2 weeks Ago By BR NFL Scouting Department
Chaos erupted across the NFL at the end of the early Week 8 slate of games. The heavily-favored Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets both fell to division rivals on the road, while the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles pulled off road upsets. The No.
1 and No. 2 overall picks from the 2024 faced off for the first time, and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Jayden Daniels completed a hail mary to down Caleb Williams' comeback attempt. And through it all, the Kansas City Chiefs remain the league's only undefeated team almost halfway through the year.
Every week of the season, we'll assess the state of each roster with a particular focus on its weaknesses. By the end of the campaign, we'll have built a big board for every team based on its biggest needs and wants. Everything from immediate holes to fill to the offseason player carousel of free agency and the 2025 NFL draft is taken into account.
The weaknesses here are not just knee-jerk reactions to the weekend's games, but more an overarching assessment with both present and future roster-building in mind. All AFC teams are scouted by Alex Ballentine , and all NFC teams are scouted by Matt Holder . Further analysis of every NFL roster will publish each Monday throughout the regular season.
Chad Ryland's walk-off field goal gave the Arizona Cardinals back-to-back wins for the first time since 2021. Kyler Murray's 307 passing yards and two touchdowns along with Trey McBride racking up nine catches for 124 yards and Marvin Harrison going for 111 yards and a touchdown helped set up the game-winning kick, pulling the Cardinals into a tie for first place in the NFC West. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: DT Trysten Hill Especially with Bilal Nichols landing on injured reserve recently, the Cardinals could use some extra talent at defensive tackle.
While Hill's career has been a disappointment so far, the former second-round pick is only 26 years old and could be a part of the team's long-term plans. It's worth bringing him in and seeing what he's got for the rest of the year. 2025 Free Agency: EDGE Chase Young, New Orleans Saints Arizona could use some help at edge-rusher this offseason as Dennis Gardeck, Julian Okwara and Victor Dimukeje are all impending free agents.
Also, the front office is currently projected to have just under $120 million of cap space to work with, per Over The Cap . While Young hasn't quite lived up to the hype as a former No. 2 overall pick, he had a good year in 2023 with 7.
5 sacks. He only has 1.5 sacks so far this season, but he has managed to rack up 27 pressures on 223 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus , through Week 7.
Also, the Ohio State product is still young as he doesn't turn 26 until April. 2025 NFL Draft: OT Ajani Cornelius, Oregon Jonah Williams hasn't played since Week 1, and the Cardinals can get out of his contract to save about $10.4 million with a post-June 1 cut, per OTC .
Also, Kelvin Beachum is an impending free agent, so the organization might want to draft a right tackle this spring and the Oregon product could be a good mid-round option. "Cornelius has shown improvement this year as a pass protector with guarding against high-side, speed rushes to the corner by utilizing a circle punch technique that essentially is a looping motion with his outside hand around the outer half of the rusher," B/R's offensive line scout Brandon Thorn said. "While Cornelius has worked this into his game with some effectiveness, his lack of foot quickness and range still is a hindrance while he is liable to fall off of blocks in the run game due to streaky body control and upright playing style that leads to overextending.
But he brings good grip strength and excellent physicality to generate some flashy knockdowns. "If he can continue to figure out ways to shore up his footwork and leverage he will continue to elevate his draft stock." ( Previous Week's Selections: CB Josiah Scott, G Trey Smith, S Malachi Moore ) The Atlanta Falcons don't like making it easy, but the 31-26 win in Tampa Bay gives Atlanta the early lead in the NFC South.
Even more importantly, they own the tiebreaker over their biggest competition to the division crown with a 2-0 record over Buccaneers. Kyle Pitts had an especially impressive outing on Sunday, hauling in four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for EDGE Za'Darius Smith, Cleveland Browns As mentioned last week, the Falcons could use some more help at edge-rusher even after trading for Matthew Judon this summer.
Meanwhile, Smith was listed on B/R's NFL Trade Block Big Board this week and named as a good fit for the Dirty Birds. "Teams need pass-rushers, so Smith makes our top 10," B/R's Kristopher Knox wrote. "However, he ranks relatively low because trading him now would actually raise Smith's 2025 cap hit in Cleveland.
That's a problem for the Browns, who are projected to be $41 million over the cap. "..
.The Detroit Lions, who lost pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a season-ending leg fracture, should be interested if Smith can be had. The Atlanta Falcons, who have generated a mere six sacks through seven games, should also be interested.
" 2025 Free Agency: EDGE Jonathon Cooper, Denver Broncos Building on that, Judon and Lorenzo Carter are impending free agents and Smith is only signed through 2025, so Atlanta would still need some help on the edge even if it executes the trade above. Cooper may not be the most recognizable name on the open market this spring, but he's been a very productive pass-rusher over the last two seasons. According to Pro Football Focus , he generated 55 pressures on 421 pass-rush snaps in 2023 and is on pace to surpass that figure in 2024 with 29 on 194, heading into the weekend.
2025 NFL Draft: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota Kaleb McGary is only signed through 2025, so Terry Fontenot might want to consider drafting McGary's replacement this spring. While the Minnesota product would have to switch to the right side after primarily lining up at left tackle in college, he'd have a year to develop and has plenty of upside to turn into a quality pro. "Overall, Ersery is a long, tactful blocker with good play strength, competitive toughness, and enough athletic ability to stick at tackle in the NFL," B/R's offensive line scout Brandon Thorn said via the Gopher's scouting report .
"However, his upright playing style and average athletic ability likely cap his ceiling as a middle-of-the-pack starter." ( Previous Week's Selections: EDGE Melvin Ingram, CB Avonte Maddox, TE Tyler Warren ) The AFC North rarely allows for an easy trip to the playoffs or the No. 1 seed.
The Baltimore Ravens were reminded of that on Sunday in a 29-24 loss to a now-2-6 Browns team. The Ravens sorely missed Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. The Browns offense, which has struggled all season, was able to tear the secondary apart without its top two cornerbacks.
That was crucial when the Browns were allowed to drive 69 yards with just over two minutes left in the game and score the game-winning touchdown with 59 seconds left. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for WR Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams The Ravens find themselves in the thick of the AFC Championship race. Lamar Jackson is putting up another MVP caliber season thus far and the Ravens are just steamrolling teams with Derrick Henry and Jackson running the ball.
The Ravens' typical lack of receiving options has cropped up from time to time. Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews help quite a bit, but Baltimore would still benefit from adding to their receiving corps. Demarcus Robinson has continued to show a penchant for making big plays in big games with the Rams.
However, with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returning to the lineup from injuries the Rams might be willing to part with him. 2025 Free Agency: OT Cam Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars Ronnie Stanley isn't going to play forever and Roger Rosengarten still needs to develop into the starting role he holds as a rookie. With those two realities in mind, the Ravens might want to look into adding a tackle in free agency.
Cam Robinson is a solid starter who might need a change of scenery. Robinson isn't the best pure pass-blocker, but that matters less in the Ravens offense. They use fewer true pass sets than most teams thanks to their run-heavy, play-action offense.
It's a system that Robinson would thrive in. 2025 NFL Draft: CB Maxwell Hairston , Kentucky Cornerback isn't an immediate need for the Ravens, but it's still a position that could be on the table by the time the draft rolls around. Marlon Humphrey's knee injury is a reminder that he's 28 years old at a position that doesn't always age well.
Nate Wiggins is going to be part of the solution for a long time if he can stay healthy. However, the Ravens could still look into adding a corner like Maxwell Hairston in the spring. As a rookie he would be a depth addition for weeks like Week 7 when injuries can take a toll on the secondary.
Eventually, he would become the starter opposite Wiggins and form a new young, dynamic pairing in Baltimore. ( Previous Week's Selections : EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (trade), IOL Aaron Banks, OT Anthony Belton ) The rest of the AFC East is floating somewhere between middling and absolutely lost. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills continue to show that they are a legitimate threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC.
This time, it was with a dominant 31-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Bills didn't give up a touchdown until the fourth quarter and James Cook went for 111 yards on 17 carries. This isn't just a team that relies on Josh Allen to be perfect.
They can win in a variety of ways and that's a way to be scary in January and February. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for EDGE/LB Jamin Davis, Washington Commanders Jamin Davis was a 2025 free-agent suggestion a few weeks ago, but injuries at the linebacker position continue to play a factor for the Bills. Both Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard got banged up against the Titans a week ago and they are already behind on depth with Matt Milano out.
Davis has not lived up to his billing as a former first-round pick and the Commanders have experimented with him playing some snaps as an edge-rusher. He could bring a different element to the Bills linebacker room and help out as a pass-rusher too. 2025 Free Agency: IOL Liam Eichenberg, Miami Dolphins It's not clear that Liam Eichenberg would be starting for the Buffalo Bills' current offensive line.
It's also not clear that he'll be starting for the Dolphins next season. The former Notre Dame blocker has been lined up all over the place in Miami over the last few seasons. He hasn't excelled at any of them, but he's shown enough to be a utility backup who could have a long NFL career.
The Bills could use some interior depth and Eichenberg's ability to line up at all three spots would make him a good fit. 2025 NFL Draft: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama Buffalo has a good pass rush right now, but it's unclear how much longer they'll be able to rely on Von Miller to help in that department. A.
J. Epenesa and Gregory Rousseau are locked in beyond 2025, but Dawuane Smoot and Casey Toohill are still under contract. Rather than bring those two veterans back, the Bills would be better off turning to the draft to re-stock the front.
LT Overton is a prospect who has done a lot to help his prospect this season. "At 6'5" and 283 pounds, Overton is a big dude who is pretty good versus the run. He has pop in his hands and takes on blocks with good leverage and has good block recognition against the run, too," B/R scout Matt Holder noted.
"As a pass-rusher, Overton has solid lateral movement skills and a decent rip move, but his use of hand and bend are sub-par right now." ( Previous Week's Selections : None, CB Asante Samuel Jr., LB Jay Higgins) At this point, the Carolina Panthers should be more focused on the future than what the scoreboard says at the end of the end of games this season.
So, seeing rookie Xavier Legette score his third touchdown of the season is one silver lining to take away from Sunday. Also, fellow rookie wideout Jalen Coker managed to lead the team with four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown to provide some more optimism. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade WR Diontae Johnson While the Panthers acquired Johnson via trade this offseason, the club has underperformed in the fall and should look to recoup draft capital by dealing the wideout since he's in a contract year.
Also, Johnson was recently listed as the No. 2 overall player on B/R's NFL Trade Block Big Board as he could fetch a decent return. "The Panthers should be interested in moving the impending free agent, especially given the evolving receiver market," B/R's Kristopher Knox wrote.
"According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, 'many around the league' are "keeping an eye" on Johnson. "With [Davante] Adams, [Amari] Cooper and [DeAndre] Hopkins off the table, Johnson's value should be extremely high. The 28-year-old has caught 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season despite playing for one of the league's most inconsistent offenses.
" 2025 Free Agency: CB Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints Michael Jackson's contract is about to expire, and he's underperformed this season. Additionally, Jaycee Horn's deal expires after the 2025 campaign and Horn has struggled to stay on the field in the past. In other words, Carolina could be in the market for a cornerback this offseason.
The front office should know Adebo well seeing as he's been in the division for the last four years. The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023, yielding just a 69.9 passer rating when targeted and earning an 80.
5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus . A broken femur ended his season early, but he was having a decent showing with a 67.0 rating when thrown at.
2025 NFL Draft: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama Austin Corbett was the team's starting center to begin the campaign until a torn bicep ended his season. Corbett is about to be a 29-year-old free agent this offseason, so Dan Morgan might be looking for someone to play in the middle of the offensive line and the Alabama product is an intriguing option to fill the void. "Brailsford is an undersized, twitchy center with an aggressive, physical playing style," B/R's offensive line scout Brandon Thorn said.
"With improved footwork as the year has gone on he has been able to increasingly beat defenders to the spot in the run and pass game, covering up targets and establishing first meaningful contact more often than not. "This has helped mask some of his play strength concerns, but they remain an issue periodically through games, specifically in his struggles to anchor down against powerful nose tackles. "While Brailsford's lean, angular frame and lack of sand is still a long-term concern, his athletic ability and competitive toughness are good enough to keep him in the conversation to be drafted somewhere in the first few rounds.
" ( Previous Week's Selections: Trade QB Bryce Young, CB Kristian Fulton, WR Tre Harris ) D'Andre Swift's 18 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown along with a late surge by Caleb Williams wasn't enough offense for the Chicago Bears as the team managed to score just 15 points. Still, Chicago had a chance to win the matchup between this year's No. 1 and 2 overall picks, only to have the city's heart get ripped out by a Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels.
The Bears remain in the playoff hunt at 4-3 but sit in last place in the NFC North, and they have to figure out how to win on the road as the team is 0-3 away from Solider Field. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for OL Daniel Brunskill, Tennessee Titans The Bears' offensive line could use some help as their top three biggest weaknesses are in the trenches. Meanwhile, Brunksil was listed as an honorable mention in this week's B/R NFL Trade Block Big Board column.
While the veteran lineman has been a backup this season in Tennessee, he'd be a good fit in Chicago since he has experience playing all five offensive line positions. So, the 30-year-old would provide the team with more offensive tackle depth and another option at guard or center. 2025 Free Agency: CB Kristian Fulton, Los Angeles Chargers While Tyrique Stevenson has been a solid player so far, Ryan Poles will have nearly $73 million of cap space to play with this offseason, per Over The Cap .
So, Poles should consider opening up the checkbook to find an upgrade at the second cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson. Fulton has been one of the most improved players in the NFL this season. Heading into this weekend, he had only allowed eight completions on 15 targets and a passer rating of 62.
1 to earn an 80.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus . 2025 NFL Draft: OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona Nate Davis was benched earlier this fall and the Bears would save $9.
5 million by cutting him in the offseason, per OTC . Also, Teven Jenkins is an impending free agent, so the club will be looking for some offensive line help in the draft, putting the Wildcat on its radar. "Savaiinaea is a solid overall run blocker using his wide-bodied frame, sound footwork and good spatial awareness to hit his aiming points with jolt on zone combinations, overtakes and backside cut-offs with enough burst to line up targets as a puller in Arizona's pin-pull series," B/R's offensive line scout Brandon Thorn said via lineman's scouting report .
"...
Overall, Savaiinaea is best suited inside at guard in the NFL, where his starter-level size, square power, and initial quicks can earn him a backup role with starter potential within his rookie contract." ( Previous Week's Selections: CB Jonathan Jones, G Will Fries, EDGE Mykel Williams ) The Bengals slow start to the season left them with little margin for error to become contenders in 2024. That margin for error got even smaller after taking a 37-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The defense's issues against the run reared their head again as Jalen Hurts had three rushing touchdowns and Saquon Barkley had 108 yards on 22 carries. On offense, the run game offered no help and the passing game just wasn't explosive enough to carry the day. They were limited to 2.
9 yards per carry and mustered just two touchdowns. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for EDGE Chase Young, New Orleans Saints Chase Young has been suggested as a 2025 free agent target here before, but it might be worth it for the Bengals to pay up a draft pick and acquire him now. For one, the Bengals are trying to claw their way back into the mix after a slow start.
Adding a talent like Young to the defense front can provide the injection of talent they need to turn the tide, get after the quarterback and bolster a run defense that really needs the help. The other advantage would be getting a half-season look at Young before determining what to do with him in 2025. 2025 Free Agency: CB Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas Raiders The Bengals secondary is making some progress, but there's still some work to do.
That work could get even more difficult as Mike Hilton ages into his 30s. He'll be 31 when next season starts and he has mostly held down the nickel role for the Bengals. Nate Hobbs has been good at playing on the inside and outside for the Raiders.
Cincinnati could use a younger player who is still experienced and has inside-out versatility. That's Hobbs if he makes it to the open market. 2025 NFL Draft: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State The Bengals have been rolling out Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard as their top pass rushers for a while now and they haven't really developed anyone who is ready to take over.
Myles Murphy hasn't been able to stay healthy enough and players like Joseph Ossai don't seem ready for bigger roles. The Bengals could give their defense a serious boost by taking Abdul Carter in the spring. The converted linebacker has been a disruptive force at Penn State and has a high ceiling as he continues to learn the nuances of the position.
( Previous Week's Selections : EDGE Azeez Ojulari, RB Chuba Hubbard, WR Tetairoa McMillan ) The Cleveland Browns made some major changes coming into Week 8. Ken Dorsey took over play-calling duties from Kevin Stefanski and Jameis Winston was named the starting quarterback after Deshaun Watson's season-ending Achilles injury. Both changes yielded positive immediate results for the Browns.
They looked like a different team in a 29-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Winston went 27-of-41 for 334 yards and three touchdowns. The win moves them to 2-6 which is a difficult hole to dig out of, but it's a huge sign of hope for the future that the Browns were able to get a win over a good division opponent.
Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Draft Picks The Cleveland Browns already started the selling process when they traded away Amari Cooper. With Deshaun Watson suffering a season-ending injury, it might be time to lean into the rebuild. The Browns are on the hook for Watson's massive contract whether he plays or not next season.
Given the cap gymnastics involved in dealing with his contract, there are a few veterans they might want to trade to stockpile picks and rebuild this roster on the cheap. Jack Conklin, Greg Newsome II and Za'Darius Smith were all featured on our trade block big board this week. 2025 Free Agency: EDGE Brandon Browning, Denver Broncos One of the biggest advantages the Browns have as an organization right now is defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
His impact on the defense was tangible last season and he's still doing the best he can with the Browns personnel issues right now. Schwartz needs pass-rushers who can get home. Myles Garrett is obviously a generational talent, but Za'Darius Smith's production has taken a sharp decline and the Browns just don't have the same depth they did last season.
Targeting at least one edge rusher who can change that would be a wise move. Brandon Browning would be an interesting project. He's a converted off-ball linebacker with some moldable traits.
2025 NFL Draft: QB Shedeur Sanders , Colorado It's still going to hurt financially, but Deshaun Watson's Achilles injury has opened the door for the Browns to move on at quarterback. The injury doesn't keep the Browns from having to pay the massive amounts that remain on his contract, but they do give reason to draft a quarterback this April and look for ways to get Watson off the roster. That means the Browns should be looking at all options at quarterback, including Shedeur Sanders.
B/R scout Dame Parson highlights the reasons that Sanders is considered a top pick. "Overall, Sanders' natural and pure passing abilities are the strength of his game. He is capable of winning from clean pockets and out of structure.
Sanders will pick defenses apart with his quick release and accuracy, especially if he's kept clean. He is a high-floor prospect with a good enough ceiling to buy into. With his experience and the challenges he has faced, he is worth betting on.
" (Previous Week's Selections: OT Walker LIttle, IOL Connor Williams, OL Will Campbell ) There's still over half a season left to play, but the Dallas Cowboys' playoff hopes are quickly fading. Sunday night's loss drops Dallas' record below .500 at 3-4 and two and a half games behind Washington for the division lead.
Also, the Cowboys are two games back from the Eagles for the NFC's final Wild Card spot and have four matchups in a row against teams with winning records. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for S Xavier Woods, Carolina Panthers The Cowboys could use some safety help as Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker haven't been playing well this season. Meanwhile, the Panthers are trending toward another rebuild and should be sellers at the trade deadline, so getting some draft picks for a 29-year-old who is in a contract year would be a smart move.
Woods began his career in Dallas and played for Mike Zimmer in 2021, so he has strong connections to the club. Plus, he's been a solid player this season and could help solve one of the defense's weaknesses. 2025 Free Agency: CB Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas Raiders Jourdan Lewis is playing well in 2024 and has proven to be a valuable nickel corner over the years.
However, he's entering the final year of his contract and turns 30 in August, so the front office might opt to let him walk and sign someone younger. Hobbs doesn't turn 26 until June and has proven to be a valuable slot defender for the Raiders. He's physical and not afraid to stick his nose in the running game, and he converges on receivers quickly to limit yards after the catch and rack up stops against the passing game.
2025 NFL Draft: DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon The Cowboys have struggled to stop the run over the last two seasons and their defensive tackles are part of the problem. Also, the team has several impending free agents at the position, including Osa Odighizuwa, Linval Joseph and Jordan Phillips. So, the Duck should be on Jerry Jones' radar, especially after one of his recent performances.
"In a huge matchup against Ohio State that every NFL team was watching, Oregon needed a defensive lineman to step up with Jordan Burch out," B/R said in its NFL Draft Trending Up column . "Harmon rose to the occasion. He made several notable plays against the run, including a forced fumble and recovery, and he was able to get pressure as a pass-rusher against elite competition.
"The 6'5", 310-pound defensive tackle certainly boosted his draft stock on Saturday as he projects to be a quality run defender with pass-rushing upside in the NFL." ( Previous Week's Selections: LT Cam Robinson, DT Bobby Brown III, WR Evan Stewart ) The Denver Broncos continue to make a case that they are a good team. No one is going to make too much of a win over the Carolina Panthers in a vacuum, but the Broncos' 28-14 win was their fifth victory in their last six games.
Bo Nix built a lot of confidence, he stockpiled four total touchdowns and 284 passing yards. The next two weeks should tell us just how real the Broncos are with back-to-back road trips to Baltimore and Kansas City. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: C Mason Cole The Broncos came into the season with a question mark at center.
Lloyd Cushenberry left in free agency and Denver didn't do much to replace him. Luke Wattenberg got a chance but had plenty of struggles and is now on injured reserve with an ankle issue. Alex Forsyth has taken over and been alright, but the Broncos might want to look to the free-agent market to find someone else.
Mason Cole isn't the best option, but he did start every game at center for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 and 2023. Bringing him on to see what kind of shape he's in and whether he might be an upgrade is worthwhile. 2025 Free Agency: S Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins Whether it's PJ Locke or Devon Key, the Broncos could probably look for an upgrade at the safety position opposite Brandon Jones.
The latter carried the sixth-highest grade among safeties by PFF going into the week. The pairing of Jones and Jevon Holland wasn't bad when they were playing together with the Dolphins. The two have complementary skillsets and should already have established communication.
That could help the Broncos as they continue to build their secondary around Patrick Surtain II. 2025 NFL Draft: RB Quinshon Judkins , Ohio State Javonte Williams has looked better in recent weeks, but it's the unfortunate reality that a running back with his injury history is going to have a hard time getting a second contract. The Broncos are likely better off looking to the draft to find another back they can run their offense with.
Considering Bo Nix's style, it's going to be important to have a back who can catch passes out of the backfield and force defenses to respect the run. Quinshon Judkins drew comparisons to Joe Mixon and Kareem hunt in his scouting report by Dame Parson. If he lives up to either of those he would be a real weapon in this blossoming Broncos offense.
( Previous Week's Selections : TE Evan Engram (trade), EDGE Jonathan Cooper, EDGE LT Overton ) We've reached the halfway point of the season, and the Detroit Lions are firmly in the discussion as the best team in the NFL. Sunday's 52-14 dominant win over Tennessee makes it five in a row for Detroit, and the team has scored at least 30 points in each of their last four games and has 40 in three out of the last four outings. Also, three out of its six wins are by at least two possessions.
Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for EDGE Chase Young, New Orleans Saints It might be belaboring the point, but until the Lions add a suitable replacement for Aidan Hutchinson, adding an edge-rusher is going to be suggested. Meanwhile, Chase Young was recently paired with the club and came in at No. 7 on B/R's latest NFL Trade Block Big Board column .
"Trading pass-rusher Chase Young, who is on a one-year, $13 million deal, would provide no 2025 cap relief [for the Saints]. However, it would net the Saints some valuable draft capital," B/R's Kristopher Knox wrote. "Young has tallied 1.
5 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures in seven games this season. "The Lions are a logical landing spot for any available edge-rushers, and they should be interested if Young is available." 2025 Free Agency: WR Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills While it's only a couple of games this time, Jameson Williams is suspended again and has proven that he can't be relied on to stay on the field.
So, despite Williams having a breakout campaign, Detroit should explore the wide receiver market with its projected $70 million of cap space according to Over The Cap . Cooper has been very consistent throughout his career with over 70 catches, 1,000 yards and at least five touchdowns in seven out of his nine full seasons. Also, he isn't an off-the-field concern and has missed at most two contests every year of his career.
The 31-year-old on the outside with Amon-Ra St. Brown in the slot would be a dangerous wide receiver combination in the Motor City. 2025 NFL Draft: EDGE Ashton Gillotte, Louisville Even if Brad Holmes strikes a deal for Young, the Lions will be looking for another edge defender in the spring.
Young is only on a one-year deal and Marcus Davenport will be an impending free agent as well. That should put the Louisville product on Holmes' radar as a mid-round pick. Gillotte (6'3 and 275 pounds) has good size and can with power as a pass-rusher.
While he may lack some quickness and twitch, he has plenty of strength at the point of attack to be a good complement on the other side of Hutchinson for several years to come. (Previous Week's Selections: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, EDGE Jonathan Cooper, IOL Tate Ratledge ) The Green Bay Packers picking up Josh Jacobs in free agency is starting to look like one of the more underrated additions from last offseason. Jacobs' 127 rushing yards (5.
1 ypc) on Sunday pushes him up to 667 yards on the year, and his two rushing touchdowns in Jacksonville were pivotal in Green Bay's 30-27 win. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, Tennessee Titans The Packers' defensive tackles haven't been particularly good this year. While Joseph-Day isn't necessarily a difference-maker, he could give the defense another reliable interior defender to turn to.
Also, the six-year veteran was ranked ninth on B/R's latest NFL Trade Block Big Board this week. "Defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day could bring valuable draft capital back to Tennessee. The 29-year-old is proving to be a terrific value on his one-year, $4 million contract.
Joseph-Day has appeared in all six games for the Titans, with four starts," B/R's Kristopher Knox wrote. "Despite playing just 43 percent of the defensive snaps, Joseph-Day has recorded 15 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss." 2025 Free Agency: OT Storm Norton, Atlanta Falcons There were talks of moving Zach Tom to center this past offseason and while that didn't come to fruition, it might next year when Josh Myers hits free agency.
If Tom switches positions, that would change Green Bay's top need in the trenches from center to right tackle and the Falcon is a decent replacement option. While Norton has been a backup in Atlanta, he has a good track record as a run blocker. The 30-year-old has earned a 69.
0 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus heading into Week 8 this season, and he should be a relatively cost-effective solution. 2025 NFL Draft: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas With Eric Stokes struggling in a contract year, the Packers' other major need in the spring will be at cornerback. So, the Texas product should be on Brian Gutekunst's radar seeing as he currently has a second-round grade on B/R's NFL Draft Big Board.
"His ability to play multiple positions, combined with his intelligence, physicality, and ball skills, make him an attractive option for teams seeking flexibility in their defensive schemes," defensive backs scout Cory Giddings said via Barron's scouting report . "Though he will need to improve his confidence in breaking on the ball and mitigate his speed limitations, Barron's versatility and toughness give him a chance to become a key contributor." ( Previous Week's Selections: CB Greg Newsome II, C Austin Corbet, EDGE Abdul Carter ) The good news is that the Houston Texans completed a regular-season sweep of the Indianapolis Colts with a 23-20 win.
The bad news is that it came with a cost. Stefon Diggs went down with a non-contact knee injury . That could spell trouble for the Texans as they have already lost Nico Collins for an extended period of time.
Fortunately, the defense was playing well and the offense was still able to do just enough to win. The Texans are still squarely in the playoff hunt in the AFC, but the injuries are starting to mount. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: LB Monty Rice The Texans continue to look like an AFC contender, but injuries are starting to mount on the defensive side of the ball.
Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o are both dealing with injuries and could use another linebacker that might be able to spell them to get healthy. The Atlanta Falcons just released Monty Rice after signing Rashaan Evans. That means Rice is in shape and has been practicing.
He was a part-time starter for the Tennessee Titans in three seasons there and could be passable in coverage. 2025 Free Agency: EDGE Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers The Texans could be a popular hotspot for veterans who want to make one last run at a ring next offseason. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
are a great pass-rushing duo, but the Texans could still add a third option to give them depth and flexibility with the defensive front. That's where Khalil Mack could come in. Mack is 33 years old and still playing the majority of the snaps for the Chargers.
It might be best for him to take a part-time role and still be able to put up real pass-rush production for a team who should be making a Super Bowl run next season. 2025 NFL Draft: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan Defensive tackle has been a popular position in this space. That's for good reason.
The Texans have at least one exciting, young player in just about every position group on defense. The interior of the defensive line is the only exception. DeMeco Ryans is building a potential powerhouse on defense.
A defensive tackle like Kenneth Grant could be one of the final missing pieces. The Michigan defensive tackle is a huge presence who will command double teams and still push the pocket. That opens up things for Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
on the outside. ( Previous Week's Selections : LB Channing Tindall (trade), IOL Teven Jenkins, DT T.J.
Sanders) Sunday was not a good day for the Indianapolis Colts, and it's going to take a great bounce-back performance to convince fans that it wasn't emblematic of a large problem. Anthony Richardson had the worst game that he has played in since the Colts drafted him. He was 10-of-32 for 132 yards through the air.
It's not all on him—that kind of stat line comes from poor offensive line play, questionable play-calling and Richardson's supporting cast. Still, it's not an encouraging sign for a team that is invested heavily in Richardson's development. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: No One The Colts have fought through several key injuries already this season, but the good news is that reinforcements are on the way.
Both DeForest Buckner and Jonathan Taylor returned to practice his week after lengthy stays on the injury list. However, both the defensive tackle and running back returned to practice this week. Help is already on the way in the former of returning players getting back to the lineup.
2025 Free Agency: EDGE Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders Malcolm Koonce is going to be one of the most interesting free agents of the 2025 cycle if the Raiders don't re-sign him. He went on a tear last season and looked like a breakout candidate with six sacks over the final four games of 2023. Unfortunately, he's missing the entire season with a knee injury.
That throws his free agency value into questions and could make him available on an affordable one year deal. That would be a great addition for Indianapolis to make. Laiatu Latu is making progress as a rookie but he came into Week 8 as the team's sacks leader with two.
More help is needed on the outside. 2025 NFL Draft: CB Denzel Burke , Ohio State The Colts have opted to wait on taking cornerbacks in recent drafts in favor of searching for hidden gems. They have tried to draft and develop Day 2 and 3 players to become starters for their defense.
There are still some promising young players, but they are far from becoming above-average options. Denzel Burke might be a cut below the top cornerback prospects in this class. Travis Hunter, Will Johnson and Benjamin Morrison are standing out early in the draft process, but the Colts might just win too many games to be in the running for those players.
Burke would certainly still be a good option. ( Previous Week's Selections : LB Devin White, CB Paulson Adebo, S Billy Bowman Jr. ) The Jaguars' 2024 downward spiral continued in Week 8 with a 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
On the bright side, the offense put together one of its best performances of the season after a sluggish start. Trevor Lawrence surpassed 300 passing yards for the second time this season. Unfortunately, they also suffered multiple injuries, including Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr.
That's going to leave the receiving corps decimated and make things even more difficult if any of the three are going to have to miss real time. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: WR Chase Claypool With all of the wide receiver injuries the Jaguars had to deal with on Sunday, it would be a good idea to go to the free agent pool to find one. The Jags are not in a position to be buyers at the trade deadline, but Trevor Lawrence needs to have weapons to at least bring some positive to this season.
Chase Claypool's maturity and focus have been questioned, but he is a talented wide receiver. The Jaguars might as well find out if he can turn his career around while they are in a bit of a desperate situation anyway. 2025 Free Agency: OT Garrett Bolles, Denver Broncos The Jaguars offensive line has been a weakness all season and someone is going to have to be the fall guy for the offensive struggles this season.
It's not going to be Trevor Lawrence. The quarterback just signed a massive extension and the Jaguars have to build a winner around him. From a personnel standpoint, it's the offensive line.
The Jaguars have not done a good job of protecting Lawrence and changes are likely to be made. Left tackle Cam Robinson is a free agent. It's not hard to picture them targeting Garrett Bolles as a possible upgrade over Robinson.
2025 NFL Draft: IOL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia The offensive line has become a glaring need for the Jaguars this season. It's clear that the team has not done a great job of protecting Trevor Lawrence and that shows up in their lack of offensive production. Brandon Scherff is one of the more talented linemen in the group, but he's 33 years old and in the final year of his contract.
Scherff was originally drafted as a tackle out of Iowa before ultimately carving out a career as an elite guard. Wyatt Milum could wind up following a similar path as B/R scout Brandon Thorn projects a move inside where it will be easier to mask some of the deficiencies he has in pass protection. ( Previous Week's Selections : Edge Arnold Ebiketie (trade), S Israel Mukuamu, OT Josh Simmons ) DeAndre Hopkins' Kansas City debut was a bit of a letdown.
The veteran receiver had just two receptions for 29 yards, but the Chiefs keeping their undefeated season rolling anyway. Kansas City continued to do what it needs to do every week. The style points aren't always there, but the defense is going to make it hard on opposing offenses every week.
The Chiefs sacked Gardner Minshew five times and held the running game to just 1.6 yards per carry. The Chiefs aren't perfect.
They couldn't run the ball either and they are still short on receiver, but they have a perfect record because they continue to find a way to win every week. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for CB Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints The Chiefs already swung a big move to make the trade when they acquired DeAndre Hopkins ahead of the deadline, however, they have enough salary cap flexibility to make another move. Going after a historic third Super Bowl could be motivation enough to really sell out and make an aggressive move.
Trading the Saints for Marshon Lattimore would certainly qualify. The talented corner could be inserted into the lineup to replace Jaylen Watson, who was just placed on injured reserve. The Saints have strong depth at cornerback and a messy cap situation so trading Lattimore wouldn't be surprising.
2025 Free Agency: S Andre Cisco, Jacksonville Jaguars Andre Cisco raised a few eyebrows when he told media that he saw "a lot of quit" in a Jaguars loss earlier this season. It's not been a fun season for the Jaguars, and the struggles will likely be front-of-mind for Cisco as he hits free agency in the spring. The Chiefs are going to want to take a good look at their free agent safety options in the spring.
Cisco has eight interceptions over the last two-and-a-half seasons and is only 24 years old. 2025 NFL Draft: WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami The Chiefs need for receiver depth has been exposed early in the season and it isn't going away. Part of the problem is that the Chiefs haven't really drafted well at the position.
Skyy Moore didn't do much and Xavier Worthy is a bit of a gadget player at this stage of his development. The Chiefs could opt for a more complete receiver in the draft this year. Xavier Restrepo would be a nice slot option that Patrick Mahomes would come to love.
"Xavier Restrepo is a detailed route-running slot receiver. He fits a timing and rhythm offense where the quarterback needs him to hit his landmark on time," B/R scout Dame Parson noted. "Restrepo is a man and zone coverage beater and chain mover to be a quarterback's security blanket on key passing downs.
" ( Previous Week's Selections : WR Mike Williams (trade), DT Bobby Brown III, S Xavier Watts ) The Raiders' season continued to disappoint with a 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at home. The defense actually did a great job of shutting down the Chiefs' ground game. Kareem Hunt had just 59 yards on 21 carries.
Outside of that, there wasn't a lot to get excited about. Gardner Minshew was sacked five times, Alexander Mattison had 15 yards on 14 carries and the Raiders moved to 2-6 on the season. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Draft Picks It's hard to see the Raiders being buyers at the deadline after dealing away Davante Adams.
There also aren't that many free agents that are more than a stopgap or depth add at this point. Dan Graziano of ESPN did report that the Raiders have a few players they might be interested in trading away. Specifically, he mentioned Jakobi Meyers, Cody Whitehair and John Jenkins.
The Raiders are likely to draft a quarterback this offseason. The more draft capital they have, the more ammunition they have to control the draft board. It wouldn't be a bad idea to deal at least one more veteran and add some picks to the stockpile.
2025 Free Agency: WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Raiders' decision to trade Davante Adams was probably the right one, but it leaves a massive hole in the Raiders offense. Replacing Adams is more than a one-man job, but whoever is playing quarterback for the Silver and Black next year is going to need help. Preferably, some of that help will come from a proven veteran.
Chris Godwin's future in Tampa Bay could be murky with Godwin suffering an ankle injury that ended his season. He was having a strong season before the injury, but he'll be 29 this offseason and is looking for a new contract. He would be an ideal candidate for the Raiders to bring in and anchor the receiving corps for a new quarterback.
2025 NFL Draft: IOL Jaeden Roberts, Alabama The Raiders are currently one of the worst run teams in the league. They came into Week 8 with the lowest EPA per rush and the offensive line has played a hand in that. Andre James, specifically, had the worst run-blocking grade from PFF going into the week.
If the Raiders were to draft another guard like Jaeden Roberts, they could move Jackson Powers-Johnson to center and keep Jordan Meredith at right guard. Here's Brandon Thorn on what Roberts can do and what he needs to work on. "Roberts is a wide-bodied, massive and physical presence who excels when he can square defenders up and get his hands on them early in the rep.
This offers his best chance of unleashing his considerable power to either engulf and tie up the bull-rush or displace targets in the run game." "The issues are shaky body control and footwork that lead to glaring breakdowns and too many clean losses against shifty defenders that he can't corral right away. Roberts is also rotated out of games (likely due to these issues) and looks to be an imposing presence in college who will have an uphill battle of sticking on an NFL roster long-term, at least until we can see significant improvement in his ability to sustain blocks and mirror quality pass-rushers.
" ( Previous Week's Selections : WR Terrace Marshall Jr., DT Osa Odighizuwa, QB Jalen Milroe ) The Chargers are 4-3 after a 26-8 win over the New Orleans Saints, but it's how well Justin Herbert is starting to operate Greg Roman's offense that is scary. Herbert doesn't have the best group of receivers, but he's starting to put up good numbers as he becomes more familiar with rookie receiver Ladd McConkey and Roman's offense.
The rookie was excellent against the Saints with six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Herbert even chipped in 49 rushing yards on four carries while the Chargers defense racked up five sacks. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade for WR Mike Williams, New York Jets The Chargers have a need at receiver.
Mike Williams has a proven connection with Justin Herbert. The dots connect themselves here. Sure, there might be some bad blood about the fact that the Chargers released Williams this offseason, but getting to reunite with Herbert on a better Chargers team than he last played with isn't all bad for Williams.
He hasn't really caught on with the Jets and Davante Adams coming to town isn't going to help his lack of targets. Coming back to Los Angeles could help get his career back on track. 2025 Free Agency: WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals Mike Williams would be a good trade candidate because it feels like the Jets could realistically deal him.
That's not the case for Tee Higgins. If the Bengals were going to trade their No. 2 receiver, it feels like they would have already done it.
Higgins is playing under the franchise tag and it's not likely he is coming back, but the Bengals seem content to play him for the rest of the this season. That should give the Chargers a borderline No. 1 receiver to target in free agency.
Ladd McConkey has played well and Quentin Johnston continues to flash potential, but Herbert does not have a receiver he can go to in critical situations. Higgins would become that guy for the Chargers pretty quickly. 2025 NFL Draft: EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, Georgia The Chargers are making a lot of progress in Jim Harbaugh's first year, but the roster still isn't quite his.
As Joe Hortiz and Harbaugh go about making this roster you can bet that there's a concerted effort to build out the front seven and the offensive line. At 6'2", 245 pounds Jalon Walker is a unique defensive talent for the Georgia defense. He plays off-ball linebacker but also comes up and becomes an edge-rusher.
He'd probably have to play a similarly versatile role, but defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has already proven to be a good defensive mind who could find the best way to use him. ( Previous Week's Selections : CB Jonathan Jones (trade), DT Tershawn Wharton, WR Kobe Hudson ) Over the last two years, the Los Angeles Rams have managed to dig themselves into early season holes. However, in 2023 they were able to climb out of it and make the playoffs, and Thursday night's win brings the team closer to .
500 in 2024 as they're primed to put together another turnaround. More importantly, Los Angeles got wide receviers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back as those two combined for 12 catches, 157 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: S Rudy Ford While John Johnson should return to the team soon to help alleviate the Rams' issues at safety, the team could use more assistance at the position.
Plus, it couldn't hurt to have another veteran around just in case Johnson isn't quite the same as he was at the beginning of the year. Adding Ford to the practice squad at the least would be a good move seeing as he has experience playing as a deep safety and in the box. He was a standout in coverage for the Packers last season, surrendering a 40.
9 completion percentage and 30.1 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus . 2025 Free Agency: TE Tyler Conklin, New York Jets Tyler Higbee hasn't played yet this season and will be entering a contract year in 2025.
Meanwhile, Hunter Long's deal expires at the end of the year, so Los Angeles could be in the market for a tight end this spring. Conklin could be a good target on the free agent market as he had a pretty productive run from 2021 to 2023, hauling in 180 catches for 1,766 yards and six touchdowns. Granted, his numbers are down so far this year—23 grabs, 198 yards and one score—but the Jets' offense as a whole has been a mess this fall.
2025 NFL Draft: WR Kobe Hudson, UCF Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson are impending free agents while Kupp turns 32 in the summer. In other words, Les Snead will likely be diving into this year's wide receiver class in the draft and the UCF product could be an intriguing mid-round prospect. "Hudson is a nuanced route runner who is advanced at setting defenders up with tempo and pacing," B/R's offensive skill position scout Damian Parson said.
"He is crafty and quick with his route leverage to separate in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. "Hudson is a reliable man coverage beater and plays with the toughness needed to thrive working between the hashes in the middle of the field. " ( Previous Week's Selections: C Mason Cole, CB Donte Jackson, OT Josh Simmons ) The Dolphins offense lives! At least they showed some signs of life in a 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Tua Tagovailoa's return to the lineup led to the Dolphins highest scoring output of the season. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to get the W against a Cardinals team that was able to expose the Dolphins secondary. Kyler Murray had over 300 yards passing with Marvin Harrison Jr.
putting up 11 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: CB Duke Shelley Wide receiver isn't the only position that has questionable depth for the Dolphins. The cornerback room is also very thin outside of Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller and Kader Kohou.
The Dolphins are not really in a position to justify a trade, but they might want to look at their free-agent options. Duke Shelley stands out as someone worth a look, he was briefly a starter for the Vikings in 2022 and allowed a 55.2 passer rating when targeted.
2025 Free Agency: IOL Aaron Banks, San Francisco 49ers Both Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg are set to hit free agency and the Dolphins have sorely missed Robert Hunt. The offensive line hasn't been good enough to help Miami get over the loss of Tua Tagovailoa and they didn't do a good job of protecting him in the first place. Aaron Banks could help fix the problem.
He has become a dependable starter for the 49ers so there's a good chance there would be some overlap in his skills and Mike McDaniel's system. 2025 NFL Draft: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State The Dolphins losing Tua Tagovailoa has exposed the fact that they don't have much going for them offensively if they can't get the ball to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Jonnu Smith had a big game in Week 7 that showed what a good tight end could do for this offense.
The problem with Smith is that he isn't a traditional in-line blocker and, thus, he's limited in his overall fit in Mike McDaniel's scheme. That shouldn't be an issue for Tyler Warren. He's recently started making the case to be the draft class's top tight end and he could help McDaniel figure out where to take the offense next.
( Previous Week's Selections : No One, Edge Josh Sweat, OT Cameron Williams) While it hasn't struck midnight just yet, it certainly feels like the clock is ticking for the Minnesota Vikings after Thursday night's loss to the Rams. Minnesota has now dropped back-to-back games and its last two wins were both by one possession, meaning the team hasn't been nearly as dominant as it was to begin the campaign. But the biggest loss the Vikings suffered this weekend was left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who is out for the year with a knee injury.
Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: LT Charles Leno Jr. With Darrisaw on the shelf, the Vikings need to bring in a veteran left tackle to keep their playoff hopes alive. Picking up Leno off the street would be a good option since he has several years of starting experience and has been stout in pass protection throughout his career.
Last season, the 33-year-old surrendered just 34 pressures on 631 snaps in pass protection for the Commanders, according to Pro Football Focus . 2025 Free Agency: S Andre Cisco, Jacksonville Jaguars Camryn Bynum's and Harrison Smith's contracts are about to expire, so Minnesota will likely be in the safety market this offseason. Meanwhile, Cisco will be a 25-year-old free agent this spring who should pique the club's interest.
He's shown off some impressive ball skills over the last three years, racking up eight interceptions and 19 passes defended during that timeframe. Also, the 2021 third-round pick is best as a free safety which would make him a good pairing with Bynum, if Bynum is re-signed, in Brian Flores' defense that uses a lot of two-high coverages. 2025 NFL Draft: IOL Tate Ratledge, Georgia Ed Ingram's starting spot is currently in jeopardy as Dalton Risner could take over once Risner is healthy and off injured reserve.
The latter is also an impending free agent, so the organization will likely be looking for a guard in the draft, and the Georgia product projects as one of the top players available at the position. "Ratledge wins as a run blocker using very good play strength and leg drive to work inside the frame of his target on angle-drive and combo blocks, strain to get vertical and effectively seal off alleys behind him," B/R's offensive line scout Brandon Thorn said via the Bulldog's scouting report . ".
..Overall, Ratledge's build, play strength, processing skills and demeanor are NFL-starter caliber at guard and should get him in a lineup within his rookie year.
" ( Previous Week's Selections: CB Jonathan Jones, DL Adam Butler, CB Tacario Davis ) If there's one thing that has been fun for the New England Patriots fans this season it's been Drake Maye's play. Unfortunately, that was taken away from them in this game. Maye had to leave the game in the second quarter with a concussion and Jacoby Brissett was forced into the game.
Still, the team obviously responded to Jerod Mayo challenging the team's toughness last week. The Patriots rallied around Brissett and did enough to win 25-22 over the New York Jets. Granted, the Jets are in a bad place right now, but wins are difficult in this league and the Patriots have a few more things to get excited about.
Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: WR Terrace Marshall Jr. Part of the fun in being a young team with almost no expectations is that you can take risks. The Patriots are in the early stages of figuring out what receivers are going to work well with Drake Maye and they are likely heading toward a top-five draft pick.
So there's little risk involved in taking on someone like Terrace Marshall Jr. The former second-round pick didn't work out in Carolina, but that could be chalked up to the general instability of that franchise. He was recently released by San Francisco, but Kyle Shanahan isn't known for his patience with receivers.
The Patriots are the kind of team that should give him one last shot to show he can make it in the league. 2025 Free Agency: DT Tershawn Wharton, Kansas City Chiefs The Patriots could at least hang their hat on having one of the best run defenses in the league last season. Bill Belichick made sure that Jerod Mayo understood that.
However, they've clearly taken a step back and reinforcements might be needed to make the Patriots tougher up front. Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale are eating up most of the snaps on the interior. Tershawn Wharton has quietly become a dependable sidekick for Chris Jones on the Chiefs defensive line.
His ability to stuff the run and take on double-team blocks would be a nice step toward rebuilding the defensive front and he won't turn 27 until next summer. 2025 NFL Draft: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado The Patriots still have a long way to go to fully support Drake Maye and field a functional offense, but the defense could use some players to build an identity around too. Jonathan Jones is getting on the old side and is on an expiring contract.
If Travis Hunter is on the board when the Patriots are on the clock he should be a consideration. It's still unclear if Hunter will be a corner, wide receiver or still play both at the NFL level, but the Patriots could use him at either position. ( Previous Week's Selections : DT Quinton Jefferson (trade), IOL Brandon Scherff, LB/EDGE Jalon Walker) It's been a tough stretch for the New Orleans Saints as Sunday's loss in Los Angeles makes it six in a row.
At this point, it's hard to see why New Orleans shouldn't pack it in and start to rebuild for the future, which could make next week's matchup with Carolina "interesting" as the teams fight for last place in the division. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: Trade EDGE Chase Young While the Saints have pushed off a rebuild over the last few years, it feels like that time is finally about to come as the team wasn't able to capitalize on a hot start to begin the season. So, the club should start to look ahead to next year and deal Young, who was listed No.
7 overall on BR's NFL Trade Block Big Board column this week. "If New Orleans begins rebuilding in 2025, it may have to do so with budget contracts and rookie deals. The Saints are projected to be $97.
6 million over the cap next offseason," B/R's Kristopher Knox wrote. "Trading pass-rusher Chase Young, who is on a one-year, $13 million deal, would provide no 2025 cap relief. However, it would net the Saints some valuable draft capital.
Young has tallied 1.5 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures in seven games this season." 2025 Free Agency: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Cincinnati Bengals As mentioned above, New Orleans is projected to be up against the cap this offseason and will need to rework the roster with young, cheap talent.
Especially since it's unlikely that Young will return next year, the defense will need some help on the edge with Payton Turner and Tanoh Kpassagnon about to hit free agency as well. Plus, Cameron Jordan, who turns 36 in July, could be a post-June 1 cut to save $11 million, per Over The Cap . While Ossai hasn't done much so far in his career, that could help keep his price tag down he'll be just 25 in April.
Also, the 2021 third-round pick has been playing behind Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson his entire career and has always had plenty of talent. The former Longhorn could blossom with a bigger opportunity in The Big Easy. 2025 NFL Draft: S Malaki Starks, Georgia The Saints could use some safety help and Tyrann Mathieu could be another cap casualty this offseason.
A post-June 1 cut would save the club $6.25 million according to OTC . So, Mickey Loomis will want to take a look at the Georiga product who currently ranks as the fourth-best prospect on B/R's NFL Draft Big Board.
"Starks projects as a first-round pick with the potential to make an immediate impact in the NFL," defensive backs scout Cory Giddings wrote in the Bulldog's scouting report . "His combination of athleticism, ball skills, and physicality make him a versatile safety capable of excelling in both coverage and run support. "While he may need to refine his technique against faster receivers, Starks' overall skill set and football IQ give him a high ceiling as a defensive playmaker.
With the ability to contribute from day one, Starks is poised to become a key player in any NFL secondary, offering the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber safety." ( Previous Week's Selections: CB Rashad Fenton, S Jevon Holland, QB Cam Ward ) Check back for the Giants after Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yikes.
There's your one-word summary of the New York Jets season thus far, and Week 8 might have been a new low. The Patriots are supposed to be the punching bag of the AFC East. They're the team with the rookie quarterback and little else on offense.
They are also the team with the first-year head coach. Instead, they're the team that officially put the Jets in the AFC East cellar with a 25-22 win in which their rookie quarterback left in the second quarter. The team committed eight penalties, came up empty on two different trips to the red zone and simply didn't execute well enough to win.
Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: No One The Jets already have a lot of resources invested into making the 2024 season a successful one. Trading for Davante Adams and taking on all the money left on his contract was another all-in move. If anything, the Jets need to try and find a home for Mike Williams or another trade asset to recoup some of the draft capital they've given up in previous moves.
2025 Free Agency: CB Kristian Fulton, Los Angeles Chargers The Jets have a great cornerback duo in Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, but it's entirely possible that Reed will want to test free agency next season.
He's 29 years old and could get one last multiyear contract based on how well he has played. Kristian Fulton went to Los Angeles after struggling to stay healthy and play up to his potential in four years with the Titans. He's dealing with a hamstring injury, but has played well enough to earn another shot at being a starter.
The Jets would do well to target Fulton to replace Reed. 2025 NFL Draft: EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss The Jets finally got Haason Reddick to end his holdout, and they did it without adding years to his contract. Whether the electric pass-rusher re-signs with the team next offseason after his lengthy holdout remains to be seen, but the Jets are going to want to add another young pass-rusher.
Princely Umanimielen would be a good fit as a successor to Reddick's role. At 6'3", 255 pounds, he has an ideal frame for an outside 'backer in a 3-4. He wins with a lightning-quick first step and sets the edge well for a smaller edge player.
( Previous Week's Selections : No One, S Jason Pinnock, EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku) Have the Philadelphia Eagles found their groove? Cincinnati came into Sunday's matchup with some momentum having won back-to-back games, but Philadelphia managed to halt the Bengals' momentum and get a 20-point road win. That keeps the Eagles just a half-game behind the Commanders for the division lead at the halfway point of the year. Biggest Weaknesses: Add Now: LT Charles Leno The Eagles placed Jordan Mailata on injured reserve recently which has led to Fred Johnson starting at left tackle.
Johnson has struggled in pass protection, giving up 22 pressures (three sacks) on just 99 snaps in pass protection heading into Week 8 this season, per Pro Football Focus . In comparison, PFF credited Leno with 34 pressures (three sacks) on 631 pass-blocking snaps in 2023. So, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring in the veteran as a holdover until Mailata gets completely healthy.
2025 Free Agency: DE Clelin Ferrell, Washington Commanders With Josh Sweat's contract about to expire and Brandon Graham set to retire at the end of the season, Philadelphia will likely be in the market for a.
