With only a couple of months until training camp is scheduled to open, some teams still have holes to fill or issues to address for 2020. Here's a look at one remaining headache for each of the 32 NFL teams.
Arizona made some terrific personnel moves this offseason, headlined by the acquisition of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The team could be in position to make a big jump in 2020, but the offensive line will need to hold up for the Cardinals to reach their offensive potential. Kyler Murray was sacked a league-high 48 times last season, and the team has made minimal improvements to the line.
Atlanta's secondary struggled last season, allowing 7.3 yards per pass attempt and 245 yards passing per game. As a result, it wasn't a surprise that the Falcons used a first-round pick on cornerback A.J. Terrell, and the Falcons also hope safety Keanu Neal can stay healthy after missing most of the last two years. The Falcons desperately need better play from both of those spots.
Baltimore has sported one of the better offensive lines in the game in recent seasons but now has some questions on the interior following the retirement of Marshal Yanda. The team addressed their depth by taking Tyre Phillips and Ben Bredeson within the first four rounds of the draft, but filling Yanda's shoes will be no easy task.
Cornerback Tre'Davious White is one of the league's best corners, but the depth behind him has been shaky recently. Buffalo took a flier on former Carolina and Washington cornerback Josh Norman, who has a history in head coach Sean McDermott's defense but has struggled recently. One of the league's top defenses last season, the Bills hope they've addressed one of their weakest links with Norman.
The Panthers are in rebuild mode and blew up much of their offense from last season. The most notable loss was star linebacker Luke Kuechly, who shockingly retired, but there have been major changes at all three levels of the defense. Carolina used its entire draft on defensive players, and the youth of the defense should make this unit a major work in progress.
Mitchell Trubisky struggled in his third NFL season, and the Bears acquired former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles to challenge him. The writing is on the wall for Foles to become the starter considering his high salary and the Bears turning down Trubisky's fifth-year option, but an abbreviated offseason could make it tougher for Foles. Either way, Chicago needs better play at the position.
The Bengals made several significant defensive moves, but their offensive line remains a concern. The team is counting on 2019 draft pick Jonah Williams to return from injury but has concerns at several other spots as it tries to protect No. 1 overall draft choice Joe Burrow.
Baker Mayfield regressed considerably in his sophomore season, throwing 21 interceptions and leading the Browns to a 6-10 record. The Browns hired former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski to run the team and help fix Mayfield, who could be in a do-or-die season after last year's struggles.
The Cowboys and Prescott have been in negotiation mode for over a year, and the wait will likely cost Dallas considerably after Prescott had a career year in 2019. The team added insurance this offseason by signing Andy Dalton, and there's reason for fans to get a little more nervous as we get closer to training camp regarding Prescott's contract situation.
Denver's offensive line has been weak in pass protection during recent seasons, as former first-round pick Garett Bolles has struggled to develop. He could be challenged for his starting spot in training camp, and the team is also hoping third-round pick Lloyd Cushenberry to win the starting center job. The Broncos need the line to hold up as Drew Lock develops in his second season.
Despite signing defensive end Trey Flowers for huge money last offseason, the Lions had one of the worst pass rushes in the league during 2019, getting to the quarterback on only 4.4 percent of dropbacks. They tried to remedy the situation by signing former Patriot Jamie Collins and drafting defensive end Julian Okwara in the third round. The development of the pass rush could go a long way in head coach Matt Patricia maintaining his job.
Aaron Rodgers struggled to find consistent receiving options for much of last season, but Green Bay's only notable receiving addition was Devin Funchess. To add further insult for Rodgers, the Packers drafted quarterback Jordan Love with their first-round pick. The Packers are still hoping Marquez Valdes-Scantling can take a step forward in his third year, but the lack of an impact move to help Rodgers is disappointing.
Houston had trouble with the pass rush for much of last season, trading Jadeveon Clowney before Week 1 and losing J.J. Watt to injury. The Texans' sub-5 percent sack rate was fourth worst in the league, but they're hoping for better health from Watt and early-round draft picks Ross Blacklock and Jonathan Greenard to contribute.
The Colts have reason to be optimistic about 2020 after signing longtime Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, but it could take him some time to get comfortable. T.Y. Hilton remains a solid No. 1 receiving option, but behind him are unproven youngsters Parris Campbell, Michael Pittman Jr., and Zach Pascal. The Colts also lost tight end Eric Ebron in the offseason.
Jalen Ramsey's trade demand was a distraction for the Jaguars early last season, and now they have a similar issue from a prominent defensive player. Ngakoue has been one of the team's most consistent pass rushers in recent seasons and has clearly stated that he wants a change of scenery. Jacksonville has yet to find a trade partner in what could become a bigger distraction if the situation is unchanged during training camp.
The Chiefs have retained most of their Super Bowl roster. One question that remains unanswered is Jones' contract, as the star defensive tackle was franchised but has yet to agree to a long-term deal. Kansas City has several other defensive tackle options, but none comes close to Jones' dominance, with 24.5 sacks over the last two seasons. The hope is that the two parties can get the contract situation ironed out before training camp.
Wide receiver was a big issue for the Raiders last year after the team released Antonio Brown. Free agent signing Tyrell Williams was miscast as a No. 1 wideout, but the team hopes speedy Henry Ruggs III can fill that role soon. He wasn't the most productive receiver at Alabama, but he was the flashiest. The Raiders also drafted wideout Bryan Edwards in the third round and signed former Eagle Nelson Agholor, but counting on all of the new faces to make a difference in 2020 could be difficult.
The Chargers have had strong quarterback stability since 2002 between Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, but that's set to change this year. Veteran Tyrod Taylor looks like the favorite to open the season as the starter while rookie Justin Herbert gets comfortable. It remains to be seen if either quarterback can help the Chargers win consistently this year.
The Rams cut Todd Gurley in a cost-saving move and enter 2020 with a three-headed monster of Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown and rookie Cam Akers. All three backs are unproven as regular ball carriers, but the team is hopeful the trio can adequately replace Gurley.
Ryan Fitzpatrick served relatively well as Miami's starting quarterback last year and is set to begin 2020 as the starter. He's still been an inconsistent option in the past when teams have relied on him, and first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa is the clear long-term answer. However, Tagovailoa is still rehabbing a broken hip, and it remains to be seen if Miami wants him on the field this year. The situation could be fluid as the Dolphins try to rebuild.
Minnesota has had an elite defensive line for several years but faces some major changes this year after losing Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph. Superstar Danielle Hunter remains in the fold, but there are questions opposite him and Michael Pierce is being counted on to replace Joseph. The Vikings defense could regress if the line's play declines.
After 20 seasons with Tom Brady under center, the Patriots moved on in the offseason. He's likely to be replaced by second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham, but no one really knows how he will fare as an NFL starter. Bill Belchick has overcome many different situations to win, but another AFC East title this year would likely be his greatest and most difficult feat in his coaching career.
Run defense has been one of the Saints' strengths in recent seasons due to their linebackers, but there are questions heading into 2020.The team lost A.J. Klein in the offseason, and Kiko Alonso underwent his third ACL surgery at the end of last season. The Saints are all in for what could Drew Brees' final season, and they can't afford a decline from their linebackers.
New York struggled rushing the passer last year and lost Markus Golden in the offseason. The Giants are hoping for better production from Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence on the defensive line this year.
The Jets wide receivers have undergone some turnover this offseason and are arguably worse than last year. Gone is No. 1 wideout Robby Anderson, replaced by free agent Breshad Perriman and rookie second-round pick Denzel Mims. Joining up with incumbent Jamison Crowder, Sam Darnold could need time to get comfortable with his targets.
Wide receiver was a big issue for the Eagles last season and still could be a problem in 2020. The Eagles are counting on Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson to return from injuries, which isn't a given at their ages. First-round pick Jalen Reagor adds some flash, but rookie wideouts are often a crapshoot.
James Conner struggled to stay healthy in his second season as Pittsburgh's starting running back, and the team's depth also failed to fill the void. The Steelers drafted Anthony McFarland, creating even more depth in their unproven backfield as they continue to look for a true bell cow back to replace the departed Le'Veon Bell.
The 49ers cured their wide receiver issues last year by trading for Emmanuel Sanders, but they failed to re-sign him in the offseason. The team drafted Brandon Aiyuk in the first round, hoping he can make a similar impact to what it got from Deebo Samuel last year. If not, the 49ers might need to look toward a trade or free agency again this year.
The loss of Frank Clark was felt on the Seahawks defense last year, even after acquiring Jadeveon Clowney. Now that Clowney is a free agent, the Seahawks could have even more trouble getting to the quarterback. They're hopeful for a rebound season from Jarran Reed and breakout from 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier.
The Bucs offense looks vastly improved with the additions of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and rookie tackle Tristan Wirfs. However, there are still questions at running back with Ronald Jones' enigmatic play and the addition of third-round pick Ke'Shawn Vaughn. Tampa Bay needs one of its backs to emerge for the offense to reach its potential.
Tennessee's pass rush was one of the weakest parts of its surprising 2019 squad, especially after losing Cameron Wake to injury. The team has also lost Jurrell Casey but hopes to make strides with the addition of Vic Beasley and development from second-year defensive end Jeffery Simmons.
Washington's offensive line struggled for much of last year and won't get much relief this season after trading Trent Williams. The team's quarterbacks were sacked on 9.5 percent of dropbacks last season, second worst in the league, and young quarterback Dwayne Haskins could use all the help he can get.
Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!