Team Needs and Key Free Agents
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Team needs: WR, LG, CB, RB3, EDGE4
Key free agents: LG Ben Powers, QB Lamar Jackson, CB Marcus Peters, WR Demarcus Robinson, EDGE Jason Pierre-Paul, EDGE Justin Houston, WR Sammy Watkins
Quarterback was not listed as a "need" for the Ravens but the story of their offseason certainly revolves around Lamar Jackson. The star player is technically a free agent, though the Ravens will certainly at least place the franchise tag on him and that means Jackson will either be traded or will return to the team for at least one more season. There seems to be some reluctance by the franchise to meet his asking price, but there is no reason to expect a divorce on the horizon. Could Jackson be traded at some point? Sure, but even then, the Ravens would need to pivot at the position and would have a boatload of assets to work and maneuver with.
Cincinnati Bengals
Team needs: TE, RB2, LB, CB, S
Key free agents: S Jessie Bates III, S Vonn Bell, CB Eli Apple, LB Germaine Pratt, TE Hayden Hurst, RB Samaje Perine
The Bengals are a very complete roster with some important decisions to make in the upcoming free agency period, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Both starting safeties are due to reach the market though the Bengals planned appropriately by drafting a safety in Dax Hill in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Cincinnati will need to make some cornerback adjustments, too, with Apple slated for free agency and fellow boundary starter Chidboe Awuzie recovering from a torn ACL.
Cleveland Browns
Team needs: WR, C, QB2, RB2, DT, DE, LB
Key free agents: C Ethan Pocic, QB Jacoby Brissett, DL Taven Bryan, EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, RB Kareem Hunt, LB Deion Jones, LB Anthony Walker Jr., RB D'Ernest Johnson
The Browns could use wide receiver help across from veteran Amari Cooper. While Donovan Peoples-Jones flashed some ability, he's likely a better fit for a WR3 role. Rookie David Bell and second-year speedster Anthony Schwartz struggled to make an impact and while Bell will undoubtedly get another opportunity to prove himself, the passing game needs to be spiced up by way of a receiver addition. Cleveland should also look to replace Hunt and Johnson with both slated to walk, especially considering how much the team leans on the running game.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Team needs: LT, TE2, DT, LB, CB, S
Key free agents: CB Cameron Sutton, S Terrell Edmunds, LB Devin Bush, DT Larry Ogunjobi, LB Robert Spillane, S Damontae Kazee, QB Mason Rudolph
The Steelers must address the left side of their line if they want to extract the most out of quarterback Kenny Pickett and running back Najee Harris. LT Dan Moore Jr. ranked 68th in overall blocking grade according to PFF (min. 100 snaps) while allowing 39 pressures and seven sacks. Pittsburgh also has upcoming holes at linebacker as both Bush (61.9%) and Spillane (55.3%) played a good number of snaps at the position, though Bush has largely disappointed as a former first-round pick.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Team needs: WR, QB, C, DE3, DT, LB, S
Key free agents: C Scott Quessenberry, WR Chris Moore, EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, WR Phillip Dorsett, TE Jordan Akins, CB Tavierre Thomas, RB Rex Burkhead
The story of this offseason is a simple one for the Texans — they're on a quest to find their franchise quarterback and that's where it all starts for this roster. Houston is likely to draft a quarterback with their highest first-round pick and could elect to trade up to the No. 1 pick if they feel Bryce Young is the best option. Additionally, wide receiver is a need with Brandin Cooks likely leaving the team via trade.
Indianapolis Colts
Team needs: Slot WR, QB, RG, DE, LB, CB depth, S
Key free agents: S Rodney McLeod, LB Bobby Okereke, WR Parris Campbell, EDGE Yannick Ngakoue, OL Matt Pryor, CB Brandon Facyson
Like the Texans, the Colts need to be all-in on finding their franchise quarterback. Veteran Matt Ryan turned out to be a failed experiment and will be inevitably released. The team may look to add firepower at wide receiver with Campbell slated for free agency and will need help on the defensive side of the ball with question marks at linebacker (RE: Shaquille Leonard health, etc) and in the secondary.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Team needs: iOL depth, RT, TE, RB2, EDGE depth
Key free agents: RT Jawaan Taylor, TE Evan Engram, WR Marvin Jones, EDGE Arden Key, EDGE Dawuane Smoot, TE Dan Arnold, TE Chris Manhertz
As one of the more exciting teams this past season, the Jaguars don't have a ton of work to do on defense, though offensively the team will need to make some moves. Preferably, Jacksonville will find a way to sign Engram and Taylor to long-term deals, and the addition of Calvin Ridley post-suspension will fill the hole that Jones could open if he departs. The Jaguars will need to figure out the backup tight end situation, too, but are otherwise entering this offseason in good shape.
Tennessee Titans
Team needs: Boundary WR, LT, RG, RT, TE depth, RB2, LB, CB depth
Key free agents: LT Dennis Daley, RG Nate Davis, LB David Long Jr., S Andrew Adams, TE Geoff Swaim, TE Austin Hooper, S Josh Kalu, LB Dylan Cole, RB Dontrell Hilliard
Tennessee is worth circling as we enter the offseason since they have a multitude of potential directions available to them. The most likely avenue is a slight re-tooling around quarterback Ryan Tannehill, though the possibility that the team moves on from Tanny remains. With that being said, the Titans will need to replace recent cuts Robert Woods, Taylor Lewan, and Zach Cunningham, to start. The team could use extra help at backup running back with Hilliard set to hit the market, and at linebacker if Long is able to ultimately reach the market. In addition, the offensive line will need a lot of re-tooling, specifically at left tackle, right guard if Davis walks, and right tackle.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Team needs: WR, LG, RB
Key free agents: LG Rodger Saffold, LB Tremaine Edmunds, S Jordan Poyer, RB Devin Singletary, EDGE Shaq Lawson, DT Jordan Phillips, WR Jamison Crowder
The Bills don't have many holes on their roster but they could have some big players depart in free agency in Edmunds and Poyer. Offensively, Buffalo will need to shore up the offensive line with at least one interior OL addition and could look to replace both starting guards. In the backfield, the team will need to find a complement to James Cook and potentially Nyheim Hines, though it remains to be seen what kind of investment they could make at the position after acquiring both players within the past year. Lastly, while the receiving corps does have plenty of talent, they could use another solidified star, though that won't be an easy task to accomplish.
Miami Dolphins
Team needs: Slot WR, OT depth, TE, RB, DL depth, LB, CB
Key free agents: RT Brandon Shell, LB Elandon Roberts, WR Trent Sherfield, RB Raheem Mostert, LT Greg Little, S Eric Rowe, RB Jeff Wilson Jr., TE Mike Gesicki, EDGE Melvin Ingram
Miami is fairly set heading into the offseason but the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be the main point of discussion. Tagovailoa suffered multiple concussions during the season and the Dolphins may put more importance on the backup quarterback position for that reason. Outside of Tagovailoa, the offense will need a dependable WR3 after the Cedrick Wilson experiment didn't go as planned, as well as some tight end help with Gesicki likely on his way out and just Durham Smythe left. The backfield is wide open with both Mostert and Wilson set for free agency, but the chance that one of them is re-signed — if not both — is possible.
New England Patriots
Team needs: Boundary WR, Slot WR, RT, LB, FS
Key free agents: S Devin McCourty, CB Jonathan Jones, WR Jakobi Meyers, WR Nelson Agholor, RT Isaiah Wynn, S Jabrill Peppers, RB Damien Harris, RT Marcus Cannon
The Patriots' receiver corps should be circled heading into this offseason. With both Meyers and Agholor potentially on the way out, the team will need reinforcements both on the boundary and in the slot, with second-year speedster Tyquan Thornton moonlighting as an option to help fill some of those snaps. The right side of the offensive line could use some shoring up, as could the secondary, with multiple starters headed for the market. Meanwhile, running back Rhamondre Stevenson is locked into the unquestioned RB1 role heading into 2023.
New York Jets
Team needs: WR (?), QB, C, DT, EDGE (?), LB, S
Key free agents: LB Quincy Williams, C Connor McGovern, S Lamarcus Joyner, RG Nate Herbig, LB Kwon Alexander, DT Sheldon Rankins, LT/RT George Fant, DT Nathan Shepherd, DT Solomon Thomas, QB Joe Flacco, QB Mike White
Like some of the aforementioned teams on this list, the Jets have one job and basically one job only — go get a franchise quarterback. The team has been connected to both Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr, either of which would be a massive upgrade over last year's quarterback options. Wide receiver could be in play with Corey Davis and Braxton Berrios likely being cap casualties and the uncertainty surrounding Elijah Moore's situation. Defensively, the team will need to find a way to replace Williams' snaps at linebacker and could have a hole open up at EDGE if Carl Lawson ends up being another cap casualty.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Team needs: RB, LG, RT, TE2, LB, CB (?)
Key free agents: S Kareem Jackson, RT Cameron Fleming, LG Dalton Risner, LB Alex Singleton, DT Dre'Mont Jones, DT DeShawn William, RT Billy Turner, RB Latavius Murray
The Broncos are once again "all in" with the addition of Head Coach Sean Payton. Offensively, the team needs a lot of help schematically, but the roster doesn't have many glaring holes outside of the offensive line. Both the starting left guard and right tackle are slated for free agency, as are two of the backup tight ends. Denver could also use an addition at running back with Javonte Williams likely to miss multiple games in 2023. As of now, the team doesn't need another wide receiver or cornerback, though they could open up two roster holes at those spots if Jerry Jeudy is traded and K.J. Hamler and Ronald Darby are released.
Kansas City Chiefs
Team needs: Boundary WR, LT, RT, DT x2, DE (?), S
Key free agents: LT Orlando Brown Jr., RT Andrew Wylie, S Juan Thornhill, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, RB Jerick McKinnon, EDGE Carlos Dunlap, WR Justin Watson, DT Khalen Saunders, DT Derrick Nnadi, WR Mecole Hardman
Kansas City's offseason could go multiple ways depending on who they bring back from their upcoming list of free agents. On the offense, it appears they could franchise tag Brown once again, though they will need a new right tackle if Wylie walks. Smith-Schuster could also be an option to return, but the Chiefs do have Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore in the chamber ready to inherit larger roles. Defensively, Kansas City could use a run-stuffing nose tackle with both their first and second-string players scheduled to hit the market.
Las Vegas Raiders
Team needs: Boundary WR, WR depth, RG, RT, TE2, QB, RB, DT, LB x2, CB x2, S
Key free agents: S Duron Harmon, WR Mack Hollins, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, LG Alex Bars, RB Josh Jacobs, TE Foster Moreau, CB Rock Ya-Sin, LB Denzel Perryman, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, DT Andrew Billings, QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Jayon Brown, CB Anthony Averett
Las Vegas has a laundry list of variables to solve entering this offseason, starting with the most important position at quarterback. David Carr was cut and the team will effectively need to find another franchise player for the position. At running back, Jacobs is likely to at least be franchise tagged, though he does want a long-term commitment. Also, the wide receiver position will need to be addressed if Hollins walks. On the flip, the defense will need additions on all three levels.
Los Angeles Chargers
Team needs: LG, RT depth, DT, LB, EDGE depth, Nickel CB
Key free agents: LB Drue Tranquill, S Nasir Adderley, RT Trey Pipkins, EDGE Kyle Van Noy, WR DeAndre Carter, CB Bryce Callahan, DT Morgan Fox, TE Donald Parham
For the most part, the Chargers are a pretty solid roster across the board though their Super Bowl hopes will depend on their star players remaining healthy. Offensively, the team will need one if not two additions on the offensive line, though likely only one starter. Keenan Allen is a star player but there has been speculation that he could be on the move and if he is, the team will certainly need to replace him by adding an impact slot receiver.
Defensively, the Chargers will need to add a pass-rushing defensive tackle to replace Fox, while the second and third levels of the defense also have starters slated to reach the market in Tranquill and Callahan.
......NFC to come
