wilson.

Washington Commanders: Defensive back

Whether it’s safety or cornerback, new defensive-minded coach Dan Quinn should be concerned about the playmaking potential here after Kendall Fuller and Kamren Curl left in free agency.

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