NFC East
By Vincent Verhei
Dallas Cowboys
Biggest need: SecondaryIt feels like we say this every year, and we probably do, but the Cowboys haven't fielded a particularly good defensive backfield for a decade now. All three Dallas cornerbacks -- Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis and Orlando Scandrick -- were beaten regularly last season, and Scandrick is now in Washington. The Cowboys were 21st in Football Outsiders' rankings against No. 1 wide receivers and 23rd against No. 2s. Safeties Byron Jones and Jeff Heath allowed too many big plays on both runs and passes. Jones might be moved back to corner, where he played as a rookie in 2015, but that would just open a hole at free safety.Quiet need: Wide receiverDez Bryant failed to top 100 yards receiving in any of his last 23 games with the Cowboys, so his cut wasn't terribly surprising. Terrance Williams did manage 141 yards against Kansas City last year, but he averaged fewer than 30 yards in his other 15 games. Cole Beasley was the only player in the league in 2017 with at least 30 receptions but a catch rate below 60 percent and fewer than 9 yards per catch. Newcomer Allen Hurns went over a thousand yards in 2015 but has failed to hit 500 yards in two years since.Not a need: Pass-rusherIn his fourth season, DeMarcus Lawrence was second in the league in sacks and first in the league in quarterback hurries. He could have a quality bookend this season if Taco Charlton develops. The first-round pick had only 3.0 sacks as a rookie, but that was in a situational role, playing less than 40 percent of Dallas' defensive snaps. He should take a step forward in 2018. On the inside, defensive tackle David Irving had 7.0 sacks in only eight games. New York Giants
Biggest need: Pass-rusher
In trades and free agency, the Giants have added new starters at left tackle, left guard, running back and linebacker. However, they also traded away Jason Pierre-Paul to Tampa Bay. That move will save them nearly $40 million in salary-cap space in the next few years, but it leaves them with just one proven pass-rusher on the roster. Olivier Vernon comes into the season with 44.0 career sacks; the rest of the roster combines for 41.5. The second-leading sacker behind Vernon is defensive back William Gay, who has 7.0 sacks in 11 NFL seasons. Vernon, meanwhile, had only 6.5 sacks in 2017, fewest since his rookie year in 2012. He's also moving to linebacker in defensive coordinator James Bettcher's 3-4 base scheme. There are plenty of question marks here.
Quiet need: Quarterback
It seems that nobody in New York wants to acknowledge this, but Eli Manning is nearing the end of his career. He turned 37 in January, and though Tom Brady and Drew Brees have proved aging quarterbacks can still excel, Manning's best days are behind him. With the second pick in the draft, the Giants have a rare opportunity to find their next franchise passer and bring him along slowly, just as Manning began his career with the Giants as a backup to Kurt Warner. It would be the wise move in the long term.
Not a need: Wide receiver
New York's wide receivers were pretty much all injured at one point or another in 2017, but they should be healthy again in 2018. A starting trio of Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard, plus tight end Evan Engram, should be among the league's better receiving groups. This would obviously change if Beckham is traded, but as it stands now, the Giants are solid here.
Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest need: Linebacker
Let's be honest, this is a hard one. Only four starters from the Super Bowl win over New England have left the team, and that includes safety Corey Graham, who started only one game in the regular season. With Carson Wentz and Jason Peters back from injury, the Eagles should be more talented on opening day than the team that hoisted the Lombardi trophy. So when we say that linebacker is their biggest need, that's a relative statement. But the Eagles sometimes struggled to cover opposing backs and tight ends, and they gave up more big runs than you'd expect. With no picks in the second or third round, the Eagles also are strong candidates to trade down out of the first round to get some extra chances.
Quiet need: Special teams
The Eagles don't presently have a player on their roster who has ever punted in an NFL game. Cam Johnston, a former Aussie rules player, was on their practice squad and by default would be punting if the Eagles had a game tomorrow. The Eagles also have a big hole at punt returner. Kenjon Barner, who handled that gig in 2017, is still available, but there's a reason Philadelphia hasn't bothered to re-sign him yet.
Not a need: Quarterback
Had he stayed healthy, Wentz almost certainly would have won the league's MVP award last year. He finished second in touchdown passes despite missing three games; in fact, Russell Wilson didn't pass him until the fourth quarter of Week 17. When Wentz went down, backup Nick Foles struggled in his first action but then shined in the playoffs, completing 73 percent of his passes for more than 9 yards per throw with six touchdowns and just one interception. There's not a team in the league with a better one-two combo at the position.
Washington Redskins
Biggest need: Defensive line
Washington's run defense finished dead last in adjusted line yards allowed last year. Its defensive linemen were consistently blown off the line of scrimmage. Only 19 defensive linemen in the league made at least 15 run tackles and allowed an average gain on those tackles of 3.0 yards or more, and Washington had two of them in Ziggy Hood and Matthew Ioannidis. Stacy McGee's average run tackle wasn't much better, coming 2.5 yards past the line of scrimmage. A healthy Jonathan Allen (the 17th overall pick in last year's draft who played only five games as a rookie due to a foot injury) is an important addition, but Washington still needs more help here.
Quiet need: Running back
This is a "quiet" need only in the sense that the need on the defensive line is so much louder. Only one Washington runner qualified for our running back leaderboards: rookie Samaje Perine, who finished dead last out of 47 backs. Rob Kelley, the theoretical lead back, was limited to seven games by ankle and knee injuries -- and when he did play, he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry and 28 yards per game. Chris Thompson was a very good receiver out of the backfield, but Washington needs a workhorse here.
Not a need: Offensive tackle
Washington's starting offensive line was intact for the first seven weeks of 2017, and at that point, the Redskins' offense was sixth in the league at 5.9 yards per play. Then the line was ravaged by injury, and from that point forward, it fell to 4.9 yards per play, ranked 21st. Right tackle Morgan Moses was the only player to start every game, as he has for each of the past three years now. Left tackle Trent Williams missed six games with knee injuries. He had surgery in December and might miss OTAs but is expected to be 100 percent by Week 1. There are questions on the inside -- center Spencer Long joined the Jets, and guard Shawn Lauvao remains unsigned -- but Washington should be all set on the edges.
NFC North
By Scott Kacsmar
Chicago Bears
Biggest need: Offensive line
Running the ball has been part of Chicago's offensive DNA for decades, and that shouldn't change with Matt Nagy taking over as head coach with a talented running back duo. He'll also want Mitchell Trubisky to feel more comfortable in his sophomore season. The Bears have a few solid starters along the line, but left guard (Bradley Sowell) and right tackle (Bobby Massie) are unexciting NFC West transplants who have to step up after the departure of Josh Sitton. Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson could be an option for the Bears with the No. 8 pick in the draft, if he isn't already off the board.
Quiet need: Secondary
Chicago signed cornerback Kyle Fuller to a four-year extension worth $56 million, but this secondary could still use some serious playmaking ability. The Bears have a league-low 24 interceptions since 2015, and no individual player has had more than two picks in a season for Chicago since 2014. A starting group of Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson is underwhelming in a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Fuller is the only defensive back the Bears have drafted in the first three rounds of the past five drafts. That needs to change.
Not a need: Running back
Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen give the Bears what they need at running back. Howard was a great find in the fifth round in 2016, as his 2,435 rushing yards combined the past two seasons rank third in the NFL. Cohen better fits the receiving role that is a big part of what Nagy likes to do offensively, and he's also an effective option in the return game.
Detroit Lions
Biggest need: Tight end
Detroit has twice used a first-round pick on a tight end (Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron) in the Matthew Stafford era. Neither really worked out as hoped for, with Ebron leaving this offseason after a disappointing four-year stint. That leaves sparingly used receiving tight end Luke Willson from Seattle and blocking tight end Levine Toilolo from Atlanta as the top two players on the depth chart going into the draft. Those are really just one-year, stopgap, free-agent signings. This is not a draft for Detroit to repeat its mistake by using another first-round pick on a tight end, but Hayden Hurst (South Carolina) or Mike Gesicki (Penn State) could be available to the Lions in the second round.
Quiet need: Outside linebacker
The Lions added Jarrad Davis to the middle of their linebacking corps last year, but the outside could use some help now. Projected starters include Christian Jones, an undrafted free agent signed away from Chicago, and Devon Kennard, who spent four unspectacular years with the Giants. In the past 10 drafts, Detroit has used only two picks in the first three rounds on outside linebackers: Jordon Dizon (2008) and Kyle Van Noy (2014). Neither worked out for the Lions, but new head coach Matt Patricia is used to finding versatile linebackers from his time in New England.
Not a need: Wide receiver
Rather than state a boring choice, such as quarterback (Matthew Stafford) or even kicker (Matt Prater), let's give Detroit some credit for an impressive receiving corps. Golden Tate can still get deep but has been good in the slot and on short passes for Jim Bob Cooter's offense. Marvin Jones Jr. is one of the better receivers at making contested catches. Kenny Golladay's rookie season was cut short (11 games) by injury, but he showed some big-play ability and averaged 17.0 yards per catch. It's a nice trio that gives the Lions plenty of flexibility.
Green Bay Packers
Biggest need: Cornerback
It sounds hard to believe given the multiple high picks Green Bay has used on cornerbacks in the past several drafts, but this is an unsettled position for the team. The youngsters have been such a disappointment that Damarious Randall was traded to Cleveland and the team brought back veteran Tramon Williams. While we're not going to write off Kevin King after his rookie year -- many high-potential cornerbacks will struggle as rookies -- time is running out for Quinten Rollins to prove his worth, as he'll be a free agent after the season.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson was one of the most efficient connections in NFL history, with a 127.9 passer rating together, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. But age and injury caught up to Nelson, who will play for the Raiders this year. To help offset this loss, especially in the red zone, the Packers acquired tight end Jimmy Graham, who can also serve as a slot receiver. However, the Packers have very little at wide receiver after Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. Geronimo Allison is capable of the occasional play, but he would be a downgrade in Green Bay's usual three- or four-receiver sets. Cobb is also a free agent after this season, so that search for the next wave of receiving targets for Rodgers needs to start soon.
Not a need: Quarterback
While several teams with an older quarterback could use this draft to find a successor, the Packers are not one of those teams. Rodgers will turn 35 in December, but he should have a handful of years left and is still performing at a high level. His durability might be a concern after another collarbone injury, but the Packers traded for Cleveland's DeShone Kizer in March. He can serve as an upgraded version of Brett Hundley, although the Packers aren't winning another Super Bowl in the near future without a healthy Rodgers.
Minnesota Vikings
Biggest need: Guard
You know the roster is in good shape when guard is the biggest need, but the Vikings could use some young talent there. Minnesota's rushing offense ranked 23rd in adjusted line yards on runs marked as middle/guard. Right guard Joe Berger retired in March and could be replaced by veteran Tom Compton, who once played with Kirk Cousins in Washington. Compton has 15 starts in six seasons. Left guard Nick Easton is likely to return but had some struggles last year. Case Keenum handled pass pressure really well for most of 2017, but the Vikings could stand to keep their new quarterback investment better protected.
Quiet need: Cornerback
Xavier Rhodes was a first-team All-Pro last year, but no team can ever have enough good cornerbacks in today's NFL. Trae Waynes will be a free agent after this season unless his fifth-year option is picked up. He has shown some promise as a starter but is still the defender most likely to give up a big play in this defense. Terence Newman was 39 last season but still had the team's highest success rate in coverage, according to Sports Info Solutions. Look for Mackensie Alexander to take on more of the departed Newman's snaps, but the 2016 second-round pick still has to prove himself.
Not a need: Quarterback
Of course, the answer here is quarterback. It was the answer when the Vikings had three solid options in Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford and Case Keenum. It is definitely still the answer after they discarded all three to make Kirk Cousins the highest-paid player in NFL history. Expectations will never be higher in Cousins' career than they will be this year, but as he enters his age-30 season, this is by far the best roster he has ever had around him.
NFC South
By Andrew Potter
Atlanta Falcons
Biggest need: Defensive line
Dontari Poe left the way he came -- off to Carolina in free agency after a one-year stint in Atlanta, during which he started all 16 games as perhaps the key player on Atlanta's interior defensive line. Aptly, the spot vacated by Poe is now the largest hole on the Falcons' roster. Grady Jarrett has one interior spot nailed down, but the only two other defensive tackles presently rostered have two professional appearances between them. Jack Crawford can play inside or outside situationally, but the Falcons are widely expected to use their first-round pick on what they hope will be a true replacement at the heart of their defensive front.
Quiet need: Receiver
In Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, the Falcons have one of the best receiver tandems in the league. The question lies beyond those two: The departure of Taylor Gabriel to Chicago leaves career special-teamer and backup receiver Justin Hardy as the third option. Hardy is a fourth-year professional with five career starts, who has hauled in a remarkably consistent 20 to 21 catches in each of his first three seasons. The Falcons have spoken in the past about a desire to get Hardy more time on offense, but his targets have actually fallen each season. The only other receiver on the roster at present is second-year pro Marvin Hall, who had only two receptions in his rookie season -- although one was a 40-yard touchdown bomb against the Dolphins in his career debut.
Not a need: Edge rusher
Despite the departure of last season's sack leader Adrian Clayborn, the Falcons are not a team with a desperate need at defensive end. Vic Beasley Jr., who spent portions of last season as a traditional strongside linebacker, is expected to return to full-time duty as a dedicated edge rusher in 2018, while Takk McKinley flashed serious pass-rush potential last season and should improve with a year of experience. Brooks Reed, Jack Crawford and Derrick Shelby provide depth and situational flexibility in the rotation, leaving the team theoretically free to pursue options at other spots.
Carolina Panthers
Biggest need: Receiver
Last season's biggest need is this season's ... even bigger need. The departure of Kelvin Benjamin in a midseason trade with the Bills left the Panthers relying, at times, on veteran special-teamer Russell Shepard, 2015 UDFA Damiere Byrd and roster flotsam Kaelin Clay and Brenton Bersin as starting wide receivers while Curtis Samuel missed the second half of the season due to injury. Making matters worse, Cam Newton's favorite receiver, Greg Olsen, missed half of the season with a fractured foot. The Panthers tight ends therefore combined for fewer yards from scrimmage than Olsen alone had accumulated in each of the previous four individual seasons. Newton needs a credible deep threat to maximize his effectiveness as a passer, and the Panthers still have not replaced former Newton favorite Ted Ginn Jr. in that essential role.
Quiet need: Offensive line
Andrew Norwell's big-money move to Jacksonville might preclude this from being an especially quiet need, but it is eclipsed by the problems in the pass-catching corps. Still, Norwell's departure means the Panthers now have a hole at left guard between the two Kalils: an overmatched and overpaid Matt at left tackle, and center Ryan, who reportedly intends to retire after the 2018 season. Left tackle has been a problem area since Jordan Gross retired, and Matt Kalil at least brings some measure of stability there, but the Panthers are expected to make the offensive line a priority after some major offseason losses.
Not a need: Linebacker
What else is new? Even with the four-game suspension of Thomas Davis for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, the Panthers appear largely set at the linebacker spot. An effective spot starter in the past, Shaq Thompson has another opportunity to supplant the 35-year-old Davis at the top of the depth chart, while Luke Kuechly remains one of the best three-down linebackers in the league as long as he can minimize further head trauma. David Mayo, a 2015 fifth-round pick, will be the first player off the bench, and the Panthers have a track record of getting strong play from even their backup linebackers.
New Orleans Saints
Biggest need: Linebacker
The Saints' defense improved by leaps and bounds in 2017 from where it was at the end of 2016, but one issue remained: When free-agent acquisition A.J. Klein was lost for the season with a groin injury, the team lost its only viable coverage linebacker. Craig Robertson and Manti Te'o filled in the best they could, but both are primarily run defenders who struggle in pass coverage. Alex Anzalone showed flashes of potential early on, but he was drafted despite a reputation for being injury prone, then made it only four games before a shoulder injury ended his rookie season. The team appears to have found solutions in the defensive backfield and along the defensive line, but the linebackers remain the weakest links on a Saints defense that suddenly oozes potential elsewhere.
Quiet need: Quarterback
A small but vocal corner of Saints Twitter has its heart set on the Saints taking Lamar Jackson with the 27th overall selection, assuming the Louisville quarterback is still on the board. The reasoning is very sound: The team has few glaring needs, and none that demand a first-round pick solution. Drew Brees is not getting any younger, and though he is not visibly declining yet, when the end comes for a quarterback, it often comes quickly. A prospective heir, meaning not Tom Savage, could set up behind one of the league's best supporting casts -- at wide receiver, offensive line and wide receiver -- under a coaching staff with a strong track record of offensive success. Brees signed a two-year deal in the offseason and is still playing at a Hall of Fame level, lessening the pressure to throw the young guy onto the field quickly, but he is also likely to retire at the end of that deal, sparing the team a messy transition in three or four years' time. Whether the specific player is Jackson or somebody else who slides, a first-round quarterback would make a lot more sense now than it would have even one year ago.
Not a need: Cornerback
It's amazing how quickly a position group can turn around in the NFL. This time last season, the Saints' secondary was a huge question mark after a three-year run as the worst pass defense in the league. Heading into 2018, Marshon Lattimore's outstanding rookie year has him in the conversation as one of the league's best cover corners, Ken Crawley built off his own solid rookie year to establish himself as a solid starter opposite Lattimore, and Patrick Robinson returns from Philadelphia with a ring, giving the Saints three starting-quality options. Last year, the departure of former No. 1 corner Delvin Breaux would have been cause for panic in New Orleans; this season, Breaux was genuinely surplus to requirements. Such has been the transformation in the Saints' backfield.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest need: Defensive back
The team's hefty investment in the defensive line during the free-agency period, including a trade for Jason Pierre-Paul, should make an immediate impact on the front half of 2017's No. 31 DVOA pass defense. The back half has yet to be addressed: The team's starting cornerbacks project to being 35-year-old Brent Grimes, 2016 first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves and possibly the re-signed Javien Elliott. The problems with this lineup are legion. Grimes is well past the prime age for a starting cornerback. Hargreaves has struggled mightily playing outside corner during his first two seasons but did look effective in limited action as a nickelback before injuries to other players forced him back outside. Elliott saw limited action as a slot corner behind veteran Robert McClain, who has not (yet) been retained. The top backup on the outside is Ryan Smith, who was every bit as poor a cornerback last year as we would expect from the previous year's failed attempt to move him to safety. The team desperately needs an infusion of talent at this position, both to allow Hargreaves back into the slot, where he might be more effective, and to supplant Grimes when Father Time eventually drags him to hang it up.
Quiet need: Running back
The belated but inevitable departure of Doug Martin, coupled with the loss of Charles Sims, leaves 2016 UDFA Peyton Barber and veteran Jacquizz Rodgers as the incumbent running back tandem in Tampa Bay. Rodgers had the best season of his career in 2016 as the injury replacement for the departed duo, while Barber led the Buccaneers with a paltry 423 rushing yards in 2017. Neither has surpassed 560 yards in a season nor started more than five games; both would be solid second or third options, but neither is an especially dynamic player as either a rusher or receiver. The days of hoping for a Martin revival have officially ended. The Buccaneers should probably take the opportunity to look for a viable long-term replacement in this draft.
Not a need: Receivers
This came up a lot last offseason in the context of the team using a first-round pick on tight end O.J. Howard, but it remains just as true now: The Buccaneers are one of the few teams in the league who probably have more pass-catchers than they really need. DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are a diverse group of outside receivers who bring a range of strengths to the offense, while Howard and Cameron Brate are both talented receiving tight ends and very solid red zone threats. Adam Humphries is the only dedicated slot receiver, but either of the tight ends or backup Anthony Auclair could fill that role if Humphries were to miss time for any reason. Unless a rookie were to immediately supplant Humphries in the slot, there is very little room for any other receiver to make an impact in one of the strongest and deepest talent pools in the league.
NFC West
By Bryan Knowles
Arizona Cardinals
Biggest need: Quarterback
The Cardinals opened the offseason with no quarterbacks under contract, so that was Priorities 1, 2 and 3 this offseason. Adding Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon in free agency means they'll at least have someone to line up behind center this season, but the Cardinals can't really afford to rest there. Neither Bradford nor Glennon has played a full NFL season since 2012, and Bradford's knee has been described as "degenerative." So, while the Cardinals no longer necessarily need to use their first-round pick on a signal-caller of the future, it would be wise to draft and develop someone who could potentially anchor the position for years to come -- and could step in when and if Bradford's injury history comes back to bite him yet again. The Cardinals haven't used an early-round pick on a quarterback since Matt Leinart in 2006; it might be time to invest in the future of the position rather than looking for veteran solutions every three or four seasons.
Quiet need: 3-technique lineman
The Cardinals will be shifting to a 4-3 base alignment under new head coach Steve Wilks. This isn't as big a shift as it might seem -- the Cardinals regularly use their nickel package and frequently used packages with four down linemen under former defensive coordinator James Bettcher -- but it does mean some new regular roles for returning defenders. Perhaps the shift in philosophy will finally unlock 2016 first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche's potential; he has logged just 335 defensive snaps in his disappointing career so far. But the Cardinals should give themselves options to line up next to Corey Peters on the inside of the line.
Not a need: Linebackers
Perhaps no Cardinal will benefit from the shift in alignments more than Haason Reddick, who looked very sharp when working as an inside linebacker as a rookie, and less so when moved to the outside to replace the injured Markus Golden. With Reddick and Deone Bucannon inside, the Cardinals have a pair of young, athletic linebackers to build around. They could still use some more bodies there, but it's the closest thing they have to being set anywhere on the roster.
Los Angeles Rams
Biggest need: Edge rusher
Yes, the Rams still have needs despite trading for half the NFL and signing the other half in free agency. Los Angeles' leading edge rusher last season was Robert Quinn with just 19 pass pressures, according to Sports Info Solutions charting. He has been traded to Miami. After that, it was Connor Barwin with 18.5; he remains a free agent. That means Matt Longacre and Samson Ebukam are the leading returning edge rushers, with a combined 22.5 pass pressures -- not exactly a duo to be feared. The Rams need someone on the outside who can consistently get pressure on the quarterback and make opponents pay for paying so much attention to Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh inside.
Quiet need: Right guard
The Rams' offensive line turned in a very good 2017, but the weak link was right guard Jamon Brown. Brown is a physical mauler in the running game who punched open plenty of holes for Todd Gurley II, but he lacks technique and finesse against pass-rushers. He also happens to be a free agent after the 2018 season, so even if he continues to develop, the Rams might need to figure out an answer at the position going forward.
Not a need: Cornerback
This was the Rams' biggest need entering the offseason, with both Trumaine Johnson and Nickell Robey-Coleman slated to be free agents. After trading for Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, re-signing Robey-Coleman and adding Sam Shields, Los Angeles is now better prepared for the upcoming season. When you add two All-Pro cornerbacks to your roster before free agency officially begins, you're doing all right. The Rams have basically imported a ball-hawking secondary, which is going to pair quite nicely with the pressure Donald and Suh will provide up the middle. Goodness, how is anyone going to throw on the Rams in 2018?
San Francisco 49ers
Biggest need: Guard
2016 first-round pick Joshua Garnett missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury and wasn't exactly knocking down the door of a starting role before his knee was scoped. Laken Tomlinson, another recent first-round pick, has never managed to turn his significant physical talents into quality pass protection. Zane Beadles bounced between tackle and guard, failing to succeed at either position. Tomlinson and Jonathan Cooper are the projected starters entering training camp, but for the sake of Jimmy Garoppolo's health, an upgrade is needed. If he's still on the board, Quenton Nelson has to be a consideration with the ninth pick in the draft.
Quiet need: Wide receiver
The addition of Pierre Garcon to the lineup, along with the rapport Garoppolo developed with Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor at the end of the year, gives the 49ers something to work with at wideout. What they're lacking is a big feature receiver -- someone defenses have to specially account for and double-team, especially in the red zone. Our Playmaker Score system indicates this is not the year to be looking for an elite prospect, however, so San Francisco might be best off developing the talent it already has.
Not a need: Quarterback
This isn't just about having Garoppolo, though locking him up for the long term was the biggest move of San Francisco's offseason so far. The 49ers also are set at backup quarterback, having spent a third-round pick on C.J. Beathard last season. One could argue the 49ers have had quarterback as a need on one level or another in every season since Mike Singletary was head coach, so it's a strange feeling to not see the team kicking tires on yet another crop of passers.
Seattle Seahawks
Biggest need: Cornerback
Richard Sherman is in San Francisco. DeShawn Shead is in Detroit. Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell are free agents. That leaves the Seahawks dangerously thin at corner. Shaquill Griffin had a very good rookie season, finishing eighth in success rate, fifth in yards per passes thrown in his direction and fourth in YAC allowed, according to Sports Info Solutions charting. He could be the foundation of a new Legion of Boom, but he'll need some warm bodies to join him in the secondary. If the season started today, the other outside corner might be Neiko Thorpe, who had just 22 defensive snaps last season. Talent must be added.
Quiet need: Defensive tackle
Replacing Sheldon Richardson isn't normally what one would consider a "quiet" need, but compared to the volume levels of the voids in the secondary and offensive line, it's downright inaudible. Last year's third-round pick, Nazair Jones, joins Jarran Reed as projected starters in 2018, but that leaves a need in the rotation. The future of last year's top draft pick, Malik McDowell, remains uncertain after his 2017 ATV accident. If McDowell can return to the field, it would provide a much-needed boost to the interior pass rush. Without knowing if he'll ever see the field, however, Seattle could stand to add some more young talent to the line.Not a need: SafetyWith Sherman gone and Kam Chancellor's future up in the air, Earl Thomas is the last man standing in the Legion of Boom. Few safeties in the league can cover as much ground as he can, and his leadership and versatility were key in keeping the injury-ravaged secondary respectable in the second half of 2017. We don't know if Chancellor will ever see the field again, but if he doesn't, Bradley McDougald was a solid replacement last season. Despite an offseason of significant change on defense, Seattle's safeties should remain a strength.