We have already started to see some of the biggest dominos on the free agency and trade market fall—and it is getting high time for teams to turn their attention to the NFL Draft.
Year in and year out, the league’s top teams continue to prove how important it is to have a good showing on draft day—and, of course, there is no shortage of teams looking to get younger and… cheaper… heading into 2025.
How about we take a look around the NFL landscape and dive into every team’s biggest need heading into this year’s draft.
What’s your team’s greatest need in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Arizona Cardinals: DT
Arizona really struggled to create pressure on the opposing offenses in 2024, and the defensive line was a huge reason for this. They are going to have to face the need head-on at this point, as there is a real chance they will lose multiple starters in free agency.
If they want to become a real factor in the NFC West, they need to find a young, athletic defensive tackle who can generate pressure up the middle and create opportunities for the reinforcements Arizona is expected to seek on the free-agent market.
Atlanta Falcons: EDGE
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The Falcons’ defensive front has been extraordinarily underwhelming in recent years—seemingly regardless of what they do to retool.
Arnold Ebiketie finally showed signs of life late in the season, racking up five sacks in his final six games, but this front seven still lacks a true game-wrecker. Even worse, their best edge rushers on paper are hitting free agency.
The 2025 NFL draft class offers a few intriguing names, and if the Falcons are serious about taking the next step defensively, they’d better find a dude who can get after the quarterback.
Baltimore Ravens: OL
Baltimore’s offensive line has been the quiet engine behind their success for years, but things are about to get dicey. Ronnie Stanley hasn’t been the same since his ankle injuries, and the depth is looking thin.
The Ravens could explore free agency for reinforcements, but they’d be smart to also inject some youth into this group through the NFL draft.
Buffalo Bills: DL
Look for Buffalo to add some depth on their defensive line. A versatile player like Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss would really add some support to the Bills defense.
The fact of the matter is that if this team is serious about making another deep playoff run, they need to make sure their defense isn’t getting bullied at the line of scrimmage.
Carolina Panthers: EDGE
Carolina already has a stud in Derrick Brown, who is returning from injury this year, but he needs help.
The Panthers need to find a real, game-changing pass rusher who can disrupt plays before they happen… A young, explosive edge rusher, preferably on Day 1 of the NFL draft, as they need him to be ready to contribute right away
A dominant defense would go a long way toward making Bryce Young’s life easier because let’s be honest—he can’t be expected to drag this team to success by himself.
Chicago Bears: DE
While the new head coach, Ben Johnson, may be an offensive-minded head coach, don’t be shocked if he and Dennis Allen, his new defensive coordinator, look to the NFL draft to rebuild the Chicago defense around a strong pass rush.
Especially with a few incumbents set to hit free agency—and the draft capital they’ve accrued—now it’s time to add a true difference-maker up front. Expect to see the Bears make moves.
Cincinnati Bengals: DT
Sheldon Rankins is gone, and Jay Tufele is set to hit free agency and suddenly, the defensive tackle room looks mighty unthreatening.
That is a problem for a team that wants to start winning in January again.
With an elite QB in Joe Burrow, this franchise isn’t rebuilding. They’re in win-now mode. That means investing in the trenches because if the Bengals can’t stop the run or collapse the pocket, their Super Bowl aspirations will remain illusory.
Cleveland Browns: QB
Our deepest sympathies go out to Browns fans because, at this point, Cleveland’s quarterback situation is as bleak as it gets. The ghost of Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Kenny Pickett, yikes. They have to find a viable quarterback option in the NFL draft… Whether it is Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders toward the top—or a roll of the dice in round 2 or 3.
This team cannot roll into 2025 with the same QB room and expect different results.
Dallas Cowboys: RB
The Cowboys found out the hard way last year that you can’t just slap a “committee” label on a bunch of mid-tier running backs and expect the offense to keep rolling.
Dallas desperately needs a back who can be a true three-down threat—someone who can keep defenses honest and take some pressure off Dak Prescott.
Denver Broncos: WR
Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin had some moments, but they aren’t the No. 1 guys. And if Denver wants Nix to take the next step quickly, they need a legitimate playmaker who can be a true complement to Sutton.
This is a deep draft for wide receivers, and Denver has to take advantage of that. Whether it’s an explosive vertical threat or a polished route-runner who can help in the short game, this offense needs an influx of talent on the outside.
Detroit Lions: CB
Detroit’s defense was already a weak spot down the stretch, and they can’t afford to go into 2025 without a serious upgrade at the corner. They added DJ Reed in free agency, but they need to hit on a young, athletic playmaker in the NFL draft.
Green Bay Packers: CB
Green Bay has a solid core, but the cornerback situation is getting dicey, and there have been whispers that Jaire Alexander might not be a lock to return either.
Look for Green Bay to try and add some youth to their defensive backfield like the champion Eagles did ahead of last year.
Houston Texans: WR
The Texans need to add a high-upside playmaker in the NFL draft who can grow alongside Stroud and give this offense another dimension. Stefon Diggs is set to be a free agent, and Tank Dell is unlikely to be ready for 2025 after his brutal injury.
That leaves Nico Collins as the only proven wide receiver on the roster. With how brittle their offense looked last year—this need can’t be ignored.
Indianapolis Colts: S
Julian Blackmon is set to hit free agency, and the Colts have struggled to find consistency in the defensive backfield. Signing Cam Bambynum was good start, but they must invest in a versatile, hard-hitting safety, someone like Malaki Starks out of Georgia, who can be a difference-maker on the back end.
Jacksonville Jaguars: CB
The Jaguars need major reinforcements at cornerback. The depth is thin, the talent level isn’t where it needs to be, and since they let safety Andre Cisco sign with the Jets, things can get worse quickly. He covered up a lot of the limitations at corner walk, so things could get even worse quickly.
Kansas City Chiefs: LT
Left tackle was the biggest issue all season, and it reached a breaking point in the Super Bowl when Joe Thuney was forced to move outside. That desperation move, as we all know now, was as ill-fated as it gets.
KC needs to look to the draft to find an NFL-ready stud that they can have under contract for the next few years on the relatively cheap.
Las Vegas Raiders: RB
If they pass on a QB early, don’t be shocked if they take a swing on a guy like Ashton Jeanty to solidify the ground game because the Raiders have plenty of needs, but running back has quietly become one of the biggest in the post-Josh Jacobs era.
Los Angeles Chargers: WR
With a deep wide receiver class, expect L.A. to target a high-upside guy who can immediately step into a big role.
They need to find a real weapon to pair with Ladd McConkey if this team wants to set up Justin Herbert for success and become legit contenders in the AFC West.
Los Angeles Rams: LT
Sean McVay’s system requires an athletic, technically sound tackle who can hold up in pass protection and pave the way for their run game. What better place to look for that kind of talent than the NFL draft?
Miami Dolphins: OL
Miami’s offense is electric when Tua Tagovailoa has time to throw, but when he doesn’t, everything falls apart. The Dolphins can’t afford to run it back with a shaky unit again in 2025. This draft needs to be all about rebuilding the front five and ensuring Tua stays upright for a full season.
Minnesota Vikings: CB
Three of their top cornerbacks are set to hit free agency, and even safety Camryn Bynum signed with the Colts. That’s a major issue for a team that struggled to slow down opposing passing attacks last year.
This team needs to add depth and speed to the defensive secondary in a hurry.
New England Patriots: WR
New England’s receiving corps has been a revolving door of “interesting” but ultimately underwhelming options for years. There’s nobody on this roster who scares opposing defenses. Ja’Lynn Polk has potential, but counting on him to develop into a top target in 2025 is wishful thinking.
Especially with all of the promise that Drake Maye showed during his first year under center—New England would be wise to add some weapons to help foster his development—and the NFL draft is the place to do it. This way, they can get young speedsters on the same timeline as Maye.
New Orleans Saints: Edge
In the NFL, a defense without a pass rush is just waiting to get exposed. They need someone new to anchor this unit—someone who can take the torch from Cam Jordan and keep offensive coordinators up at night.
Because if they don’t, they’ll be left watching quarterbacks pick them apart, like we saw far too often in 2024.
New York Giants: QB
The Giants bottomed out in 2024, finishing dead last in total offense and posting one of the worst passing attacks in the league. This roster isn’t completely devoid of talent, but it is missing the most important thing a franchise can have—a quarterback who can actually win games.
New York needs to take a swing on a new franchise QB in the 2025 NFL draft and get this rebuild started the right way.
New York Jets: OT
Tyron Smith is hitting free agency, and even if the Jets retain him, they still need to add depth. They cannot afford another year of musical chairs on the offensive line… As much as the media liked to point fingers at Aaron Rodgers last year, with that offensive line, the situation seemed un winnable.
Regardless of who ends up under center for New York in 2025, they need to find a solution upfront.
Philadelphia Eagles: LB
Philly is still a contender. The roster is still loaded. But if they want to get back to the Super Bowl, they need to reload at linebacker. They stand to endure a lot of turnover at the position—and could benefit from taking the same approach they did at cornerback last year, adding high-upside speedsters to the middle of the defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: OT
The Steelers need help at offensive tackle, plain and simple. If Pittsburgh wants to give Russell Wilson… or whoever ends up ascending to QB1 in the Steel City, a real chance in 2025, they need to invest in protection.
They don’t necessarily need a superstar, but they do need a reliable starter—and some much-needed depth—heading into next season. Even a round 2 or 3 guy would likely suffice.
San Francisco 49ers: CB
This secondary has been held together by duct tape and elite front-seven play for too long. The 49ers need a legit number 1 corner who can hold his own against elite receivers, especially in a conference loaded with star wideouts.
If they don’t shore up the secondary in the draft, they’re going to keep running into the same problem when they face high-powered passing attacks that the top competition in the NFL has to offer.
Seattle Seahawks: OG
They finished in the bottom 10 in both pass blocking and run blocking, and their interior line play was particularly bad. The Seahawks must add a high-level guard who can stabilize the unit.
This is going to be an increased focus for the team heading into 2025, with the expectation being that Mike MacDonald is going to put an increased emphasis on the run game as well.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR
Tampa Bay has had a luxury of riches at wide receiver in recent years, but it is always better to reload before you really feel the pain—and with Mike Evans aging and Chris Godwin’s injury histroy, they should tap into this wide receiver talent-rich 2025 NFL draft class.
Tennessee Titans: QB
It’s sad to say it, but the Will Levis experiment appears to be over in Music City. Tennessee’s defense was actually decent last year—and they have a couple of nice playmakers on offense. They should look to the draft to find a quarterback for the future that they can actually build around.
Washington Commanders: Edge
As we saw time and time again in 2024, the Commanders defense was—and projects to be their Achille’s Heel. Granted, they were able to patch it together slightly throughout the year, but it is time to rebuild it from the ground up—starting on the edge to complement the efforts of Daron Payne, who, to their credit, are a force to be reckoned with on the inside.
