We don’t know how the 2023 NFL Draft will unfold. But we have a pretty good idea of what all 32 teams will be in the market for when it comes to this year’s rookie class.
The 2022 season and this winter’s free agency have shaped rosters that are mostly complete, but still missing a few key pieces. Each franchise has built its rookie wish list around the needs that could be the difference between a playoff spot and abject failure. In some places, it’s so obvious it’s worth trading away multiple future picks and a starting wide receiver to address. In others it’s less clear.
Let’s break down 2023’s projected wish lists for all 32 teams, highlighting the biggest priority for each. Here’s how my pre-draft need scorecard unfolded with a week to go before the NFL Draft.
Arizona Cardinals: Edge rusher
Other needs: CB, DT, OL, WR
The Cardinals need help just about everywhere as a rebuild looms. The offensive line needs upgrades to protect Kyler Murray. The secondary was already a mess before Budda Baker requested a trade. But the only players with more than four sacks in 2023 are no longer on the roster (J.J. Watt, Zach Allen). Upgrading the pass rush is a must in Arizona.
Atlanta Falcons: Edge rusher
Other needs: QB, LB, DB
Head coach Arthur Smith could use an upgrade at quarterback, but he seems content to wade into 2023 with Desmond Ridder and a run-first offense. He’ll need a powerful defense to pair with that old-school strategy. Free agent additions Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree were a good start, but this unit needs young studs who can grow under their guidance.
Baltimore Ravens: Wide receiver
Other needs: EDGE, DL, CB
Signing Odell Beckham Jr. was a nice touch, but he’s 30 years old and coming off a major knee injury. Lamar Jackson — or whomever is throwing passes for the Ravens — needs someone who can get open on a regular basis. Beckham and Rashod Bateman are unproven commodities at this point; Baltimore needs someone it knows will show up every Sunday.
Buffalo Bills: Wide receiver
Other needs: LB, OL, S, CB
Stefon Diggs is a proper WR1, but the support network behind him is thin. Gabe Davis is a valuable playmaker but not quite a reliable second banana. Find someone who can draw defensive attention away from Diggs and the Bills will have a way to take an already impressive offense to new heights.
Carolina Panthers: Quarterback
Other needs: OL, EDGE, LB
The Panthers fully understand quarterback is their top need; they wouldn’t have traded two first round picks, two second round picks and D.J. Moore for the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft if they didn’t. But Carolina could also use help around their new franchise passer — especially when it comes to his protection up front.
Chicago Bears: Offensive line
Other needs: EDGE, DT, LB, CB
Justin Fields has been sacked on 13.4 percent of his dropbacks as a professional quarterback. Some of that is thanks to his scramble-heavy style and the fact he’s been playing with wide receivers who can’t get open … but still. Goodness.
Cincinnati Bengals: Defensive back
Other needs: DT, TE, LB
The Bengals lost 60 percent of their starting secondary this offseason thanks to the departures of Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell and the ongoing free agency of Eli Apple. Successors are in place — namely 2022 draft picks Dax Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt — but a draft deep with cornerback help and some solid safety prospects will bring more reinforcements.
Cleveland Browns: Edge rusher
Other needs: DT, S, WR, LB
Myles Garrett could use a running mate to clean up the chaos he introduces to the pocket. Ogbo Okoronkwo might be that guy, but reinforcements will help either way. In any case, young prospects either inside or at the edge will be a priority for a team without a first round pick.
Dallas Cowboys: Linebacker
Other needs: TE, S, RB, WR
Tight end is a concern after losing Dalton Schultz in free agency but … I lowkey believe in Jake Ferguson? He caught 86 percent of his targets last year, so while depth is necessary he could be primed for a solid year. Linebacker is less certain. Leighton Vander Esch re-signed with the team and has been healthy, but his coverage is a concern. Damone Clark next to him was even worse in that department last season. Finding an anchor for that group would help Micah Parsons to wreak even more havoc.
Denver Broncos: Edge rusher
Other needs: CB, DL, LB, OL, S
Denver’s top two sack leaders will both play elsewhere in 2023. Randy Gregory and Baron Browning bring stable production, but that edge rushing unit needs depth and a potential replacement for the 30-year-old Gregory. Finding a proper running mate for lockdown corner Pat Surtain II wouldn’t hurt, either.
Detroit Lions: Defensive line
Other needs: LB, TE, EDGE, QB
The Lions reloaded their secondary with quietly solid buy-low additions (Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley). Now they need to address the front seven. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill need help, especially if Levi Onwuzurike continues to be hampered by back issues. Two first round picks will give Detroit the latitude to made key additions at both tackle and end.
Green Bay Packers: Wide receiver
Other needs: WR, OL, EDGE, S, TE
The Packers are entering a state of flux in what promises to be Jordan Love’s first season as starting QB. Setting him up for success starts with upgrading his receiving corps — whether that’s at wideout or tight end. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are a nice start, but Green Bay can’t stop there.
Houston Texans: Quarterback
Other needs: WR, EDGE, LB, OL
Maybe Houston won’t opt for a quarterback. Maybe it will wander through the desert once more with Davis Mills and hope to fail its way to the top overall pick and a chance to draft Caleb Williams in 2024. But the last two Texans teams have been mostly hopeless and still failed to earn the top overall pick, so maybe take a high-level franchise passer this year instead?
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback
Other needs: CB, S, OL, EDGE, WR
The three quarterbacks currently under contract in Indy are Gardner Minshew, Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger. Either the Colts are going to perform some 2019 Jacksonville Jaguars cosplay, or they’re going to draft a passer. The team’s secondary is also in dire need of upgrade.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cornerback
Other needs: DL, TE, OG, EDGE
Darious Williams and Tyson Campbell are a potent one-two combination at cornerback, but Williams is 30 years old and there isn’t much reliable depth behind that pair. Jacksonville doesn’t have a ton of major needs and could go with the best player available throughout the draft — and since this year is loaded with cornerback talent, that could help restock the secondary.
Kansas City Chiefs: Wide receiver
Other needs: EDGE, OT, CB, DT, LB, S
Kansas City has a handful of needs to be address, though those all seem minor when you’ve got Patrick Mahomes behind center. He’s going to need someone to throw the ball to, however, and his top three wideouts at the moment are some combination of Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney.
Las Vegas Raiders: Cornerback
Other needs: OL, LB, DT, QB
One of the Raiders’ finest new traditions has been an utter inability to draft cornerback talent — the last three corners they’ve selected before the fourth round are Damon Arnette, Trayvon Mullen and Gareon Conley. 2023’s class is talented enough that Vegas can upgrade that group with a dart throw should it come to that.
Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive line
Other needs: EDGE, CB, WR, LB, DL
Justin Herbert’s average throw distance fell from 7.6 yards to 6.4 in 2022 behind an offensive line that couldn’t provide time in the pocket. Getting Rashawn Slater back from injury will help, but there’s more that needs to be done if the Chargers are going to push their young quarterback from Pro Bowl invitee to MVP candidate.
Los Angeles Rams: Offensive line
Other needs: EDGE, CB, S, LB, RB, WR
Los Angeles needs help just about everywhere and only three selections in the first four rounds — a second and two thirds — to find it. Protecting Matthew Stafford gets priority here after his 2022 was cut short by injury, but the entire defense around Aaron Donald is … grim.
Miami Dolphins: Offensive tackle
Other needs: EDGE, TE, RB, LB, S
Terron Armstead remains great, but Austin Jackson is a question mark at the other tackle spot and both are tasked with protecting a quarterback whose career is in flux thanks to multiple head injuries in 2022. Miami’s offensive line ranked 29th in overall pass protection last fall, leaving room for upgrades on the interior as well.
Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback
Other needs: WR, S, LB, TE, EDGE
Byron Murphy is an interesting addition, but he’s coming off a down year and could struggle to replace Patrick Peterson’s production. Diving into this year’s crop of coverage help would be a boon for a team whose on-field play didn’t reflect its 13-4 record. Getting Justin Jefferson some help at wideout is also a priority.
New England Patriots: Offensive tackle
Other needs: LB, WR, S, CB
Isaiah Wynn is a free agent and the fact he remains unsigned tells you everything you need to know about his 2023 prospects. Trent Brown is in the final year of his contract. New England needs help keeping Mac Jones upright if he’s going to reclaim the modest glory of his 2021 season under new offensive playcaller Bill O’Brien.
New Orleans Saints: Edge rusher
Other needs: IOL, RB, DT, TE, WR
Marcus Davenport departed in free agency after an underwhelming 2022 and Cameron Jordan is entering his 13th season in the league. The Saints’ 17.5 percent pressure rate was fourth-lowest in the NFL last season.
New York Giants: Interior offensive line
Other needs: WR, CB, LB, S
The Giants still have a ways to go to capitalize on 2022’s surprising breakthrough. Daniel Jones needs targets, but what appears likely to be a run-heavy offense also needs upgrades up front. Assuming Evan Neal improves on his woeful rookie campaign, the most likely candidates are in the middle of the offensive line. Clearing space for Saquon Barkley would once again boost New York’s offense in hopes of building a playoff streak.
New York Jets: Offensive line
Other needs: OL, EDGE, S, LB, WR
Aaron Rodgers is coming at some point. Keeping him upright in his age 40 season is a must. While Mekhi Becton’s return from injury will help, unsettled spots remain up front — particularly at right tackle and center. Boosting the linebacker corps around CJ Mosley wouldn’t hurt, either.
Philadelphia Eagles: Safety
Other needs: EDGE, LB, RB, CB, DL
Philadelphia lost tons of veteran talent from last year’s NFC championship team, but remains in good shape for another deep playoff run. But both Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps will play elsewhere in 2023, creating a void in the middle of the secondary. There aren’t any sure-fire safety picks in the first round, but a bevy of Day 2 candidates should help settle that need.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Linebacker
Other needs: OT, CB, DT
The Steelers signed Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts this offseason to revamp their off-ball linebacker corps. Each is useful, but neither is a long term solution. Finding the kind of three-down player who can be the sun the rest of the Pittsburgh system revolves around would make life considerably easier for Mike Tomlin.
San Francisco 49ers: Offensive line
Other needs: DE, S, K
The Jake Brendel-Spencer Burford-Colton McKivitz lineup from center to right tackle is uninspiring, especially with a shaky young quarterback — either Trey Lance or Brock Purdy — taking the reins. The 49ers don’t have any draft picks before the 99th selection this spring, so general manager John Lynch is going to have to pull some diamonds from the middle rounds if he’s going to find players capable of making an immediate impact.
Seattle Seahawks: Edge rusher
Other needs: IOL, DT, CB, WR
Pete Carroll is playing with house money after taking a top five pick in return for letting Russell Wilson collapse in upon himself like a dying star as a Bronco. There’s work to be done upgrading the league’s 21st-ranked defense — and a tremendous opportunity to take a pocket-shrinking pass rusher with his first pick. Otherwise, the Seahawks could opt to flesh out a fearsome secondary with an elite cornerback prospect.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Offensive line
Other needs: QB, CB, S, EDGE
The Buccaneers’ current quarterbacks are Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. While that makes the position a concern, the team’s draft status suggests sitting out 2023 and trying again in 2024 is the more valuable and viable option. Instead, Tampa Bay can give whomever is throwing passes the protection Tom Brady failed to get last season by addressing its weakness in the trenches.
Tennessee Titans: Wide receiver
Other needs: OL, EDGE, CB, LB, TE
Tennessee is in a state of flux after losing its grip on the AFC South. Ryan Tannehill has struggled to replicate his breakthrough 2019 and Derrick Henry has shown signs of slowing down. There are needs elsewhere, but a viable wideout to pair with Treylon Burks would go a long way to taking the pressure off the Tannehill-Henry binary star that lit the way for the Titans’ recent regular season successes.
Washington Commanders: Quarterback
Other needs: OL, CB, S, LB
Jacoby Brissett is a strong stopgap solution and Sam Howell deserves a chance to outplay his fifth-round draft status, but neither is a strong long term solution. There probably won’t be an obvious fit with the 16th overall pick, but if a prospect like Will Levis slides down the draft board he could be the Commanders’ huckleberry.
