NFC combine preview: Position group to watch for each team

The annual NFL Scouting Combine has begun in Indianapolis. Live drills begin Thursday with defensive linemen and linebackers, followed by drills Friday for defensive backs and tight ends, Saturday for quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs and Sunday for offensive linemen.

As determined by Yardbarker NFL writers, here are the position groups each team in the NFC should be focused on most.

NFC East 

DALLAS COWBOYS | Offensive line | With starting center Tyler Biadasz and left tackle Tyron Smith becoming free agents, the team must reinforce the offensive line. Washington tackle Troy Fautanu — the Morris Trophy winner as the Pac-12's best offensive lineman in 2023 -— can play all five line positions, but another versatile player (BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia, perhaps) could catch Dallas' eye during O-line drills Sunday.  

NEW YORK GIANTS | Wide receiver | If the Giants aren’t thinking quarterback at the top of the draft, they’ll take a long, hard look at Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. (although not at the combine). They could also upgrade their 31st-ranked passing offense with a big receiver, such as Florida State’s 6-foot-4, 215-pound Keon Coleman or the 6-foot-7, 237-pound Johnny Wilson.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Running back | What this year’s draft lacks in high-end running back talent, it makes up for with several late-round options for the Eagles to see Saturday. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen would fit perfectly in new coordinator Kellen Moore’s offense, and Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright could be one of the draft’s biggest sleepers. 

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Edge-rusher | After trading defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline, the Commanders finished the year ranked 26th in sacks (39). New HC Dan Quinn’s defense needs pass-rushers, so expect him to look closely Thursday at mid-round talents such as Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus and the first-team All-American Jonah Elliss from Utah. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Wide receiver | Marquise Brown, a pending free agent, was the only Arizona wide receiver to catch more than 40 passes in 2023. The 2024 class is loaded with wide receivers, and with the No. 4 overall pick, Arizona should be in a prime position to get whoever it determines to be the best wide receiver in the group.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | Defensive backs | After trading Jalen Ramsey before the start of the 2023 season, the Rams do not have any difference-makers in the secondary — that is especially true at cornerback. That resulted in a defense that finished 20th against the pass this season and should leave L.A. searching for a potential shutdown corner with its first-round pick (something they have not had since the 2016 NFL Draft).

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Offensive line | The 49ers do not have many pressing needs, but offensive line is probably the closest thing to it. With left tackle Trent Williams turning 36 this season and the right side of the line (Spencer Burford and Colton McKivitz) not special, the 49ers should make themselves familiar with the top offensive line prospects during Sunday's live drills.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Defensive line | The Seahawks have ranked 25th in the NFL in points against in each of the past two seasons, and a lot of their problems start along the defensive line. In 2023, Seattle had one of the worst run defenses in the league and did not generate enough of a pass rush from the interior. Seattle should be attentive during D-line drills Thursday. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | Quarterback | If the Bears still aren't sold on Justin Fields, their focus should be on the deep QB draft class — as many as eight QBs could be off the board by pick No. 100. USC QB Caleb Williams is widely believed to be the consensus No. 1 pick, but it would behoove Chicago to see how he stacks up alongside North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, neither Williams nor Daniels will throw at the combine. 

DETROIT LIONS | Defensive back | After finishing 27th against the pass last season, Detroit must find help for its secondary, so expect the Lions to be attentive during Friday's live drills for DBs. In the early rounds, Detroit could target corners Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri), T.J. Tampa (Iowa State) and Kalen King (Penn State) or safeties Tyler Nubin (Minnesota), Javon Bullard (Georgia) and Calen Bullock (USC).

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Offensive line | The Packers didn't select an offensive lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with needs at center and guard as well as left tackle if veteran David Bakhtiari gets cut or retires, the franchise should take a hard look at the position group Sunday. While the top-end O-lineman won't fall to the Packers at No. 25, there should be plenty of options late in the first round, including Amarius Mims (Georgia), Troy Fautanu (Washington), Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) and Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma). 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Quarterback | Regardless of what Kirk Cousins does, the Vikings still have a huge question at quarterback and should be first in line to see the group work out Saturday. With the No. 11 pick in this year's draft and enough future assets to trade up, Minnesota could focus on the top prospects — Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels — while also getting a first-hand look at J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix Jr. (Washington). — Mike Santa Barbara 

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Quarterback | Priority No. 1 in Atlanta during the offseason is solving its conundrum at the sport’s most important position, and with 14 quarterbacks at the combine, it will have its share of prospects to analyze. The Falcons could trade up for either one of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye, or perhaps a quarterback on the second tier (Bo Nix, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr.) catches their eye in Indy.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Wide receiver | They’re out of the running for the top receivers in the draft class, but the Panthers will likely still have intriguing prospects to choose from at No. 33 overall. (The Bears own Carolina's first-round pick, the top overall selection.) Adonai Mitchell (Texas), Ladd McConkey (Georgia) and Keon Coleman (Florida State) will potentially be available, making this a crucial week to see how their measurables stack up against the rest of the class.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | The trenches | New Orleans needs help on its offensive and defensive lines, and there are plenty of prospects who can help turn those units around in 2024. JC Latham (Alabama) is the top offensive tackle in the draft, according to NFL.com, but some mock drafts have him as the fourth or fifth tackle off the board. Defensive tackles Kris Jenkins (Michigan), Braden Fiske (Florida State) and T’Vondre Sweat (Texas) could be options in the second round.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Offensive line | The Bucs have ranked last in the NFL in rushing the past two seasons mostly due to one of the league’s worst offensive lines. Left guard and center are the two most pressing needs, which make Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson or Duke’s Graham Barton players worth taking notice of at the combine during O-line live drills Sunday. — Eric Smithling