2023-03-29 07:00:00
With free agency peaking behind us, our focus is on the draft. Which construction sites remain for the teams and how many draft picks are available to them?
We start our overview of the biggest construction sites as well as the draft capital of all 32 franchises with the 16 teams of the AFC.
The NFC will then follow tomorrow, Thursday.
Baltimore Ravens
- Needs: CB, WR
- Draftpicks: 22, 86, 124, 157, 199
Let’s assume quarterback Lamar Jackson stays with the team for at least another year – even if he has officially demanded a trade – then we can focus on the other construction sites. Otherwise quarterback would of course be the first priority.
The biggest bloodletting came at the cornerback position, where Marlon Humphrey is the only established starter left. But there is a gap on the left side of the secondary. Of course, you can somehow fill these internally, but whether people like Brandon Stephens or Jalyn Armour-Davis are of sufficient quality must at least be questioned.
And then there’s the annual Wide Receiver theme. Even general manager Eric DeCosta has acknowledged that the Ravens haven’t had a very good hand in this area in the draft for a few years. But since free agency has never been really successful, we’re talking about the topic for the umpteenth year in a row. In any case, the recently committed Nelson Agholor should not close the construction site alone.
Buffalo Bills
- Needs: OL, LB, RB
- Draftpicks: 27, 59, 91, 130, 137, 205
Cody Ford has been gone for a while, and Spencer Brown doesn’t look like the safe right tackle of the future either. Accordingly, an upgrade would be desirable here. However, the signing of guard Connor McGovern helps fill another gap on the offensive front.
Running back should also be an issue, especially since Devin Singletary is gone. The arrival of Damien Harris changes that only to a limited extent. And besides, an upgrade to Wide Receiver should not be ruled out. Following the sacking of Isaiah McKenzie, Khalil Shakir moves up, but there’s plenty of room for improvement behind that.
Meanwhile, a big gap has been created by the departure of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who has joined the Bears. Sideman Matt Milano has extended but Edmunds will be difficult to replace internally. As a bonus, Safety also needs a blood refresh on sight. Jordan Poyer’s surprise stay only postpones the problem.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Needs: TE, CB, S
- Draftpicks: 28, 60, 92, 131, 163, 206, 246
The offensive line has been upgraded again with Orlando Brown, so the focus on offense is to give Joe Burrow as many weapons as possible.
There might not be a better team at wide receiver, but tight end can definitely be improved. Currently Devin Asiasi, who failed miserably in New England, or if he is fit, the recently signed Irv Smith would be the starter and that cannot be the best case for Cincy.
Otherwise, the secondary needs more squad depth in all respects. You have lost both of the starting safeties of the past few years (Vonn Bell, Jessie Bates) and are not too deep on cornerback either.
Cleveland Browns
- Needs: DL, WR
- Draftpicks: 42, 98, 111, 126, 140, 142, 190, 229
Certainly, the Browns have done quite a bit on their defensive front in free agency. But even after additions like Dalvin Tomlinson, there is still room for more alternatives.
The safety position was reinforced with Juan Thornhill and should therefore no longer be a major problem area, but the receiving corps should be. There are just too many question marks behind Amari Cooper to go into the season with confidence.
Denver Broncos
- Needs: LB, WR
- Draftpicks: 67, 68, 108, 139, 195
The focus of the Broncos in recent weeks has been mainly on strengthening the offensive line. That should have succeeded with Mike McGlinchey on right tackle and Ben Powers on left guard.
It is therefore offensive to work on the arsenal of weapons for Russell Wilson. The top 3 or 4 receivers have a lot of class, but they were also prone to injuries, so more substance wouldn’t hurt. In addition, the contracts of the starters will end in the foreseeable future. There are also trade rumors about this group.
If you want to improve defense, more linebacker-level athleticism would be helpful.
Houston Texans
- Needs: QB, WR, DL
- Draftpicks: 2, 12, 33, 65, 73, 104, 188, 201, 203, 207, 230, 237, 259
The Texans continue to work on their rebuild and have acquired some new pieces of the puzzle, including wide receivers Robert Woods and Noah Brown, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Devin Singletary. The logical next step now is to find the next franchise quarterback.
And once that’s found, you can try again to improve the receiving corps, because obviously a number 1 receiver is still missing. And they certainly have enough draft capital for that.
Otherwise there is still room for upgrades, especially on the defensive front. The new starting center will probably also come in the draft.
Indianapolis Colts
- Needs: QB, OL, CB
- Draftpicks: 4, 35, 79, 106, 138, 162, 176, 221, 236
The long search for the next franchise quarterback must finally end. That’s the number one priority for Chris Ballard and company in this draft. Once that’s found, we can talk about the other construction sites, but above all the offensive line has to be stabilized and basically you can also think about a new wide receiver.
As far as defense is concerned, after Stephon Gilmore’s departure, there is hardly any substance left on cornerback. This needs to be improved urgently.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Needs: CB, OL, RB
- Draftpicks: 24, 56, 88, 121, 127, 185, 202, 208, 226
The Jaguars are better even before free agency kicks off, with wide receiver Calvin Ridley coming off his betting suspension and being allowed to play, giving the team an X-receiver they didn’t have before.
The O-Line could possibly use a fresh tackle after Jawaan Taylor’s departure, and there’s room for improvement in the backfield behind Travis Etienne.
Defensively, the additions to the front seven last year paid off. Now it’s time to upgrade the secondary as well, especially on cornerback there’s definitely more going on than has been seen so far.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Needs: OT, EDGE, WR
- Draftpicks: 31, 63, 95, 122, 134, 166, 197, 217, 225, 249, 250
Jawaan Taylor is the new left tackle, but even if this transition works right-to-left, there’s now a bigger gap on the right. And this is where you should start in the draft.
Frank Clark was nominally replaced defensively by Charles Omenihu, but the question has to be asked if that’s enough to absorb Clark’s production, especially late in the season.
And then we’ll talk once more about the Receiving Corps, which has lost its probably most talented player in JuJu Smith-Schuster. The first suit should still fit with MVS, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney, but an upgrade could be considered after that.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Needs: QB, OL, CB
- Draftpicks: 7, 38, 70, 100, 109, 141, 144, 174, 204, 214, 220, 231
Let’s face it – Jimmy G isn’t the long-term quarterback solution in Vegas. It is even conceivable that the seventh pick is intended for his successor. And that would probably also make sense in the long term, especially since the Free Agency has already worked on the arsenal of weapons.
As in the previous year, the offensive line is a big topic and can actually be improved in every respect. Here it will probably depend on what is considered internally to be the biggest construction site.
And then cornerback would be the long-known and still tiresome topic of this team. There is simply a lack of quality in this part of the team.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Needs: DL, WR, EDGE
- Draftpicks: 21, 54, 85, 125 156, 200, 239
How long will Keenan Allen and Mike Williams remain the Chargers’ top receiving duo? It is unclear why it would be important to gradually look for successors.
Defensively, it’s all about the front 7, which is too thinly manned. There is a lack of good alternatives to the starters, which was a big problem last year.
Miami Dolphins
- Needs: OL, YOU
- Draftpicks: 51, 84, 178, 238
Some things never change, including Miami’s O-Line troubles. Furthermore, Chris Grier has to work on exactly this construction site. The right side in particular continues to cause concern.
And then after the departure of Mike Gesicki, a new receiving tight end will certainly be needed, because the current line-up gives little hope.
New England Patriots
- Needs: CB, WR, OT
- Draftpicks: 14, 46, 76, 107, 117, 135, 184, 187, 192, 210, 245
Even before the dismissal of Jalen Mills – he has since been called back but will play safety as before – one could have thought about cornerback. Now this position is clearly a construction site, because even if you credit Jack Jones for the starter job opposite Jon Jones, there is a lack of substance behind it.
Accordingly, cornerback is a possible target at position 14, but so is offensive tackle, although two new people were brought in for this position.
A big question also remains whether the receiving that now exists under the direction of an offensive coordinator who has now been qualified again is sufficient. Not really, which is why another draft pick for a receiver is conceivable.
New York Jets
- Needs: QB, OT
- Draftpicks: 13, 43, 74, 112, 143
While we’re assuming the Rodgers trade will eventually go through, it probably won’t last long. Therefore, QB should always be in the back of your mind when approaching a new season. As of now, it’s the biggest construction site anyway.
The receiving corps itself is well staffed, but the offensive line is not. There were various failures in this area last year and the depth of the squad left a lot to be desired. Accordingly, improvements must be made here, especially if Rodgers comes.
The defense, on the other hand, was already well positioned last year.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Needs: OL, CB
- Draftpicks: 17, 32, 49, 80, 120, 234, 241
A new guard has already been brought on the offensive line in Isaac Seumalo. However, this should not rule out further upgrades. Kenny Pickett ran for his life a little too often last year.
The Receiving Corps could also use an upgrade as quality is getting a little thin behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
Defensively, a prominent veteran has been signed in Patrick Peterson, but that won’t be enough to consider the weakest part of this defense to be completely good. Anyway, Peterson is nothing more than a short-term solution.
Tennessee Titans
- Needs: OT, EDGE, WR
- Draftpicks: 11, 41, 72, 147, 186, 228
The Titans’ offensive line has taken a beating and will look completely different when the new season kicks off. But the construct doesn’t look finished on paper.
There is room for improvement in the pass rush, not least due to the dismissal of Bud Dupree. And the Receiving Corps, which was once a strength, is now more of a major weakness. Another possible approach in the draft.
Bonus: You might also be looking at a new quarterback, Ryan Tannehill’s contract expires in 2023 and he’s already 35.
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