2015 Offseason Advice for Every NFL Team
Every NFL season, 31 teams go home failures.
Even the Super Bowl XLIX champion New England Patriots are already working on next season's campaign—despite its all-but-certain fate.
All 32 teams fight the vicious entropy of the NFL, almost without end, 12 months a year. They scout college players. They scout each others' players. They scout their own players. It's a race against time.
Not only do NFL teams have to try to put together championship teams under major sports' strictest salary cap, they have to deal with players who aren't ready yet, players who won't be ready for much longer, injuries, suspensions, coaching mistakes and plain old bad luck.
NFL executives need all the help they can get, and I'm here to give it to them.
Here's a rundown of every NFL team, where they finished last year, their projected cap space, per Spotrac.com, among the top 51 players on the roster and place in the 2015 first-round draft order.
Every franchise also gets three pieces of advice: whom to re-sign, whom to let walk, whom to target, whom to draft, positions desperate for talent and positions of strength, and where the luxury of drafting ahead and developing would be most effective.
As your favorite team turns the corner into the new league year, here's how it gets the most out of this offseason—and the regular season right after!
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
2014 Record: 11-5, 2nd in NFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 24
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$12,032,384
Keep Fixing the Offensive Line
Priority No. 1 has to be fixing the offensive line. The Cardinals were well on their way to locking up an NFC West division title—and maybe a Super Bowl berth—before multiple quarterback injuries derailed their season.
Free-agent signee Jared Veldheer finally stabilized the left tackle spot. Why former No. 7 overall pick Jonathan Cooper can't beat out replacement-level veterans at guard, though, could be an X-Files episode, and the total lack of daylight for explosive tailback Andre Ellington became a real problem down the stretch.
Get Larry Fitzgerald Back
Fitz isn't the player he used to be, but as a strong, sure-handed complement to downfield options Michael Floyd and John Brown, the Cardinals couldn't do any better. What the NFL Man of the Year finalist brings to the team and community can't be overstated.
Cardinals president Michael Bidwill told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM "it takes two" to do a deal, implying Fitzgerald will have to take a pay cut to fit under the Cardinals cap—but with postseason success finally so close in the desert, will Fitzgerald really leave?
Establish a Quarterback Succession Plan
Aging, rehabbing Carson Palmer is the starter going forward; his credible play and three-year, $50 million contract determine that.
Whether the Cardinals hang on to backup Drew Stanton going into his last year under contract, cut him to save cap room and roll with Logan Ryan and Ryan Lindley in an uninspiring two-headed backup system or throw out the lot and draft a guy, the Cardinals need to figure out who their next quarterback is.
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
2014 Record: 6-10, 3rd in NFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 8
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $19,149,937
Add More Pass Rush
During the 2013 season, the Falcons' complete lack of a pass rush first became an observation, then a joke, then a played-out joke, then a trite and obvious cliche. They finished dead last in Pro Football Focus' team pass-rush grades.
In 2014, very little changed: They finished 29th.
This near-total failure to fix a glaring need on an otherwise strong roster is a big reason why former general manager Tom Dimitroff lost final-say authority over the roster this spring; acquiring, developing and properly deploying pass-rush talent has to be the Falcons' top priority.
Bolster the Offensive Line
The Falcons correctly identified protection for quarterback Matt Ryan as a major need in 2013; The team's drafting of Jake Matthews at No. 6 overall should have addressed that need. Instead, PFF ranked Matthews No. 84 out of 84 qualifying tackles, and center James Stone ranked 34th out of 41. The Falcons will just have to hold steady there and hope for major improvement.
Between poor play and injuries, the Falcons' interior line has been a source of constant instability; another addition like guard Jon Asamoah in free agency could help the whole offense.
Fix the Safety Position
Of course, pass rush and pass coverage feed off each other; improved coverage can help out pass-rushers, and improved pass rush can help out deep coverage. A playmaking coverage safety behind outstanding young corner Desmond Trufant could make a huge impact.
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
2014 Record: 10-6, 3rd in AFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 26
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $431,143
Fix the Secondary
The Ravens very nearly went into Gillette Stadium and beat the eventual Super Bowl champions in their own house. If not for the injury-ravaged secondary, they might have done it. In fact, the strong, deep, balanced Ravens might have been hosting the Patriots if not for the secondary.
Getting Jimmy Smith back will help the team, but Lardarius Webb didn't set the world on fire at the other corner spot and 2013 first-round pick Matt Elam was a disaster at safety. The Ravens need to look at both starters and depth at corner and safety.
Sweet-Talk Haloti Ngata into an Affordable Deal
Haloti Ngata is expensive, old (31), coming off a late-season performance-enhancing drug suspension and getting pushed for time by youngsters Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams. Anyone who saw his play against the Patriots in the playoffs, though, wants him on their team.
John Eisenberg of the Ravens' official site thinks an affordable deal is possible. If so, it had better get done.
Justin Forsett: If Not Him, Who?
Forsett had an outstanding 2014 in then-offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak's system behind the Ravens' powerful offensive line. The question is, how much of that production was due to Forsett's speed and skill, and how much was due to Kubiak and the line?
Kubiak is gone, in favor of the pass-happy Marc Trestman, and if O-lineman Marshal Yanda and Co. are healthy and in form, they don't need a stud to rack up yards. But if the Ravens can't keep Forsett, who's an unrestricted free agent, they need someone who's shown a little more than 2014 fourth-round pick Lorenzo Taliaferro has to date.
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Buffalo Bills
4 of 322014 Record: 9-7, 2nd in AFC East
2015 Draft Position: No first-round pick (Cleveland owns Buffalo's would-be No. 19 selection)
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $27,606,035
Evaluate EJ Manuel
New head coach Rex Ryan affirmed, per Ross Jones of Fox Sports, he and his staff will "explore possible veteran free agents or draft picks" to come in at the quarterback position, and why not?
EJ Manuel, the Bills' 2013 first-round pick, was widely considered a reach and rarely flashed NFL potential in two injury-shortened years as a starter. However, Manuel was the centerpiece of an underwhelming offensive rebuild under departed head coach Doug Marrone; he had neither the tools nor time to succeed.
Manuel shouldn't be brought back as the unquestioned starter—but he shouldn't be written off, either.
Re-re-rebuild the Offensive Line
The Bills' struggles on the offensive line seem to have been going for ages. Left tackle Cordy Glenn has been consistent and strong, but every other Bills lineman finished on the negative side in Pro Football Focus' grading. The Bills, as a unit, ranked 22nd in pass blocking and 32nd (dead last) in run blocking.
No matter who's playing quarterback or running the ball, this is a problem that must be fixed. Given new offensive coordinator Greg Roman's struggles in San Francisco when his offensive line wasn't living up to its potential, the need is especially pressing.
Re-establish the Running Game
Roman's move away from the Frank Gore-led power running game in San Francisco was widely blamed for the 49ers' offensive regression. Talented tailback C.J. Spiller is set to be a free agent and may want to reunite with former Bills head coach Chan Gailey with the New York Jets, as he's now their offensive coordinator.
If he's gone, seemingly ageless Fred Jackson may quickly show his 33 years. The Bills need to identify a back who'll fit right in with Roman's offense.
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
2014 Record: 7-8-1, 1st in NFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 25
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $9,249,337
Get Cam Newton Weapons
Last spring, the Carolina Panthers turned loose nearly their entire wide receiver depth chart and drafted Kelvin Benjamin in the first round. Pinning all their downfield hopes—in the fourth season of quarterback Cam Newton's development—on a rookie receiver was, to put it kindly, risky for the Panthers.
Benjamin's incredible size (6'5", 240 lbs), length and athleticism gives him a great catch radius. Despite his needing some work on consistency and running the whole route tree well, initial returns are as positive as they could be. And tight end Greg Olsen, at age 29, had a career year.
After that, however, Newton had very few useful options, and the long-dangerous Panthers running game has downshifted a couple of times due to age and injuries. Carolina needs to add more dangerous offensive talent.
Get Cam Newton Protection
Last spring, the Panthers lost both starting offensive tackles and made no strong moves to replace them.
This was an error.
The Panthers finished dead last in Pro Football Focus' team pass-protection grades. If they want to maintain their position atop the NFC South and keep making deep playoff runs, they simply must upgrade here.
If Not Greg Hardy, Who?
The defense struggled with the sudden season-long removal of defensive end Greg Hardy, who was coming off a Pro Bowl 2013. If the Panthers choose not to re-sign Hardy (or choose to, but fail to), they'll need to decide whether to pursue another premier pass-rusher or bolster a safety position that gave up a few too many back-breaking bombs in 2014.
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
2014 Record: 5-11, 4th in NFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 7
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $22,582,633
Fix the Secondary, for Real This Time
Last season, when the Chicago Bears needed to fix their longstanding problems at safety, they signed M.D. Jennings, fresh off a disastrous season in Green Bay. Jennings didn't last long, taking a training camp injury settlement, and the Bears made do with a patchwork quilt of secondary starters.
Their failures were never more evident than against the New England Patriots in Week 8, when tight end Rob Gronkowski rumbled over every Bears back-seven defender what felt like a dozen times apiece.
With Tim Jennings and Kyle Fuller returning at corner, and Charles "Peanut" Tillman theoretically ready for one more year, the cornerback spot should be OK. But the Bears need serious help in both coverage and run-stuffing at the safety spot—especially in the NFC North, where they'll face Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Teddy Bridgewater in six games.
Start the Front-Seven Youth Movement
Jared Allen, 32, proved he can still get around the corner when he really wants to; Pro Football Focus charted the 2014 free-agent signee as having six sacks (5.5 official), 20 quarterback hits and 32 hurries. He and 34-year-old outside linebacker Lance Briggs are holding it down on the outside edges of the Bears' front seven. Even relative newcomer Willie Young will turn 30 this September.
The Bears need young pass-rushing talent, even if those players don't supplant Allen, Young, Briggs or anyone else in the Week 1 starting lineup.
Brandon Marshall: Bring Him Back
Brandon Marshall is in danger of becoming a cap casualty.
Yes, he's getting older (30). Yes, he was upset with a disappointing 2014 season. Maybe the Bears' problem in 2014 was that they didn't have enough key people on the sidelines who react to losing the way Marshall does. Bring him back.
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
2014 Record: 10-5-1, 2nd in AFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 21
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $31,423,766
Get Real Vis-a-Vis Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton is Andy Dalton, and what Dalton is is a guy who'll take a loaded offense against a beatable defense in the playoffs and go 18-of-35 for 155 yards and no touchdowns.
That's not good enough. Not good enough in the AFC North, not good enough in the AFC entirely and not good enough for the citizens of Hamilton County, who gave the Bengals the sweetest stadium deal of all time.
However, it's just fine for Bengals leadership, who seem so convinced that they can't upgrade over Dalton they'd sign him to a 30-year contract if they could. It's time for the Bengals to start being real with themselves about his past, present and future—and draft a quarterback who can eventually push him.
Get Faster off the Edge
The Bengals lost primary edge-rusher Michael Johnson to free agency last season, but Johnson's missing 3.5 sacks weren't enough to explain the huge drop-off in the team's overall ability to rush the passer. The Bengals were dead last in the NFL in sack rate, per Pro Football Reference; their 3.2 percent mark was half a percent lower the next-worst squad!
A real pass-rushing defensive end might be the only thing this talented defense needs...
Add Linebackers
...Except, of course, linebackers.
Vincent Rey tried valiantly to play all three linebacker spots in 2014, but it just wasn't going to happen. Emmanuel Lamur was 39th out of 40 in Pro Football Focus' overall 4-3 outside linebacker grades. Vontaze Burfict is coming back from microfracture surgery, and Rey Maualuga is an impending free agent.
Even if Maualuga comes back, the Bengals should be in the market for at least one, and maybe two, linebackers.
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
2014 Record: 7-9, 4th in AFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 12 (also own Buffalo's No. 19)
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $43,296,285
DON'T Fix the Quarterback Position
Yes, the Browns have two first-round draft picks and might be the only team that can pry the No. 1 overall pick—and yet another franchise savior at quarterback—out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' hands. But after a bust of a first season from 2014 first-rounder Johnny Manziel, the very last thing the Browns need to do is pin their franchise on yet another rookie quarterback.
Go get one of the half-decent veterans available on the market, as Bleacher Report's Andrea Hangst broke down, and use those first-rounders to...
Add Offensive Playmakers
With yet another suspension of Josh Gordon, this one for the entire 2015 season, the Browns have to proceed as if they'll never get another useful down out of him. Andrew Hawkins proved himself valuable in 2014, but he's not the kind of terrifying talent Gordon is.
Adding another downfield threat to combine with Hawkins and tight end Jordan Cameron (an unrestricted free agent) will be vital to the Browns' scoring potential in 2015.
Stabilize the Defensive Line
The Browns have a great young nucleus; despite their offensive struggles they finished as a top-10 scoring unit. Yet the back seven took on a lot of pressure due to injuries and instability all along the defensive line. The line sorely felt Phil Taylor's injury absences, and the mess of linemen who got significant snaps at defensive end were nearly all underwhelming.
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 322014 Record: 12-4, 1st in NFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 27
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $5,163,342
Re-sign Dez Bryant
Re-sign Dez Bryant. Tag, extend, whatever you have to do. He's the best receiver in football right now, and you aren't going to find another one.
Add Playmaking DE
The Cowboys had a lot of things go right in 2014, including a huge sack from second-round rookie DeMarcus Lawrence that sealed a playoff victory. If Lawrence, who missed much of the year due to injury, can play a big role in 2015, awesome.
Even so, the Cowboys need to add more pass-rushing talent; they finished 28th in sack rate last season, per Pro Football Reference. In a system designed for a rush end to get many sacks, 31-year-old Jeremy Mincey led the team with seven.
Sort Out the Linebackers
Middle linebacker Sean Lee is finally coming back; linebackers Bruce Carter, Justin Durant and Rolando McClain are all set to be free agents. The cap-strapped Cowboys will likely have to let Carter walk but find a way to squeeze Durant and McClain back in—or risk having a defense that finished 15th in scoring and 19th in yardage suffer a drop-off in 2015.
Denver Broncos
10 of 322014 Record: 12-4, 1st in AFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 28
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $23,871,193
Bring Back Peyton, But...
Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks ever, and even in his physically diminished state he's one of the best quarterbacks currently in the NFL. The Broncos will not find a clear upgrade over him this offseason.
However...
They also need to find out if longtime No. 2 man Brock Osweiler is No. 1 material or not, and they need to know by the end of the 2015 season. He should get heavy reps in training camp and the preseason, and get multiple opportunities in the regular season.
Nonsense like Manning going back out in the midst of a 41-10 blowout can't happen anymore.
Pick One Thomas (and Pick Demaryius)
Julius Thomas is as Eric Decker was: a very nice player with good tools who needed Manning and the Broncos offense more than they needed him. The Broncos can't (shouldn't) carve out market-rate cash for him.
Demaryius Thomas, though, is a different matter; the Broncos should do whatever it takes to keep him around.
Draft Offensive Linemen
Franchise left tackle Ryan Clady just had an off year, finishing 41st out of 84 tackles graded by Pro Football Focus. Louis Vasquez was right behind him at No. 43; the other linemen who saw time there fared even worse. Even assuming Clady and swing center/guard Manny Ramirez just had off seasons, it's time for Denver to restock the line with young talent.
Detroit Lions
11 of 322014 Record: 11-5, 2nd in NFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 23
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $12,136,503
Suh; If Not Suh Then Fairley
When one is trying to win a Super Bowl, one does not let 28-year-old three-time first-team All-Pros walk away for nothing. If keeping Ndamukong Suh means cutting some questionably worth-it veterans, so be it. If somehow the Lions just can't spare the cap-busting contract Suh wants, they can't let Nick Fairley (UFA) leave.
Draft Defense
It may seem ludicrous for a team that finished with the No. 3 scoring defense and No. 22 scoring offense to draft mostly defense, but the reasoning is sound: Not only are there a few key defensive free agents, highly regarded defensive coordinator Teryl Austin came from Baltimore, where it's long run a 3-4 alignment.
Between free-agent departures and salary-cap casualties, the defense that kept the Lions in crucial late-season games is going to need reinforcements.
Offensive Line
The one major exception to the above rule: Offensive line. The Lions struggled to move the ball and score points despite a hugely skilled offense; quarterback Matthew Stafford needs more protection than the Lions' motley crew of undrafted free agents gave him at right tackle in 2014.
Also: Longtime left guard Rob Sims is set to be a free agent, and center Dominic Raiola—former Lions CEO Matt Millen's second-ever draft pick—will leave his job to second-year third-rounder Travis Swanson. The Lions need a bounce-back year from right guard Larry Warford, who was incredible as a rookie and poor his second year.
Green Bay Packers
12 of 322014 Record: 12-4, 1st in NFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 30
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $21,064,792
Bolster the Middle of the Defense
The Packers' acquisition of outside linebacker Julius Peppers, to pair with Clay Matthews III, was a big success. The problem was they now had two excellent, impact playmakers at the linebacker position—so they just tried to have Matthews and Peppers play all four linebacker spots.
An admirable strategy, but combined with an up-and-down season from free-agent acquisition Letroy Guion at nose tackle, the Packers were left with a poor run defense—the second-worst in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus grades, and in the top 10 of rushes against, yards against and yards-per-carry allowed.
If the Packers are looking to patch one of their very few flaws, liberal application of muscle to the middle of their defense would be a great place to start.
Let Randall Cobb Walk
Many will disagree, including MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but Cobb isn't worth as much to the Packers as Cobb's market worth will command. Between Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Jarrett Boykin, the Packers have talented targets. Like Rodgers' predecessor, he tends to make players look a lot better in green and gold than they'd look in any other uniform.
Don't Let Bryan Bulaga Walk
Bryan Bulaga missed 2013, Rodgers missed a huge chunk of 2013, the Packers won eight games and got bounced from the playoffs. Bulaga stayed healthy in 2014, Rodgers played every contest, the Packers won 12 games and were a coin flip away from a trip to the Super Bowl.
This is intentionally oversimplified and irresponsibly reductive, but the point is valid: Good offensive tackles are hard to find, and a team this reliant on its quarterback can't afford to let go of one.
Houston Texans
13 of 32
2014 Record: 9-7, No. 2 in AFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 16
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $7,578,227
Quarterback, Duh
The old joke goes that if you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one. As Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle pointed out, the Texans have four signal-callers. Who knows what they have, but it isn't a starting NFL quarterback.
Get a Tight End
The Texans offense, save for a trigger-puller, is really close to being dominant. What it lacks most, though (aside from that QB), is what it gave up: a sure-handed, playmaking tight end. Owen Daniels became a key part of the Baltimore Ravens' AFC run; a talent like the Denver Broncos' Julius Thomas would be a boon to whomever's throwing the ball in Houston.
Inside Linebacker
Brian Cushing is still a good football player, but the falloff in his athleticism has been as obvious as it is dramatic. Cushing told Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com that a severe wrist injury sapped his confidence—but it was athleticism that made him dangerous, and that's what the eyeball test says he lacked in 2014.
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
2014 Record: 11-5, 1st in AFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 29
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $30,688,736
Keep Building the Monster
General manager Ryan Grigson's head-scratching moves keep not making sense, and his odd acquisitions keep not working out (see: healthy Bjoern Werner deactivated for the AFC Championship Game). Yet, somehow, the Colts were playing in the AFC Championship Game.
Defensively, the Colts were all over the map in 2014. Sometimes suffocating, sometimes a sieve, often reliant on the standout play of Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis. Nevertheless, head coach Chuck Pagano and the Colts are slowly becoming the team they asserted they'd become when he took over.
They just need more impact defenders, especially in the front seven, and...
Running Back
A running back. Oh my goodness. After the Trent Richardson debacle finally and completely debacled itself into the abyss, the Colts got a handful of extremely gritty, barely-serviceable playoff yards from Dan "Boom" Herron.
The Colts desperately need a talented runner.
Running Game
More than that, they need a talented running game. Despite the protestations of Pagano and Pep Hamilton, the Colts are an Andrew Luck team, not a power-running team. The right side of the line struggled in 2014; improving there would be a boon not just for whichever back the Colts bring in, but for any who remain.
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
2014 Record: 3-13, 3rd in AFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 3
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $57,324,627
Take Another Crack at Defensive Line
Last season, the Jaguars imported a bunch of free-agent talent. Two big pieces, defensive linemen Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, came from head coach Gus Bradley's last stop (Seattle). Both made significant contributions, but both were disappointments overall.
The Jaguars had plenty of sacks as a team, finishing tied for fourth in the NFL in sack rate, per Pro Football Reference, but the individual sack leader was defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, with just 8.5. The addition of a quality edge-rusher could transform this defense.
Protect Blake Bortles
Opponents sacked the rookie quarterback on a horrific 10.4 percent of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Reference. That's totally unacceptable and the surest way to ruin a talented passer.
Add a Defensive Playmaker
The Jaguars ranked 26th in per-drive defensive turnover rate, per Pro Football Reference. Swing linebacker J.T. Thomas led the team with two interceptions. A ball hawk somewhere in the back seven would take a lot of pressure off the offense.
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 322014 Record: 9-7, T-2nd in AFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 18
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$5,101,887
Keep Justin Houston...Or Don't
Outside linebacker Justin Houston is a tremendous player. An irreplaceable player. He'll be worth whatever the Chiefs would have to pay to keep him around. The trio of Houston, Tamba Hali and Dee Ford is formidable; bringing all three back would be huge.
Then again, why draft Dee Ford in the first round if you don't envision him as an eventual starter? Though the Chiefs likely planned on him replacing Hali, not Houston, letting Houston walk and spending that same money elsewhere could pay huge dividends for the team...
Wide Receivers
The Chiefs just completed an entire season without a wide receiver catching a touchdown pass, which is flabbergasting. There has been a crying need for years, and it's time they fixed it. There should be a relative smorgasbord of quality receivers available in free agency.
Offensive Line
The first overall pick of the 2013 draft, Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher was Pro Football Focus' 72nd-ranked tackle (out of 84). This is a very bad sign for his future in protecting Alex Smith's blind side.
The story doesn't get much better as you go down the line: Right tackle Ryan Harris also had a negative grade, and the starting guards were ranked 64th and 78th out of 78 guards. Center Rodney Hudson was the only Chiefs lineman with a qualifying number of snaps and a positive grade.
The Chiefs badly need to address both guard spots, and possibly the right tackle position. Draft slot and salary force them to stand pat with Fisher—but without great improvement, he'll be on the chopping block this time next year.
Miami Dolphins
17 of 32
2014 Record: 8-8, 3rd in AFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 14
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$1,508,867
Rebuild the Offensive Line Again
Last season, the No. 1 priority was to rebuild an offensive line eviscerated by the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin scandal.
Free-agent signee Branden Albert stepped in and played very well at left tackle—until his season-ending knee injury. First-round pick Ja'Wuan James showed flashes at right tackle but struggled at left, small-school third-rounder Billy Turner couldn't crack a cracked-up lineup before injury truncated his season, too, and none of the other rookies, holdovers or retreads got the job done.
The Dolphins ranked 31st in pass-blocking and 27th in run-blocking, per Pro Football Focus' grades, and that's just not good enough for a team with a young quarterback and playoff aspirations.
If Albert can get healthy, he, center Mike Pouncey and James form a credible backbone, with Turner and possibly fellow sophomore Dallas Thomas playing guard. If not, James likely plays left tackle, everyone shuffles around and it's a repeat of last season, which was a copy of the season before.
Without an infusion of talent, this is not a promising situation.
Extend Ryan Tannehill
If the rumored deal noted by David Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel is truly A) for real and B) acceptable to Tannehill, the Dolphins need to get ink on paper. Tannehill is far from a finished product, but he's proved he's both good enough to win and has untapped potential.
As everyone knows, certainty at quarterback is absolutely essential to NFL success.
Replace Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace was always going to be a regrettable signing. The Dolphins need to get his salary off the books and move on.
Minnesota Vikings
18 of 322014 Record: 7-9, 3rd in NFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 11
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $13,120,433
Decide What to Do with Adrian Peterson
Superstar tailback Adrian Peterson is on the commissioner's exempt list until April 15. Given the new direction the Vikings have gone in his absence, they could start lining up a trade and potentially get a ton of value in return.
Instead, it looks like he's coming back. Vikings COO Kevin Warren, per ESPN.com's Ben Goessling, said a return would be "good for Adrian. It'd be good for us, it'd be good for all the Vikings fans, it'd be good for our community and it'd be good for the NFL."
If this is the path the Vikings choose, this is the right way to go about it: They should throw their full support behind Peterson and welcome him with open arms—because the last thing the Vikings need is to have All Day back but have his heart at home in Texas.
Get Offensive Weapons
Sophomore-to-be quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looks to be the real deal. Sophomore-that-just-was wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson did this time last year, too, and now he looks like an afterthought.
If the Vikings are going to compete in the high-flying NFC North, they need to reload at wideout.
Protect Teddy Bridgewater
The quickest way to sink a promising young signal-caller is to let him get swamped by pass-rushers. A huge step back by left tackle Matt Kalil left the Vikings with Pro Football Focus' 25th-ranked pass-blocking line in 2014. It's too soon to give up on Kalil, but the team needs reinforcements at guard.
New England Patriots
19 of 322014 Record: 12-4, 1st in AFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 32
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$7,527,056
Darrelle Revis: Yes
All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis made a huge impact on the Patriots defense this season, and he played a massive role in getting the team back to the NFL's mountaintop. Should the Patriots find exercising their $25 million option too painful (all but certainly), they'll have to sign him to a long-term deal to keep him away from their AFC East rivals.
They'll want to do that.
Devin McCourty: Would Be Nice
Devin McCourty's largely unsung role in backstopping the Pats defense shouldn't go unrewarded. But if the numbers force a choice between McCourty and Revis, it's no choice at all.
Rebuild Defensive Line
Vince Wilfork has been an amazing Patriot, but his time as a defense-anchoring force of nature is over; his fellow starting D-linemen often struggled to control the line of scrimmage. The Pats need size, power and youth in front of their excellent linebacking corps.
New Orleans Saints
20 of 32
2014 Record: 7-9, 2nd in NFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 13
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$26,460,646
Find Drew Brees' Successor
Drew Brees threw for 33 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and an NFL-best 4,952 yards in 2014. Still got it, right?
Eh, sort of.
In the year 2015, neither a 5.0 percent touchdown rate nor 2.6 interception rate are anything to get excited about (he ranked ninth- and 18th-best in the NFL, respectively). His NFL-leading yardage total came mostly from leading the league in attempts and completions; he tied Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers for the ninth-best yards-per-attempt average.
Brees also had a few straight-up clunkers, and his picks seemed to come at the worst possible times. At age 36, he's visibly regressing, and it's time to find a successor.
Target a Top Cornerback
Free-agent free safety Jairus Byrd was supposed to be the centerpiece of the Saints' 2014 defense; instead Byrd struggled before losing much of the year to injury.
Byrd, and still-shaky but still-talented youngster Kenny Vaccaro, could greatly benefit from improved cornerback play in front of them.
Move on from Curtis Lofton
Lofton, a team captain, has a 2015 cap number of $9.25 million, per Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune. Yet, Pro Football Focus graded him 57th out of 60 inside linebackers in 2014; the Saints' failure to stop the run was a big reason why they ranked 28th in scoring defense. The Saints can improve here very cheaply and spend that desperately-needed cap space elsewhere.
New York Giants
21 of 322014 Record: 6-10, 3rd in NFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 9
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $10,936,836
No, Don't Tag Jason Pierre-Paul
JPP, as he's known, is a quality player—but there are a mess of free-agent pass-rushers about to become available, and paying high-market price for any one of them right now seems foolhardy. Losing Pierre-Paul at a how-is-he-still-so-young 25 years old would be disappointing, but not as disappointing as being locked into a huge contract only the Giants would offer.
Get a Tailback
With guard guard Geoff Schwartz coming back this season and likely improvement from second-year second-rounder Weston Richburg, there should be more running room for the Giants tailbacks. With the release of David Wilson, though, there's a spot for a rookie who can push Andre Williams and Rashad Jennings; the Giants would be wise to draft one.
Fish or Cut Bait on Ryan Nassib
Long after the Giants were out of contention, second-year backup Ryan Nassib still couldn't get a game. If the Giants have no intention of ever letting Nassib touch the football, they should just cut him, draft another youngster and move on.
New York Jets
22 of 32
2014 Record: 4-12, 4th in AFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 6
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $42,905,645
All I Am Saying, Is Give Geno a Chance
He was the best quarterback prospect in his draft class. The Jets may not have a chance to draft either of the better two in this class. He's had a few really good games. He hasn't had much help or organizational support.
Give him a chance.
Offensive Line
The Jets don't have a great offensive line, and the quality players they have (left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, center Nick Mangold) don't have much time left. There are lots of holes in this roster, but new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's offense needs quality run blocking, and whomever quarterbacks the Jets needs protection.
Cornerback
There has been speculation that All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis might be open to a return, and as Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported, the Jets want Revis back, too. A Revis pairing with his talented but inconsistent replacement, Dee Milliner, would instantly make the Jets defense one of very best in football.
Oakland Raiders
23 of 32
2014 Record: 3-13, 4th in AFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 4
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $50,151,045
Protect Derek Carr
The Raiders finally have a good young quarterback and are on the heels of one of the most mismanaged attempts to improve an offensive line we've ever seen.
The good news is that left tackle Donald Penn, with whom the Raiders eventually ended up, did fine. Right tackles Khalif Barnes and Menelik Watson struggled, per Pro Football Focus—though as a second-round pick entering his third year, there's still hope for Watson.
Guard Austin Howard ranked 59th out of 78 in PFF's 2014 guard grades, though, and center Stefen Wisniewski is set to be a free agent. The Raiders need to drop some of that huge free-agent money on keeping Carr upright.
Get Weapons for Derek Carr
Latavius Murray emerged as a playmaking threat out of the backfield in 2014, but not as an every-down bell cow, nor as a particularly gifted pass-protector. Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew don't seem to have much left in the tank, and none of Oakland's receiving corps inspire fear in opposing defenses.
More Defensive Beef
According to PFF, Miles Burris was the worst inside linebacker in football last season, and it wasn't close. As rookie phenom Khalil Mack and talented youngster Sio Moore excel on the edges, a middle linebacker who could stuff the run and stabilize intermediate coverage would be huge. Same goes for defensive ends.
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 322014 Record: 10-6, 2nd in NFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 20
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $15,097,586
Get Your House in Order
The deep, public power struggle between head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman appears to be over; but this is not good news for the Eagles.
Success in the NFL—at least, consistent, year-over-year success—is built upon the coaching staff and front office working hand-in-hand. In Seattle, total simpatico. In Cleveland, an eternal dumpster fire.
Differing goals, differing methods and differing messages can rip apart even the strongest of organizations; just look at what happened in San Francisco for proof of that. Chip Kelly, the head coach, has been phenomenally successful, but he may be undone by Chip Kelly, team executive.
Settle on a Quarterback
Nick Foles was never the magician he appeared to be in 2013, and he is capable of playing better than he did in 2014. Mark Sanchez was never more than a steady backup, and he still isn't. With a healthy offensive line and working ground game, this offense doesn't need Aaron Rodgers to win—but stability at the position is key for any franchise.
Pay Brandon Graham
If the Eagles lose both Trent Cole and Brandon Graham to free agency, the aggressive sack-and-turnover defense (which finished 28th in yardage allowed) would become...well, just a bad defense. That Graham is on every "best free agents that could be available" list should tell the Eagles something. The outside linebacker is not an ideal fit for their system, but they can't let him go.
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
2014 Record: 11-5, 1st in AFC North
2015 Draft Position: No. 22
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$4,191,943
Infuse the Secondary with Fresh Blood
The Steelers have fantastic stars, depth and balance on offense right now; the defense isn't too far off the mark. However, longtime stalwart cornerback Ike Taylor and seemingly permanent bulwark safety Troy Polamalu are well past their primes.
Pittsburgh sorely felt the free-agent loss of cornerback Keenan Lewis in 2014, and there's only so much longer the fixtures can keep playing at a high level. Even William Gay is already 30. It's long past time for the Steelers to invest in young secondary talent.
Keep Jason Worilds
Keep him, you guys. Just keep him.
...Quarterback?
Ben Roethlisberger's coming off his best season in years, so it's nowhere near time to hit the panic button. However, as we've seen/are about to see with Peyton Manning, when it goes, it can go fast. Selecting a third- or fourth-round signal-caller would be a wise move for the Steelers.
San Diego Chargers
26 of 32
2014 Record: 9-7, T-2nd in AFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 17
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $22,172,441
Youth Movement
With all due respect to quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, there are only so many years a quarterback and his favorite weapon can keep dragging a team to the playoffs; their expiration date is nearly here.
Rivers is 33, Gates is 34, receivers Malcom Floyd and Eddie Royal are 33 and 28, respectively. Head coach Mike McCoy, who's done a great job, has to coalesce the next nucleus of offensive talent. Receiver Keenan Allen, running back Branden Oliver and tight end Ladarius Green should be part of that nucleus, but who will pull the trigger?
Bolster Interior OL—or Exterior
Right tackle D.J. Fluker has been widely praised for his leadership and commitment, but his execution at right tackle has left a little to be desired. Per Mark Inabinett of AL.com, the former Alabama standout could move inside to guard.
That would help shore up a weak interior offensive line—but with left tackle King Dunlap's contract expiring, the Chargers would be in need of two starting tackles.
Get a Big Ol' Defensive Lineman
There's a ton of big, talented defensive tackles in the 2015 draft class, and as the old "world theory" goes, there are only so many of them in the world to be had. A big, disruptive presence next to defensive end Corey Liuget would have a massive impact on the rest of the defense.
San Francisco 49ers
27 of 32
2014 Record: 8-8, No. 3 in NFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 15
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$6,419,937
Reinvest in Offensive Line
New 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula is a line coach's line coach, and a football guy's football guy. He'll be eager to get the 49ers offense back to the power-running game that worked so well for them for so long. Yet, struggles along the offensive line will hold them back, especially if guard Mike Iupati departs.
Evaluate Offensive Weapons
Tight end Vernon Davis was invisible in 2014, and receiver Michael Crabtree's production took a big hit along with quarterback Colin Kaepernick's. It's time for the 49ers to assess their long-term stable of offensive skill position players and maybe let (or force) a few to find new pastures.
Maintain Continuity on Defense
With the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Tomsula's No. 1 job is to maintain the culture of toughness and excellence instilled by those two. Whether he and his staff can improve the offense is an open question, but he can't let the defense slip.
Seattle Seahawks
28 of 322014 Record: 12-4, 1st in NFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 31
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $22,419,811
Lock Down Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson has already proved he can knit together points out of thin air at will. If the Seahawks sign no one else this offseason, they should extend Wilson.
Invest in Offensive Line
Injuries on the offensive line caused some emergency reshuffling during the season, and the Seahawks finished in the middle of the pack in both pass and run blocking, per Pro Football Focus. Whether or not Marshawn Lynch comes back, the Seahawks would do well to add a talented right tackle or guard to the mix—especially with left guard James Carpenter's contract expiring.
Get Weapons
No slight meant to Doug Baldwin or Jermaine Kearse, who helped the Seahawks get back to the Super Bowl, but the team needs a player who can consistently give opposing defenses headaches. An explosive playmaker could open up not only the passing game, but the running game, too.
St. Louis Rams
29 of 322014 Record: 6-10, 4th in NFC West
2015 Draft Position: No. 10
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: -$3,939,718
If You Love Sam Bradford, Set Him Free
It's just not going to work out. Even if Bradford comes back and plays out of his mind, he'll always be one play away from another ACL injury. He is never going to be the cornerstone of the Rams franchise (or, likely, any other).
Dramatically Upgrade Interior Offensive Line
Guard Davin Joseph and center Scott Wells were the fourth-lowest and lowest-graded players at their respective positions in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. No matter who's playing quarterback, or running back, they're going to struggle against the mighty defenses of the NFC West.
Address Linebacker
The Rams have one of the most talented defensive lines in football. But inside linebacker James Laurinaitis, far from a game-changer, has been the best 'backer on the team. Spending a high draft pick on a 4-3 outside linebacker is rarely a good idea for any team, but if an athletic player falls to the Rams in the middle rounds, they should pounce.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 of 32
2014 Record: 2-14, No. 4 in NFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 1
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $19,534,317
Don't Overthink the Quarterback Thing
Marcus Mariota is a fine quarterback prospect, and there's nothing wrong with taking him No. 1 overall.
With the struggles the Buccaneers have had to line up quality offensive coaches, though, drafting Mariota—or worse, Florida State's own Jameis Winston—to save the franchise comes with no small amount of risk.
Still, unless some team offers an outrageous package (like three first-round picks), the Bucs should go ahead and do what half the league desperately wishes they could and take their pick of the two top quarterbacks.
Get an Explosive Running Back
With the outstanding pass-catchers the Bucs have, and a talented quarterback in the fold, the team could really use a running back like the one Doug Martin used to be. If Tampa Bay could drop a little of that cap room on a runner like Baltimore's Justin Forsett, the Bucs could go from worst to first in a hurry in the wide-open NFC South.
Bring in Front-Seven Reinforcements
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and outside linebacker Lavonte David are two of the best in the business. The Bucs just brought in big, fast defensive end Michael Johnson last season, at great expense. Yet, Tampa Bay didn't rush the passer or stop the run well in 2014.
Upgrades at the other end spot and inside linebacker could do wonders.
Tennessee Titans
31 of 32
2014 Record: 2-14, No. 4 in AFC South
2015 Draft Position: No. 2
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $34,825,946
Get Talent
This is kind of stupid, obvious advice, but the NFL is a talent league. Role players are fine, necessary in fact, but a team full of role players is going nowhere.
Right now the Titans roster is full of not-quite-good-enough players in key spots. Running back Bishop Sankey, receivers Justin Hunter and Nate Washington, linebackers Kamerion Wimbley and Wesley Woodyard...to say nothing of quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who's an interesting talent with a lot to prove.
The Titans need to acquire an identity-making impact player, especially on offense.
Beef Up the Middle of the Defense
The Titans have a lot of strength up front, but the front seven (especially inside linebacker and safety) are big need positions. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton's best units have featured great players at these spots, but the Titans are skating by.
Keep Derrick Morgan
For goodness' sake, keep Derrick Morgan. The Titans cannot let one of the very few impact players they have walk out the door.
Washington
32 of 32
2014 Record: 4-12, No. 4 in NFC East
2015 Draft Position: No. 5
Est. Top 51 Cap Room: $8,276,292
Figure Out the Coach-Front Office Dynamic
The promotion of former general manager Bruce Allen and hiring of new general manager Scot McCloughan might finally let the football people of the franchise run the football side of things. But in Washington, the power dynamic has been weird ever since owner Dan Snyder bought the team; until we get a better sense of how Allen, McCloughan and head coach Jay Gruden work together, skepticism is warranted.
Settle Down the Quarterback Thing
Quarterback Robert Griffin III is no longer the "Chosen One." Colt McCoy is an unrestricted free agent. Kirk Cousins seems to be persona non grata. If one sets aside the idea of drafting an elite prospect who saves the franchise, this team just needs stability at the position. Pick one guy, preferably a credible veteran not currently on the roster, and stick with him.
Keep Plugging Holes
Honestly, there's a lot to like about this team, on both sides of the ball. There's talent, there's cap room, there are a few holes to fill and the resources to fill them. If sanity can prevail in the front office, the team should eventually do the same on the field.
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