Biggest Needs for NFL Teams with the Most 2024 Salary-Cap Space

No matter whether a team finishes with the No. 1 pick in the draft or wins a Super Bowl, all 32 NFL franchises make a large number of personnel changes during the offseason.

The salary cap effectively ensures that no roster is ever perfect, so free agency and the NFL draft have enormous value.

Thanks to restructured contracts and potential cuts or trades, teams have plenty of ways to create more financial room.

Nevertheless, according to Over the Cap, seven organizations already hold at least $45 million in effective cap space for the 2024 season, including the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, who are still alive in this year's playoffs. We're taking an early look at possible upgrades for all seven teams.

The projected needs are subjective, but the teams are listed in ascending order relative to effective cap space—which factors in salaries for anticipated draft picks.

Detroit Lions

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Dan Campbell

Effective cap space: $45.8 million

Heading into the season, Jared Goff loomed as a potential cap casualty if the Detroit Lions struggled. It's clear that he won't be anywhere but the Motor City in 2024.

Detroit's top mission, as a result, should be an upgrade at cornerback with a focus on edge-rushers not far behind.

In the regular season, the Lions ranked 24th in sacks, 27th in yards allowed per play and 31st in yards allowed per pass. Were it not for Aidan Hutchinson, those numbers would be even worse. The team's depth of impact pass-rushers behind Hutchinson is minimal.

Detroit should not be comfortable with Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs as the long-term cornerbacks, either. They yielded 9.8 yards and 7.8 yards per target, respectively, with 11 total touchdowns allowed.

Interior linemen—both on offense and defense—also stand out as potential late-round priorities for the Lions.

Indianapolis Colts

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Jonathan Taylor

Effective cap space: $51.6 million

After selecting Anthony Richardson early in the 2023 NFL draft and extending star running back Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts' backfield is set for 2024 and beyond.

Now, attention shifts to the receiving corps.

If the Colts re-sign Michael Pittman Jr. as they should, they can lean on the trio of Pittman, Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. If not, the front office's medium-priority task of adding a veteran backup would ascend to absolutely needing to pick up a wideout this offseason.

Indianapolis otherwise must address the secondary, which is thin at safety—and more so if Julian Blackmon is not retained—and could use support for a couple of young corners.

From there, the Colts should be interested in padding a defensive line that has big-money decisions on the horizon.

New England Patriots

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Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe

Effective cap space: $53.1 million

In short, the New England Patriots need a quarterback.

That's where the conversation begins as the franchise enters the post-Bill Belichick era. While the team deserves blame for mishandling Mac Jones after his promising rookie year, it's time to move on from the 2021 first-round choice and nudge Bailey Zappe into a backup role.

New England holds the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft, so the team is guaranteed a shot to snag one of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels—if the Pats, of course, take the QB direction.

The roster basically needs help everywhere, though.

Wide receiver and the offensive tackle spot opposite Mike Onwenu—provided he's re-signed—are clear weaknesses. New England also has zero tight ends under contract for 2024.

Defensively, the Patriots would benefit from an impact edge-rusher and more usable depth at cornerback. But their main offseason focus should be centered on the scoring side of the ball.

Cincinnati Bengals

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Tee Higgins

Effective cap space: $53.6 million

Although the Cincinnati Bengals have plenty a ton of available space, Joe Burrow's recent extension and Ja'Marr Chase's looming deal mean the team shouldn't be burning through money, either.

The major question is how Cincinnati will approach its receiving corps. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are both headed for free agency. Higgins is younger and will be more expensive, while Boyd is a fine complementary piece but might not be worth the price compared to a younger receiver—such as 2023 draft picks Charlie Jones or Andrei Iosivas.

Burrow said he expects Higgins to return in 2024, so we won't label receiver as the Bengals' top need just yet.

Only one team allowed more yards per carry, so Cincinnati must strengthen its group of defensive tackles.

Plus, despite all of the resources devoted to the offensive line lately, the Bengals still aren't protecting Burrow well enough. Any impactful boost up front would be welcomed as Cincy aims for a postseason return.

Houston Texans

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DeMeco Ryans

Effective cap space: $60.9 million

Between hiring DeMeco Ryans, drafting quarterback C.J. Stroud and trading up to pick edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr., the Houston Texans absolutely nailed their biggest moves of the 2023 offseason. That trifecta propelled the Texans to a surprise AFC South crown.

Now, what do they have in store for the encore?

While the offense should not be neglected, Houston can upgrade much of its defensive personnel.

The team ranked 30th in yards allowed per pass attempt, so a deeper pass-rush rotation and a sturdier secondary should be leading priorities. Edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard and corner Steven Nelson are worth re-signing, and their departures would only heighten the need.

Adding a starting-caliber blocker—or at least a respected swing tackle—and a wide receiver would be smart for the Texans, as well.

Washington Commanders

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Sam Howell

Effective cap space: $63.5 million

Do the Washington Commanders believe in Sam Howell?

That answer will shape how a new head coach and front office approach the offseason. If no, expect the Commanders to select one of Williams, Maye—who followed Howell at North Carolina—or Daniels with the second pick of the draft and presumably trade Howell.

If yes, however, the Commanders can shift to their glaring void at edge-rusher. They traded both Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the 2023 deadline and embraced a rebuild at the premier defensive spot.

Beyond that, Washington must improve a bad offensive line. Howell's inexperience resulted in some unnecessary negative plays, sure, but the Commanders ceded the second-most sacks in the NFL.

Throw in a possible cap-saving cut of starting tight end Logan Thomas, and Washington's offseason is full of positions to address.

Tennessee Titans

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DeAndre Hopkins

Effective cap space: $64.9 million

As the Tennessee Titans move on from Mike Vrabel, their future is expected to revolve around quarterback Will Levis. The rookie dazzled in his debut and ultimately logged nine starts in 2023.

Tennessee simply must start to upgrade the surrounding talent to give Levis his best chance to succeed.

Star running back Derrick Henry is unlikely to return, but 2023 draft pick Tyjae Spears looks ready to handle a starting role. The offensive line could use a jolt, and wide receiver is a problem even if the Titans are adamant that 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks will break out in 2024.

On the defensive side, Tennessee finished 25th in pressure rate while the secondary more survived than thrived. Adding to the edge-rushing unit and cornerback are necessities.

Fortunately for the Titans, they enter the offseason with the NFL's most usable cap space and the No. 7 pick in the draft.