Team-by-team 2016 NFL Off-season Outlooks
The NFL’s 2015 season has come to an end, but we all know that the NFL never really stops. Chris Burke and Doug Farrar take a look at the most pressing personnel situation for each team to address this spring and what each team needs to do to contend in 2016.
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We’ll be publishing in reverse draft order over the next few weeks (with a break for the NFL combine), so check back for updates.
. Denver Broncos
By Doug Farrar
It’s time for the Broncos to figure out what life looks like after Peyton.
. Carolina Panthers
By Chris Burke
What do the Panthers need to do this off-season to return to the Super Bowl?
. New England Patriots
By Doug Farrar
The Patriots can’t expect Tom Brady to do it all by himself.
. Arizona Cardinals
By Doug Farrar
What does life after Carson Palmer look like? The Cardinals are getting closer to finding out.
. Kansas City Chiefs
By Chris Burke
The Chiefs could be serious 2016 contenders, but what they do this spring may decide how many more shots at a title the current core gets.
. Green Bay Packers
By Chris Burke
True to form, the Packers have no glaring holes. But the weak spots they do have could limit them in 2016 if the front office sits on its hands.
. Pittsbugh Steelers
By Chris Burke
The Steelers enter 2016 as one of the favorites, making addressing the few holes they do have of vital importance in the coming months.
. Seattle Seahawks
By Doug Farrar
The Seahawks need to change course on their constantly leaky O-line, but even their more established positions of strength could use a tune-up.
. Cincinnati Bengals
By Chris Burke
The Bengals cannot afford any offensive step backs under their new coordinator this off-season if they are going to get that elusive playoff win.
. Minnesota Vikings
By Doug Farrar
Teddy Bridgewater has spent two years as a game manager. Now it’s up to the front office to find him more playmakers.
. Houston Texans
By Chris Burke
The Texans are so good everywhere else that it’s time to stop stalling and find their quarterback of the future.
. Washington Redskins
By Chris Burke
No matter how you feel about the Redskins’ quarterback situation, their most pressing issues lie in the trenches.
. New York Jets
By Doug Farrar
Signing QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will allow the Jets to continue to move forward on offense and not risk a rebuilding situation.
. Buffalo Bills
By Doug Farrar
For the first time in a long time, the offense isn’t the No. 1 problem: Rex Ryan and the Bills need to spend this off-season addressing the defensive side of the ball.
. Indianapolis Colts
By Doug Farrar
If the Colts want to go deeper, they need to get deeper—a top-heavy roster has doomed their recent playoff runs.
. Atlanta Falcons
By Chris Burke
Atlanta won’t be able to replicate its promising start to 2015 without a significant bounceback effort from Matt Ryan and a few shrewd moves on defense.
. Detroit Lions
By Chris Burke
Even as they remain in Calvin Johnson limbo, the Lions are in need of an upgrade in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
. Los Angeles Rams
By Doug Farrar
The Rams should be planning to make their Los Angeles debut with a new face under center, or else more mediocrity could be in store.
. Oakland Raiders
By Doug Farrar
Aside from their franchise pass rusher in Khalil Mack, the Raiders have plenty of work to do on the defensive side of the ball this off-season.
. Philadelphia Eagles
By Doug Farrar
The most compelling question in Philadelphia this off-season is what to do with Sam Bradford.
. New Orleans Saints
By Doug Farrar
The Saints are once again struggling to improve their roster while being squeezed by the salary cap. And amid all that, what about Drew Brees?
. Chicago Bears
By Chris Burke
If the Bears invest in some talent for Vic Fangio, especially at inside linebacker, their defense could be among the feared in 2016.
. New York Giants
By Doug Farrar
The Giants desperately need a strong draft this off-season. But more importantly, the team needs to rethink how those decisions are made.
. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Chris Burke
The Buccaneers have a few stars on defense and a lot of holes around them. Where should they start this spring?
. Miami Dolphins
By Doug Farrar
New head coach Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph? Smart hires. Can the Dolphins back them up with some savvy roster moves?
. San Francisco 49ers
By Chris Burke
The 49ers quarterback situation was nothing short of a disaster last year. New head coach Chip Kelly must determine a plan for the future of the position.
. Baltimore Ravens
By Chris Burke
The Ravens might let their best free agent walk and still come out ahead this off-season using the understated strategies they have made a trademark of recent roster-building efforts.
. Jacksonville Jaguars
By Doug Farrar
The Jaguars’ painful rebuild needs to start bearing fruit soon. Luckily, they have plenty of resources to pour into their roster this off-season.
. Dallas Cowboys
By Chris Burke
The Cowboys’ defense has worked magic in getting the results it has in the past two years. Imagine what Dallas could do with some upgrades on that side of the ball.
. San Diego Chargers
By Chris Burke
The Chargers were plagued by injuries last season. Can they count on those guys to make a full recovery and return, or does San Diego need to turn to Plan B?
. Cleveland Browns
By Doug Farrar
The Browns revamped their front office after a terrible 2015 season, and are going all in on the Moneyball strategy. Now they need to make sure it works on the field.
. Tennessee Titans
By Doug Farrar
Last year, the Titans drafted Marcus Mariota. This year, they must find some talent to complement him.
