| NFC EAST |
 Pass rush. The Cowboys recorded just 28 sacks and Jeremy Mincey's six were the fewest to lead the team in a season since 2001. While the Cowboys want to use a defensive line rotation, they need a bona fide pass-rusher to help elevate a defense that overachieved in 2014. -- Todd Archer
 Run-blocking offensive lineman. The Giants need to upgrade their run game, and their early attention will be on trying to find a big, physical, run-blocking right tackle (think Green Bay's Bryan Bulaga or St. Louis' Joe Barksdale) who could kick Justin Pugh inside to guard. Failing that, they'd look for a powerful guard who could upgrade them inside and help Pugh if he stays at tackle. They believed the move of Weston Richburg to center and the return of guard Geoff Schwartz from injury will help, but they need more power up front to help their run game. -- Dan Graziano
 Secondary. The Eagles last season allowed the second-most passing yards in the NFL and the most pass plays of more than 20 yards. On top of that, half of their starting secondary -- safety Nate Allen and cornerback Bradley Fletcher -- is eligible for free agency. -- Phil Sheridan
 Safety. Yes, the Redskins need to bolster the offensive line, too, but they lack legitimate starting options at safety, with only two even signed on the roster. Akeem Davis is not ready to start, and the previous staff thought Phillip Thomas was better as a backup. The draft is rich at pass-rusher, which the Redskins could use, but not safety. -- John Keim
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| NFC NORTH |
 Linebacker and safety. With the Bears switching to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the team needs players with experience in such a system to mix with current Bears such as Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Jared Allen, who aren't proven in such a scheme. On the back end, the Bears need to significantly upgrade at the safety positions, as the club ranked 30th against the pass in 2014 and was one of just three teams in the NFL to surrender an average opponent passer rating of 100 or better. -- Michael C. Wright
 Defensive tackle. The Lions have multiple needs -- cornerback, offensive line, wide receiver -- but no matter what happens with Ndamukong Suh, the Lions need depth and maybe a starter at defensive tackle. Their top three non-Suh tackles are free agents, and of the ones under contract, only little-used Caraun Reid played a snap for Detroit last season. -- Michael Rothstein
 Linebacker. In a span of six days, the Packers cut and A.J. Hawk -- their 2014 opening-day starting inside linebackers -- making that position the priority for GM Ted Thompson this offseason. They need to find at least one new starter in order to move Clay Matthews back to his natural outside linebacker position on a full-time basis. -- Rob Demovsky
 Linebacker. The Vikings haven't had the same starting middle linebacker for two consecutive seasons since 2010-11, and the word in league circles is that they're expected to pursue one this spring. Jasper Brinkley is a free agent, and while he did a solid job against the run, his liabilities in pass coverage limited him to 471 snaps. The Vikings mostly shifted to their nickel package when they had any hint a team might throw. Finding a linebacker who could play three downs would help the Vikings' flexibility on defense. -- Ben Goessling
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| NFC SOUTH |
 Pass-rusher. The Falcons have to at least find one player capable of getting after the quarterback. Buffalo's Jerry Hughes is set to reach free agency and Baltimore's Pernell McPhee remains an intriguing option, although his price tag is rising by the day. Washington's Brian Orakpo, a guy the Falcons would have targeted had he not been tagged last year, might end up being the best option. -- Vaughn McClure
 Left tackle. The Panthers need to replace Byron Bell, an unrestricted free agent who will not be re-signed. Bell allowed 11 sacks in 2014 and ranked 83rd among 84 tackles graded by Pro Football Focus. The Panthers have to find either through free agency or the draft -- free agency would be a plus because of experience -- somebody to protect quarterback Cam Newton's blind side. -- David Newton
 Cornerback. The Saints' 31st-ranked defense struggled in every area last year, but the No. 2 cornerback spot was arguably the biggest weakness, as New Orleans rotated three guys into the role. Having a reliable starter opposite Keenan Lewis could have a ripple effect (namely allowing the pass rush more time to get home). Sean Payton listed cornerback as the Saints' No. 1 offseason "must," and I think they have to address it in free agency instead of the draft so they can find someone ready to step in immediately. -- Mike Triplett
 Offensive line. For a second consecutive year, the offensive line needs to be overhauled. The team averaged only 3.9 yards per rushing attempt and the quarterbacks were sacked 52 times. The Bucs have to upgrade at left tackle after Anthony Collins was a bust as a free agent.
-- Pat Yasinskas
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| NFC WEST |
 Running back. Running back edged out inside linebacker because the Cardinals need a big, bulky, consistent back to complement Andre Ellington. Arizona was last in red zone rushing last season, averaging 1.46 yards per attempt. -- Josh Weinfuss
 Defensive line depth. Even if Justin Smith decides to return for a 15th season rather than retire, Jim Tomsula's old position group was a banged-up bunch last season that faded as the season progressed. Eight of the 14 sacks by D-linemen last season came from Smith (five) and the terminated Ray McDonald (three). -- Paul Gutierrez
 Offensive line and wide receiver. Left guard James Carpenter is a free agent, and the Seahawks need to upgrade. The offensive line gave up 86 sacks over the past two years on a team that throws the ball less than anyone in the league. And they still covet a big body at wide receiver. -- Terry Blount
 Offensive line. There's also a need for serious quarterback help, but there's not much available there. Instead, the Rams must bolster a line that allowed sacks on 8.7 percent of dropbacks against four or fewer pass-rushers last season, highest in the NFL. Complicating matters further, starting right tackle Joe Barksdale and right guard Davin Joseph are unrestricted free agents, and center Scott Wells could be a cap casualty. -- Nick Wagoner
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| AFC EAST |
 Tight end. After acquiring Matt Cassel in a trade, the Bills have a lessened need to find competition at quarterback in free agency. To make Greg Roman's offense work, they'll need more help at tight end, where Scott Chandler is an average-at-best starter, and there's not much else on the roster. -- Mike Rodak
 Linebackers. The Dolphins, who were 24th against the run, desperately need at least one starting linebacker. Starter Philip Wheeler was a major liability against the run and pass and could be released due to his $3 million salary in 2015. Koa Misi also struggled with injuries and inconsistency last season in his new role at middle linebacker. He could be moved outside if Miami finds the right middle linebacker via free agency or the draft. -- James Walker
 Retention of top players. The Patriots haven't had as many key players scheduled to become free agents in some time, a group that includes cornerback Darrelle Revis (the expectation is the Patriots won't honor the 2015 year of the contract at a $25 million cap charge), safety Devin McCourty, running back Shane Vereen, guard/captain Dan Connolly and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. If any of those players depart, it alters the outlook on the team's biggest need. -- Mike Reiss
 Cornerback. Todd Bowles' defensive system is predicated on pressure up front and press coverage on the outside. With Dee Milliner recovering from Achilles surgery, the Jets don't have a healthy, starting-caliber corner on the roster. Their corners produced only two interceptions last season. Look for them to sign one, maybe two starters in free agency.
-- Rich Cimini
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| AFC NORTH |
 Wide receiver. If Torrey Smith signs elsewhere in free agency -- which Ravens officials acknowledge is a likely result -- the team will be left with a soon-to-be 36-year-old receiver in Steve Smith and a handful of No. 3 and No. 4 receivers in Marlon Brown, Michael Campanaro, Kamar Aiken and Jeremy Butler. Joe Flacco desperately needs help, especially after the Ravens finished second in the NFL with 37 dropped passes, according to Pro Football Focus.
-- Jamison Hensley
 Pass-rusher. After ranking last in 2014 in Pro Football Focus' pass-rush grade, the Bengals are in desperate need of help getting after the quarterback. Expect defensive linemen and linebackers to be among their primary targets. Ends such as Greg Hardy and Jason Pierre-Paul would be highly sought-after top-end signees. A.J. Hawk and Dan Skuta are less expensive, logical fits at linebacker. -- Coley Harvey
 Wide receiver. The Browns could add another quarterback to a needy roster, but the team's main need is at wideout. Between the draft and free agency, the Browns need two taller receivers with big-play ability. -- Pat McManamon
 Linebacker. The Steelers have to sign an outside linebacker with Jason Worilds on his way out and former first-round draft pick Jarvis Jones the only player at the position who is signed in 2015 and has NFL experience. Pass-rushers are always coveted, and the Steelers need more than one after managing just 33 sacks last season, their lowest total since 1989. -- Scott Brown
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| AFC SOUTH |
 A starting receiver. Upon learning the Texans no longer consider him a starter, Andre Johnson asked to be traded. Quarterback is the most important position, but the Texans will not have a starting-caliber receiver outside of DeAndre Hopkins if they trade or release Johnson, which would make things infinitely more difficult on both Hopkins and the team's starting quarterback. -- Tania Ganguli
 Pass-rusher. The Colts can't count on linebacker Robert Mathis to be the same dominant player he was when he had 19.5 sacks in 2013 because he's returning from a torn Achilles. The Colts, who struggled against pocket passers, need a pass-rusher who requires the opposing quarterback to see where he's lined up on every snap and for teams to keep an extra blocker in to help out. -- Mike Wells
 Free safety. It's such an important piece of coach Gus Bradley's defense. He needs a player who is fast, athletic and smart enough to be used as a single-high safety. Look at Seattle's defense, which Bradley built, to see what Bradley desires: free safety Earl Thomas and strong safety Kam Chancellor complement each other perfectly. -- Michael DiRocco
 Pass-rusher. It's far easier to name the Titans' biggest non-need -- probably tight end if they are healthy. I say it's an edge pass-rusher for the 3-4 in its second year. A consistent threat will demand attention and help matchups across the board, with a big bearing on both the defensive front and the secondary. But a case could be made for a cornerback, a right tackle or a receiver. -- Paul Kuharsky
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| AFC WEST |
 Offensive line. The Broncos could be in the market for at least two, possibly three, new starters on the offensive line. When the Broncos lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs, they couldn't protect quarterback Peyton Manning and couldn't run the ball with any efficiency. For the season, their running backs made first contact with a defender at, or behind, the line of scrimmage on a third of the team's carries. -- Jeff Legwold
 Wide receiver. The Chiefs were last in the league last season at that position in every significant statistical category. Dwayne Bowe turns 31 in September, and the Chiefs already released two players who started at times last season: Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins.
-- Adam Teicher
 Wide receiver and pass-rusher. The Raiders need a No. 1 receiver, a defensive end and a safety first. They could also use help at running back, tight end and cornerback. But adding an impact receiver and pass-rusher is paramount. -- Bill Williamson
 Pass-rusher. The Chargers finished No. 29 in the NFL in sacks last season with 26 and have not had a double-digit sack leader since 2011. Ascending players such as Melvin Ingram and Corey Liuget should improve, but San Diego still needs a top-notch edge rusher to add to the mix. -- Eric D. Williams |
