USA TODAY International Edition
NFL team shopping lists
As season winds down, looking toward 2020
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have passed, but it won’t be long before NFL teams begin their own shopping sprees.
When the regular season ends on Dec. 29, more than half the teams in the league will turn their focus toward 2020. And while free agency won’t officially open until mid- March, several teams will begin evaluating what changes they can make through hires, trades, signings and the draft.
Here’s our look at what each team should be shopping for in the off season based on current needs:
AFC East
Patriots: A Rob Gronkowski replacement. This assumes he opts to remain retired and Tom Brady resolves a contract set to void in March. But New England’s offense has looked frozen in place this winter without a threat down the seam.
Bills: Another skill- position threat. Accelerating Josh Allen’s development is the most important step for Buffalo to close the gap on New England in the division, so finding a physical receiver to complement John Brown and Cole Beasley should be a priority.
Jets: Offensive linemen. Given the state of constant duress quarterback Sam Darnold has been under and running back Le’Veon Bell’s 3.3 yards per carry, Gang Green need to grab as many competent blockers as they can get their hands on.
Dolphins: Franchise cornerstones. With three first- round picks and a bounty of cap space, Miami should be ready to install building blocks – ideally a quarterback, left tackle and edge rusher – after this year’s tear- down project.
AFC West
Chiefs: Cornerback. While Charvarius Ward has shown promise in his first season as a starter, Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller are set to become free agents, and there are scant options behind them.
Raiders: Wide receiver. As the move to Las Vegas gets underway, Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden would be wise to make a sizable bet on a No. 1 target – perhaps with one of their two firstround picks in an expected deep draft class for pass catchers – after their gamble on Antonio Brown went bust.
Chargers: An heir to Philip Rivers. The Bolts haven’t used higher than a fifth- round pick on a quarterback since 2006, and Rivers, who turned 38 Dec. 8, this season has posted his lowest passer rating ( 89.2) since 2016.
Broncos: Defensive line. If rookie quarterback Drew Lock shows enough to warrant a shot at the starting job in 2020, Denver’s primary focus could be along the defensive front, where Derek Wolfe and Shelby Harris are slated to become free agents.
AFC South
Texans: Cornerback. Starters Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby are in the final year of their contracts, and the defense ranks 28th against the pass with 266.1 yards allowed per game.
Titans: Offensive line. With quartercak Ryan Tannehill making a strong case for a return, Tennessee should focus on its front, which is tied for second in sacks allowed ( 51) despite ranking second to last in passing attempts ( 400).
Colts: A long- awaited dip into free agency. While thrifty general manager Chris Ballard can’t be expected to divert too greatly from his pattern of restraint, Indianapolis currently has the most cap space of any team, according to overthecap. com, and would be shrewd to make a few calculated moves, particularly along the defensive line.
Jaguars: A fresh start. Going with sixth- round rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew over $ 88 million offseason signing Nick Foles should signal a new day for Jacksonville, which could be in line for new leadership.
AFC North
Ravens: Edge rusher. Even if Matt Judon is re- signed, Baltimore would benefit from more juice from a pass rush that has generated just 34 sacks.
Steelers: Edge rusher. Keeping Bud Dupree might be too pricey of a proposition for a Pittsburgh team likely eyeing extensions for T. J. Watt and JuJu SmithSchuster, so a contingency plan must be constructed for the pass rush.
Browns: Offensive line. Baker Mayfield’s sophomore slump seems to stem at least in part from early- season protection issues that returned this month in the loss to the Steelers, in which Cleveland conceded five sacks.
Bengals: Quarterback. As it hurtles toward the No. 1 pick, Cincinnati has made it clear neither veteran Andy Dalton nor rookie Ryan Finley is the signalcaller of the future, as Zac Taylor benched each in the span of a month.
NFC East
Cowboys: Secondary help. Cornerback Byron Jones could be poised to move on in free agency given Dallas’ expected focus on extensions for Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, and a playmaking safety would be a boon for a unit that has generated six interceptions, tied for the worst in the league.
Eagles: Wide receiver. Beyond second- round rookie JJ Arcega- Whiteside, it’s hard to identify any player in the receiving corps who shapes up as a lock to be back next year given how poorly this group has performed throughout the season.
Redskins: A new culture. Even a stabilizing coach to succeed dismissed Jay Gruden might not be enough to constitute the organizational reset Washington refuses to embrace at the highest levels ... but at least it would be a start.
Giants: Edge rusher. Big Blue have a litany of deficiencies, but none more glaring than in a pass rush that drew criticism this season from now- cut corner Janoris Jenkins for leaving the rest of the defense in coverage for too long.
NFC West
Seahawks: Defensive line. Another reshuffling along the front four could be in order with Jadeveon Clowney, Jarran Reed and Ziggy Ansah all in the final year of their contracts.
49ers: A young, affordable safety. Jimmie Ward’s breakout campaign in a contract year might end up pricing him out of San Francisco’s comfort zone, as several young players are headed for big- ticket contracts in the next two years.
Rams: Offensive line. Good luck to Les Snead on finding a way to fortify a crumbling front. Los Angeles is without its first- round draft pick after the Jalen Ramsey trade and will need to fork over a sizable chunk of what relatively little money it currently has available to extend the cornerback.
Cardinals: Anyone who can cover. Ranking last in opponent completion percentage ( 71.6%), passing yards allowed ( 290.4 per game) and passing touchdowns ( 34), Arizona has permitted receivers to roam uncovered far too often and forced the Kyler Murray- led offense into unfavorable spots.
NFC South
Saints: A wide receiver to complement Michael Thomas. This season has only reinforced New Orleans’ dependence on its All- Pro pass catcher. He has accounted for two- thirds ( 159 of 239) of all targets to the team’s wide receivers.
Panthers: A new direction. After firing the winningest coach in franchise history in Ron Rivera, Carolina has the opportunity to redefine itself – if the organization can identify a successor capable of implementing the forwardthinking approach owner David Tepper appears to be seeking.
Buccaneers: Cornerback. The outlook shifts if Tampa Bay reaches its breaking point with Jameis Winston, but upgrades are needed to a back end that ranks 30th in yards allowed despite the arrival of four second- or thirdround cornerbacks in the last two years.
Falcons: Defensive upgrades throughout the draft. Atlanta’s cap crunch will likely render it a background player in free agency, which will amplify the importance of finding contributors at defensive end and cornerback.
NFC North
Packers: Wide receiver. Even if Allen Lazard firms up the No. 2 role, Green Bay could use a more dynamic threat to ease the pressure on Davante Adams.
Vikings: Bargain- bin finds. Minnesota has the most cap space committed in 2020, according to overthecap. com, so it might need to free up space by cutting the likes of defensive end Everson Griffen and left tackle Riley Reiff before finding lower- cost options.
Bears: An affordable alternative to Mitchell Trubisky. Though the former No. 2 overall pick seems to be trending toward a return in 2020, Chicago at the very least should evaluate what quarterback options it might be able to target on the open market.
Lions: An overhaul of the pass defense. Making another substantial investment at defensive end opposite Trey Flowers and bolstering a battered secondary will be imperative moves for a unit that ranks 31st in the NFL with 288.6 passing yards allowed per game.