Every NFL Roster's Biggest Strength and Weakness Before 2025 Preseason

The dawn of training camp means the time to improve rosters has mostly passed. With roster cutdowns coming across the NFL, the next few weeks are all about refinement.

While it's every general manager's dream to build a championship roster with no holes, the reality is that every team has at least one weakness. Most rosters at least have one thing they can hang their hat on going into the season.

Teams have spent this offseason working the draft, free agency and the trade market to find the right balance for their roster.

Let's take a look at where they stand heading into the preseason.

Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Rusty Jones

RB James Conner

Biggest Needs: RG, WR, LB

Biggest Strength: Offensive Backfield

The Cardinals made a strong push to make the defensive line their greatest strength, but the offensive backfield gets the nod because they are more proven.

Kyler Murray finished in the top 10 of Total QBR last season and still adds juice to the run game. He's coming off his second-highest mark in rushing yards (572) last season. James Conner ranked ninth in yards after contact last season.

If Conner falters in his age-30 season, then Trey Benson should be ready to take over as RB1 in his second season after averaging 4.6 yards per carry last year.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

It's a good thing the Cardinals are going to be able to run the ball. They'll need to protect leads if the secondary isn't better than it is on paper.

The safety tandem of Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson has been good in the past, but they gave up passer ratings of 129.8 and 120.0, respectively, last season.

They'll be charged with backing up a cornerback room that has more potential than production at this point. Max Melton will be CB1, with rookies Will Johnson and Denzel Burke joining the fold to compete with Garrett Williams and Steven Gilmore, who joined after Starling Thomas V tore his ACL on Friday.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

OG Chris Lindstrom

Biggest Needs: CB, C, IDL

Biggest Strength: Offensive Line

The Falcons' skill group featuring Bijan Robinson and Drake London often gets the credit in Atlanta. That's misplaced, though. As good as those two are, it's the offensive line that makes the offense go.

Chris Lindstrom was the top-graded guard by PFF in 2024. Matthew Bergeron is a road-grader at left guard and the tackle tandem of Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary are dependable tackles who know the Falcons' scheme.

The lone question mark comes at center where they'll attempt to replace Drew Dalman with Ryan Neuzil.

Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line

This is a case of guilty until proven innocent for the Falcons up front. They put a lot of resources into fixing the defensive line, but they'll need to provide some proof of concept early in the season.

They double-dipped in the first round to get Jalon Walker and James Pearce, but those are two smaller edge-rushers who are going to need time to develop.

On the inside, they moved on from Grady Jarrett and will be looking for Morgan Fox and the development of second-year players Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus to be the difference.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry

Biggest Needs: LB, IOL, CB

Biggest Strength: Offensive Backfield

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are the two most unique talents at quarterback and running back, respectively.

Jackson is a two-time MVP and there's a good case to be made that last year was his best season despite not winning the award. Baltimore's entire offense is built around his unique ability to be an efficient passer while being a terrifying runner.

Henry rushed for over 1,900 yards in his age-30 season last year. That's probably all that needs to be said. He's going to slow down one day, but he hasn't shown signs of it yet.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

The Ravens secondary has stars. Kyle Hamilton is an All-Pro and probably hasn't even reached his peak. Marlon Humphrey earned All-Pro honors last season and snagged a career-high six interceptions.

Unfortunately, the answers outside of that duo are a little less defined. Nate Wiggins looked the part at times last year. Veterans Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie will need to provide the depth the Ravens didn't have last season.

The safety depth could be even more critical. Ar'Darius Washington is starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Malaki Starks will need to be a Day 1 difference-maker.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Josh Allen and James Cook

Biggest Needs: LB, S, CB

Biggest Strength: Offensive Backfield

There's no team in the league that puts more on its quarterback than the Bills put on Josh Allen. Fortunately for Buffalo, he's more than capable of handling it.

Allen won the 2024 MVP in a season when he was tied with Lamar Jackson for the top Total QBR in the league, and that was despite an offensive line that gave him the 32nd-ranked protection rate, per PlayerProfiler.

James Cook's emergence over the last two seasons has taken the Bills backfield to the next level. The recent news that he is showing up to training camp amid contract negotiations is a great sign for the team.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

The load the Bills put on Allen wasn't even about his supporting cast all the time. It was about a defense that was 22nd in EPA allowed per pass. The secondary got the team in more shootouts than it needed to be in.

Buffalo is pinning a lot of hope on first-round pick Maxwell Hairston to be a solution. He'll take over for Rasul Douglas, who was not re-signed this offseason, as the other outside corner opposite Christian Benford.

If that doesn't work out, then the Bills could be hoping Tre'Davious White still has one good season left.

Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Derrick Brown

Biggest Needs: CB, C, Edge

Biggest Strength: Interior Defensive Line

The Panthers had one of the worst defensive lines in the league last season, but the interior has a chance to be legitimately scary for opposing offenses this season. For one, they will have Derrick Brown back.

Brown ranked in the top 20 of both pass-rush and run stop win rate in 2023. He's been cleared for all football activities just ahead of camp after missing all but one game in 2024.

The Panthers doubled down on building an elite interior defensive line in free agency too. Signing Tershawn Wharton gives them an ascending pass-rushing defensive tackle, while Bobby Brown III should improve the run defense at nose tackle.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

Jaycee Horn got a four-year, $100 million extension this spring. That was a critical step to keep the building block in the secondary. The rest still feels like it's still under construction.

The Panthers will hope free-agent signee Tre'von Moehrig can be an upgrade in the safety room. However, they're also relying on fourth-round pick Lathan Ransom to compete with Nick Scott and Demani Richardson to take over the other safety spot.

The other non-Jaycee Horn corners don't necessarily inspire confidence, either. Chau Smith-Wade needs to take the next step as the slot cornerback, while Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans could compete for the other outside corner spot. There are simply more questions than answers in the back half right now.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

OT Darnell Wright

Biggest Needs: Edge, RB, S

Biggest Strength: Offensive Line

What a difference an offseason can make.

The Bears offensive line was far from its greatest strength in 2024, but they completely overhauled the interior trio. You can quibble with the cost of adding Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, but there's no denying it's a vastly improved group.

Dalman finished fourth among all centers graded by PFF last season, while Thuney finished seventh among guards. Jackson is an above-average run-blocker who won't be a liability in pass protection.

That interior trio provides the foundation for a group that could be elite if the young tackles take the next step in their progression. Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright have proved their ability to start in the league, but they are both young enough to have another level.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Backfield

It's a good thing the offensive line is much improved. The offensive backfield is going to have a lot to prove in 2025. Caleb Williams wasn't the franchise-altering force as a rookie that Bears fans were hoping. There are contextual factors at play, but he finished 28th in QBR.

It's a good thing the Bears should have elite run-blocking up front. D'Andre Swift is the kind of back who is going to get what is blocked for him. According to Next Gen Stats, Swift had the worst rushing yards over expected among qualifying ball-carriers. Roschon Johnson averaged 2.7 yards per carry and rookie Kyle Monangai was a seventh-round pick.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase

Biggest Needs: IOL, Edge, S

Biggest Strength: Passing Game

There's a reason why the Bengals were willing to pay up for Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins: The trio is able to carry the heavy burden of an elite passing attack from week to week.

Burrow led the league in passing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Chase is one of the best receivers in the game and especially excels with the ball in his hands.

Higgins would be the top receiver for several NFL teams. Having someone with his contested catch skills as the second option gives the Bengals one of the scariest passing attacks in the league.

Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line

At this point, the Bengals need to do whatever they can to get Trey Hendrickson to training camp. Even with him, they are relying on a lot of progression to even have a serviceable defensive line.

Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks in 2024. The rest of the defense had 18.5 combined. They took Shemar Stewart in the first round to bolster that pass rush, but he missed most of the offseason training program and some of training camp due to a contract dispute.

The interior was also a mess last season. The defense ranked 28th in EPA per rush attempt.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Myles Garrett

Biggest Needs: QB, WR, S

Biggest Strength: Defensive Line

Myles Garrett is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. He's a threat to win Defensive Player of the Year every season he's on the field. He was tied for fifth in the entire league in total pressures with 69 last season.

Isaiah McGuire's numbers (two sacks, eight TFL) weren't great last season, but he did earn the 13th-highest PFF grade among edge-rushers last season.

The interior is losing a lot with Dalvin Tomlinson's departure, but fifth overall pick Mason Graham could make a difference right away. The Browns' front four could pave the way for Jim Schwartz's defense to have a bounce-back season in 2025.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Backfield

In the Nick Chubb era, the Browns at least had someone reliable in the backfield. The running back could give Kevin Stefanski's offense a respectable floor with or without good quarterback play. With Chubb aging and gone, things could be much more grim in the backfield this year.

Cleveland has four quarterbacks competing for the starting job. That's as good a sign as any that you actually don't have any quarterbacks.

The running back position is murky heading into camp. Jerome Ford led the team in rushing with 565 yards and three touchdowns. The team drafted Quinshon Judkins with a second-round pick, but he has not been signed and missed the beginning of training camp following his arrest on charges of domestic violence earlier in July.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Gareth Patterson

Micah Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa

Biggest Needs: DL, OT, RB

Biggest Strength: Pass-Rushers

It's easy to see the push and pull the Cowboys have had to navigate in putting their defensive line together.

They might have struggled to stop the run last season, but Micah Parsons led one of the most productive pass rushes in the league last season. He had 12 sacks, but the whole unit had 52 and led the league with a 30.1 percent pressure rate.

Osa Odighizuwa is an underrated element of their pass rush. The newly extended defensive tackle was 12th among interior defenders in pass-rush win rate. The Cowboys had eight players with at least three sacks last season, so it's a deep collection of rushers.

Biggest Weakness: Run Defense

The Cowboys were one of the worst run defenses in the league last season. They gave up the highest EPA per rush and more rushing touchdowns than anyone in the league last year.

Looking at what they did this offseason, it's unclear what their plan is to improve the run defense. They re-signed Odighizuwa, but he's more of a pass-rushing defensive tackle than someone who can hold a gap.

Their most notable interior addition was Solomon Thomas, a 256-pound defensive tackle. Trading for linebackers Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn might help, but they'll have to prove it.

Denver Broncos

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Patrick Surtain II

Biggest Needs: WR, TE, CB

Biggest Strength: Pass Defense

Most defenses that defend the pass really well either have a dominant pass rush or a an elite secondary. The Broncos have a bit of both.

Nik Bonitto (13.5) and Jonathan Cooper (10.5) both hit double-digit sacks last season, while Zach Allen (8.5) and Jonathan Franklin-Myers (7) were strong interior rushers.

That's backed up by a burgeoning secondary led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. Adding Jahdae Barron in the draft and Talanoa Hufanga in free agency gives them even more talent to hawk down errant throws the pressure causes.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Skill Positions

Bo Nix did everything the Broncos could have asked him and more as a rookie. What makes his first year even more impressive is that he did it without the best supporting cast.

The Broncos do have some dart throws at running back that could improve things. RJ Harvey drew an Austin Ekeler comparison from B/R scout Dame Parson. New signee J.K. Dobbins is electric, but he hasn't been able to stay on the field.

It's going to be interesting to see if Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin or third-round pick Pat Bryant can take the receiver room to the next level.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery

Biggest Needs: Edge, IOL, LB

Biggest Strength: Offensive Weapons

Frank Ragnow's retirement makes this a pretty easy call. The Lions offensive line has more questions than it ever has under Dan Campbell. Fortunately, there are still so many weapons at Jared Goff's disposal that it makes it hard to believe Detroit won't at least be a top-10 offense.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best chain-movers in the league. Sam LaPorta is easily a top-10 tight end, and Jameson Williams put together his first 1,000-yard season in 2024.

Combine that with the best running back duo in the league in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and the Lions can beat defenses in a wide variety of ways.

Biggest Weakness: Interior Offensive Line

It would have been unthinkable to put the interior offensive line as the Lions' biggest weakness just two seasons ago. But Kevin Zeitler left in free agency and Frank Ragnow retired. That leaves Graham Glasgow as the only returner on the inside.

They have some young options to take over spots. Christian Mahogany has looked good in a limited sample size, and Tate Ratledge was drafted in the second round. But figuring out their best combination on the inside and dealing with the loss of Ragnow is still one of the biggest questions for the Lions.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

Josh Jacobs and Jordan Love

Biggest Needs: CB, Edge, DL

Biggest Strength: Run Game

Jordan Love can run hot and cold, but the Packers should be able to find offensive consistency with how well they run the ball. Last year, the offense was eighth in yards per carry and fifth in carries per game. That's a lot of efficiency for a team with high volume.

Josh Jacobs gets a lot of credit for that. He lived up to the hype in his first season in Lambeau. He rushed for over 1,300 yards, and the Packers averaged just many yards after contact (2.4) as they did before contact.

Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line

The Packers' biggest need is at cornerback, but they at least have a great group of safeties to help elevate the secondary. The defensive line is going to need some younger players to live up to their potential to avoid being a liability.

Green Bay was 26th in pass rush win rate, 16th in pressure percentage and didn't have a player with eight sacks or more. Fortunately, it was one of the league's best run-stopping units. However, the only notable addition the Lions made was drafting edge-rusher Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round.

Houston Texans

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

CB Derek Stingley Jr.

Biggest Needs: IOL, DL, S

Biggest Strength: Secondary

Passing against the Houston Texans secondary just doesn't seem like a good time.

Not only did they hold opponents to the lowest completion percentage (58.3) last season, but they also have one of the most violent collections of defensive backs in the league. Jalen Pitre, Kamari Lassiter, Derek Stingley and Calen Bullock are all willing to play in the run game.

The Texans should be even more physical this season. They added C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the offseason to complete a maniacal defensive backfield. Paired with a strong pass rush, the secondary sets a really high floor for the Houston defense.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line

The offensive line was behind a lot of the Texans' issues last season. C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times, and they were 27th in EPA per rush. The moves they've made this offseason don't guarantee better results.

The Texans traded Laremy Tunsil. He was the most talented and accomplished lineman on the roster, but his departure gives them an opportunity to change the culture in the position room.

It will be up to new additions like Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson and rookie Aireontae Ersery to ensure this weakness isn't a complete liability.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Jonathan Taylor

Biggest Needs: IOL, LB, QB

Biggest Strength: Run Game

There are a lot of questions about who is going to start at quarterback and what the passing game will look like. Regardless, head coach Shane Steichen should be able to rely on a strong ground game.

Last year's offensive line ranked fourth in run block win rate. Jonathan Taylor took advantage with the second-best season of his career. He piled up 1,431 yards on the ground with 11 touchdowns.

Both Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson have good mobility. A Steichen-designed offense with either of them behind that offensive line is going to be able to run the ball.

Biggest Weakness: Pass Game

Jones and Richardson's ability to run the ball is nice. Their ability to pass it is concerning.

The Colts have an intriguing collection of weapons. For most teams, the young trio of Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and rookie tight end Tyler Warren would be a good foundation to build on. But there's reason to be concerned that neither Richardson nor Jones will be able to capitalize.

The pair finished 26th and 27th in total QBR last season. Neither has exactly impressed at training camp . It could be a long season for the Colts' passing attack again.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

Travis Hunter

Biggest Needs: S, TE, CB

Biggest Strength: Pass-Catchers

It's hard to say the passing game is the Jaguars' biggest strength right now. They need more out of the pass protection and Trevor Lawrence, but they have the weapons to have a dynamic passing attack. A lot of that is due to Brian Thomas Jr.'s ascent. He was one of the league's top deep threats as a rookie last year.

Travis Hunter figures to have a big impact early in his career as well. The Jaguars are still ironing out how they will split his time between offense and defense, but he's definitely going to factor into their plans.

Adding another tight end would be nice, but Brenton Strange was the team's second-leading receiver last season. He could be in for an even bigger campaign.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

It's going to be pivotal for the Jaguars passing attack to get in sync during camp. They could be in some shootouts this season. They will have to hope Hunter can play as a cornerback because the secondary doesn't look good on paper right now.

Tyson Campbell is the best corner they have and he surrendered a passer rating of 101.6 when targeted last season. The Jags' solution for their secondary was to draft Hunter (who will split time on offense) and sign slot corner Jourdan Lewis and safety Eric Murray.

They'll need to prove those two are actually upgrades before this is considered anything other than a weakness.

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Chris Jones

Biggest Needs: DL, IOL, Edge

Biggest Strength: Defense

Patrick Mahomes still drives the Chiefs' Super Bowl aspirations, but they were a defensive team last season. They were fourth in scoring defense and the offense usually did just enough for them to win every week.

It's hard to pin down exactly what makes the Kansas City defense elite. The pass rush ranked fifth in pressure rate, but it didn't really have an elite pass-rusher outside of Chris Jones. The interior star only had five sacks, but he led the league in pass rush win rate.

The secondary has its strengths, but the Chiefs also finished 19th in yards allowed per pass. Still, Steve Spagnuolo schemes up ways to shut down opponents every week.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Weapons

Few quarterbacks in the league were tasked with carrying a passing attack more than Mahomes last season. His numbers might have been down, but a lot of that was due to the fact that a 35-year-old Travis Kelce was the team's leading receiver with rookie Xavier Worthy behind him.

They only got six total games out of Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice last season. Knee injuries ended Rice's season early and cost Brown most of the year. With both returning, they might get some of their explosiveness back.

However, Rice is facing a potential suspension and Kelce is another year older. Rookie Jalen Royals and Worthy's development will need to help elevate this unit.

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Ashton Jeanty

Biggest Needs: CB, LB, WR

Biggest Strength: Offensive Weapons

The Raiders don't have a traditional build, but there's a lot to like about the weapons they have surrounded Geno Smith with. They might have the best tight end tandem in the league with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. That should give Pete Carroll room to get imaginitive with rookie Ashton Jeanty at running back.

The receivers aren't anywhere near the top of the league by themselves, but Jakobi Meyers is perennially underrated and the rookie duo of Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton have room to grow in the offense.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

There's a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the Carroll era in Vegas. The offensive weapons are nice, Smith gives them a higher floor at the quarterback position and the defensive line could be really good if Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson pan out.

Getting this secondary to work is going to take a lot more hypotheticals. The cornerback room is arguably the worst in the league. They need both Eric Stokes and Darien Porter to hit in their first year in the Silver and Black.

Swapping out Tre'von Moehrig for Jeremy Chinn at safety isn't going to make them any better in coverage, either.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Eric Thayer

Joe Alt and Bradley Bozeman

Biggest Needs: CB, WR, DL

Biggest Strength: Offensive Line

It shouldn't come as a shock that a Jim Harbaugh-coached team has settled on offensive line as one of its strengths. His teams have always been about superior play in the trenches and it didn't take long for his regime to get to building an elite unit.

Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are one of the best tackle duos in the league and both are young enough to continue getting better. Adding Mekhi Becton to the interior trio gives them even more run-blocking prowess to clear lanes for rookie running back Omarion Hampton.

Biggest Weakness: Pass-Catchers

Ladd McConkey outperformed expectations as a rookie. It's a good thing he did because the Chargers didn't have many reliable options outside of the former Georgia Bulldog.

Quentin Johnston was second in receiving yards and still only caught around 60 percent of his targets. Josh Palmer was a reliable veteran third option, but he's in Buffalo now. They replaced him with Tre Harris in the second round of the draft. He'll need to hit as an immediate contributor to make this unit better than it was last year.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Puka Nacua

Biggest Needs: CB, LB, S

Biggest Strength: Offensive Weapons

There's a good case to be made that the Rams' greatest strength is their defensive line, but it's hard to ignore the newly formed duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

The younger Nacua already seems to be learning new tricks of the trade from his running mate and that's bad news for secondaries around the league.

The pair isn't all that Matthew Stafford has at his disposal, though. Kyren Williams reliably carried one of the biggest workloads in the league with sure hands and consistent running. If he can't handle as much volume, then second-year back Blake Corum should be able to pick up the slack.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

There's a reason cornerback and safety are listed as two of the top three biggest needs on this roster.

The Rams defense was 26th in adjusted yards per pass attempt and 23rd in passer rating allowed despite a respectable 13 interceptions. On a down-to-down basis, they weren't good at slowing the pass.

The Rams were a speculative buyer on the Jalen Ramsey trade market, but that ship has sailed. It still wouldn't be surprising to see them dip into the free-agency pool, but right now the group is headlined by Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes and Cobie Durant.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane

Biggest Needs: CB, TE, OT

Biggest Strength: Offensive Weapons

The Dolphins offense took a step back last season, but their collection of speed merchants is still the team's greatest strength. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both have terrifying after-the-catch electricity, while De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright might be the fastest running back pairing.

Miami's issues on offense during the Mike McDaniel era have not really come from the skill players. It's either been a faulty offensive line or Tua Tagovailoa's health.

As long as they get average offensive line play and Tagovailoa stays healthy, the offense will again be dangerous.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

Cornerback remains a primary concern for the Dolphins even after the recent signing of Jack Jones. He was a starter for the Raiders last season, but they parted ways after he gave up eight touchdowns in coverage. He could pair with Storm Duck to form the starting duo on the outside after they traded away Jalen Ramsey.

Adding Minkah Fitzpatrick was a huge get for the safety room. They also signed Ifeatue Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis, so they will need to jell during camp.

Communication and chemistry are crucial in the secondary, and the Dolphins have a lot of new pieces to get acquainted before the season starts.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Justin Jefferson

Biggest Needs: CB, S, LB

Biggest Strength: Offensive Supporting Cast

J.J. McCarthy is going to get a better shot than most at succeeding in the NFL. There isn't a better place for a quarterback to be than the Minnesota Vikings.

Sam Darnold deserves props for resurrecting his career, but it's undeniable that having a Kevin O'Connell-designed offense, Justin Jefferson and a strong offensive line in front of him helped.

The Vikings have carefully constructed one of the best offensive ecosystems in the league. They made it even better by overhauling the interior of the offensive line with Will Fries, Ryan Kelly and first-round pick Donovan Jackson.

The added protection and punch in the run game are going to make life even easier for McCarthy.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

There's no question a Brian Flores defense is going to get pressure. The defensive coordinator is one of the best in the league at dialing up ways to make quarterbacks uncomfortable.

That will be more important than ever as the Vikings break in a secondary that has questions. They brought Byron Murphy Jr. back and he does his best work in the slot. That leaves openings at outside corner that will be filled by some combination of Mekhi Blackmon, Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. All three are far from proven options at this point.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Christian Gonzalez

Biggest Needs: Edge, WR, LB

Biggest Strength: Secondary

The Patriots made a lot of strides towards becoming a competitive NFL franchise this offseason. Adding Milton Williams with Christian Barmore gives them a great interior duo and drafting Will Campbell should give Drake Maye better protection moving forward.

But the secondary feels like the most fully fleshed out area on the roster. Signing Carlton Davis gives them a legitimate cornerback to go along with Christian Gonzalez. The latter is one of the best building blocks they have for the future of the defense. Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers are two proven commodities at safety too.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line

The Patriots had a lot of things to fix, and it's difficult to completely overhaul a roster in one offseason. That's why it still feels like the offensive line could be an issue moving into the 2025 campaign.

The Pats will obviously hope first-round pick Will Campbell can slot right in at left tackle. But even he had length concerns and could have a steeper learning curve on the perimeter. Cole Strange had a rough 2024 and free-agent signees Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury are just one-year stopgap solutions.

New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Kool-Aid McKinstry

Biggest Needs: QB, Edge, CB

Biggest Strength: Pass Defense

The Saints weren't elite at many things last year, but teams actually struggled to find success against them in the air. New Orleans ranked fifth in passer rating allowed last season and only gave up 19 passing touchdowns to 14 interceptions on the season. That was even after trading Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders during the season.

Losing Will Harris and Paulson Adebo on top of Tyrann Mathieu's retirement will make it hard to sustain that success. However, they signed Julian Blackmon, Justin Reid and Isaac Yiadom to fill out the defensive backfield. The Saints should still be able to keep up with most of the passing attacks they see.

Biggest Weakness: Passing Game

Kellen Moore has his work cut out for him this season. The Saints have a decent collection of weapons headlined by Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara. However, their quarterback competition between Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener is far from the envy of the league.

Rattler and Haener each saw at least one start last season, and the Saints went a combined 0-7 in those starts. The duo threw for five touchdowns to six interceptions. Unless one of them has improved by leaps and bounds or Shough is a competent NFL starter from Day 1, there are some rough days ahead for the Saints' passing game.

New York Giants

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Abdul Carter

Biggest Needs: IOL, QB, LB

Biggest Strength: Defensive Line

On paper, the New York Giants now have the kind of defensive line they have watched the Philadelphia Eagles dominate with in the NFC East.

Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux were already a promising pair of edge-rushers to build around. The Giants got to add the most electric pass-rusher in the draft class in Abdul Carter. He was the second-highest-graded player on our big board and B/R's Matt Holder compared him to Von Miller.

The interior has one of the league's most uniquely talented defensive tackles in Dexter Lawrence. His ability to rush the passer as a nose tackle is unrivaled.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Backfield

If Brian Daboll is going to keep his job, it's going to come down to getting more production out of his backfield. That obviously starts with the quarterback. The Giants will have to hope Russell Wilson has one more good season left in his legs and arm or Jaxson Dart is ready to take the torch.

The Giants also have a running back group with unproven potential. Tyrone Tracy Jr. needs to take the next step and Cam Skattebo will have to earn the RB2 role over Devin Singletary. There's a lot of potential in the youth, but it's the team's biggest question mark right now.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Brian Westerholt

Olu Fashanu

Biggest Needs: WR, DL, QB

Biggest Strength: Offensive Line

The Jets might not immediately spring to mind when you think of the league's elite offensive line. They aren't there yet. But it shouldn't be surprising at all if they wind up as a top-five unit by the end of the season.

They have a pair of former first-round draft picks at both tackle spots with Olu Fashanu set to go to the left side and rookie Armand Membou taking over as the right tackle. Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson were 10th and 11th among all guards in PFF grades last season.

There's a world where every Jets lineman improves this season and they anchor one of the best rushing attacks in the league.

Biggest Weakness: Passing Game

Unfortunately, the Jets' ability to pass-protect might not lead to a better passing game. They had limited options for improving their quarterback play this offseason. They ultimately settled on Justin Fields. He showed just enough in Pittsburgh last season to get another crack at starting, but a lot of that comes down to his talent as a runner.

As a passer, he still needs to work on playing on time. He had the fourth longest time to throw in the league last season, per Next Gen Stats. Teaming up with former college teammate Garrett Wilson could help, but the Jets still need someone to step into the role of WR2.

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton

Saquon Barkley

Biggest Needs: DL, CB, S

Biggest Strength: Running Game

The NFL is often referred to as a passing league, but the Eagles proved last season that a dominant running game can go a long way. It isn't like Jalen Hurts and Co. can't throw the ball, but the offense worked because they had a dominant offensive line blocking for one of the most dynamic backs in the league.

Saquon Barkley turned out to be just what the Eagles offense needed. Hurts and Barkley anchored a rushing attack that averaged the most carries per game while simultaneously placing fourth in yards per carry.

The defending champs have a lot of strengths, but their ability to demoralize a defense on the ground is the best.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

The fact that this is their biggest weakness speaks to how well the Eagles roster is constructed. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were breakout stars as rookies. Yet, there are still a few questions for the secondary as they head into the 2025 season.

Mitchell and DeJean give them easy answers at outside corner and the slot. However, Kelee Ringo is still unproven and Adoree' Jackson is the backup option right now. Things get even shakier at safety. They might need second-round pick Andrew Mukuba to be an impact player right away.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt

Biggest Needs: WR, CB, LB

Biggest Strength: Defensive Front

Having a strong defensive front has been part of the Steelers' identity going back to the Steel Curtain days. The roster might have some holes, but the current defensive front lives up to the legacy.

It all starts with T.J. Watt. The Steelers got their star pass-rusher squared away with a contract extension so he can focus on putting together a Defensive Player of the Year campaign. However, his supporting cast is underrated. Led by Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh was third in pass-rush win rate last season.

Biggest Weakness: Passing Game

There's a lot of boom-or-but built into the Steelers offense this season. The hope is that bringing in Aaron Rodgers will give them better quarterback play than they've had while DK Metcalf can be a more consistent version of what George Pickens was.

The tight end duo of Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth could pose an interesting threat to defenses. The problem is that it's all a bit hypothetical. What does Aaron Rodgers look like in his 21st season knowing he's likely retiring at the end of the year? How do Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth split tight end duties? Who will emerge as WR2 with Pickens?

There are a lot of questions that need to work out for the passing game to be an asset for Pittsburgh.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Christian McCaffrey

Biggest Needs: CB, IOL, WR

Biggest Strength: Offensive Ecosystem

Brock Purdy earned his five-year, $265 million contract this offseason. He's a perfect fit with Kyle Shanahan and executes at a high level. But there's no denying it's the entire offensive ecosystem that drive the Niners' success. They've finished as a top-10 offense in five of the last six seasons under Shanahan's watch.

The coach is one of the best offensive minds in the league. It also helps that there's plenty to like about the supporting cast around Purdy.

Christian McCaffrey is still one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the league, Brandon Aiyuk is a real problem when healthy and George Kittle remains one of the best tight ends in the league.

Even with Aiyuk set to miss some time early in the season, the Niners have the firepower to be dangerous.

Biggest Weakness: Defensive Line

There was a time not too long ago when the Niners had the league's best defensive line. The last few seasons have chipped away at the depth they once had across the front four, though.

Nick Bosa was a Pro Bowler last season, but he missed three games and underdelivered with nine sacks. If he doesn't regain his dominant form, then this is a group without an established leader.

The rest of the position group is really young. First-round pick Mykel Williams needs to pop right away and the interior is even more unproven. Second-round pick Alfred Collins might wind up being their best interior defender. They could be surprisingly good, but the floor is low.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Uchenna Nwosu, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrenec, Jarran Reed

Biggest Needs: IOL, CB, WR

Biggest Strength: Defensive Line

It's not surprising that a Mike Macdonald-coached team has a great defensive front. He has built a reputation for getting the best out of his defensive line and linebackers. The Seahawks have quickly taken to that approach.

Seattle was eighth in pressure rate last season and racked up 45 sacks. Leonard Williams led the way with 11 of those, but the impressive thing is that 12 different players had at least one sack. They have a deep group of edge-rushers and Byron Murphy II is a breakout candidate after only playing nine games as a rookie last season.

Biggest Weakness: Offensive Line

The scariest thought for the Seahawks going into 2025 should be Sam Darnold playing behind this offensive line. There's a lot riding on Darnold repeating the success that he found in Minnesota. However, he needs clean pockets and that's something the offensive line didn't do a lot last season.

The offensive line (along with the coaching staff and Geno Smith) were charged with 54 sacks last season. The Seahawks drafted Gray Zabel at right guard to help fix the problem, but he'll still be a rookie with a learning curve. Anthony Bradford is competing for the right guard job, and he gave up eight sacks last season, per Sports Info Solutions.

Charles Cross might be the only sure thing on the line this season and even he has given up 13 sacks over the last two years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Mike Evans

Biggest Needs: Edge, LG, S

Biggest Strength: Pass-Catchers

The Bucs went all-in on giving Baker Mayfield the weapons he needs to thrive this offseason.

Not only did they make the somewhat surprising move of retaining Chris Godwin, but they also used their first-round pick to take Emeka Egbuka. The Ohio State product was named the best route-runner, best slot receiver and most pro-ready receiver prospect on our final big board.

His presence gives Tampa an embarassment of riches in the receiver room. Mike Evans is always good for 1,000 yards, Godwin is starting the season off on the PUP list, but Egbuka and Jalen McMillan can make up for any time he misses.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

The Bucs are going to be a headache for a lot of secondaries, but Todd Bowles' secondary might also be a headache for him. Jamel Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr. are sure talents. However, Dean is getting older at 28 and Winfield took a step back last season finishing with a PFF grade that ranked 73rd among all safeties.

Ideally, the Bucs could see second-round pick Benjamin Morrison emerge as a legitimate starting option. Zyon McCollum held down the role last season, but he only came down with two interceptions on 108 targets.

Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Jeffery Simmons

Biggest Needs: Edge, LB, TE

Biggest Strength: Interior Defensive Line

We're going to have get pretty specific with the Titans' greatest strength. The roster is still a work in progress and it's hard to pin down an aspect of it that they'll be able to rely on like their interior defensive line.

Jeffery Simmons was PFF's eight-highest-graded defensive lineman last season. T'Vondre Sweat already looks like a good running mate for him after just one season. He generated 21 pressures, which isn't bad for a 6'4", 366-pound nose tackle. Sebastian Joseph-Day is an underrated veteran to round out the starting trio.

Biggest Weakness: Passing Game

The good news for the Titans is that they have a new answer at quarterback in No. 1 pick Cam Ward. The bad news is that it's hard to come around to the idea that they have the weapons they need in place.

Calvin Ridley barely got over 1,000 yards last season while catching 64 of his 120 targets. Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett are likely the next two receivers on the depth chart. Jefferson is an uninspiring option and Lockett's best days are likely behind him. Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike are both promising rookies, but they have a lot to prove.

Ward has his work cut out for him as a rookie.

Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Jayden Daniels

Biggest Needs: Edge, TE, LB

Biggest Strengths: Offensive Backfield

Jayden Daniels has single-handedly changed the outlook for the Commanders moving forward. They went from 25th to fifth in scoring offense last season and his dual-threat ability was the catalyst for the transformation.

Daniels led the team in rushing with 891 yards, but he also threw for over 3,500 yards with 25 touchdowns to only nine interceptions.

Daniels got some help from his running back room as well. Brian Robinson wasn't a star, but he was a good short-yardage back with eight rushing touchdowns and Austin Ekeler worked as a reliable safety valve in the pass game.

Biggest Weakness: Secondary

There weren't many secondaries that made less plays on the ball than the Commanders last season. They only had seven interceptions all season and their 60 passes defensed were tied for fifth-lowest in the league.

They traded for Marshon Lattimore during the season. He ended up giving a passer rating of 105.4 in the two games he played. They'll hope the veteran can contribute after a full offseason with the franchise. They also signed 31-year-old Jonathan Jones, so if second-round pick Trey Amos isn't ready to start, they'll be relying on some older players to carry the load.