The 2023 NFL Draft is just days away, and teams across the league are preparing their boards and making final evaluations.
While every team in the NFL hypothetically needs to ace their draft class, there are a handful of teams that really, really need to have a good April.
We’re looking at fringe Super Bowl contenders who could either slide further to February or further to disappointment with how the draft goes.
Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers won’t have to worry too much about nailing every pick, but some teams really need this draft to be the one that takes them up a notch.
Let’s look at the five NFL teams that really need to succeed next weekend.
Philadelphia Eagles
As good as the Eagles were last year, general manager Howie Roseman knows that he need to take advantage of this year’s draft picks to keep his team afloat.
A Super Bowl hangover affects both winners and losers, and Philly lost some key talent in this year’s free agency cycle.
The team still has lots of talent and a star quarterback in Jalen Hurts playing on a new contract, but the team also has an abnormal top-10 pick thanks to a trade made last year with the New Orleans Saints.
Filling out the depth gaps and continuing to replenish the defensive line in this draft will be crucial to helping the Eagles stay atop the NFC.
The team might even consider drafting elite Texas running back Bijan Robinson in the top 10 to really beef up that offense even further.
Buffalo Bills
As much as the Bills have to be proud of their franchise rebuild, the team risks slipping back a bit in the crowded AFC if they don’t nail this draft cycle.
The team needs to replenish some of the talent lost on its defense and consider adding to its offensive line to keep quarterback Josh Allen as healthy as possible.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane has become one of the most imitated at his position in the NFL, but he knows that Buffalo has to do more to get to the Super Bowl.
Making this draft count will be important for the franchise, lest the team’s recent good fortune starts to waver a bit.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are going to have to figure out some path forward with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
With all signs pointing to him playing at least another year in Baltimore, nailing this draft class and giving him as much help on offense as possible could endear him to wanting to sign a contract extension.
The Ravens haven’t been able to navigate the AFC playoffs since Jackson’s arrival, so adding as much talent to both sides of the ball is crucial. However, the offense will get added focus to make it as appealing for Jackson as possible.
Adding Odell Beckham Jr. was promising, but more work is to be done.
We’ll see how the team uses its first-round pick, but continuing to bolster that receiving room or adding a dangerous running back like Jahmyr Gibbs could be paramount to keeping Jackson happy.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have undergone one of the most dramatic roster reshapings on defense, but general manager Terry Fontenot knows the job isn’t done yet.
Going into their third year, Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith have to get the Falcons into meaningful playoff contention to prove the progress over the past two years is tangible.
The team has publicly given quarterback Desmond Ridder the starter’s job, so they’ll need to make his life as easy as possible with a handful of their draft picks. Continuing to add to that rebuilding defense is also a must.
You might not think the Falcons have a sense of urgency on them, but they haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2017-18 season. Into the third year of Fontenot and Smith’s regime, wins will be expected, and draft picks will matter even more than they already have.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints somehow managed to sign quarterback Derek Carr with their troubling cap situation, but the team lost some key talent and watched defensive coach Ryan Nielsen leave for their archrivals in Atlanta.
The Saints got a first-round pick for this year’s draft from the Denver Broncos after trading head coach Sean Payton, and they’ll have to make it count.
The team’s financial situation won’t get any easier next season, so making sure this draft class counts will be crucial to any success the team hopes to find with Carr under center.
Longtime general manager Mickey Loomis got the Saints back in contention with a stellar 2017 draft class. Can he do it again in 2023?
