• Falcons still need more edge help: After eschewing the position with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Atlanta should sign a player like Carl Lawson or Markus Golden.
• Charles Leno Jr. is an option for the Rams: Los Angeles is still shaky at left tackle with Alaric Jackson, so signing Leno could be a shrewd move.
• Check out PFF's fantasy football rankings: PFF’s fantasy football rankings include ranks from our experts, projections and our strength of schedule metric.
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
With the 2024 NFL Draft out of the way and the majority of the meaningful free agents already signed, most NFL teams won't be making significant roster additions over the next few months. However, there is always work to be done to build out depth and promote competition. With that in mind, we are taking a look at one move every team in the NFL should make, starting with the NFC. Click here for the AFC version.
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | CAR | CHI | DAL | DET | GB | LAR |
MIN | NO | NYG | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WSH
ARIZONA CARDINALS: Sign a veteran wide receiver
The Cardinals made the necessary splash to their wide receiver corps by making Marvin Harrison Jr. the fourth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. That will immediately improve the unit, with Harrison earning a PFF receiving grade above 89.0 in each of the past two seasons. It is still a young unit, though, so adding a player like Zay Jones or Michael Thomas could help round out the group.
ATLANTA FALCONS: Sign an edge defender
Before the Michael Penix Jr. pick that shocked the world, it was widely accepted that the Falcons would draft an edge defender in the first round. They did use a Day 2 selection on Washington’s Bralen Trice, who earned PFF pass-rush grades above 90.0 in each of the past two seasons, but the lack of a premium investment at the position would make signing a player like Carl Lawson or Markus Golden a smart decision.
CAROLINA PANTHERS: Add defensive line depth
The Panthers are fine on defensive starters up front, but there is a lack of depth behind Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle and A’Shawn Robinson. Despite Calais Campbell being 37 years old, he still managed to earn a PFF grade of 80.0 while playing 712 snaps last season and is versatile enough to move around the defensive line. He has earned a PFF grade of 70.0 or higher in each of the past 13 seasons and would be a boost to the Panthers' unit if he wants to keep playing.
CHICAGO BEARS: Sign a veteran defensive lineman
Calais Campbell could be a good role player for the Bears, too, given his versatility. He has the experience on the edge and the interior and is still good enough as a run defender and a pass rusher to make an impact. In his 16th NFL season last year, he still managed to rack up 42 total pressures from 413 pass-rushing snaps.
DALLAS COWBOYS: Add a wide receiver
As things stand, third-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert figures to receive an expanded role in the Cowboys' offense, with the team having little at the position outside of him, Brandin Cooks and star CeeDee Lamb. Tolbert has seen just 39 targets in two NFL seasons, so Dallas could be a landing spot for Michael Thomas or even Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
DETROIT LIONS: Add pass-catching depth
The Lions' offense looks set to be high-powered again in 2024, but the passing attack is very top-heavy and would benefit from a depth signing. Just over 330 of their targets in the regular season and playoffs went to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta, and with Josh Reynolds and his 75 targets departing in free agency, the team will rely on Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond to step up should either of the top two miss any time.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: Add cornerback depth
The Packers declined the fifth-year option of cornerback Eric Stokes, with injuries disrupting the first three years of his career. Behind him and Jaire Alexander at outside cornerback, the Packers have Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine, neither of whom earned a PFF coverage grade above 62.5 last year.
LOS ANGELES RAMS: Sign a left tackle
Alaric Jackson is in line to be the Los Angeles Rams‘ starting left tackle again in 2024. Jackson was solid enough in 2023, earning a 68.3 PFF pass-blocking grade in his first full year as a starter. There are free agents who could come in and compete for the starting job or, at worst, provide an improvement in depth, notably Charles Leno Jr., who earned a 77.8 PFF pass-blocking grade last year.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Sign a wide receiver
Justin Jefferson saw 98 targets in just 10 games last season, trailing only T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison for the Vikings. He will obviously be the top target again, but with K.J. Osborn now a New England Patriot, it is a thin depth chart in the pass-catching department outside the top three.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Get help on the interior offensive line
The Saints signed right guard Cesar Ruiz to a four-year contract extension, with the former first-round pick earning PFF grades between 51.2 and 57.6 in his first four NFL seasons. At left guard, it looks like Olisaemeka Udoh is in line to start. With guards like Dalton Risner and Greg Van Roten still available as free agents, there’s an opportunity to bring in competition at Udoh’s spot before training camp.
NEW YORK GIANTS: Sign a wide receiver
The Giants made a necessary big addition to this unit when they drafted LSU’s Malik Nabers with the sixth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. While he gives them a potential WR1, this is a team that didn’t have a single player command more than 80 targets a year ago. There will be a reasonable expectation that Jalin Hyatt can improve upon a rookie season that saw him flash big-play ability, while Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton are solid depth options. But looking at this roster, it would benefit from another depth signing at the position.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Add defensive line depth
Fletcher Cox‘s retirement means the interior of the Eagles’ defensive line lacks the depth we usually rave about. Cox played 721 snaps in 2023, and while it’s reasonable to expect some of those vacated snaps to be largely shared with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams, none of whom played more than 600 snaps last year, it means that reserves like Moro Ojomo and Marlon Tuipulotu will likely be called upon for bigger roles. An extra signing at this spot would be a smart move.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Add a guard
Dominick Puni can be a day-one starter at right guard for the 49ers as a third-round draft pick out of Kansas, but they could still stand to improve on the opposite side. Aaron Banks earned just a 50.2 PFF pass-blocking grade last season and struggled in the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a spot where Dalton Risner or Greg Van Roten could compete for a starting job.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Add wide receiver depth
The Seahawks don’t have much in the way of needs at this stage in the offseason, but they do lack depth at wide receiver. Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all saw 90 or more targets last year, but no other player on the roster tallied more than 45. Some added depth would give them a cushion in case of injury.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Add wide receiver depth
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin combined for 281 targets in 2023, with tight end Cade Otton and Trey Palmer seeing 86 and 70, respectively. They do have a little more depth at wide receiver with the addition of Washington’s Jalen McMillan in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but one more signing would tighten up the group.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: Add an edge defender
The Commanders have made additions at edge defender this offseason, notably bringing in two former Dallas Cowboys for new head coach Dan Quinn: Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. They also signed former first-round draft pick Clelin Ferrell, but he has just one season with a PFF grade above 65.0 in his five-year career, while Fowler hasn’t produced a PFF grade that high since 2019. While the Commanders have depth on the interior, they are still weak on the outside of their defensive line.
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