One Move Each NFL Team Should Make Before the Regular Season Begins
The 2015 NFL draft is firmly affixed in the history books, and the bulk of this year's high-profile free agents were taken off the market long ago.
It's fairly safe to say, however, that teams are far from finished making moves.
Plenty of unsigned players are still out there, and the pool will continue to grow as teams begin trimming rosters in the preseason. Even teams that don't need to bring in outside help have countless internal decisions to make between now and the start of the regular season.
Today we're going to examine one move—be it a trade, free-agent signing, contract offer or internal roster decision—that each team should make before the regular season kicks off on September 10.
Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
Add a Veteran Running Back
The Arizona Cardinals were 31st in the NFL last season with just 81.8 rushing yards per game. The team still earned 11 victories in 2014, but improving the ground attack before the coming season should be a priority.
Part of the problem last season was that an injury-hampered Andre Ellington averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.
The depth behind Ellington is largely unproven, though there is some promise with Kerwynn Williams (4.6 yards per carry last season) and rookie David Jones. Adding a proven veteran makes sense, especially if that veteran can bring something to the passing game.
Ellington was fourth on the team with 46 receptions in 2014. The five other backs who caught passes last season combined for just 30 catches.
Of the veteran backs currently available, two stand out as solid fits for the Cardinals.
Longtime New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season and hauled in 45 passes. For some reason, he remains unsigned.
Ahmad Bradshaw is also currently available. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry with the Indianapolis Colts last season and caught 38 passes in 10 games. He will have to serve a one-game suspension for marijuana possession if signed, but Bradshaw can be an asset.
Thomas and Bradshaw were rated third and eighth, respectively, among running backs in receiving by Pro Football Focus last season.
Arizona probably won't rush to sign another back because the team will undoubtedly want to evaluate what it has in camp and in the preseason. Waiting too long, though, could allow proven producers such as Thomas and Bradshaw to be gobbled up by other teams in need of backfield help.
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
Grant Julio Jones a Contract Extension
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and he just watched receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas receive new five-year, $70 million contracts from the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, respectively.
While the Falcons aren't under any sort of franchise-tag deadline like the Broncos and Cowboys were, giving Jones an extension with similar terms could prove beneficial to the team.
For starters, a new deal would ensure the Falcons don't have to deal with any franchise-tag nonsense next offseason. It would also ensure that Jones can go into the coming season with a sense of financial security. Locking him in now might also be cheaper than doing it a year from now.
A deal would also apparently make fellow receiver Roddy White pretty happy.
"If I was the GM, I would get a deal done with Julio now," White told ESPN's Josina Anderson last week. "I want to make sure he's paid. That's my guy."
According to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, there is a "general sense around the team" that the Falcons could get a deal done by training camp.
Now that a potential contract has been teased by the media, the Falcons should just go ahead and get a deal done to ensure everyone is smiling at the start of the 2015 regular season.
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
Add a Veteran Receiver
The Baltimore Ravens are likely to enter the 2015 season with aging veteran Steve Smith and unproven rookie Breshad Perriman as the team's top two receivers. The depth behind these two is questionable, which is why there is some cause for concern.
Smith is still a very productive receiver, but he is also 36 years old. If he cannot hold up for an entire season or if Perriman's development doesn't go as planned, there could be problems.
Kamar Aiken, Michael Campanaro and Marlon Brown return from last year's team, but they combined for just 58 receptions in 2014. That's only nine more receptions than Torrey Smith, who is no longer with the Ravens, produced last season.
The Ravens also lost tight end Owen Daniels (48 receptions, 527 yards) during the offseason, which leaves Crockett Gillmore, Dennis Pitta and rookies Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle at tight end.
Adding a veteran pass-catcher to the group would bolster depth and would provide excellent injury insurance.
There are a few capable veteran currently on the market, but the most intriguing free agent is longtime Indianapolis Colts star Reggie Wayne.
According to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star, Wayne is interested in playing one more season.
"I'm going to give somebody a good 365 days," Wayne said, per Holder. "One year. That's what I'm looking for."
Wayne hauled in 64 passes for 779 yards in 15 games last season, which means he should still have value for a team like Baltimore. The Ravens are a legitimate playoff team, which is why they would makes sense for Wayne's final run.
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Buffalo Bills
4 of 32
Let Tyrod Taylor Start at Least One Preseason Game
The biggest storyline of Buffalo Bills camp will probably be the upcoming quarterback competition between EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor.
If the Buffalo Bills want to ensure that they make the right decision on the starting quarterback job, they need to give Taylor at least one opportunity to start in a preseason game. He is the only member of the trio to never log a start during the regular season.
The team needs to see how the relatively inexperienced Taylor can operate in Buffalo's offense in a game situation with starters around him. This essentially means he needs to start and play significant time before the preseason finale, when teams generally rest their starters.
Despite his lack of experience, Taylor should be the starter if he can produce.
“Obviously production overrides everything,” head coach Rex Ryan said, per the team's official website. “It doesn’t matter what it looks like if it gets there. Just protect the football. Don’t put the team at risk."
If Taylor struggles, the team can always turn back Manuel or to the journeyman, Cassel.
One former teammate believes Taylor is bound to succeed.
"He was definitely a guy who could've been a starter," Baltimore Ravens safety Terrence Brooks said, per Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News. "But he was behind Joe Flacco, a really good guy, too. If we ever needed Tyrod, I was pretty sure he could step up to the job and do it."
Buffalo isn't likely to know if Brooks is right unless it gets a long look at Taylor in the preseason.
Dallas Cowboys
5 of 32
Add a Running Back
The Dallas Cowboys raised a few eyebrows this offseason when the team decided not to draft a replacement for departed running back DeMarco Murray.
Murray, who led the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards in 2014, isn't going to be easy to replace.
What the Cowboys are likely to roll out this season is a committee comprised of Lance Dunbar, Joseph Randle and Oakland Raiders castoff Darren McFadden. There is reason to believe such a committee can be effective. Randle, for example, rushed for a whopping 6.7 yards per carry last season.
However, Randle only carried the ball 51 times all season, Dunbar logged just 29 carries last season and McFadden has a significant injury history. That the Cowboys didn't do more to bolster this group during the offseason is curious.
Adding to the running back group before the start of the regular season makes sense, especially if one of the current backs struggles in the preseason.
Adding a veteran free agent like Pierre Thomas would certainly bolster the group, but it also makes sense to examine running backs around the league in order to pounce on a promising young runner if he is released during preseason roster cuts.
Snagging a first- or second-year player off the scrap heap could give the Cowboys that young ball-carrier the team didn't land in the draft.
This is essentially the strategy behind the Cowboys' decision to sign second-year running back Lache Seastrunk this offseason. If Dallas can continue to strengthen its backfield before September, it should.
Denver Broncos
6 of 32
Give the Bulk of the Preseason Work to Tight End Virgil Green
Julius Thomas is long gone, and the Denver Broncos are likely to count on the combination of Owen Daniels and Virgil Green to replace him at tight end.
Between the two veterans, Green can use the most work in the preseason, especially in receiving situations. He has just 23 receptions in his four-year pro career.
Daniels is a nine-year veteran who has played under new Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak in some capacity every year he has been in the league. He'll still need some preseason reps with quarterback Peyton Manning, of course, but Green needs more work in Kubiak's offense.
Kubiak likes to employ two-tight end sets, and while Green is more of a blocking tight end, Manning and the Broncos need to find out if he can be a legitimate receiving threat. With 433 receptions in his career, Daniels has already earned that reputation in Kubiak's system.
There will be a learning curve for Green.
"I know it's tough, it's got to be tough to learn something totally different than they've been doing the last few years," Daniels said, per Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com. " I'm happy to be in that teacher role."
If Green can get up to speed and prove to be a productive target, the Broncos can be a very dangerous offense when both tight ends are on the field.
Detroit Lions
7 of 32
Select a No. 3 Receiver
The Detroit Lions have one of the game's most feared wide receivers in Calvin Johnson. The team also has a very dangerous second option in Golden Tate, who racked up 1,331 yards last season.
However, the Lions do not have a reliable No. 3 option, which is part of the reason why the team didn't rank higher than 12th in passing yards per game (251.9) despite having two 1,000-yard receivers.
Detroit's three top targets after Johnson and Tate last season were all running backs. Jeremy Ross was the third-most productive wideout with just 24 receptions and 314 yards. If Detroit can get more production out of the third-receiver spot, this should be a more dangerous offense in 2015.
Ross is definitely a candidate to be this receiver, as are players such as Corey Fuller, Ryan Broyles and offseason acquisition Lance Moore. Figuring out which player can be the most effective third wideout should be one of the team's primary offensive goals during the preseason.
No matter how dynamic Detroit's top duo is this season, it would be better to have a dangerous three.
If it doesn't appear that a standout third receiver is currently on the roster, the Lions may want to start skimming the roster-cut lists of other teams or looking at available veteran free agents.
Carolina Panthers
8 of 32
Create Competition at Left Tackle
The Carolina Panthers gave quarterback Cam Newton a shiny new $103.8 million contract this offseason. To protect their enormous investment, it appears the Panthers will rely on journeyman offensive tackle Michael Oher.
Oher hasn't exactly been the blindside protector in his carer that the Panthers will need him to be this season. Oher was moved to right tackle early in his career, and he has even had some struggles on that side of the line. Last season while with the Tennessee Titans, for example, Pro Football Focus rated Oher 133rd overall among all offensive tackles.
The "reassuring" news is that Oher at least ranked seven spots higher than former Panthers left tackle Byron Bell.
Still, it would behoove the Panthers to put some pressure on Oher in training camp. Being one of the more lowly regarded players at your position is a bad thing, even if you look like an upgrade over the guy you're replacing.
The Panthers can bring competition with Jonathan Martin or Nate Chandler. Though neither has proved to be a reliable NFL starter, both were rated higher than Oher by Pro Football Focus last season.
Creating come competition at the position could at least push one of the players to improvement. If it doesn't, the Panthers might want to start looking at outside options.
Chicago Bears
9 of 32
Bring in Some Secondary Help
Last season, the pass defense of the Chicago Bears was more speed bump than road block. Chicago allowed an average of 264.4 yards per game through the air (30th in the NFL) in 2014 and finished 28th in pass coverage for the season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Bears defense also allowed 34 touchdown passes, second most in the NFL.
Then-rookie Kyle Fuller showed some promise, but that little promise was about the brightest spot in Chicago's entire secondary.
Chicago brought in safety Antrel Rolle and cornerback Tracy Porter during the offseason, but the team could certainly use additional talent and depth in the defensive backfield.
Now would be a good time for the Bears to start examining the secondary talent other teams around the league have in order to decide if there is a player worth snagging if he is released in preseason cuts.
There aren't a ton of high-quality veteran free agents to help Chicago, but guys who are currently available include the likes of Javier Arenas, Bill Bentley and Antoine Cason. Chicago may be able to find some depth to bring in for training camp in this group.
However, the team should most definitely plan on pilfering talent off of the cut pile as the preseason progresses.
Cincinnati Bengals
10 of 32
Add to the Pass Rush
The Cincinnati Bengals' pass rush was pretty much laughable in 2014. The team registered a league-low 20 sacks last season, and Pro Football Focus rated it last in the league in pass rush.
The Bengals brought back defensive end Michael Johnson after he spent one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team also spent a fourth-round draft pick on former Arizona State defensive Marcus Hardison.
However, Johnson has logged just 7.5 sacks over the past two seasons, and Hardison, as a rookie, is very much unproven. If the Bengals can find players with the skills to get after the quarterback, they need to grab them.
Cincinnati is talented enough overall that it can afford to take a chance on a young unproven player that another team decides not to keep on its final roster. This will probably be the Bengals' best chance of grabbing a young player who can contribute on passing downs.
The current crop of available free-agent defensive ends isn't particularly deep, so the team's best course of action would be to wait and see which players get released during preseason cuts.
If the Bengals field the league's worst pass rush again, the team is going to have a very difficult time ending its playoff losing streak in 2015.
Cleveland Browns
11 of 32
Add to the Receiving Corps
The Cleveland Browns seem to feel pretty good about entering the 2015 season with Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline as their starting wide receivers. Whether they should feel good about it is another story.
The Browns really don't have one receiver who is going to intimidate a defense, save perhaps ankle-breaking slot man Andrew Hawkins.
Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel, rookie Vince Mayle and "receiver" Terrelle Pryor round out a group that is about as devoid of star power as a a straight-to-DVD National Lampoon movie.
This doesn't mean the current group can't be productive. Last year's group was even less heralded and still yielded a passing game that ranked a respectable 17th overall, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, there probably aren't many receivers on this roster the Browns can't afford to part with should an enticing option present itself.
The Browns aren't likely to attract Reggie Wayne, who probably wants to play for a contender. However, a free-agent veteran like James Jones or Wes Welker might be able to help the team. The Browns also might be wise to pay close attention to the younger guys being released from other teams during preseason cuts.
Cleveland had receiver Charles Johnson on its practice squad last preseason, but the Minnesota Vikings picked him up and he went on to post 31 receptions, 475 yards and two touchdowns in 2014.
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
Establish the Running Back Rotation
The San Diego Chargers fielded an excellent aerial attack last season. The team averaged 256.1 yards passing per game (10th in the NFL) and finished sixth overall among teams in passing, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, the Chargers averaged a mere 85.4 yards per game on the ground (30th in the NFL). This is why the team used a first-round pick on Wisconsin product Melvin Gordon.
Gordon has the size (6'1", 215 pounds) and the skills to be a workhorse running back at the pro level. If his development in camp and the preseason goes smoothly, he will almost certainly be the team's starter in Week 1.
San Diego has some capable runners behind Gordon, though, and the team needs to figure out what roles they can play in what should be a much more balanced offense this season.
Branden Oliver returns after a rookie season that saw him rush for 582 yards and haul in 36 receptions. Danny Woodhead appeared in just three games before suffering a broken fibula last season, but in 2013, he amassed 1,034 combined rushing and receiving yards.
Donald Brown, Jahwan Edwards and Dreamius Smith are also in the mix.
Gordon had just 22 career receptions at Wisconsin, and the Chargers will have to decide if he can handle passing downs as a rookie or if it will be better to bring in a guy like Oliver or Woodhead in those situations.
Finding the right rotations and fine-tuning it before the season will ensure the Chargers come out firing on all cylinders offensively.
Houston Texans
13 of 32
Pick a Starting Quarterback and Stick with Him
The Houston Texans were a nine-win team a season ago and can be a legitimate playoff contender if they can find the right answer under center. The upcoming quarterback competition, therefore, will be the most important storyline of training camp.
Though Tom Savage is also on the roster, this will essentially be a race between former Bill O'Brien-coached quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallet.
Neither player should inspire supreme confidence for the coming season. Pro Football Focus ranked Mallet 56th overall among all quarterbacks last season. Hoyer came in at No. 70.
Joe Montana vs. Steve Young, this is not.
Still, this is what the Texans have been given, and the key will be to get behind one guy early and stick with him throughout preseason preparation. Houston has to be sure whomever it picks to lead the team in 2015 is as ready as possible before the Kansas City Chiefs come to town in early September.
Ideally, the Texans will then be able to stick with one signal-caller throughout the regular season. The team had three different starters in 2014 and, unsurprisingly, consistency in the passing game was lacking.
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
Add Depth to the Offensive Line
The Indianapolis Colts are likely to field a very dangerous offense in 2015, but there could be a weakness in the offensive line.
Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked the Colts 15th in pass blocking and 18th in run blocking. The team needs to be better and deeper along the offensive line if the Colts want to be true Super Bowl contenders.
There is some reason to be concerned here because the team did little to address the line in the offseason other then sign free-agent guard Todd Herremans. The team is also dealing with the injury recovery of starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus.
Cherilus struggled with injuries throughout the 2014 season before finally being placed on injured reserve. He came in at No. 70 among tackles for the season, according to Pro Football Focus.
There isn't a ton of reliable depth behind the starters, and starting left guard Jack Mewhort could end up at right tackle if Cherilus isn't fully recovered, according to ESPN.com's Mike Wells.
Strengthening the team's offensive-line depth has to be a priority before the regular season begins. The Colts can either look for a young unproven player or grab a veteran free agent such as Tyson Clabo, but the team needs to do something.
This is especially true if Cherilus isn't back to 100 percent by camp.
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
Bring in Competition for the Secondary
The secondary of the Jacksonville Jaguars was one of the most disappointing units in the NFL last season.
Though the team allowed an average of just 243.7 yards per game through the air (22nd in the NFL), the Jaguars finished 30th in pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Jaguars were also tied for last in the NFL with just six interceptions.
During the offseason, the Jaguars signed safety Sergio Brown and slot corner Davon House. The team also spent a fourth-round pick on rookie safety James Sample.
However, there is definitely still plenty of room to improve this group before the regular season begins. Whether the team goes after a veteran free agent or waits to pounce on a player released by another team during the preseason, upgrading this unit has to be a priority.
The Jaguars ranked sixth in the NFL with 45 sacks last season, so it isn't as if the team cannot get to the quarterback. The defense could actually be pretty imposing to opposing quarterbacks if the back end can provide better pass coverage in 2015.
The defense's first test will be quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers in early September.
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
Move Chris Conley up the Depth Chart
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't have a very threatening passing attack last season. The team ranked just 29th in passing yardage (198.9 yards per game), and no wide receivers caught a touchdown pass during the season.
This is why the team signed free-agent wideout Jeremy Maclin and spent a third-round draft pick on former Georgia receiver Chris Conley.
Maclin is a virtual lock to start at one wideout position, and the Chiefs should do everything they can to ensure Conley is the No. 3 receiver at the very least by the start of the regular season.
Dwayne Bowe was the only wideout to log more than 23 receptions last season and he is now a member of the Browns. The Chiefs know that what they can get out of receivers De'Anthony Thomas, Frankie Hammond and Junior Hemingway is limited.
Jason Avant is a more proven commodity, but he is also 32 years old with 10 pro seasons under his belt.
Conley is a young, athletic pass-catcher who can bring some explosiveness to the downfield passing attack. The former Bulldog and Star Wars fan-film director ran a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. That's pretty remarkable for a 6'2", 213-pound wideout.
The Chiefs need to get him preseason experience and move him up the depth chart as quickly as possible.
Miami Dolphins
17 of 32
Sign Guard Evan Mathis
The Miami Dolphins were determined to make a big splash in free agency this season and went out and signed Ndamukong Suh, Jordan Cameron and Greg Jennings and traded for receiver Kenny Stills.
Why not continue the splashing and go after Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis? The team has a need and Mathis fits it.
“I’ll tell you this,” Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel said earlier this month on the Marc Hochman Show with Zach Krantz, “The two guard positions are the most glaring weakness. They really are and again I know we’re just talking about guards, but we’re talking about the AFC East, where the defensive tackles will take a wrecking ball to your whole offense.”
Mathis, of course, is likely waiting to see exactly what kind of offers he can get before making a decision.
“Exactly what my options are aren’t as clear as they will be in a week or two,” Mathis said, per Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald.
The Dolphins are currently a little more than $9.5 million under the salary cap, according to Spotrac, and should be able to put together a pretty enticing offer with a little creative planning.
This is a move that needs to happen for Miami.
Minnesota Vikings
18 of 32
Give Adrian Peterson Some Preseason Work
Minnesota Vikings fans are used to not seeing running back Adrian Peterson take a lot of carries during the preseason. The guy knows how to run the football, and it doesn't seem to take him long to get back into game mode once the regular season gets underway.
According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, head coach Mike Zimmer has indicated that Peterson won't see any work again this preseason.
The Vikings might just want to reconsider this decision.
Peterson hasn't had an in-game carry since the first week of the 2014 season. There may be a little rust to knock off, but a bigger concern is that Peterson has never worked with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in a game situation.
Bridgewater started 12 games as a rookie last season, but Peterson had already been sent to the exempt/commissioner's permission list before Bridgewater got his chance.
It might be a good idea to give these two a chance to work together in a real game situation before the 2015 regular season kicks off, and it probably wouldn't hurt to make sure Peterson is at full speed, either.
We're not talking about running the 30-year-old back 30 or 40 times; rather, the team giving him a series or two in the preseason seems like a smart move.
New England Patriots
19 of 32
Make Jimmy Garoppolo the Starting Quarterback...Temporarily
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is still awaiting word on his suspension appeal. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, a ruling is expected this week and legal action will immediately be taken by Brady and the NFLPA if the quarterback is not fully exonerated.
Until any of this unfolds, though, the Patriots need to start preparing as if Brady won't be available for the first month of the season because of his alleged role in a plot to illegally deflate footballs for competitive advantage.
This means that New England needs to make backup Jimmy Garoppolo the starter, at least for a large chunk of the preseason.
Garoppolo must get extensive work with the starters early on, and he needs to be protected like a starter as the preseason winds down. Losing him in the preseason finale to injury would be disastrous if Brady ins't going to be available.
If it turns out Brady gets off the hook or a legal injunction allows him to play in Week 1, then Garoppolo is better prepared and the Patriots should be no worse for it. Brady has been doing this for 15 years. He'll probably be fine.
New Orleans Saints
20 of 32
Sign a Tight End
The New Orleans Saints traded away star tight end Jimmy Graham during the offseason, which dramatically downgrades the position.
Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill return from last season, but the duo combined for a mere 34 receptions in 2014. That's 51 fewer receptions that Graham produced a season ago.
The team also has former Bengal Orson Charles and undrafted rookie Jack Tabb on the roster.
There is some reason to believe that this group can be serviceable. Watson is an accomplished 11-year veteran, and Hill came in at No. 33 overall among all tight ends, according to Pro Football Focus, in 2014. However, the Saints would be wise to strengthen the group before the regular season, if possible.
Jermaine Gresham, who amassed 62 receptions and five touchdowns last season, headlines the current crop of available free agents. However, Gresham visited the Saints backs in June, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports, and a deal was not reached.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Saints did make an offer.
Other veteran options include Zach Miller and blocking tight end Alex Smith. The Saints may also want to keep an eye out for other tight end options as teams begin trimming rosters in the preseason.
After watching Graham shine over the past four seasons, it would be disppointing to see the Saints go into the 2015 season with the group it currently has without at least trying to find an upgrade somewhere.
New York Giants
21 of 32
Give Shane Vereen Plenty of Work with Eli Manning in Preseason
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning had one of his good seasons in 2014, with over 4,400 yards, 30 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. In order to make sure Manning doesn't return to having a "bad" season like in 2013 (18 touchdowns with 27 interceptions and 39 sacks), the Giants went out and got him an outlet pass-catcher in the offseason.
Former Patriots running back Shane Vereen is the new guy in the backfield, but he will probably be seeing most of his work in the passing game. He logged just 92 carries last season, but he hauled in 52 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus ranked him 10th overall in receiving among running backs in 2014.
The Giants are beginning to have a deadly looking receiving corps with Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, Reuben Randle and Larry Donnell running routes on Sundays. Adding Vereen to the mix could make the passing attack truly elite.
This is why it would be a good idea to move Vereen to the top of the depth chart, at least for the preseason.
As an 11-year veteran, Manning isn't likely to see an overload of live action during the preseason. Getting Vereen on the field with him against starting-caliber players could help the two build a little comfort and chemistry before the games turn meaningful in September.
New York Jets
22 of 32
Set the Running Back Depth Chart
Geno Smith is likely to be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets in Week 1. Head coach Todd Bowles declared earlier this offseason during a press conference that the job is Smith's to lose, at any rate.
He will have to beat out journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick and rookie Bryce Petty, of course.
Smith has shown some promise in the past (a perfect passer rating in last year's season finale, for example), and he will benefit from coordinator Chan Gailey's quarterback-friendly system. However, he still has a lot to prove (his career passer rating is just 71.5), and the Jets are going to want to protect him with a strong running game.
This is why it is important for New York to get its running back rotation figured out before the start of the regular season.
Chris Ivory will likely get the first crack at the starting job. He has amassed more than 800 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons with New York. However, the Jets acquired Zac Stacy from the St. Louis Rams in the offseason, and he has flashed some real potential in his career as well.
Stacy saw a diminished workload in 2014 but rushed for 973 yards the previous year.
Former Patriots back Stevan Ridley is also on the roster, but he may not be ready for the start of the regular season.
According to Dom Cosentino of NJ.com, Ridley could very well start the season on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from last season's ACL tear.
This could leave the Jets looking at a guy like Bilal Powell or Daryl Richardson as the No. 3 back during Ridley's recovery.
Finding the right combination out of this group will help ensure the running game is successful in 2015 and that too much pressure isn't placed on the shoulders of New York's quarterback.
Oakland Raiders
23 of 32
Give Rookie Jon Feliciano a Chance to Start at Right Guard
Oakland Raiders rookie Jon Feliciano wasn't selected until the end of Round 4 (pick No. 128) in this year's draft, but giving him a real opportunity to start this season could be a smart decision for the Raiders.
According to ESPN.com's Bill Williamson, Feliciano was behind J'Marcus Webb and Khalif Barnes at right guard in June minicamp. This should be a little concerning for the Raiders, as Barnes was a tackle last season (ranked 112th among tackles by Pro Football Focus) and Webb has never played guard as a pro.
In fact, Webb only appeared in one game all of last season, as a special teams player.
This isn't to suggest the Raiders should hand the starting job to the rookie. If Feliciano isn't starting material at this point in his young career, then he simply isn't. However, the Raiders don't have a ton of desirable alternatives currently on the roster, and giving him a legitimate chance could create a pleasant surprise.
As things appear to currently stand, a pleasant surprise at guard would be most welcome.
If this group continues to look like a mess in camp, the Raiders will likely want to look at available free agents such as Davin Joseph or Gabe Carimi.
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 32
Prepare Backup Quarterback Mark Sanchez to Start
In the NFL, the backup quarterback is always an injury away from becoming the starter. This is a reality that the Philadelphia Eagles have to be absolutely prepared to handle.
New starting quarterback Sam Bradford has an extensive injury history. He has missed 31 games in his five pro years and has ended each of the past two seasons on injured reserve with a torn ACL. He also has yet to prove he can be a true franchise signal-caller.
Bradford has completed less than 60 percent of his passes as a pro and holds a career passer rating of 79.3—respectable but not spectacular.
"Succeeding with the Eagles will take Bradford being a better player than he has been in the NFL, not just the supporting cast around him improving," Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com recently wrote. "That is a very important distinction."
If Bradford suffers another injury or if he fails to take to Chip Kelly's offense out of the gate, the team will likely be turning right back to Sanchez, who started eight games in 2014.
For this reason, the Eagles have to devote much of the preseason to giving Sanchez some starting-caliber preparation.
This doesn't meant Philadelphia should avoid prepping Bradford, but giving meaningful preseason reps to Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow seems out of the question.
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
Sign an Additional Running Back to Fill in During Le'Veon Bell's Suspension
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has been suspended for the first three games of the 2015 season, pending appeal.
Those three games come against the Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams.
The Steelers brought nine-year veteran DeAngelo Williams in during the offseason to be Bell's backup, but Williams appeared in just six games and averaged a mere 3.5 yards per carry last season. No. 3 back Dri Archer only logged 10 carries in 2014.
Whether either back can really carry the load while Bell is sidelined is a question that won't be answered for some time.
Bell won't count against the team's 53-man roster limit while on suspension, so the team can afford to bring in another body for the backfield, at least temporarily.
The Steelers need to give plenty of preseason work to Josh Harris and Cameron Stingily to see if another back can emerge in time for Bell's three-week sabbatical. If it doesn't look like enough capable runners are on the roster, Pittsburgh will need to start checking around the league to see which players are getting cut during the preseason.
San Diego Chargers
26 of 32
Establish the Running Back Rotation
The San Diego Chargers fielded an excellent aerial attack last season. The team averaged 256.1 yards passing per game (10th in the NFL) and finished sixth overall among teams in passing, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, the Chargers averaged a mere 85.4 yards per game on the ground (30th in the NFL). This is why the team used a first-round pick on Wisconsin product Melvin Gordon.
Gordon has the size (6'1", 215 pounds) and the skills to be a workhorse running back at the pro level. If his development in camp and the preseason goes smoothly, he will almost certainly be the team's starter in Week 1.
San Diego has some capable runners behind Gordon, though, and the team needs to figure out what roles they can play in what should be a much more balanced offense this season.
Branden Oliver returns after a rookie season that saw him rush for 582 yards and haul in 36 receptions. Danny Woodhead appeared in just three games before suffering a broken fibula last season, but in 2013, he amassed 1,034 combined rushing and receiving yards.
Donald Brown, Jahwan Edwards and Dreamius Smith are also in the mix.
Gordon had just 22 career receptions at Wisconsin, and the Chargers will have to decide if he can handle passing downs as a rookie or if it will be better to bring in a guy like Oliver or Woodhead in those situations.
Finding the right rotations and fine-tuning it before the season will ensure the Chargers come out firing on all cylinders offensively.
San Francisco 49ers
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Give Torrey Smith Plenty of Preseason Work
The San Francisco 49ers struggled to stretch the football field most of last season. The team ranked 30th in passing yards per game (191.4), and Pro Football Focus rated quarterback Colin Kaepernick 40th among quarterbacks in deep passing.
This is why the 49ers brought in wide receiver Torrey Smith during the offseason. Smith is a speedy deep threat who has averaged 16.9 yards per reception during his four-year career. He will be Kaepernick's downfield playmaker in 2015.
However, the 49ers need to ensure they get Smith plenty of work with Kaepernick during the preseason to ensure the two are on the same page.
Smith spent two years playing opposite Anquan Boldin in Baltimore, but he has no game experience with his new quarterback or in offensive coordinator Geep Chryst's system. Other pass-catchers on the roster, like Boldin, Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington, have been around Kaepernick at least a year.
Smith is most likely going to be the No. 2 receiver opposite Boldin once again in 2015, so giving him a heavy workload during the preseason only makes sense.
Seattle Seahawks
28 of 32
Sign Quarterback Russell Wilson to an Extension
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and it appears the former Super Bowl winner is ready for his payday.
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Wilson wants to be paid as if he has already hit the free-agent market. Rapoport also believes that the window to do a new deal will close at the start of training camp.
If Rapoport is correct, the Seahawks have very little time to get things settled. Wilson doesn't appear likely to make his contract a real issue during the regular season, but there could be serious problems coming in February.
Next offseason, Seattle's options will be to extend a long-term offer to Wilson, use the exclusive-rights franchise tag or use the non-exclusive tag and risk losing him to another team in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
If Wilson is given the franchise tag and isn't happy about it, he could try to force a trade.
Giving Wilson an extension now would avoid any of these scenarios, and it would ensure that Seattle's Super Bowl quarterback will be around for the foreseeable future. However, it seems that time is running out.
St. Louis Rams
29 of 32
Wait to Give Nick Foles a Contract Extension
OK, so this is really more of a move that the St. Louis Rams shouldn't make.
During the offseason, the Rams dumped Sam Bradford and acquired quarterback Nick Foles in what could prove to be a brilliant move. Foles flashed some ability while with the Eagles (he holds a career passer rating of 94.2), and he doesn't have the massive injury history of Bradford.
However, Foles has yet to play a down in the Rams offense, even in the preseason. This is why it seems odd to hear the team wants to rush to sign him to an extension.
According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, the Rams have "made no secret of their interest" in getting a contract extension done with quarterback Nick Foles.
“We’ve had some discussions,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I think what Nick has done early in his career, he’s proven that he can get the job done on the field."
Foles hasn't proved anything in St. Louis. While a terrific 2015 season could end up landing him an even bigger contract next season, the smart move for the Rams is to wait and see if he really is their guy before dishing out a new contract.
The last thing the Rams need to do is make Foles the next Kevin Kolb.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Showcase Backup Quarterback Mike Glennon
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to spend training camp and the preseason preparing rookie quarterback Jameis Winston for life as a pro signal-caller.
If, however, the Buccaneers are confident early on that Winston is ready to start in Week 1, Tampa would be wise to devote at least a portion of the preseason toward showcasing backup quarterback Mike Glennon.
Showing off what Glennon can do would make sense because there will almost certainly be a couple of teams that aren't completely sold on their own quarterback situations heading into the regular season. Cleveland, Buffalo and Houston could come calling with a trade offer if Glennon really wows on the preseason football field.
If a team's starting quarterback suffers a serious injury in the preseason like Sam Bradford did in 2014, the pool of potential suitors will grow.
Glennon is an enticing option for teams looking for a starter because he is young (he'll turn 26 this year) and has flashed some real ability on the field. He has a respectable career passer rating of 83.7. This is a higher career rating than that of EJ Manuel (78.5), Josh McCown (76.1), Brian Hoyer (76.8) and Geno Smith (71.5)—all players who could be Week 1 starters this season.
NFL Media's Marc Sessler recently named Glennon the second-best backup in the league and placed him in the "starting material" category.
If the Buccaneers are confident that Winston is their guy, they might want to see if another team feels that Glennon is starting material as well. The former North Carolina State standout has two years remaining on his current contract and could bring a starting-caliber player or high draft pick in a trade.
This move only makes sense, though, if Tampa is sure that Winston is ready.
Tennessee Titans
31 of 32
Get a Deal Done with Marcus Mariota
We can probably file this one into the common-sense department.
The Tennessee Titans still have not finalized a contract with second overall pick and potential franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota. The holdup, it seems, is the team's instance on including offset language in the contract.
Offset language would ensure the team can recoup a portion of guaranteed money if Mariota is released and then signs with another team. It is a common practice for the Titans and a big reason why Tennessee is often the last team to sign its first-round picks in the offseason.
Last year, first-round pick Taylor Lewan didn't sign until July 24.
This is why there isn't yet a reason to panic if you're a Titans fan. Tennessee doesn't report to training camp until July 30. However, this is a move that still has to be made for obvious reasons.
"Reality check: Where high first-round draft picks are concerned, offset language seldom comes into play," David Climer of the Tennessean recently wrote. "The Titans’ recent first-round picks all made it through their original contracts or appear on course to do so."
However, the Titans need to get down to business, get Mariota under contract and get him to camp on time if they have any hope of starting him as a rookie in 2015.
Washington Redskins
32 of 32
Add a Pass-Rusher
The Washington Redskins treated opposing quarterbacks like royalty last season. Opposing passers completed 35 touchdown passes and compiled a cumulative passer rating of 108.3 in 2014, both league highs.
The main root of the problem was abysmal pass coverage. Pro Football Focus rated Washington last in the league in this category. This is why the team added cornerback Chris Culliver and safety Dashon Goldson in free agency. There is certainly room to add to the secondary here, but it would behoove Washington to also look for pass-rushing assistance.
Washington finished tied for 21st in the league with 36 sacks last season, and 13.5 of those sacks came from linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. Defensive end Jason Hatcher (5.5 sacks) was the only other player to log more than three sacks.
Finding a legitimate pass-rushing threat is easier said than done, of course, but scouring the waiver wire and rookie free-agent pool could yield something.
Jaguars defensive end Ryan Davis bounced on and off the practice squad for two years before his breakout 6.5-sack campaign in 2014. Players like Davis are out there, and finding one would greatly improve Washington's chances of strengthening its pass defense in 2015.
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