Free agency brings optimism and a chance for spring renewal for almost every NFL team, thanks to additional cap space and the opportunity to strike gold in the draft next month.
It’s a high-pressure seven weeks for a few franchises with the money and draft capital to address weaknesses and fill needs on the fly.
The Chicago Bears finished last in the NFC North in 2024, but as one of the most active teams in early March, they stand to help new head coach Ben Johnson make the most of his already plentiful cache of skill-position talent.
Here are three teams facing the weight of expectations to address gaping holes on the roster by the final round of the NFL Draft in April.
Cleveland Browns
Projected cap space: $12.5 million
Total draft picks: Nine, including No. 2 overall
Wants, needs and must-haves:
Jack Conklin is back for more with the Browns, but the offensive line as a whole was a massive weakness for the first three quarters of last season. Some of the issues can be laid at the feet of Deshaun Watson, and there are legitimate gripes about play-calling. In parallel with the plan to fix the quarterback quandary, Cleveland will be shopping for a fortified front wall and game-changers at the skill positions.
New York Giants
Jan 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll walks onto the field after loss to Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Projected cap space: $45.6 million
Total draft picks: Eight, including No. 3 overall
Wants, needs and must-haves:
There’s no overstating the quarterback selected—whether in free agency or the draft—the Giants add to be the next QB1 could be the last the franchise allows head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen to pick. They failed in the development of Daniel Jones after signing him to a long-term contract and infamously declared Saquon Barkley’s value was somewhere below that of the quarterback they felt was the face of the franchise.
How far away are the Giants from contending? By fixing their disaster at quarterback, the Giants could be closer than most think to being a problem in the NFC East, thanks to the front-four tandem of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and defensive end Brian Burns. They hit on last year’s top-10 pick, wide receiver Malik Nabers, and if they find a No. 1 cornerback in free agency or via trade, playoff contention is back in play.
Indianapolis Colts
Dec 22, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) gives a thumbs up before the snap during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Projected cap space: $40.4 million
Total draft picks: Seven, including No. 14 overall
Wants, needs and must-haves:
Secondary talent is the primary concern on defense, but any type of ballhawk at safety or cornerback would be attractive to GM Chris Ballard in free agency and the draft. He’d also like to find a tight end to ease the burden on quarterback Anthony Richardson and plans to bring in a veteran to push the third-year passer.
Ballard is fortunate to be invited back, given his nine-year run with the Colts includes a 62-69-1 record and zero division titles.
