Teams at the bottom of the NFL standings at the end of the season usually have more than one glaring need.
Now with just one more week of regular season play, it’s time to start taking a serious look at those needs. Following Week 17 the focus shifts dramatically to the 2016 NFL Draft in late April for the league’s worst teams.
The following teams are presented in reverse order, based on where things stood after the action in Week 16.
10. New York Giants (6-9)
Biggest need: Defensive backs
The back end of New York’s defense is a dumpster fire.
Rookie Landon Collins had a rough season and desperately needs help at free safety, and more cornerbacks are needed. While we saw some impressive individual play by Prince Amukamara, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Tevin Wade, they failed to play well together.
No defense in the league has given up more yardage through the air this season than the Giants have. Adding another pass-rusher or two couldn’t hurt, either, but the biggest issue is what’s going on behind the big boys up front.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9)
Biggest need: Offensive linemen
Because he’s a young, agile quarterback with excellent instincts, Jameis Winston wasn’t among the league-leaders in terms of taking sacks. Anyone who watched the Bucs for a while this year could tell you he was under an awful lot of pressure on a consistent basis, though.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line needs work across the board when it comes to pass-protection. The way it has performed paving running lanes for resurgent running back Doug Martin is noteworthy, but it’s not among the most dominant in the league in this department, either.
In particular, tackles Donovan Smith and Gosder Cherilous, along with center Joe Hawley have performed poorly.
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-10)
Biggest need: Defensive linemen
Baltimore’s defense has been atrocious this year, and it all starts up front. While it was certainly nice to see Timmy Jernigan take Sunday’s game over against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s not a normal occurrence.
Baltimore’s defensive front (including the pass-rushers on the edge) needs a complete overhaul.
While the team’s 34 total sacks (No. 18 in the NFL) looks halfway decent on paper, there wasn’t enough consistent pressure up front to generate many turnovers on the back end. Baltimore, with one game left, only has six interceptions this season.
7. Miami Dolphins (5-10)
Biggest need: Offensive linemen
For the third year in a row, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill finds himself among the top three in terms of quarterback sacks taken in a season. And while many sacks could perhaps be attributed to the quarterback holding on to the ball too long, he’s oftentimes left without a chance of success.
https://twitter.com/Cianaf/status/681216612016472065
It’s definitely a valid argument to wonder if Tannehill is worth big-time quarterback money. He has far too many times failed to deliver with real opportunities to make big plays.
However, one wonders if he’d be doing so poorly in those circumstances if he wasn’t being conditioned to fear defensive linemen.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)
Biggest need: Offensive line
Luke Joeckel is only just starting to live up to his No. 2 overall draft selection at left tackle, while Jeremy Parnell is a turnstile on the right side. Zane Beadles has been just as bad inside, and nobody has been real solid up front except for center Stephen Wisniewski.
Quarterback Blake Bortles was sacked 43 times this year, just one off the worst mark for the season. As a rookie last year he endured 55 sacks to lead the lead in that undesirable category.
Even in the middle of such challenging circumstances, the young passer is thriving. If the Jags get him some protection up front he’ll become one of the preeminent quarterbacks in the league.
5. San Francisco 49ers (4-11)
Biggest need: Quarterback
Watching Blaine Gabbert boldly attempt to wipe the “bust” label clean off his record has been an enjoyable experience. When he left Jacksonville it appeared his career was unsalvageable, but he’s been standing tall under pressure this season for the 49ers and has shown himself to be a capable backup.
But a franchise passer he’ll never be. And, it certainly appears the 49ers are convinced Colin Kaepernick is in the same boat. It’s going to be quite a shock if the downtrodden dual-threat quarterback is still on the team’s roster come April 1, when his 2016 salary is fully guaranteed.
With a probable top-five pick in their pocket and ammunition to potentially move up, the 49ers need to take another crack at landing the quarterback of the future.
Otherwise, there will be no future.
4. Dallas Cowboys (4-11)
Biggest need: Wide receiver
Yes, the Cowboys desperately need to address the quarterback position, but when Tony Romo is healthy there is still a void at receiver behind Dez Bryant. It’s still too early for Jerry Jones to spend a top pick on a quarterback, anyway, as Romo still has a few good years left, provided his vaunted offensive line does its job.
Adding another top receiver to the mix in Dallas would give the Cowboys the offensive firepower they need to take control of the NFC East like everyone thought they would this season.
3. San Diego Chargers (4-11)
Biggest need: Offensive line
Philip Rivers is still one of the NFL’s top passers. His stats in 2015 clearly illustrate this (No. 2 in passing yards, with 4,564), and he was performing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football and throwing to a receiving corps that was severely depleted by injuries.
Sacked 37 times, that number would have been significantly higher if not for the savvy decision-making of Rivers, who oftentimes throws the ball away when under pressure.
Investing heavily in offensive linemen who can pass-protect should be the first priority of the Chargers this offseason. Use the draft. Use free agency. Just get it done. RIvers is one of the best pure passers in NFL history, and it would be a shame if his final years were spent toiling behind a putrid offensive line.
2. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Biggest need: Wide receiver
Clearly, there are plenty of needs on Cleveland’s roster. One position the franchise doesn’t appear to need an upgrade in right now, though, is at quarterback.
After a frustrating game in Week 16 in which Johnny Manziel barely completed 40 percent of his passes and failed to get his offense lined up properly to spike the ball at the end, he received the support of one of the team’s defensive veterans (read more here).
The Browns may or may not get receiver Josh Gordon back after he was suspended indefinitely before this season. Even if he does return, Manziel could use another big receiver on the perimeter to make plays down the sidelines. Travis Benjamin may end up playing for another team if he hits free agency, and he has been awfully streaky this year, regardless.
1. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
Biggest need: Offensive line
What is it with franchises finally landing the quarterback of the future only to watch them get beat up for lack of protection up front?
Tennessee certainly fits this description. Marcus Mariota looks to be one of the brightest young signal-callers in the NFL right now, but he was banged up and missed games twice in his rookie season. He also has a talented young group of receivers and tight ends already locked and loaded, but the entire offense is being hampered by an inept offensive line.
Tennessee has allowed a total of 50 sacks this season, which is second only behind the 49ers. That’s got to change in the coming years, or all of Mariota’s promise will end up going to waste.