The biggest need for all 32 teams heading into the NFL draft

No matter how much money you spend in free agency, there's always going to be an unsolved problem going into the draft.

Many teams go into the draft this week looking for the best available player, but they also understand the weaknesses of their rosters. While a team might not ignore a great player who falls too far, it also has an eye on the holes that still need to be filled.

Here is the top remaining need for every NFL team heading into the draft, counting down in original first-round draft order, before any trades or pick forfeitures:

 

1. Tennessee Titans
Biggest need: Offensive tackle

It couldn’t have been easy for the Titans to trade the No. 1 pick and pass on Laremy Tunsil, a potentially great left tackle who fills the team’s biggest need. But the offer from the Rams was impossible to refuse. The Titans have the 15th pick now, and might move back up into the top 10 for their tackle.

2. Cleveland Browns
Biggest need: All skill positions

 

You could pick any of the skill positions. It’s shockingly thin at quarterback, running back and wide receiver (tight end is fine with Gary Barnidge, but he turns 31 in September). The players at those positions in Cleveland would have a tough time starting anywhere else in the NFL.

 

3. San Diego Chargers
Biggest need: Offensive line

The Chargers have tried to patch together the line the past couple years, but an anchor would be nice. That’s why it’s hard to see them passing on Tunsil at No. 3.

4. Dallas Cowboys
Biggest need: Cornerback

 

With Byron Jones seemingly settled in at safety, the Cowboys need to figure out cornerback again. If the draft goes quarterback-quarterback-Tunsil, then Jalen Ramsey will be right there for them to scoop up.

 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest need: Linebacker

 

Paul Posluszny is a star, but he’s going to be 32 this season and has had his share of injuries. They need an influx of talent here. Myles Jack should be there, but there are concerns about his knee.

 

6. Baltimore Ravens
Biggest need: Cornerback

 

The Ravens aren’t in terrible shape across the board, but the secondary wasn’t great last year. They’ll still take the best player available at No. 6, as they should.

 

7. San Francisco 49ers
Biggest need: Pass rusher

 

The 49ers had more than $50 million in cap room to fill some holes and … well, they did practically nothing in free agency. So they come to the draft with a lot of pressing needs. Quarterback probably should top the list, but with Colin Kaepernick’s status up in the air, let’s go with pass rusher for a team that had just 28 sacks last year.

 

8. Miami Dolphins
Biggest need: Running back

 

There’s a reason the Dolphins were linked to so many running backs this offseason. After letting Lamar Miller go, they need one, even if it's just a mid-round pick to pair with 2015 rookie Jay Ajayi.

 

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest need: Cornerback

 

There’s a reason every mock draft has the Bucs taking a corner. Adding Brent Grimes can stop the bleeding a bit, but more help is needed. Taking multiple cornerbacks shouldn’t be out of the question.

 

10. New York Giants
Biggest need: Receiver

 

Linebacker could top the list too, but at some point the Giants will need to find someone to complement Odell Beckham. Even if Victor Cruz finds his old form, depth is needed. If Cruz is never the same, it’s really thin.

 

11. Chicago Bears
Biggest need: Offensive line

 

Perhaps Charles Leno continues to develop and he’s the long-term answer at left tackle, but there’s risk there, and there are holes elsewhere along the line too.

 

12. New Orleans Saints
Biggest need: Defense

 

Defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and maybe safety — the Saints need it all. Just about any high-end defensive prospect in this draft, no matter the position, could start for the Saints from Week 1. Yet, their big free-agent addition was a tight end and there are rumors they might draft a quarterback in the first round this week. So who knows what they'll do. 

 

13. Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest need: Cornerback

 

None of the Eagles’ cornerbacks had a good 2015. Byron Maxwell is gone, too. There were some cheap free-agent fixes, but they need to draft a corner or two.

 

14. Oakland Raiders
Biggest need: Secondary

 

For the first time in a long time, the Raiders don’t have a glaring need going into the draft. I still think they could use some youthful reinforcements at safety and some depth at corner.

 

15. Los Angeles Rams
Biggest need: Quarterback

 

The Rams sending a million picks to the Titans to move up to No. 1 should tip you off to what they felt their biggest need was.

 

16. Detroit Lions
Biggest need: Safety

 

There are also some questions at cornerback, but the Lions have a few veterans at safety without one standout. Grabbing a playmaking safety early in the draft should be a priority.

 

17. Atlanta Falcons
Biggest need: Pass rusher

 

Vic Beasley could still turn into a top rusher, but this is a team that had an unfathomable 19 sacks last season. That was worst in the NFL, obviously. Inside linebacker is a need too, but nothing on the defense works if they can’t rush the quarterback.

 

18. Indianapolis Colts
Biggest need: Offensive line

Last year should be a blaring alarm for the Colts: Protect Andrew Luck better, or else. They can’t run the offense they want if they can’t give Luck time to throw, and they need to keep their quarterback healthy as well.

19. Buffalo Bills
Biggest need: Defensive end

 

Losing Mario Williams isn’t a huge deal because Williams never showed up last season. But the Bills, a pretty solid team on paper, could use a second pass-rushing end to go with Jerry Hughes.

 

20. New York Jets
Biggest need: Left tackle

 

We’ll assume Ryan Fitzpatrick comes back, but if he doesn’t then “quarterback” is the obvious priority. Whoever plays quarterback, he’ll need to be protected, and the Jets need to figure out a replacement left tackle after mainstay D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired.

 

21. Washington Redskins
Biggest need: Wide receiver

 

Receiver isn’t a huge need in 2016, but Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson are set to become free agents after the season, and even if they return they’ll each be 30 years old. Washington needs to address the issue now.

 

22. Houston Texans
Biggest need: Defensive line

 

Yes, a little strange to list defensive line as their need when they have maybe the greatest defensive end ever. But J.J. Watt doesn’t have much help. A tackle is needed, with Vince Wilfork nearing the end, and the other end spot is pretty thin.

 

23. Minnesota Vikings
Biggest need: Possession receiver

 

Here’s why the Mike Wallace acquisition never made sense: Teddy Bridgewater does many things well, but he’s not a deep thrower. Wallace does almost nothing well except run deep. What Bridgewater needs is a true go-to possession receiver, a target he can look for on third downs.

 

24. Cincinnati Bengals
Biggest need: Wide receiver

 

I don’t blame the Bengals for not re-signing Marvin Jones or Mohamed Sanu, because each of them got overpaid in a weak free-agent market for receivers. But the Bengals do still need receivers, and while Brandon LaFell is a quick fix, they need more than that.

 

25. Pittsburgh Steelers
Biggest need: Cornerback

 

The Steelers can probably get by at safety for another year, but cornerback is a big area of need. If Pittsburgh is going to live up to some of this Super Bowl contender hype, the secondary needs to improve.

 

26. Seattle Seahawks
Biggest need: Center

 

When you trade Max Unger, as the Seahawks did last year to acquire Jimmy Graham, you need to replace him eventually. Seattle could use some help everywhere on the line, but it seems the line could really use an elite center as an anchor.

 

27. Green Bay Packers
Biggest need: Inside linebacker

 

It says a lot about the Packers’ inside linebacker issues that Clay Matthews had to move there last season. That can’t happen again. Since, of course, they didn’t sign a free agent to help, they better draft a three-down inside linebacker.

28. Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest need: Cornerback

The Chiefs made a nice pick with Marcus Peters in the first round last year, but they need cornerback depth again after losing Sean Smith in free agency. Don’t rule out the Chiefs going quarterback early either; they need an heir to Alex Smith and a competent backup.

29. New England Patriots
Biggest need: Offensive tackle

 

Injuries and Von Miller exposed the Patriots’ lack of offensive line depth in the playoffs last season. There aren’t too many glaring holes on the roster, which is good because they don’t have their first-round pick.

 

30. Arizona Cardinals
Biggest need: Pass rusher

 

It’s pretty amazing that the Cardinals got Dwight Freeney off the scrap heap and he produced a solid season. The Cardinals need to more permanent solution to their edge pass rush issues (Chandler Jones is slated to become a free agent after this season), however.

 

31. Carolina Panthers
Biggest need: Offensive tackle

 

The Panthers have done a remarkable job mixing and matching at the tackle spot the last couple years. Eventually, you’d figure they’d want someone to be a foundation of that line. Depth at running back is also a bit of a concern for a run-first team.

 

32. Denver Broncos
Biggest need: Quarterback

 

What else could it be? Nobody quite knows John Elway’s plan to replace Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler. It will be very interesting to see what happens if there’s an intriguing quarterback prospect still on the board when the Broncos are on the clock.