Monday, September 23, 2024

Every NFL team’s biggest need entering Week 15: Browns battered at offensive tackle due to injuries

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Every NFL team’s biggest need entering Week 15: Browns battered at offensive tackle due to injuries

At this point in the season, no one is healthy. There have been more injuries to starting quarterbacks this season than years prior, which puts stress on teams to find other ways to arrive at victory. 

Some of the notable names added to injured reserve this week include Browns safety Grant Delpit, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones, Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst and Bears edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. 

With that in mind, here is a look at the most pressing positional needs for every NFL team:

AFC

Bengals: Cornerback

Projected key free agents: DT D.J. Reader, WR Tee Higgins, WR Tyler Boyd, OT Jonah Williams, CB Chidobe Awuzie

The Bengals are allowing 254.3 passing yards per game, which is the sixth most in the NFL. They put a lot of faith in a young cornerback room that has understandably seen its share of ups-and-downs this season. Cam Taylor-Britt was added to the injured reserve Dec. 4.

The franchise has invested significant resources into the offensive line over the past two offseasons, but still have positions to fill. The unit has not played up to expectations as it is allowing pressure, on average, in 2.37 seconds, according to TruMedia; the fourth-worst margin in the league.

Bills: Cornerback

Cornerback Tre’Davious White is done for the season with an Achilles injury. Kaiir Elam was added to injured reserve on Nov. 2 with an ankle injury. The Bills acquired Rasul Douglas from Green Bay at the trade deadline, but Green Bay had already been looking for a reason to put rookie Carrington Valentine in the starting lineup. Christian Benford and Taron Johnson round out the Bills’ secondary. 

The backbone of Buffalo’s defense has been a concern. Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and linebacker Matt Milano are on the injured reserve. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver has been slowed down by injury as well. Terrel Bernard, Tyrel Dodson and Dorian Williams have been asked to grow up in a hurry as the team attempts to fill a need at the position.

Broncos: Defensive tackle

Denver has come alive winning six of its last seven games but the defensive front has been underwhelming. Dre’Mont Jones left Denver in free agency. Length and depth were integral in head coach Sean Payton’s time with the Saints, and that has been challenged early in his time with Denver. The Broncos are allowing 144.0 rushing yards per game, which is the most in the NFL. 

Safety is also a weakness with Kareem Jackson serving his second suspension of the season and Caden Sterns on the Injured Reserve. 

Browns: Offensive tackle

Cleveland has suffered debilitating injuries to offensive tackles Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills. They have been able to overcome those losses but there is no hope of those players coming back this season to save the franchise. James Hudson and Geron Christian will have to get the job done the rest of the way. 

Chargers: Quarterback

Quarterback is a problem with Justin Herbert on the injured reserve. Easton Stick is now starting, but fans can not realistically expect the team to make any big moves at the position this late in the season. 

Wide receiver play has been inconsistent. Rookie Quentin Johnston has dropped some critical passes, star Mike Williams is already out for the season with a torn ACL and Josh Palmer returned Thursday night after being sidelined for weeks with a knee sprain. The Chargers’ 24 drops is the sixth most in the league.

The Los Angeles defense, in general, has been underwhelming. It has added players at defensive tackle in recent offseasons, but that investment has not produced the results the franchise had hoped. Edge rusher Joey Bosa was added to injured reserve, but rookie Tuli Tuipulotu can fill some of the void. 

Cornerback is also a need. J.C. Jackson was traded back to New England after signing a lucrative contract just a few offseasons ago. Los Angeles is allowing 261.9 passing yards per game, which is the fourth worst in the league.  

Chiefs: Offensive tackle

The offensive tackle additions of Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor have been underwhelming. They have allowed 69 combined pressures, according to TruMedia. There are 16 NFL players with at least 33 pressures allowed, and the Chiefs’ tackles are two of them. 

Wide receiver and defensive tackle play, aside from Chris Jones, have been lackluster as well. 

Colts: Defensive tackle

Indianapolis has been fighting all season despite an injury to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. It is still in the playoff hunt in Shane Steichen’s first season as head coach. 

The suspension of defensive tackle Grover Stewart put the Colts in a difficult position. In his absence, the team turned to Taven Bryan and Eric Johnson but the burden of expectation fell upon DeForest Buckner. The Colts are allowing 131.5 rushing yards per game, which is the sixth most in football. Stewart returned to the field last week, however, and the Bengals were limited to 3.5 yards per carry.

Dolphins: Tight end

Miami has a well-balanced roster. Most positions on the roster have a viable solution. Tight end is one where a higher ceiling is yet to be reached. Durham Smythe has been the primary outlet at tight end, but it is reasonable to want more out of that spot. The tight end room has 24 total receptions this season. Head coach Mike McDaniel has adapted well to his personnel, but comes from an offensive structure that heavily utilized George Kittle. It is hard to complain, however, considering the performance of the other skill positions. 

With Jaelan Phillips on injured reserve, the Dolphins have leaned more on Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah. 

Jaguars: Wide receiver 

They’ve had a rash of injuries to Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk and Walker Little, and Cam Robinson is already on the injured reserve. An AFC South race that looked like Jacksonville’s to lose coming into the season has now become contentious with Houston and Indianapolis pushing. 

The interior offensive line needs to play better given the injuries at tackle. The offense has looked out of sorts when the trio of Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones and Kirk has not been available this year. 

The defensive interior has held up well against the run but is responsible for just 1.5 sacks this season. The Jaguars are allowing 1.67 yards before contact in the run game, which is the 10th-worst rate in the league, according to TruMedia. They actually showed a lot of improvement in that regard last week.

Jets: Offensive tackle

Left tackle Duane Brown recently turned 38 years old and is finally returning from injured reserve, but that is a short-term fix to a larger problem. Alijah Vera-Tucker is also on injured reserve. He had been playing right tackle in Week 5. When he exited, second-year offensive tackle Max Mitchell stepped into that role. Mekhi Becton has been flip-flopped back and forth whenever asked. 

New York is allowing pressure on 41.6% of dropbacks, which is the fourth quickest in the NFL, according to TruMedia. General manager Joe Douglas has built a roster that has few limitations, but offensive tackle is one of them. Fans should expect the team to invest heavily into fixing the problem once the season ends; perhaps a reunion between Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari.

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Patriots: Pass rushers

The issues at quarterback are well documented, but a ready-made solution is not available. The offensive line has actually shown improvement lately. New England’s pass rush remains an issue with Matt Judon on injured reserve. The franchise has 26 sacks on the season, and its 31.5% team pressure rate is the sixth lowest in the NFL, according to TruMedia.

Raiders: Defensive tackle

There are glaring weaknesses on both sides of the ball, including defensive tackle and cornerback. Those frustrations bubbled to the surface when head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were relieved of their duties earlier this season. Interim head coach Antonio Pierce has provided some much-needed juice. 

Las Vegas has allowed the 10th-most rushing yards per game this season (127.0). The defensive tackles have actually performed better in recent weeks but still get the nod in this instance. 

Edge rusher is higher up the list than expected following Chandler Jones‘ release and Tyree Wilson’s slow development. 

Ravens: Tight end

The Ravens are rounding into form right now with few weaknesses. The offense, specifically wide receiver, has shown growth over the last month, while cornerback Marlon Humphrey is back from injury for the defense. With Mark Andrews out for a while after an injury on Thursday night in Week 11, the tight end position gets turned over to Isaiah Likely, who stood out in the preseason a year ago. It will be interesting to see if the franchise makes a play for the recently released Zach Ertz.

Baltimore’s run game is just always going to produce no matter who is in the backfield. J.K. Dobbins played just 30 snaps this season and the Ravens still rank first in rushing yards per game. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have taken on the bulk of that assignment while rookie Keaton Mitchell has provided some juice.  

Steelers: Quarterback

Pittsburgh moved on from offensive coordinator Matt Canada, so now Kenny Pickett can truly be evaluated. If Pickett fails, then there is no more buffer to shield him of the criticism. His performance on the field has been very underwhelming. Pickett, however, is now dealing with an ankle injury that is expected to hold him out for a period of time.

Pittsburgh is allowing pressure on 37.5% of its dropbacks, which ranks in the bottom half of the league, according to TruMedia. Offensive tackles Dan Moore, Broderick Jones and Chuks Okorafor are among the 10-worst beaten percentages. 

Linebacker has not been an issue for the always consistent AFC franchise, but Cole Holcomb was lost to a knee injury. The Steelers defensive line is one of the best in the league when healthy and is capable of keeping blockers off the second-level talent. Cam Heyward returned and brought accountability to that room.

Texans: Linebacker

Houston’s defensive front has really stepped up over the past month. Its pass rush has been getting home and Sheldon Rankins has been playing really well. The linebacker room is a problem following the suspension of Denzel Perryman, and rookie Henry To’oTo’o missed two games dealing with a concussion. 

The interior offensive line has also been a point of weakness. Kendrick Green, Kenyon Green, Jarrett Patterson and Scott Quessenberry are all on injured reserve. The situation became even worse this week when offensive tackle Tytus Howard was added to injured reserve. George Fant will move back into a starting role.

Houston seemingly turns to a new pass catcher weekly to carry the team whether that is Noah Brown, Nico Collins, Tank Dell or Dalton Schultz. With Dell unavailable, the others need to rise to the occasion.

Titans: Safety

The play of rookie quarterback Will Levis has been up and down since he was named the starter. It is difficult to evaluate him considering how poorly the offensive line has played. Mike Vrabel’s team is allowing pressure on 41.9% of dropbacks, according to TruMedia, which is the third-worst rate in the league. 

Safety took a hit when Kevin Byard was traded to the Eagles. Tennessee’s defense has just three interceptions this season, which is the fewest nationally. No other team has fewer than six.

NFC

49ers: Interior offensive line

There is not a lot of cause for concern among Kyle Shanahan’s NFC contender. 

San Francisco is giving Colton McKivitz a chance at right tackle following the departure of Mike McGlinchey in free agency. McKivitz still has a lot to prove, but it is magnified by the lack of confidence in the interior offensive line. Spencer Burford had some success as a rookie but grades out as one of PFF’s worst offensive guards this season. His counterpart, Aaron Banks, has hardly been better. The offensive design does a good job of getting the defense moving in every direction, which takes some of the pressure off the offensive line.

Bears: Interior offensive line

Chicago is allowing pressure on 42.9% of the dropbacks, according to TruMedia, which is the second-highest rate in the league. The return of Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones has not made the level of impact hoped yet.

The defense has looked much better with Tremaine Edmunds and Montez Sweat playing like the players in which they invested. They now have the second-fewest sacks in the NFL with 21 sacks, however.

Buccaneers: Interior offensive line

The defense has big names and proven veterans. Most of them are free agents after the season. Tampa Bay’s interior offensive line is a concern. It is averaging 90.0 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth lowest in the NFL. The offensive tackles have played well despite being a bit of a mystery coming into the season. Its most proven asset — Tristan Wirfs — is transitioning from right tackle to the left, and new right tackle — Luke Goedeke — played left guard last season, but has also looked solid.

Cardinals: Defensive tackle

Spin the wheel and state your case for the defensive position it lands on with the Cardinals. Their defense features a lot of names who would stump the average fan. The Cardinals need help on the interior of the defensive line, especially with Carlos Watkins and Leki Fotu on injured reserve. 

The edge rushers are actually performing well in pass-rush metrics. First-year head coach Jonathan Gannon comes from a situation where he had a wealth of options along the defensive front, but that has not been at his disposal early in his time in the desert.

Cornerback is another area of need, and the offensive line has been in shambles. 

Commanders: Edge rusher

No team has been more difficult to pinpoint than Washington this season. It plays up and down each week. Trades of Montez Sweat and Chase Young set back the pass rush. The Commanders ranked in the top 10 in sack production prior to the trades. They had one sack in two games following the trade, but the dam broke in Week 11 to the tune of nine sacks versus the Giants. Will that performance prove to be an aberration at season’s end? In Weeks 12-14, the team had zero sacks. 

Former first-round pick Jamin Davis had an up-and-down season but is now on the injured reserve. The Commanders need more depth and consistency from the linebacker group. 

Cowboys: Defensive tackle

Dallas is playing really well right now. Dak Prescott should be considered one of the favorites to win this year’s MVP award.

Defensive tackle is a group that needs to play better, but there are options on the roster. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is known to get the most out of his players, and it became even more important with the Trevon Diggs injury. In Diggs’ absence, the Cowboys have turned to Jourdan Lewis and DaRon Bland alongside Stephon Gilmore. They have stepped up. Bland, in particular, is playing out of this world.

Eagles: Cornerback

The Eagles have a well-rounded roster that is difficult to pinpoint a glaring flaw. They do not necessarily need to add anyone to the roster. Philadelphia’s edge rushers have turned up the heat as the season has progressed, and attention has shifted to an underperforming cornerback group. 

The NFC franchise is allowing 259.9 passing yards per game, which is the fifth worst, despite significant investment into James Bradberry and Darius Slay. According to TruMedia, they have allowed a 98.4 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks, which is the third worst in the league. Depth has been inhibited by injuries to Avonte Maddox and Zech McPhearson. The hope is that Kevin Byard’s presence starts to constrict opposing offenses.

Falcons: Quarterback

If one were to squint, they would see that Atlanta has legitimate contributors at essentially every position. Quarterback play is holding the Falcons down. The franchise placed a lot of faith in Desmond Ridder, and he has simply not made good. Taylor Heinicke was thrown into the equation after Ridder was pulled for a concussion evaluation, and the results were hardly any better. The NFC South is very much up for grabs, but Atlanta has little time to waste.

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was added to injured reserve, but David Onyemata has played well and they acquired Kentavius Street from Philadelphia at the trade deadline. 

Giants: Offensive line

Tommy DeVito is not the long-term solution to New York’s quarterback problem, but he has played well enough in the absence of Daniel Jones. He is likely the plan for the remainder of the season.

The vulnerability of the interior offensive line has also been on display. It really could be expanded to include an offensive line that is allowing pressure on 44.0% of dropbacks, which is the highest rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. 

They need to create more pass-rush opportunities as well. The Giants have the third-fewest sacks (23) in the NFL. Kayvon Thibodeaux has accounted for more than half of that total.

Lions: Cornerback

Detroit addressed the position during free agency, but that group has a lower ceiling than most other teams. According to TruMedia, the Lions have allowed the eighth-highest opponent quarterback rating (92.1). Emmanuel Moseley and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson have been on injured reserve for quite some time. 

The team also added defensive tackle Alim McNeill to the injured reserve this week, which creates a gaping void at the heart of the defense. Levi Onwuzurike and Benito Jones are next men up.

Packers: Tight end

With Luke Musgrave on injured reserve, Green Bay does not have a lot of proven production from the tight ends on its roster. Tucker Kraft, Josiah Deguara and Ben Sims have contributed 25 catches.

Green Bay needs Jaire Alexander to play up to his usual standard and rookie Carrington Valentine has been solid. The ups and downs come with being a rookie in the NFL, but the trade of Rasul Douglas puts a lot of emphasis on Valentine and that young cornerback room. Opposing quarterbacks have a 61.5 passer rating when targeting Valentine, which is No. 51 among players with at least 250 coverage snaps, according to TruMedia. 

Panthers: Offensive line

The offensive line has done No. 1 overall selection Bryce Young zero favors. Carolina has allowed pressure on 41.5% of dropbacks, according to TruMedia, which is the fifth most in the league. Wide receiver, outside of Adam Thielen, has also been a problem. 

The team has had some frustrating injuries on defense as well. Cornerback Jaycee Horn, safety Jeremy Chinn and edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos were activated from the injured reserve Dec. 2, but linebacker Shaq Thompson and edge rusher Justin Houston remain out.

Rams: Offensive line

The offensive line is still an issue despite investing resources into the unit this offseason. Right tackle Rob Havenstein has been getting better each week. However, he is one of four Rams with at least 250 pass-blocking snaps who rank among the top-50 highest-beaten rates in the league, according to TruMedia.

Cornerback has been underwhelming in the absence of Jalen Ramsey. They had a lot of blind faith in a young group of cornerbacks, and that faith has not been rewarded.

Saints: Offensive guard

The offensive line needs to perform at a higher level considering they’ve used top-50 draft choices on each of the five starters. Through 13 games, the offensive line has allowed 2.40 seconds before pressure arrives, according to TruMedia; only five teams are allowing pressure quicker. 

With Michael Thomas on the injured reserve, there is a bigger opportunity for players like A.T. Perry and Rashid Shaheed at wide receiver. With Marshon Lattimore on injured reserve, Isaac Yiadom and Paulson Adebo will be leaned on heavily. 

Seahawks: Offensive guard

General manager John Schneider has found several long-term contributors over the past two years, including bookend tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Offensive guard is the biggest need for that team even though it may have found something in Anthony Bradford. The Seahawks could use a starter and most certainly need accountable depth. According to TruMedia, Seattle is allowing pressure on 39.4% of drop backs this season, which is the 10th worst in the league. 

The Seahawks will go as far as Geno Smith takes them, however.

Vikings: Edge rusher

Danielle Hunter has been awesome this season, but Marcus Davenport is on injured reserve. Minnesota is applying pressure on 31.1% of opponent’s dropbacks this season, which is the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Brian Flores’ defensive design is a reason for that number, though. His team either sends everyone or drops everyone on every play; there is hardly an in-between. 

On the year, Minnesota is credited with 30 drops, which is the most by any franchise this season, according to TruMedia. Justin Jefferson’s return should help that group immensely.

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