Ah, the NFL offseason, a time when all of our favorite teams hit the reset button and sign new free agents, commit trades that try to benefit both sides and draft young talent out of college. The 2024 NFL season was a great year, and we look forward to seeing what the 2025 NFL season has in store for us. Here at TPS, we will talk about what all 32 NFL teams need for a strong 2025 season.
Here are all 32 NFL team’s biggest needs for the 2025 season.
What are the biggest needs for each NFL team heading into the 2025 season?
Arizona Cardinals: Defensive Line
The Cardinals made some vast improvements in the 2024 season but still have some things to fix heading into the 2025 season. The Redbirds need some defensive linemen. Dante Stills did well in the desert, but Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones weren’t that effective and ended up on injured reserve. The Redbirds need a stronger defensive tackle and edge rusher to further make this defensive unit more fierce against their opponents.
Especially against the run since the Cardinals allowed 126.4 rushing yards per game in 2024. Defensive end L.J. Collier, nose tackle Naquon Jones, and Khyiris Tonga will be free agents during the offseason, and attracting a Pro Bowl-like defensive lineman and drafting another defensive lineman should help the Redbirds out in the 2025 regular season.
Atlanta Falcons: Secondary
The Falcons finally got over winning seven games a year with an 8-9 season in 2024. Kirk Cousins had an okay to disappointing season due to struggles and was benched for Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons’ offense is loaded with talent from the likes of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Darnell Mooney. However, the Falcons are going to need new cornerbacks and safeties patrolling the secondary in the 2025 season.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Yes, Jessie Bates is a solid free safety, but he’s going to need help as strong safety Richie Grant, cornerback Antonio Hamilton, cornerback Mike Hughes, cornerback Kevin King, and free safety Justin Simmons are all going to be free agents. The Falcons are going to need a very talented cornerback and safety patrolling the backfield, shutting down opposing wide receivers and tight ends in the 2025 season. It would be nice to see the Falcons rise up and potentially steal the NFC South from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and secure their first division title since the 2016 season. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
Baltimore Ravens: Cornerback
As talented as the Ravens’ defense was in the 2024 NFL season, the team had its fair share of struggles without Mike Macdonald (who is currently the Seattle Seahawks head coach) throughout the year. The biggest area of concern for the Ravens heading into the 2025 season is the cornerback position.
Marlon Humphrey had a productive year, earning himself his fourth Pro Bowl bid, and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins had a good rookie season, but cornerbacks Brandon Stephens, Tre’Davious White, and Trayvon Mullen are going to be free agents. Stephens gave up 72 catches for 926 yards and has an overall grade of 55.8 per Pro Football Focus. The Ravens need to beef up the cornerback position with a talented free agent or select someone in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Buffalo Bills: Defensive line
As talented as the Bills were in the 2024 season, thanks to Josh Allen’s MVP season, the defensive line was a bit of a mess throughout the year. The Bills finished with 39 sacks in 2024, were ranked 18th in the league, and ranked 30th in the league in allowing third-down conversions. The Bills’ defensive line mustered up six sacks and 14 tackles for a loss in the playoffs, which sounds decent, but the defensive pressure vanished into thin air when the Bills squared off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
Defensive tackles Jordan Phillips, Austin Johnson, Quinton Jefferson, and defensive end Dawuane Smoot are going to be free agents. There will be plenty of talented defensive linemen available in the offseason and the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Bills need to sign the right talent for the job.
Carolina Panthers: Linebacker
A lot can be said about the 2024 Carolina Panthers on defense. However, the Panthers’ biggest need is a linebacker. Yes, Jadeveon Clowney had a decent season with 28 tackles and six sacks, but the same cannot be said about his fellow linebackers Claudin Cherelus, Amaré Barno, veteran Shaq Thompson, and 2024-third round draft pick Trevin Wallace each spent significant time on injured reserve. Thompson and Cam Gill are going to be free agents.
Wallace is going to have to step it up in the 2025 NFL season, while this team is going to have to find some veteran help or potentially draft their next linebacker in the 2025 Draft.
Chicago Bears: Offensive line
As talented as 2024-first-round pick Caleb Williams is, he was sacked a whopping 68 times, the most in the NFL in 2024. The Bears need to buff the offensive line immediately. Without a talented offensive line, the quarterback can’t make serious plays, and the running back isn’t able to make the big runs. Center Coleman Shelton wasn’t able to help Williams much as he was overmatched by opposing defenses and will be a free agent in the offseason, and Trevon Jenkins struggled to finish games and will be a free agent in the offseason.
Matt Pryor is also set to become a free agent, opening the door for new offensive-minded head coach, Ben Johnson, to open the door for new Pro Bowl-level offensive linemen to the Bears and help Williams and running back D’Andre Swift out in the 2025 season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Wide receiver
The Bengals are going to have a very busy offseason with a lot of tough decisions to make. One of those decisions is whether to re-sign Tee Higgins or let him walk in free agency. As talented as Ja’Marr Chase is, the Bengals need Higgins or must find his replacement at a discount during the free agency period or draft a new wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft.
If the Bengals aren’t able to find a suitable replacement for Higgins or re-sign him, Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, and Isaiah Williams are going to have to step it up and attempt to replicate Higgins’ production in the 2025 regular season.
Cleveland Browns: Quarterback
The Browns had a very disappointing 2024 season, finishing the year with a 3-14 record and having a quarterback carousel with Jamesis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Bailey Zappe after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. In January 2025, Watson underwent surgery and re-ruptured his Achilles, potentially putting his 2025 season in jeopardy. The Browns are going to have to move on from Watson eventually, but because of his contract, it’s easier said than done.
This team will need to sign a veteran quarterback for the NFL free agency, as Winston will be a free agent. They would have to meet with guys like Zach Wilson, Jacoby Brissett, and Marcus Mariota or reunite with Joe Flacco. The Browns could potentially trade for Kirk Cousins and pay him a discount as the Falcons continue to pay him his guaranteed money or draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. We’ll have to wait and see what the Browns do from here on out.
Dallas Cowboys: Defensive tackle
Run defense was a major problem for the Cowboys, as they gave up an average of 137.1 yards per game in 2024. The Cowboys need massive reform at the defensive tackle position, as Linval Joseph and Osa Odighizuwa will be free agents. The Cowboys should target the likes of Sebastian Joseph-Day, even though the defensive tackle market in 2025 isn’t stocked with Pro Bowlers. The Cowboys could also draft a defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is on many mock drafts for the Cowboys, and it would make perfect sense for the team to draft in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Will it be enough to help the Cowboys out? We’ll just wait and see.
Denver Broncos: Tight End
As good as the 2024 Denver Broncos were, the Broncos lacked an explosive tight end. Nate Adkins has been a hybrid tight end and fullback, similar to Taysom Hill’s role with the New Orleans Saints. The Broncos could sign a veteran tight end, but most of the free-agent tight ends are in their late 20s and early 30s. Tommy Tremble (who’s been with the Carolina Panthers since 2021 and will be a free agent in the offseason) will be 25 when the 2025 regular kicks off.
If interested, the Broncos could sign Tremble on a discount deal, potentially make a trade for a tight end who is still in his prime, and potentially draft a tight end after the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Detroit Lions: Offensive Guard
The 2024 Lions were an offensive juggernaut, as they helped the team to a 15-2 regular season record. If the Lions want to keep the offensive momentum going, dedicate time to keeping the offensive line up to par. Swapping out Jonah Jackson for Kevin Zeitler helped, but the guard position showed signs of wear and tear when they squared off in their 31-45 loss against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round.
Jared Goff was sacked 31 times in the 2024 season in their win-now window. Zeitler will turn 35 before the 2025 regular season kicks off, and the Lions need to either sign a younger guard or experienced veteran in free agency like Zach Martin or Trey Smith or draft a guard in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Green Bay Packers: Wide receiver
The Packers had a good 2024 season despite finishing the year in third place in the NFC North, an 11-6 record, and an early playoff exit against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Even though Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed are talented, none of them stepped up in 2024 as a bonafide number-one option in the passing attack. The Packers need to make a move in free agency and try to sign someone, as Watson is likely going to miss time in the 2025 regular season due to his injured ACL late in the 2024 season, and Reed and Dontayvion Wicks had drop issues in 2024.
The team can also draft a young wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft. Guys like Isaiah Bond, Elic Ayomanor, or Jaylen Royals would be perfect for the Packers with the 23rd pick they currently have, or find a diamond in the ruff in the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Houston Texans: Offensive line
As decent of a year as the Texans had in 2024, which saw them win 32-12 against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wildcard Round before losing 14-23 against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, they need to repair the offensive line after C.J. Stroud had a bit of a sophomore slump and was sacked a whopping 52 times (the second most in the NFL behind Caleb Williams). Even with Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard, they still aren’t enough for the Texans to protect Stroud.
The Texans need to repair the offensive line with a mixture of signing free agents and drafting young prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft. A potential lineman to look out for is Missouri right tackle Armand Membou, who is 20 years old and has a lot of potential to grow in the NFL if the Texans draft him.
Indianapolis Colts: Safety
The Colts need a reset at defense after firing former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and replacing him with former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. According to James Boyd of the Athletic, the Colts need to prioritize the safety position in the offseason. Nick Cross will still be with the team in 2025, but Julian Blackmon and Ronnie Harrison won’t because they’re going to be free agents.
The Colts need to bring in a young rookie via the 2025 NFL Draft or sign a very talented veteran who’ll upgrade the position in the secondary. Veterans like Quandre Diggs, Trevon Moehrig, or Jevon Holland would be good additions to the Colts’ secondary.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cornerback
The 2024 Jaguars’ defense wasn’t great, and the team was humiliated on many fronts throughout the 2024 NFL season. Especially after Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley hurdled Jarrian Jones in week nine of the regular season. Jones had a good rookie season, not allowing a touchdown, but the same can’t be said about Ronald Darby and Montaric Brown’s struggle.
The Jaguars also had the third-fewest interceptions, allowed the ninth-highest completion percentage, allowed the third-most yards per pass attempt, and allowed the second-highest quarterback rating in 2024. Trying to draft Heisman winner Travis Hunter would be great for the Jaguars, but they need to be prepared to select someone else or sign a veteran-free agent during that time frame.
Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive linemen
The Chiefs’ wild season ended in humiliating fashion in their 22-40 loss in Super Bowl 59 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs need to prioritize bringing in new defensive linemen, as Chris Jones is the only defensive lineman under contract in 2025. Derrick Nnadi, Charles Omenihu, Mike Pennel, Marlon Tuipulotu, and Tershawn Wharton are all free agents.
Signing veteran defensive line talent will help, along with potentially drafting a defensive lineman with the 31st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft would also make sense. Building a great defense starts with the trenches, and slowing down the league’s best running backs and rushing quarterbacks would help the Chiefs tremendously.
Las Vegas Raiders: Quarterback
The Raiders have a lot to fix in the 2025 offseason, with new head coach Pete Carroll in the fold. The most important need the Raiders have to address is quarterback. Gardner Minshew struggled during his first season as a member of the Silver and Black, and we saw a massive quarterback carousel taking place in Sin City between Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder. The Raiders were on track to land the number one pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they won two of their last three games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints, respectively.
Trading away either Minshew or Ridder would help and potentially replace them with a more experienced backup, but the Raiders need to draft their quarterback of the future in the 2025 NFL Draft. Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel would fit in nicely for the Raiders as long as they address their other issues in the process.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tight end
The 2024 Chargers were a breath of fresh air, with head coach Jim Harbaugh changing the culture of the team and helping them reach the NFL playoffs before they were stunned by the Houston Texans 12-32. The Bolts need a new tight end joining their lineup. As talented as Ladd McConkey was in 2024, and Quentin Johnston had his good moments under Harbaugh’s tutelage, the Chargers’ offense needed a pass catcher who would also protect Justin Herbert.
The Chargers can find a very talented tight end in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, but signing a veteran free agent would also go a long way. Zach Ertz, Harrison Bryant, Tommy Tremble, and Hunter Long are notable veteran free-agent tight ends the Chargers should consider looking at before free agency begins.
Los Angeles Rams: Wide receiver
As talented as Puka Nacua is, the Rams announced they’re going to trade Cooper Kupp, and veteran wide receivers Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Tutu Atwell are free agents. The Rams need to bring in a very talented wide receiver to complement Nacua, whether it’s through free agency or the 2025 Draft.
Notable wide receiver free agents on the market include Tee Higgins, Stefon Diggs (who is coming off an ACL tear), Amari Cooper, and Chris Godwin, who could look great paired up with Nacua in the 2025 season. The Rams have the 26th pick, and could Matthew Golden, Tre Harris, or Isaiah Bond with that pick if they aren’t drafted by another NFL team?
Miami Dolphins: Backup quarterback
Tua Tagoavailoa is the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, but after suffering from his concussion in week two of the 2024 season, the backup quarterbacks couldn’t get much going, and the offense all around them quickly fell apart faster than a game of Jenga until Tagovailoa returned to action. Tyler Huntley is going to be a free agent, and the Dolphins need to invest in a backup quarterback who’ll keep the offense going if Tagovailoa goes down with another significant injury, as opposed to what we saw in the 2024 season.
Veteran quarterbacks who’ll be available in free agency include Joe Flacco, Sam Darnold, Marcus Mariota, or Jacoby Brissett, who would help the Dolphins out in 2025 if Tagovailoa does suffer another injury.
Minnesota Vikings: Running back
The 2024 Vikings were a very talented team on offense, thanks to Sam Darnold’s renaissance season, the duo Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at wide receiver, and Aaron Jones having a good season. However, Jones is a free agent and 30 years old, which is not the age an NFL team wants their running backs to be. Sure, Cam Akers is on the roster, but he isn’t starting material.
The Vikings need to either sign a veteran free agent or draft a younger running back in the 2025 NFL Draft. Notable running back free agents include Javonte Williams, Najee Harris, A.J. Dillon, Rico Dowdle, and Nick Chubb, who should be on the Vikings’ radar if they sign a new veteran running back. If the Vikings draft a running back, they could use the 24th pick on Kaleb Johnson or Treyveon Henderson or a later pick on running backs like Jordan James or Tahj Brooks.
New England Patriots: Offensive line
The New England Patriots are coming off a disastrous 2024 season, where they finished with a 4-13 record. Thankfully, the Patriots found their answer at quarterback with Drake Maye. However, the Patriots need to fix their offensive line.
The Patriots can find their new offensive linemen in free agency by signing Pro Bowl-like veterans and drafting young prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft to help grow and protect Maye in the 2025 season and beyond. The Patriots’ offensive line can’t get any worse in 2025, right? Right?
New Orleans Saints: Defensive line
Where do we even begin? The Saints are going to have trouble trying to sign a big-name free agent in the 2025 NFL offseason because the team does not have salary cap money to work with. The one position the team needs to bolster in 2025 is getting a new defensive edge rusher. As good as Cameron Jordan is, he’s going to be 36 years old by the time the regular season kicks off, a younger defensive end for Jordan to mentor as his successor.
Notable defensive linemen: The Saints could potentially draft with the ninth pick, including Mason Graham, Walter Nolen, or Kenneth Grant. Veteran free agents the Saints could potentially bring into the fold include Clelin Ferrell or Tershawn Wharton.
New York Giants: Quarterback
The Giants’ biggest need right now is obvious: the team needs a new quarterback to lead the team. Yes, the Giants also need an offensive line, but they need a quarterback leading the team. Bringing in a veteran free agent like Sam Darnold, Jamesis Winston, or Joe Flacco will help groom and teach a newly drafted rookie the Giants plan to draft.
Drafting Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward should be the team’s top priority in the 2025 offseason. We’ll just have to wait and see what the G-Men can do to make this happen.
New York Jets: Quarterback
Four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers is on his way out of the Jets, opening the door for the team to start fresh at the position. The Jets already have a reliable backup quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, on the roster, but they need to find a suitable starter to fill the role. Free agent Justin Fields could fill the quarterback void temporarily, but the Jets will have to draft a new quarterback.
If the Jets do trade down or select their guy with the seventh overall pick, Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, or Dillon Gabriel should be heavily considered for the team’s top pick. We’ll have to see what Gang Green does in the offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles: Defensive line
The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl 59 champions and have to defend their title. The Eagles’ biggest need for the 2025 season is to continue to bolster the defensive line. Milton Williams had two sacks and a fumble recovery in the Super Bowl and had 24 tackles, five sacks, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery in the regular season, and will be a free agent. Veterans Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat will also be free agents, and the team needs to focus on the potential fifth-year option for Jordan Davis, a potential contract extension for Jalen Carter, and focus their attention on Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt.
The Eagles could bring in new veteran talent, but the team has $23.9 million in cap space available, and they’ll likely use that money to retain their players. If the Eagles do spend money, they could potentially snag Azeez Ojulari from their rivals, the New York Giants, or go after defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2021 until 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Quarterback
The Steelers have a few priorities to address in the 2025 offseason. The biggest need is at quarterback. The only quarterback on the Steelers’ roster under contract is Skylar Thompson. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are going to be free agents, although Wilson stated he’ll be back in the Steel City in 2025.
As good as Wilson and Fields were in 2024, Fields was benched in favor of Wilson, who played well but started to struggle in the last four weeks of the regular season and the Wildcard Round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens. The team needs to draft their future quarterback with the 21st pick or find a way to trade down and sign another reliable veteran backup in the NFL offseason.
San Francisco 49ers: Offensive line
The 2024 49ers were hindered due to injuries on all sides of the ball. The most important position the 49ers need to address is the offensive line. Veteran offensive tackle Trent Williams suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Jon Feliciano, Ben Bartch, Aaron Banks, and Jaylon Moore were on injured reserve and will be free agents.
The 49ers did sign Matt Hennessy to a two-year deal back in December of 2024 but need to sign or draft new offensive linemen for the 2025 season. Offensive guards Tyler Booker, Tate Ratledge, or Dylan Fairchild should be doable for the 49ers, or signing veterans like Zach Martin or James Daniels is also doable.
Seattle Seahawks: Offensive Line
The Seahawks had a good 10-7 record in 2024, but it sadly wasn’t enough to get them into the playoffs, as the team’s offensive line was one of the worst units in the league. Geno Smith was sacked 50 times in 2024 (the third most in the league behind C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams), and the struggling offensive line was one of the reasons why offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired after one year.
Offensive guard Laken Tomlinson and right tackle Stone Forsythe will be free agents, and the team needs to focus on signing young and healthy veteran linemen from the likes of Patrick Mekari or Nate Herbig, who would fill in nicely on the Seahawks line and drafting a young offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft will also help.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Linebacker
The 2024 Buccaneers were good but not great, as they were knocked out of the Wildcard round by the Washington Commanders 20-23. Head coach Todd Bowles is a good defensive-minded coach and is going to need a couple of younger linebackers in the lineup for the 2025 regular season. Veterans Lavonte David, Shaquil Barrett, Anthony Nelson, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka will be free agents.
Sure, if David comes back on a one-year deal, it could help establish veteran leadership, but the Bucs need to be prepared for life without David. Veteran free agent linebackers the Bucs could potentially sign are Isaiah Simmons, Tyrel Dodson, or Joshua Uche, who are good options the team should keep an eye on. Or find their next linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft. We’ll just have to wait and find out what the Bucs do.
Tennessee Titans: Quarterback
The Titans have sole possession of the number one pick of the 2025 NFL Draft and need to use it properly. The team also has Will Levis, who struggled in the 2024 NFL season but is still under contract. The Titans’ new general manager, Mike Borgonzi, could trade Levis for a later-round draft pick and a future draft pick for a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback looking for a new home and draft an offensive lineman, similarly to what the Kansas City Chiefs did in 2013 when they acquired Alex Smith when he was with that organization before he took the Titans’ GM job.
The Titans could potentially trade for Kirk Cousins out of the Atlanta Falcons, trade for Gardner Minshew out of the Las Vegas Raiders, or sign veteran quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, or Justin Fields. It’s all up to you, Titans, to make the move.
Washington Commanders: Wide receiver
The Commanders had a very exciting 2024 season, which saw them advance to the NFC Championship game before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 23-55. Jayden Daniels is the team’s franchise quarterback, and Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson Jr. look to provide great offensive stability for Daniels. However, veteran tight end Zach Ertz, who is nearing the end of his career, will be a free agent.
The Commanders need a younger pass catcher who can complement McLaurin. The team will try to snag veteran wide receivers like Chris Godwin, Tee Higgins, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, or Darius Slayton in the 2025 offseason. The team could also use their first-round pick on a young rookie wide receiver like Emeka Egbuka or Matthew Golden. We can’t wait to see what moves the Commanders make.
