Dallas – I’d argue that Dallas’ need is a new head coach and owner; the Cowboys have talent enough to compete with anyone, yet a failure of leadership prevents the whole package from coming together. The Cowboys have no first round pick, (they traded it for Roy Williams), and no third rounder either (ditto), so they’re not going to be real active on draft day. They need help in the secondary, so that will probably be a draft day priority with their few picks.
New York Giants – The situation with Plax Burress remains unresolved, so look for the Giants to go for a wide receiver early on draft day, though they have spent numerous high picks on receivers over the last three years. They’d probably love a pro-ready guy like North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks, but he’ll probably be gone by their pick. Maryland WR Darius Heyward-Bey has speed to burn and might be under consideration as well. Drafting a playmaking OLB might be a Plan B if they can’t find a receiver they like in round 1.
McNabb could be getting some help on offense.
Philadelphia – The Eagles are sitting pretty, with two first round picks. A running back with one of them seems like a very likely option; Brian Westbrook’s odometer just hit 100,000, and longtime running mate Correll Buckhalter signed elsewhere as a free agent. Knowshon Moreno would make sense for them at 21, as might Donald Brown at 28. With the other pick, look for an offensive tackle. They signed Stacey Andrews, but lost Tra Thomas and will probably lose Jon Runyan as well. If Michael Oher falls to them, they’d be hard pressed to pass on him, but Arizona’s Eben Britton might be an option as well.
Washington – Their pass rush has been lousy for several years, and their latest attempt to fix it, trading for Jason Taylor, didn’t work out. A DE opposite Andre Carter would be their hope at #13, but it doesn’t look like the value is there unless Aaron Maybin somehow falls to them, which seems unlikely. Florida State’s Everette Brown might be another option.
NFC North
Chicago – As usual, the Bears were quiet in free agency, and will try to fill needs through the draft. And as usual, the Bears need some explosion on offense. They can get by with Kyle Orton at QB, and in any case, they’re not going to be able to upgrade significantly in this year’s draft unless Mark Sanchez falls to them. Nicks might be an option at 18, as might Heyward-Bey. Percy Harvin is a bit less of an option for them, since they don’t need his return skills with Devin Hester on hand, but he’s probably in the picture as well.
Detroit – Coming off an historic 0-16 season, we’ve neither the time nor space to list all Detroit’s needs. Suffice to say, the Lions could go for the best player available in every round and not be wrong. Baylor OT Jason Smith at the first overall pick would be a good start, though Aaron Curry and Georgia QB Matthew Stafford are in the picture as well. With extra picks in round 1 and 3, the Lions should be able to get their rebuilding project off to a good start and will surely make the offensive and defensive lines priorities.
Green Bay – Don’t be fooled by their 6-10 record; the Packers are in pretty good shape. They’re switching to a 3-4 defense, and will need to make a couple additions to make that work, starting with an end. Tyson Jackson would be a reach at #9, but he’s the only legit 3-4 end in round 1. They could take Maybin and try to upgrade at OLB, too. They’re set at the skill positions on offense, but haven’t resigned OT Mark Tauscher, so they could look for an OT, like Oher.
Minnesota – They can’t be thrilled with the Ryan Cook/Artis Hicks tag team at right tackle. The Vikings are a run-first offense, making right tackle a major priority. Britton or Oher (if he falls) could be the pick here. Alabama’s Andre Smith might be another option. Smith’s stock is plummeting, but he might be a quality right tackle at the NFL level. Harvin could make sense for them, too; their wide receivers are nothing special, apart from Bernard Berrian, and their return game could use a shot in the arm as well.
NFC South
Atlanta – Like Miami, they were heavily dependent on one player for their pass rush; John Abraham needs help, and the Falcons will try to get it in this draft. Tennessee DE Robert Ayers can rush the passer, as can Georgia Tech’s Michael Johnson, and both might be in the picture for their pick. Help at OLB would be welcome as well, and Larry English or one of the USC ‘backers might be an option.
Carolina – They need cap space, not draft picks. Julius Peppers is a free agent, and cap concerns have led the Panthers to shop him around the league. One assumes they’ll be trying to land at least a 2009 first round pick (they currently lack one), so it’s hard to say who they might be able to get in this year’s draft. Obviously, a DE to replace Peppers would be on the list, and they haven’t had a decent pass catching tight end since Wesley Walls.
New Orleans – They signed Jabari Greer, but their cornerbacks still are suspect, so that should be a priority on draft day. However, the top of the draft is not stacked with corners, so that probably won’t be their round 1 choice unless they really love Illinois’ Vontae Davis. Right guard will also be a need if they can’t come to terms with Jahri Evans, so they might consider Andre Smith and move him to guard. A running back could be another choice, as Reggie Bush can’t stay healthy and Deuce McAllister is gone now.
Tampa Bay – The Bucs seem ready to part ways with Jeff Garcia, and so a QB will be a draft day priority for them. Sanchez falling to them at 19 would be a dream come true, but they might well take the fast-rising Josh Freeman there. They have several holes to plug in the front seven, having cut loose starters Derrick Brooks, Cato June, and Kevin Carter. They also slashed-and-burned their receiving corps, letting Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard walk, so that will be a priority later in the draft.
NFC West
Arizona – The Cards can’t be thrilled with their running backs; Tim Hightower was a fine short-yardage option, but a guy between the 20s is needed. McCoy might be a nice fit for them. They also need to beef up the interior offensive line, and Alex Mack would make sense if he’s available at 30. Finally, the departure of Antonio Smith makes DE a need.
San Francisco – They’re obviously not thrilled with their QBs, and Sanchez makes a ton of sense for them at 10. Their wide receivers aren’t impressive, but that will probably take a back seat to the need at QB, and also, the concerns about their OLBs. Cushing might be a slight overdraft there, but he should be in the picture. Maybin makes plenty of sense as well, if he gets by the Packers at 9.
Seattle – This team’s a mess. It’s not like the Lions, where the roof just caved in; they’ve just systematically used resources poorly over the last few years and continue to do so. They let Maurice Morris and the criminally underrated Leonard Weaver walk to hang on to career underachievers Julius Jones and TJ Duckett. Their offensive line is in a shambles, as Walter Jones is winding down a Hall of Fame career, and the interior linemen are dreadful. Matt Hasselbeck is injured every year. They gave up 25 TD passes and just picked off 9 passes despite one of the best-paid secondaries in the NFL. Monroe or Curry should be the pick at 4, but God only knows what they’ll do.
Jackson and the Rams need some WR's heading into the draft.
St. Louis – See also: Seattle Seahawks. Terrible resource allocation and more needs than set positions. My personal favorite (or least favorite, depending on your point of view) story about the 2008 Rams was that they were reportedly offered a first round pick for Torry Holt at the trading deadline. They refused the deal so they could give Jim Haslett a fair shake at keeping the head coaching job. Then, after the season, they fired Haslett and cut Holt. If they’re lucky enough to have the Lions pass on Jason Smith, they should snap him up. Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree also has to be in the picture, if only because the Rams have never been able to turn down more offensive firepower.
