NFL teams that need to hit with a strong draft class

The 2024 NFL Draft is just two-and-a-half weeks away and there are still plenty of teams with plenty of roster holes that need plugging.

Below are five teams who really need to nail the draft after an underwhelming free-agency period.

1. Dallas Cowboys

After gassing up his fans with promises of making a free-agency splash in the name of being all-in on the 2024 season, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has signed a total of five players since the new league year, four of which were on the team last season.

Dallas has a pick in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, two picks in Round 7 and several holes to fill after losing many key starters from last season including running back Tony Pollard, left tackle Tyron Smith, center Tyler Biadasz, defensive end Dorance Armstrong and defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins.

Additionally, the Cowboys have lots of positions with little-to-no depth including offensive line, defensive line and receiver. Jones has his work cut out for him with the draft around the corner. It’s hard to see Dallas starting training camp with a roster that’s better than the one it had this time last season.

2. Buffalo Bills

The salary cap finally caught up to the Bills, who said goodbye to All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White, All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer, Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse and No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis, while also trading away All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs and edge-rusher Leonard Floyd.

Receiver Curtis Samuel has been Buffalo’s biggest offseason acquisition so far. And when he was a No. 2 WR behind Diggs, the move looked to be a great value get. But if Samuel has to act as Buffalo’s No. 1 wideout, it could be an issue.

The team added some solid depth pieces at quarterback, defensive tackle, cornerback and center, but Buffalo still has major holes to fill at receiver, edge-rusher, defensive tackle, safety and linebacker.

The good news is the Bills have 10 picks in the 2024 draft, including multiple selections in the fourth (two), fifth (three) and sixth (two) rounds, and an additional second-rounder next year that can be used as capital to trade up this year if needed.

3. Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson is no longer around, and the Broncos are not only hurting financially but they’re also talent deprived at several positions including quarterback, cornerback, defensive tackle, edge-rusher and offensive line.

Losing center Lloyd Cushenberry and linebacker Josey Jewell to free agency and trading receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns opened up three starting roles that need to be filled, and the team only has a little more than $17M to sign free agents and its draft class.

Denver doesn’t have a second-round pick this year, so whatever it does with the 12th overall pick needs to be a home run. After that, the Broncos don’t pick until 76th overall in the third round, but they do have three fifth-rounds and two sixth-rounders to work with. 

Denver won’t leave the draft with a strong roster, but it should definitely be better than what it has right now.

4. New Orleans Saints

Fortunately for the Saints, they didn’t lose too much in free agency with QB Jameis Winston and CB Isaac Yiadom being the biggest departures. The problem is the team hasn’t really added any players of note either except for edge-rusher Chase Young, who’s coming off neck surgery.

The O-line may need the most addressing with 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning still struggling to find his footing in the NFL and Ryan Ramczyk still battling knee issues. New Orleans also needs to add more depth at receiver after cutting Michael Thomas and placing the exclusive-rights tag on Rashid Shaheed.

Cornerback, defensive tackle and linebacker are also a little thin on the depth chart, meaning the bulk of the Saints’ nine picks could be used on defense. Also of note: the team doesn’t have a pick in Rounds 3 or 4.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Talk about taking on a daunting task in you first year as head coach. Jim Harbaugh steps into a situation where his starting running back (Austin Ekeler) walked in free agency, his best receiver (Keenan Allen) was traded and his second-best receiver (Mike Williams) was cut for cap-saving purposes, and he lost two starting linebackers (Kenneth Murray, Eric Kendrick) and his starting tight end (Gerald Everett). Oh, and he has to fix one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Most of the team’s signings this offseason — TE Will Dissly, RB Gus Edwards, CB Kristian Fulton, LB Denzel Perryman — have been top depth guys and not starters. Wide receiver is at the top of Harbaugh’s list of needs, followed by cornerback, offensive line, and running back.

L.A. is pretty well-stocked with nine draft picks, including two in Rounds 4 and 7, and its No. 5 overall pick could be a hot commodity if QBs go with picks 1-4 and a team is desperate enough to overpay to jump up and select Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. or LSU WR Malik Nabers. Free agency was a bust for the Chargers, but the draft could turn things around for them.

Honorable mention

Indianapolis Colts | Good for the Colts for keeping receiver Michael Pittman Jr., defensive tackle Grover Stewart, cornerback Kenny Moore and safety Julian Blackmon, but sadly backup QB Joe Flacco is arguably Indy’s biggest offseason addition.

New England Patriots | The Pats clearly emphasized signing their own players over those on the open market with quarterback Jacoby Brissett and running back Antonio Gibson the headliners of an underwhelming free-agent class.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Half of the team’s free-agent signings were holdovers from last year’s team, and edge-rusher Randy Gregory and safety Jordan Whitehead are Tampa Bay’s biggest splash signings to date.