Charles H. Sloan-10 NFL teams that need to have strong draft classes after free agency

The Charles H. Sloan2024 NFL draft is still a month away, but the annual “Player Selection Meeting” is now clearly the league-wide focus with only a few prominent stragglers still hanging out in the free agent market.

And while some teams have already addressed quite a few of their significant issues by signing or trading for established veterans, quite a few others must seemingly rely on the draft to flesh out meaningful areas of their depth charts heading into the upcoming season.

Here are 10 clubs, listed alphabetically, that likely need to have strong drafts in the aftermath of what they accomplished – or maybe didn’t – during free agency:

Carolina Panthers

Thanks to a 2-15 season, they most definitely earned the top pick of the draft. Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears will make that selection for Carolina due to last year’s trade that enabled the Panthers to take QB Bryce Young No. 1 overall. That decision and what occurred in its wake are largely responsible for a new organizational chart in Charlotte, one that’s not off to a great start after the questionable trade of Pro Bowl OLB Brian Burns netted a second- and fifth-rounder. New GM Dan Morgan has beefed up the offensive line to better safeguard Young, added defensive pieces and traded for WR Diontae Johnson. But picks Nos. 33, 39 and 65 need to add serious juice to the roster – and it’s reasonable to think, given the strength of this draft, that Morgan can get another receiver and/or blocker who could directly contribute to a much better sophomore season for his young quarterback.

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Dallas Cowboys

They’ve lost several frontline players – no one necessarily irreplaceable – but the volume starts to get concerning when DE Dorance Armstrong, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dante Fowler Jr., DT Neville Gallimore, LT Tyron Smith, RB Tony Pollard and WR Michael Gallup all walk out the door. Maybe “America’s Team” can make gains whenever QB Dak Prescott’s unwieldy contract gets extended beyond 2024. Barring that, the NFC East champs can definitely find reinforcements in the draft, and at least one offensive lineman (either 24th or 56th overall) seems like an imperative. Good thing there’s a deep group to choose from.

Denver Broncos

If offloading QB Russell Wilson, WR Jerry Jeudy and FS Justin Simmons isn’t hitting Control-Alt-Delete on your roster, then what is? No team would cop to punting on a season, but the Broncos – their second-round pick is property of the New Orleans Saints as part of the trade for HC Sean Payton – need to at least get a consequential player (perhaps a replacement for Wilson?) at No. 12 amid this reset.

Los Angeles Chargers

A team that has one playoff win in the past 10 seasons and is in the midst of regime change hasn’t been able to manage much more than its salary cap, which has meant the departures of starting WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. However new HC Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz have a Bolt-en opportunity to reimagine this team with five of the draft’s top 110 selections, including the fifth and 37th overall. The No. 5 spot in particular presents intriguing options, likely the best or second-best non-quarterback or a chance to trade out and reap the rewards of what could be a coveted spot for a quarterback-needy team – which the Chargers decidedly are not. The presumed turnaround began with Harbaugh’s hiring, but it needs to hit the next gear starting April 25.

Los Angeles Rams

They’re in a bit of an unfamiliar position with four of the first 99 picks – most notably, their first Round 1 choice since 2016, when they took QB Jared Goff first overall. They’ll also be in a very unfamiliar position moving forward following the retirement of DL Aaron Donald, almost certainly the GOAT-Ram. You can’t replace him with the first pick, much less the 19th. Yet GM Les Snead and HC Sean McVay shouldn’t necessarily feel compelled to take a D-lineman in Round 1. Last season was proof positive that a team two years removed from a Lombardi Trophy is most definitely back on the ascent – and this draft should accelerate the climb.

Miami Dolphins

Their cap situation necessitated a net loss in the talent department during free agency, particularly in the trenches – former Fins DT Christian Wilkins and G Robert Hunt signing nine-figure contracts elsewhere. Miami also has no third- or fourth-round selection, the former forfeited as part of the punishment levied against owner Stephen Ross for illegal tampering. So a team that hasn’t won during postseason in more than 23 years really needs to find instant contributors in Rounds 1 and 2.

Minnesota Vikings

Is there any team having a more intriguing offseason? They didn’t re-sign QB Kirk Cousins and proceeded to turn over a good percentage of the roster. Then came the trade to acquire a second first-round pick from the Houston Texans, which certainly felt like a precursor to a subsequent move that could ultimately get the Vikes into position to draft a long-term replacement for Cousins. Yet GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t currently have another pick before Round 4 … so, regardless of what he does next, the decision(s) could very likely make or break his tenure in the Twin Cities.

New England Patriots

Few teams have more draft capital than this former dynasty in transition. New director of scouting Eliot Wolf and HC Jerod Mayo were fairly busy during free agency, though – perhaps surprisingly – re-signed quite a few players to a roster that hasn’t won a playoff game since QB Tom Brady left. Yet given this group didn’t get results with since-traded QB Mac Jones, would it be wise to drop another young quarterback into the fray with the No. 3 overall pick? Maybe it’s an opportunity Wolf and Co. can’t decline … or maybe they can switch out with another franchise desperate for a quarterback – Vikings? Raiders? Giants? – bolster their depth chart elsewhere, and circle back to QB down the line. A fascinating dilemma, and one that will invite second-guessing no matter what New England does.

New York Giants

They upgraded defensively by obtaining and extending Burns and dropping him into the lineup opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux. Though the line got buttressed, the offense was degraded by RB Saquon Barkley’s departure, leaving quarterback-of-the-present Daniel Jones with virtually no ammunition. Burns’ cost reduced GM Joe Schoen’s draft currency, putting his decision with the sixth pick into the spotlight. Get a bona fide wideout for Jones? Get a replacement for Jones? Trade? None of the above? Huge choice.

New York Jets

They built the new-look O-line they needed, one now featuring talented but fragile Smith. They also got Williams into the fold for a season thanks to (potentially) $15 million and a breakfast sandwich. But GM Joe Douglas, who has no second-rounder because of last year’s trade for QB Aaron Rodgers, gets one more shot with the 10th selection to gas up a squad that needs to hit the afterburners in 2024. Does he truly go for broke with another pass catcher like TE Brock Bowers? Perhaps blocking insurance? Could be a job-saving or sinking dilemma for Douglas and HC Robert Saleh.

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