Top 3 offseason priorities for every NFC team
The NFL offseason has arrived. Today, we look at the the top priorities for every NFC team.
Jump to:
NFC North: CHI | DET | GB | MIN
NFC South: ATL | CAR | NO | TB
NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
NFC West: ARI | LAR | SEA | SF
Arizona Cardinals
Add a fast wide receiver: Marvin Harrison Jr. is locked in as the Cardinals' top receiver, but adding a talented, speedy wideout to pair with him will open up the passing game for quarterback Kyler Murray.
Get younger on the offensive line: The offensive line is stocked with veterans. Injecting some youth and talent to play alongside left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. will help keep Murray healthy for years to come.
Find a starting cornerback: Adding a bona fide starter to a young position group will help a secondary that finished around the middle of the pack last season.
Atlanta Falcons
Pass-rush help: The Falcons haven't ranked inside the top 20 in sacks since 2017. Until this team gets a consistent pass rush, it will struggle to be a Super Bowl contender.
Kirk Cousins: The 36-year-old has lost the starting job to Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta needs to decide on Cousins' future with the team, as the franchise will be forced to eat a $40-million dead cap hit if it releases him.
Help Penix succeed: Drake London and Bijan Robinson are a solid start, but Penix could use more skill around him. Atlanta should be aggressive in adding pass-catching talent this offseason.
Carolina Panthers
Surround Bryce Young with talent: With Young solidified as their quarterback in 2025, the Panthers need to add better help around him. Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette are promising pass-catchers, but the 23-year-old could use a No. 1 wide receiver.
Fix the run defense: Carolina finished last in rushing yards per game allowed by a wide margin. It won't contend for an NFC South title unless it fixes its ground defense.
Pass-rush help: The average NFL fan would struggle to name a 2024 Panthers pass-rusher outside of Jadeveon Clowney. They should be aggressive in adding edge rushers to this defense.
Chicago Bears
Get Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams on the same page: Chicago landed the top head coach prospect on most peoples' lists. It won't mean anything if Johnson and the second-year quarterback aren't in sync entering the 2025 campaign.
Upgrade pass protection: The Bears allowed more sacks than any other team last season (68). Improving Williams' blockers is imperative for keeping him healthy and developing him.
Add at least one defensive playmaker: Plenty of Chicago's defenders are adequate, but the team needs to find explosive game-changers.
Dallas Cowboys
Help Dak Prescott: The Cowboys are locked into Prescott for the foreseeable future. They need more talent around the QB in addition to receiver CeeDee Lamb to be Super Bowl contenders.
Extend Micah Parsons: This should've been done already. Parsons is one of the best defensive players in football, and his price tag will continue to rise as time goes on.
Draft a running back: This class is loaded with talent. If Dallas doesn't select Ashton Jeanty in the first round, owner-GM Jerry Jones should look to add one of the other top rushers in the draft.
Detroit Lions
Integrate new coordinators: Head coach Dan Campbell needs to get offensive coordinator John Morton and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard locked in early as the team replaces Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, respectively.
Add defensive talent: The Lions need more talent at all three levels of the defense. Corners and pass-rushers should be prioritized early and often.
Add youthful depth to offensive line: Detroit's offensive line is among the best in the league, but adding some young players to develop behind the starters would be wise.
Green Bay Packers
Add a WR1: Running back Josh Jacobs has already called for the Packers to add a top receiver. A reunion with Davante Adams could be a short-term solution if the Jets release him.
Add pass-rushers: Lukas Van Ness has been underwhelming and Rashan Gary has never reached double-digit sacks in a season. New talent is needed to get after opposing quarterbacks.
Move on from and replace Jaire Alexander: Alexander has played in only seven games each of the past two seasons, and the cornerback is scheduled to carry a cap hit just under $25 million in 2025, according to Over the Cap.
Los Angeles Rams
Decide whether to keep or trade Matthew Stafford: Stafford is expected to return for the 2025 campaign. However, plenty of trade rumors surround the 37-year-old quarterback.
Trade Cooper Kupp for good value: The Rams need to get as much as they can in return for the former triple-crown winner after informing the 31-year-old receiver they'll look to trade him this offseason.
Upgrade the offensive line: Guards Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson are cemented as starters for next season. Every other position stands to be improved.
Minnesota Vikings
Make a decision on Sam Darnold: Deciding whether to extend, franchise tag, or move on from Darnold is Minnesota's biggest priority. Darnold is also likely to be the biggest free-agency domino across the NFL.
Add a running back: The Vikings should select a running back in a strong draft class regardless of whether Aaron Jones returns.
Get younger in the secondary: Harrison Smith, 36, Stephon Gilmore, 34, and Shaquill Griffin, 29, all played at least 50% of the team's defensive snaps last season. Minnesota lacks options to replace these aging veterans.
New Orleans Saints
Work through cap space issues: The Saints are $54 million over the cap. With little to no young talent on the roster, general manager Mickey Loomis has to get the salary books under control.
Derek Carr: What the team does with Carr is the biggest question surrounding the franchise. He's under contract with $50-million-plus cap hits for the next two seasons, and the Saints can't release the QB without a massive dead-cap charge.
Add offensive talent: With running back Alvin Kamara aging and receiver Chris Olave the only above-average offensive weapon, New Orleans needs to help whoever its quarterback is in 2025.
New York Giants
Find a quarterback: The Giants are desperate to find their signal-caller of the future. They could use the No. 3 pick on a quarterback or look for a stopgap starter if they don't like this year's class.
Offensive line: New York allowed the fifth-most pressures in 2024, according to Next Gen Stats. The team needs to establish better protection for its next quarterback.
Add offensive playmakers: Wide receiver Malik Nabers has superstar potential, but the Giants could use talent around him. With Darius Slayton hitting free agency and Wan'Dale Robinson's limited ceiling, they must be aggressive in adding viable pass-catchers.
Philadelphia Eagles
Re-sign Zack Baun: Retaining Baun should be GM Howie Roseman's No. 1 priority in free agency. Nakobe Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs, and fellow linebacker Baun earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2024. He can continue to thrive in Vic Fangio's defense.
Find Lane Johnson's successor: Johnson has one to two years left in the NFL, and the Eagles should proactively find the offensive lineman's eventual replacement. They could re-sign Mekhi Becton and eventually move him back to tackle.
Add pass-rushers: Josh Sweat and Milton Williams will most likely be too expensive to bring back. With Brandon Graham's retirement coming, the Eagles should target pass-rushers in the draft and free agency.
Seattle Seahawks
Make a decision on Geno Smith's future: Smith is scheduled to have a $44.5-million cap hit, according to Over the Cap. Extending or trading the 34-year-old QB is important with the team projected to be $13.4 million over the salary cap.
Upgrade the offensive line: The offensive line needs to be improved regardless of who lines up under center. Everyone other than left tackle Charles Cross could be replaced.
Release and replace Tyler Lockett: It's almost guaranteed that Lockett, who turns 33 in September, will be released to avoid his $30.8-million cap hit.
San Francisco 49ers
Extend Brock Purdy: The 49ers have plenty of cap space to negotiate an extension with their QB. Finalizing a new deal early will give them clarity as they approach free agency and the draft.
Trade Deebo Samuel: It's difficult to imagine Samuel playing another snap with the franchise after it granted him permission to seek a trade. Getting a deal done soon will be best for all parties.
Revamp the defensive line: The Niners already announced they'll release defensive tackle Javon Hargrave at the start of the new league year. Explosive additions are needed on the interior and edge.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Re-sign Chris Godwin: Godwin had a terrific season before dislocating his ankle. The Buccaneers should retain the 28-year-old receiver and keep him paired with Mike Evans for the foreseeable future.
Upgrade pass-rush: YaYa Diaby, Calijah Kancey, and Logan Hall are promising young players, but the Buccaneers could use some veteran pass-rush talent to help their recent draft picks.
Address the secondary: Tampa Bay finished 30th in passing yards allowed per game. It needs to address the back end of the defense to push for an NFC title.
Washington Commanders
Use cap space wisely: Washington's $75 million in cap space is third most league-wide. The Commanders are in a great spot to solidify the roster around QB Jayden Daniels and be Super Bowl contenders for years to come.
Address the defense: Washington ranked 22nd in EPA/play and points per game allowed in 2024. Head coach Dan Quinn needs more talent to work with to compete with Philadelphia in the NFC East.
Draft a running back: Brian Robinson was solid last season, but he averaged only 4.3 yards per carry. Daniels could use a more explosive rusher behind him next year.