The Vikings obviously showed last summer — when deals came in for Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph — they’re proactive in locking down homegrown talent. Considering the impending contract-year contingent was brought in under Zimmer, it can be assumed there will be high priorities placed on extending these performers — each a starter-to-be on one of the Super Bowl LIII frontrunners. And it’s interesting how dedicated the Vikes were to locking down non-Zimmer draftees in 2017, but it can be safely estimated some of these players will be signed to long-term agreements before they become UFAs.

Waynes can be kept via fifth-year option worth around $9MM, so that would put off any decision on him. But the remainder of this quintet will force some interesting decisions.

The Vikings have expressed interest in extending Barr and Kendricks, although it would seem likely only one of them stays. Barr is set to play on his fifth-year option of $12.3MM. Being a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the best non-rush linebackers in the game, Barr would probably take priority over Kendricks in a one-or-the-other scenario. Barr appears likely to eclipse Jamie Collins ($12.5MM AAV) and be the new market standard for 4-3 outside ‘backers. He’s two years younger, has been a more consistent player and has shown durability that’s helped Minnesota’s defense fuel two playoff runs in three years.

Kendricks has also been a solid component in Minnesota and for a team that as of now does not have a surefire answer at its third linebacker spot. But that can be addressed rather cheaply in free agency, and given the way the Vikings have drafted and worked free agency in recent years, finding a replacement for Kendricks next year shouldn’t be a grave concern. He would be a coveted commodity on the 2019 market, although he almost certainly won’t fetch what Barr will.

Nothing’s emerged yet on the Diggs extension front, but the 2015 fifth-round pick will not come cheap. He proved to be a wise investment and had his most productive season in 2017 — 64 receptions, 849 yards, career-high eight TDs. The Vikings, though, found even stranger receiver value in Adam Thielen, with the UDFA out of Division II ripping off a 91/1,276/4 season campaign to usurp Diggs as the team’s WR1. But Thielen signed for less than $6MM per year, which could complicate matters among Minnesota’s WRs.

He already has two seasons with more yards than any of Diggs’. Thielen led the Vikes in receiving the past two years, however, but Diggs will surely command eight figures per season. High-end WR2s go for at least $11MM per year, and with both Emmanuel Sanders and DeSean Jackson being far older than the 24-year-old Diggs, this negotiation could be tricky for both of the Vikings’ starting wideouts.

Laquon Treadwell remains in the dark after two nondescript seasons. The slow-footed Ole Miss product would seemingly be in line to be a bigger part of the Vikings’ offense next season, but given what he’s shown so far, it’s impossible to count on him as a future starter. The Thielen-Diggs setup is the status quo and may be the future as well.

Another key find for the Vikes, Hunter’s become one of the better 4-3 defensive ends in the game. He did not produce the sack numbers of 2016 (12.5) in his first year as a starter (7.0), but Hunter graded well as both a pass rusher and run stopper last season. And he’s only 23.

It would be natural to assume the Vikings would value him more than the 30-year-old Griffen going forward. And considering Griffen makes $14.5MM per year, that raises the stakes for these negotiations. The Vikings could escape from the Griffen deal for minimal dead money if they had to as soon as next year, but they may want to try and extend Hunter before this season. He could be set for a contract-year blowup that would vault him to the Olivier Vernon/Jason Pierre-Paul tier.

That might make this a franchise tag situation for a team that has other tag candidates a year out.

This is a good problem to have, but it will still impact how Minnesota proceeds during offseason when a seminal quarterback decision confronts the franchise. If the Vikings feel Cousins was a big enough upgrade from Keenum, it would probably be worth losing someone like Kendricks in order to pay him.

However, if Rick Spielman and Co. don’t see that big of a chasm between the two passers, then it would behoove the Vikings to stick with the status quo and prepare for core performers’ re-ups.

3) Keep adding pieces up front: Shifting back to priorities to address this spring, the Vikings are not where they want to be on their offensive line. Last season, the unit made remarkable strides from the woeful 2016 edition that wounded the offense. But there aren’t many certainties among this group.

The one the Vikings had is almost 36 years old and a free agent. Joe Berger has said he may well retire, but it appears he’s going to see if can earn one last payday. If Berger is amendable to returning to Minnesota, the team should consider it.

He’s been the Vikings’ most consistent lineman over the past three seasons, helping Adrian Peterson win the 2015 rushing title and being the lead blocking cog in the 2017 group’s return to respectability. Berger has been incredibly underpaid for his work. He made less than $3MM last season and less than $2MM in 2016. While another Vikings pact would probably be a one-year agreement, and one that would surely need to be at a higher pay grade, the team could bet Berger (46 regular-season starts from 2015-17 at center or guard) can stay at or close to his current form would help stabilize its line for the time being.

Free agents from 2017, Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers will return as starters. Provided he’s fully healthy, Pat Elflein will be back at center. The Vikings need at least one new starter. Considering Remmers may stay at guard, they could need a guard and a tackle. If the player the Vikings signed to play right tackle is back at his usual post come camp, then it’s guard that should be the focus. Remmers’ versatility could allow for some flexibility this spring.

PFF did not view anyone except Berger as being an especially effective blocker last season. But the Vikings vaulted to 19th in Football Outsiders’ adjusted line yards their dismal 2016 unit — ranked 30th by this metric and last in both yards per game and per carry. The whole may have been superior to the parts’ sum on the ’17 Vikes, with the team jumping to seventh in ground yards per game (122.3 — nearly a 50-yard leap from 2016).

They’re on the right track, and some additional resources put into this group can further fortify the team’s status as a Super Bowl contender.

Considering the quarterback expense(s) likely coming, Minnesota using a first-round pick on a blocker would make sense. While its lofty Matt Kalil choice didn’t end up panning out, it’s time to use another high selection on a lineman. Remmers and Reiff will be 29 this year, and neither’s ceiling is particularly high entering their seventh seasons.

Both Matt Miller of Bleacher Report and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein have Minnesota taking a tackle in Round 1. Late-first-round tackle options include Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey, UCLA’s Kolton Miller and Texas’ Connor Williams.

It’s unlikely the Vikings will have their choice of these players by the No. 30 window in a draft that’s viewed as being better on offensive linemen than 2017’s, but one of them could well be there.

Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn could be a guard option, with the ex-Bulldogs standout being a candidate at 6-foot-2 to move inside. Billy Price — Elflein’s Ohio State teammate — suffered a potentially significant pectoral injury, which required surgery, and that could push him into the late first round or possibly out of it altogether.

There are options for the Vikings a year after few existed in Round 1 at these positions. And with re-ups for several Zimmer-era cornerstones coming soon, a potential record QB salary on tap, and factoring in the ages of last year’s UFA additions, Minnesota should strongly consider going this route to address this key need.

A cheap-ish stopgap and a first-round pick wouldn’t be the worst way to go about addressing the front this offseason.

Last year showed younger linemen being in high demand. That makes sense due to the league-wide issues experienced in developing young talent. Remmers and Reiff were notable examples, with Kalil’s Panthers pact being perhaps the signature deal to illustrate this seller’s market. But there are options if Minnesota wants to spend low- to mid-level amounts here before the draft. The guard market looks to have more depth than the tackle contingent, so it might be best for the Vikings to focus their efforts there, if veteran help is desired.

Longtime Vikes guard Brandon Fusco will hit the market, and despite being released early last year after a shaky 2016, he still profiles as an upper-echelon quick-fix candidate. Just 29, Fusco bounced back from a shakier 2016 and graded as PFF’s No. 21 guard while with the 49ers. If Berger ventures elsewhere, his younger ex-teammate would be an interesting option.

Ryan Jensen may price himself out of mid-level status, but he has experience at guard despite his 2017 work as the Ravens’ center. Zach Fulton has experience at multiple interior positions as well. Although, like recent Chiefs contract-year wonder Jeff Allen, Fulton is a buyer-beware blocker who hasn’t shown much consistency. Would the Vikings want to bring Matt Slauson back to the NFC North? He did not have as good of a season in 2017 as he did with the 2016 Chargers or previous Bears editions, but that could bring his price down to buy-low range.

The Vikings are in a good place, but they do need to supply their front with more talent this offseason. If they can hit on one of those investments, it could mark a more difficult Packers task unseating the Vikings than it was in 2016.

While New Orleans could certainly target an established veteran such as Julius Peppers, it might make more sense for the team to look for another low-cost option akin to Okafor in 2017. Among the candidates who could be on the Saints’ radar is Jeremiah Attaochu, a former-second round pick who has never been able to flourish with the Chargers. He’s also appeared in only 12 games over the past two seasons while dealing with injuries, so the 25-year-old shouldn’t be too expensive. I wonder if the Saints could also take a look at Marcus Smith, the failed former Eagles first-round pick who spent 2017 with the Seahawks. Neither Smith nor Attaochu should be guaranteed starting jobs, but New Orleans could pair them with Hendrickson and hope one flashes.

Another player acquisition avenue the Saints could consider is the trade market. Robert Quinn was just dealt for fourth- and sixth-round picks, and while there’s no indication New Orleans was in on those talks, Quinn’s price could provide a baseline for other defensive end trade prices. The Eagles are reportedly trying to trade Vinny Curry before releasing him, and the Saints could be a fit, especially if they can reduce Curry’s 2018 $9MM base salary. The 29-year-old Curry is an excellent run defender, and produced pressure despite his low sack total. New Orleans could also offer a mid-round pick for the Jaguars’ Dante Fowler Jr., who has one year and a fifth-year option remaining on his rookie contract but is dealing with legal issues and only played 44% of Jacksonville’s defensive snaps in 2017.

3) Add youthful pass-catchers: The Saints finished sixth in passing DVOA last year, but that doesn’t mean they can’t aim to improve their offensive weaponry this offseason. Michael Thomas has blossomed into a genuine star, but Ted Ginn is entering his age-33 season, Willie Snead was a non-factor in 2017 and is now a restricted free agent, and Brandon Coleman has never been able to perfect his Marques Colston/”big slot” impression. At tight end, Coby Fleener hasn’t lived up to his five-year, $36MM contract, and while he’ll likely remain on New Orleans’ roster after the majority of his 2018 base salary guaranteed last month, the Saints could target upgrades.

While I wouldn’t expect the Saints to go after any high-priced free agents next week, Jordan Matthews could make sense if the club wants to get a new slot receiver. Matthews could essentially serve as a turbo-charged Coleman, as his ability to work at the short-to-intermediate level should mesh well with Brees’ strengths. Matthews is only 25 years old, but given that ended the 2017 season on injured reserve after dealing with knee and ankle injuries, he shouldn’t be too expensive. Other free agent wideouts that may be of interest to New Orleans include Donte Moncrief (Colts), John Brown (Cardinals), or Jaron Brown (Cardinals).

More likely, the Saints will look to add a young wide receiver via the draft, and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com sent Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk to New Orleans in his most recent mock draft. Kirk should be an immediate contributor in the slot, according to Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com, and would also offer return ability. Calvin Ridley‘s stock seems to be slipping at the moment, so it’s not out of the question the Alabama product could fall to pick No. 27, while Courtland Sutton (Southern Methodist) and James Washington (Oklahoma State) could also be in consideration.

At tight end, a reunion with Jimmy Graham would certainly be fascinating. In his final four seasons with the Saints, Graham averaged 89 receptions, 1,099 yards, and 12 touchdowns per year, and while that production came during Graham’s age-25 to age-28 campaigns (he’s now 31), it’s worth considering if he could once again flourish with Brees and head coach Sean Payton. Tyler Eifert is likely the only other free agent tight end New Orleans should consider, and he’s somewhat similar to Graham in that he’s a beast in the red zone. Eifert, of course, has struggled to maintain any semblance of health during his five-year career, but he could be in line for an incentive-based deal that wouldn’t harm the Saints’ salary cap in 2018.

Similar to wide receiver, it’s possible the Saints eschew the free agent market in favor of the draft. The top three tight end prospects are generally understood as Dallas Goedert (South Dakota State), Mark Andrews (Oklahoma), and Hayden Hurst (South Carolina). Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com sent Hurst to New Orleans in his most recent mock draft, noting that Hurst’s advanced rookie age (25) could be a concern for some clubs. Andrews, notably, isn’t a blocker, and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared him — in an unfavorable way — to Fleener. Other draftable tight ends of note include Mike Gesicki (Penn State), Ian Thomas (Indiana), and Dalton Schultz (Stanford).

Amukamara has failed to fetch a multiyear deal the past two offseasons, but the former first-round pick continues to produce — grading well in seasons with the Jaguars and Bears the past two years. Amukamara will be set for his age-29 season in 2018, and after participating in 14 games in each of the past two years, he has to some degree shaken the injury questions that dogged him in years past. With a few productive seasons likely left, Amukamara would make a good stopgap player.

Gaines is younger (26), and after a strong 2017 showing, looks to command more money than Amukamara. But he has not been consistent. The University of Missouri product broke out despite being shipped to the Bills in August of last year. He deflected a career-high 11 passes — although, he was targeted 132 times — and rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 13 corner. He’ll have a big market.

Melvin was a bright spot on a poor Colts defense. While a hand injury halted his season at 10 games, he intercepted the first three passes of his career and thrived as a man defender. PFF’s No. 17 corner last season, Melvin has little to go on as far as sample size as a former nomad-turned-starter but likely made a market for himself with a nice 2017. The Colts intend to let him reach free agency.

The Redskins dealt Kendall Fuller to the Chiefs but already have a corner making more than any other. They are likely to still let Breeland test the market. Breeland played well in both 2015 and ’17, coming on down the stretch of his contract year. Ideally, Conley would grow into being Oakand’s No. 1 corner with a Breeland- or Amukamara-type player being the complementary piece. But that might not happen in 2018. Intra-Gruden communication may ensue about Breeland, considering he played for Jay Gruden‘s team for four years. The Raiders had success plucking Amerson from Washington’s scheme. And given Jon Gruden’s involvement, they may well inquire about Breeland.

This franchise has not gone back-to-back in the first round at a position since taking corners Phillip Buchanon and Nnamdi Asomugha in the 2002 and ’03 first rounds, and the Raiders had two first-round picks in each of those years. But given that little has worked to establish consistency at this position, and a new regime having taken the reins, going corner in Round 1 is in play.

It’s difficult to assess a position before the Combine, but the players viewed as the two top CBs entering the Combine may still be on the board in the Raiders’ range. Denzel Ward played with Conley at Ohio State and has been projected as a top-10 pick. Iowa’s Josh Jackson, last season’s Division I-FBS interception leader with eight, would profile as a candidate to generate debate from the Raiders. Ward’s size (5-foot-10) may have made him a poor fit for Ken Norton Jr.‘s defenses, but that wasn’t as big of a hangup for new DC Paul Guenther in Cincinnati.

Oakland has been linked frequently to Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith at Nos. 9 or 10. That makes sense due to the struggles this franchise has experienced at non-rush ‘backer over the past few years aside from UFA NaVorro Bowman‘s work. But cornerback should be a Round 1 consideration despite Conley’s arrival last April.

Four quarterbacks could possibly go in the top eight. That would give the Raiders access to some high-end talent that wouldn’t otherwise be available to them. That could make this a best-player-available situation, but those two Big Ten corners could qualify as such.

2) Seek second-level assistance: Since leaving Green Bay to become Oakland’s GM, McKenzie has followed in his mentor’s footsteps when it comes to drafting off-ball linebackers. Like Ted Thompson for most of his Packers tenure, the McKenzie-era Raiders have rarely used quality draft resources to address their non-rush ‘backer spots. That might change soon.

Smith-to-Oakland is one of the most sensible fits in the first round, if he is to remain on the board by the time the Raiders go on the clock.

Although McKenzie’s highest linebacker pick with the Raiders was Sio Moore, whom he traded in 2015, Smith could be a Day 1 starter on a team with more talent than the one Moore (Round 3, 2013) started for.

The Georgia tackling machine could start at outside linebacker in Week 1. Smith’s strength is not sifting through blockers, making him a lesser fit in the middle of a 4-3 setup despite his athleticism. A spot on the outside and a role in the team’s nickel set would be a mutually beneficial setup. The Raiders are in dire need of a linebacker with plus coverage range, and the 225-pound Butkus Award winner would fit that requirement.

Smith did everything for the Bulldogs last season, going off for 137 tackles (14 for loss) and 6.5 sacks. A Smith arrival would have the Silver and Black partially covered in nickel sets when Irvin shifts down to a defensive end position. But the team would still have a vacancy in the middle.

Oakland observed Bowman show he still had quality football left after the parties’ midseason agreement, and the former 49ers superstar would like to stay with the Raiders. Guenther would like him back as well. The four-time first-team All-Pro shook off another severe injury, bouncing back to start 15 games. While he’s not what he was before the gruesome broken-leg sequence ended his 2014 season before it started, Bowman will only be 29 next season. As the likes of Derrick Johnson, Paul Posluszny and Wesley Woodyard have shown in recent years, non-rush ‘backers can still have big impacts north of 30. Bowman would make sense on a second Raiders contract.

If the Raiders and Bowman cannot come to terms, Kevin Minter worked under Guenther and new LBs coach David Lippincott last season in Cincinnati. The 27-year-old middle linebacker, though, didn’t play especially well in his latest contract year. Fifth-year players Avery Williamson, Todd Davis, Anthony Hitchens and Preston Brown are also on the verge of hitting the market. So, the Raiders will have options if Bowman ventures out of the Bay Area for the first time as an NFLer.

The Raiders’ recent dives into the market have not been especially beneficial, making the October Bowman accord stand out.

Curtis Lofton didn’t last into a second season, and Jelani Jenkins didn’t make it past training camp. Malcolm Smith received a big 49ers payday but struggled often in Oakland, particularly in coverage. And Bowman filled a dire need after Marquel Lee — the latest McKenzie attempt at a Day 3 investment at this position — proved not to be ready early.

3) Figure out a plan at WR: Crabtree’s status has been disputed this offseason. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported the ninth-year vet was not in the Raiders’ plans, but it appears Gruden will be giving Crabtree another chance despite his play dramatically falling off last year. But that wasn’t exactly an outlier on one of the most disappointing NFL teams in recent memory.

Crabtree will be 31 in September, and neither he nor Amari Cooper was the Raiders’ leading receiver in 2017. That was Jared Cook with 655 yards. That’s a bit of a problem considering Cooper and Crabtree were both 1,000-yard receivers in 2016. Cook will also be 31 in 2018. The Raiders have nothing around Cooper for the long haul. They will surely need to address that this offseason. The situation becomes more desperate the longer the team waits.

Oakland will be picking up Cooper’s fifth-year option. His down year aside, the former top-five pick is still in his early 20s and has two 1,000-yard seasons to his credit. Cooper has some work to do, but he’ll remain a key part of Oakland’s aerial attack in 2018.

A Cooper extension likely isn’t as imminent as it once was, but that’s still on the radar for 2019. McKenzie and Co. will have to proceed accordingly. The Raiders, though, should be ready to move on from perennial PFF shade target Seth Roberts — whom the advanced metrics site again graded as one of the NFL’s worst full-time WRs — or at least demote him after two full seasons in the WR3 role. Crabtree’s salary remaining on the payroll — and the defensive needs this team possesses — may make diving into the wideout market dicey. The draft would make more sense.

Being perpetually thin on defense, it would be hard for the Raiders to justify drafting a wideout with their high-Round 1 pick. But the 2018 prospect crop doesn’t feature an abundance of surefire first-round talent anyway. And if the Raiders wish to upgrade from Roberts via draft choice, they have slot options.

Dante Pettis (Washington), D.J. Moore (Maryland) and Memphis’ Anthony Miller profile as second-night selections. As one of the most accomplished punt returners in college football history, Pettis (nine punt-return TDs in four seasons in Seattle) was also a solid receiver. His 15 touchdown grabs as a junior during the Huskies’ College Football Playoff journey helped considerably. It’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t be an asset early — if nothing else, as a lethal return man. Oakland signed Cordarrelle Patterson, an All-Pro specialist who only returns kicks, last year to illustrate the newfound value the franchise placed in special teams impact.

Miller carved up American Athletic Conference competition, recording almost 3,000 air yards and 32 touchdowns over his final two years — which, statistically, were almost identical. Moore is a bit shorter (listed at 5-11) and didn’t have the eye-popping numbers, but he played in the Big Ten. He’s landed as a Day 2 target, catching NFL.com draft guru Mike Mayock’s eye.

The WR position is murky after Calvin Ridley. Plenty of variance exists. Pauline’s pre-Combine mock has high-caliber slot man Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) falling to the middle of the second round. The Raiders would be keen to strongly consider him if he made it to their second draft window.

Recent Day 2 wideouts like Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Allen Robinson have shown early productivity can come from the second and third rounds. And the presences of Cooper, Crabtree and possibly Cook can help ease one of these targets into an NFL role. However, as Cody Latimer, Dorial Green-Beckham and Sammie Coates have also shown, the second- or third-round wide receiver landscape can be a minefield.

If the Raiders want to target a veteran slot, Kendall Wright is again available. And despite playing in an anemic Bears attack, Wright (59 receptions, 614 yards) displayed he still has viability after two years of being effectively buried in Tennessee. His 80.4 percent catch rate was second among free agent slot performers. A higher-upside pick would be Albert Wilson, who at 26 (in July) is three years younger and displayed elite elusiveness last season. While Wilson was not an especially interesting Chiefs supporting-caster in the past, he ranked in the top five of forced tackles missed last season and became a key target in Andy Reid‘s unique offense. However, word may be out on Wilson to the point he’s not a buy-low player anymore. An Eric Decker flier wouldn’t make much sense either given his age.

Regardless of how he arrives, at least one promising complementary wideout figures to be added to the Cooper- and Crabtree-fronted crew this spring.

Jacksonville has never been afraid to spend in free agency, and it wouldn’t be out of the question for the club to go after Panthers guard Andrew Norwell, who figures to be one of the top free agents available on March 14. While the Jaguars use signing bonuses sparingly (they prefer to front load deals and, in turn, make them easier to get out of after a year or two), Caldwell & Co. could give Norwell fully guaranteed base salaries in both 2018 and 2019 while utilizing a small bonus that won’t incur much dead money down the line. Norwell will almost surely aim to top recent guard contracts given to Kelechi Osemele and Kevin Zeitler by earning $13MM annually, and the Jaguars could fulfill that requirement by offering a creative contract.

If Norwell proves unattainable, Jacksonville will other free agents to consider at guard. Josh Sitton will now hit the open market after the Bears declined his 2018 option, and he’d make sense for a win-now Jaguars team. Jack Mewhort, Josh Kline, Zach Fulton, and Spencer Long are all age-29 younger and have started at least 30 career games. If Jacksonville is comfortable adding an older player, Matt Slauson, Brandon Fusco, or Alex Boone could come into play. The Jaguars could even explore trades: current Jacksonville offensive line coach Pat Flaherty worked with Ereck Flowers during his rookie season in New York (as did Coughlin), so if the Giants make the former first-rounder available for trade, could the Jags acquire him and move him to guard?

The draft offers another avenue through which the Jaguars can add help at guard, and if the club doesn’t use its first-round pick on a quarterback, I’d fully expect it to select an interior lineman at pick No. 29. A plethora of guard options means Jacksonville should see a solid player slip to the end of the first round, and Billy Price (Ohio State), Isaiah Wynn (Georgia), James Daniels (Iowa), and Will Hernandez (UTEP) will all be in consideration for the Jaguars. Hernandez, specifically, impressed during Senior Bowl practices, per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, who identifies the UTEP product as someone Jacksonville will watch at the scouting combine.

3) Make decisions at wide receiver: Heading into the 2016 season, the Jaguars appeared to boast one of the league’s more impressive wide receiver corps. Allen Robinson was fresh off a 1,400-yard campaign in which he led NFL in receiving touchdowns, while Allen Hurns also topped 1,000 yards as Jacksonville’s No. 2 pass-catcher, and subsequently inked a four-year, $40MM extension.

Things have changed, but the Jags aren’t necessarily worse off. Robinson — a pending free agent — is now recovering from a torn ACL but expects to be ready for 2018, and Hurns is likely to be released, but Jacksonville has also discovered an entirely new crop of wideout talent on its roster. Former second-round pick Marqise Lee finally grew into himself to post back-to-back solid campaigns, while young players such as Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook have proven themselves as contributors. Now, the Jaguars just need to sort out which receivers will be on their roster going forward.

Robinson is clearly the key piece as Jacksonville analyzes its receiver room. The Jaguars are open to deploying the franchise tag on Robinson, and while such a tender would be worth more than $16MM, it would offer the club several benefits. First and foremost, it would keep Robinson on the roster as Jacksonville competes for a Super Bowl in 2018. And while the tag is expensive, it would allow the Jaguars to see how Robinson plays in his first foray after his ACL tear. If he progresses well, Robinson could be extended in-season à la Alshon Jeffery.

Hurns, meanwhile, is likely a goner no matter the outcome of the Robinson talks — he hasn’t topped 500 yards in either of the past two years, and the Jaguars can clear his entire $7MM cap charge through release. Lee, meanwhile, is a pending free agent, and if Jacksonville brings Robinson back, I’d expect Lee to sign elsewhere. While he’s a decent No. 2 wide receiver, Lee at $5-6MM annually doesn’t make sense for the Jaguars if they’re already paying Robinson $16MM+ and have affordable alternatives such as Cole and Westbrook.

Jacksonville isn’t likely to go after any free agent receivers (aside from their own), but an early draft pick wouldn’t be out of the question, especially if the club uses the franchise tag on Robinson and thus only controls him for a single season. In his most recent mock draft, Josh Norris of Rotoworld sent Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) to the Jaguars at the end of the first round. Per Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com, the 5’11” Kirk is not only able to “shift gears effortlessly,” but is mature beyond his years and boasts a “professional makeup.”

Dion Lewis would be an enviable signing for the Titans, but he’ll likely look for a situation where he can serve as a team’s bell-cow. But fellow Patriots free agent Rex Burkhead could offer Tennessee a similar player, a tough runner who is also excellent in the passing game. Burkhead finished ninth in Football Outsiders‘ receiving DVOA, a measure of how effective a back is on a per-play basis. After only garnering a one-year deal last offseason, Burkhead shouldn’t be expected to land much more than that on the open market next month.

Jerick McKinnon will likely cost more than Burkhead, but he’s also two years younger and arguably a more dynamic back. McKinnon is an outstanding receiver, and he’s ranked 14th in targets among running backs since entering the league in 2014. He also has far more experience as an actual runner than Burkhead: while McKinnon has managed 474 rushing attempts during his career, Burkhead is sitting at just 151. Additionally, McKinnon is a solid blocker in the pass game: among 46 qualifying RBs, McKinnon graded as the No. 8 pass-blocker in 2017, per Pro Football Focus.

Other options abound for the Titans, including free agents such as Darren Sproles, Charles Sims, and Shane Vereen, none of whom should cost much on the open market. Tennessee could also wait to see if a veteran such as Danny Woodhead gets released for his current contract, or even pursue a trade. Would the Seahawks accept a late-round pick for C.J. Prosise? How about the Eagles and Wendell Smallwood? No stone should be left unturned as the Titans look for a Henry complement.

3) Solidify the interior of the offensive line: Per Football Outsiders, ranked first in adjusted line yards when running behind left tackle Taylor Lewan, but 28th when running up the middle. Center Ben Jones still has two years left on the free agent deal he inked in 2016, but the Titans could seek an upgrade at either guard spot.

Tennessee’s guards were both above average a season ago: Josh Kline finished 22nd among 77 PFF qualifiers, while Quinton Spain ranked 27th. Spain is a restricted free agent, so he can be retained at a low cost. Because guard isn’t exactly a highly-valued position, the Titans can likely feel comfortable assigning Spain a second-round tender (at an expected cost of $2.916MM). At that price, it doesn’t make sense for Tennessee to search for an improvement through the draft or on the open market.

Kline is a solid player, too, and given that he’s still only 28 years old, he could generate more interest than expected when the free agent period begins next month. I’d expect Kline to look for $7-8MM annually on a multi-year deal, and he’ll use Jeff Allen‘s four-year, $28MM deal and Brandon Brooks‘ five-year, $40MM pact as comparables. If that’s the price for Kline, the Titans will need to ask themselves if they should A) go all-in on a free agent replacement or B) use an early-round pick to find a starter on an inexpensive rookie contract.

If the Titans take the first path, the club has two options it could go after: Andrew Norwell or Justin Pugh. Norwell is the clear top guard on the market, and given that he won’t be franchise-tagged by the Panthers, he could hypothetically reach for $13MM annually. As one of the better interior lineman in the NFL, Norwell is well-worth the money, and I don’t see any reason Tennessee couldn’t sign him (aside from the team’s historic unwillingness to target high-priced free agents). Pugh isn’t quite the player that is Norwell, but he’ll also be a little more affordable ($10MM per year?) and could offer an option at tackle if injury befalls Lewan or Jack Conklin.

If Tennessee can’t land Norwell or Pugh, the team should either attempt to hammer out a new deal with Kline, or use their first-round pick on an interior lineman. With an offense that’s heavily reliant on a rushing attack, solidifying the front five is a task that can’t be taken lightly. In his first mock draft of the year, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com sent Iowa center/guard James Daniels to the Titans at pick No. 25. Other that could be available near the end of Day 1 include Will Hernandez (UTEP), Isaiah Wynn (Georgia), and Billy Price (Ohio State).

The Falcons may dip into the free agent market if Poe gets away, but I wouldn’t expect them to offer any high-end contracts or sign any older players. Getting younger up front and keeping costs in order (especially with a Jarrett extension coming soon) should be the club’s top priorities. Interior defenders such as Justin Ellis, Beau Allen, Jay Bromley, and Dominique Easley are all age-27 or younger, and none should expect to land hefty deals this offseason, making them all fits for Atlanta. Meanwhile, Jaye Howard — who was an above-average lineman as recently as 2016 — could be an option given that he played under Falcons defensive line coach Bryant Young at Florida.

Atlanta should be mostly set on the edge, as Vic Beasley will move back to defensive end full-time to play opposite 2017 first-round pick Takkarist McKinley. However, the Falcons could choose to trim the fat by cutting pass rushers who haven’t lived up to their contracts. Jack Crawford‘s three-year deal never made much sense for Atlanta, and he should be released after suffering a torn biceps last season. With Beasley and McKinley both available, the Falcons may not run as much of a rotation as they did in 2017, so one of Brooks Reed or Derrick Shelby could also be sent packing in a move that would save at least $3MM.

It wouldn’t be a total surprise if Atlanta completely revamps its defensive end depth this spring by cutting Crawford, Reed, Shelby, and allowing Adrian Clayborn in free agency. If that happens, I’d expect the Falcons to target a young edge rusher in the draft while searching for a veteran during the free agent period. William Hayes stands out as a candidate to join the Atlanta roster, given his outstanding track record on run defense, his locker room leadership, and his likely low price tag. For some reason or other, Hayes has never been valued as an asset around the NFL (he was traded last year for a 16-spot drop in draft slots), meaning he shouldn’t cost much on the open market.

3) Secure Matt Ryan for the long haul: At $20.75MM, Matt Ryan‘s annual salary ranks just 14th in the NFL. As we all know, quarterback contracts are a game of musical chairs: whomever signs the most recent deal is likely to garner the largest paycheck. Luckily for Ryan, he has only one year left on his pact at a time when Jimmy Garoppolo and, in a few weeks, Kirk Cousins, will become the league’s highest-paid signal-callers. Ryan has a longer track record of success than either of those quarterbacks, and he’ll top both of their contracts when the time comes.

The Falcons, for their part, know a massive deal is just around the corner. At this time last year, team owner Arthur Blank admitted Ryan will likely need to be made the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, and Dimitroff reiterated last month that a Ryan extension remains Atlanta’s primary focus. The only question, then, is timing: Do the Falcons wait until Drew Brees signs a new deal this offseason? Do they hold off until Aaron Rodgers inks an extension, perhaps in the coming months? Or do they bite the bullet and hand Ryan a new contract right now?

If Atlanta reaches an agreement in the near future, Ryan would likely reach the $28MM per year mark, but the veteran quarterback has every reason to wait and see what Cousins lands on the open market. Thus, I’d expect a Ryan extension to come this summer, after Cousins and Brees have signed. Rodgers’ contract status will come into play, but there should be every expectation that Ryan nears a $30MM annual salary with more than $50MM in guarantees. The guarantee figure, though, isn’t all that important, as quarterbacks of Ryan’s ilk almost never get released, and therefore, typically earn the entirety of their pact.

The Falcons’ lack of 2018 cap space will be another factor in any Ryan discussions. The 32-year-old Ryan is due a $19.25MM base salary in 2018, but Atlanta could roll that number into Ryan’s overall guarantee by converting most of that salary figure into a portion of his signing bonus. By giving Ryan a rather large signing bonus that will prorate on their salary cap, the Falcons should be able to keep their 2018 costs down while still retaining Ryan for the foreseeable future.

But Dorsey also is believed to be a fan of Mayfield’s competitiveness, and recently hired Browns draft consultant Scot McCloughan — the former Redskins GM who also has a path toward a job in Cleveland — has been talking up Mayfield for months. McCloughan said Mayfield would be his No. 1 overall choice when asked, and with the ex-Washington exec having already known he was en route to this consulting role when he made this comment, that proves interesting. Mayfield already has a meeting scheduled with the Browns, who are expected to bring in all four QBs for pre-draft summits.

So, this will get interesting soon. And a Browns team that’s featured rampant dysfunction and a lack of continuity at key spots for years will have a new face of the franchise come OTAs.

2) Install talent in the secondary: Unless the Browns are convinced they can lure Cousins with a Godfather offer and reshape their supporting cast around him via free agency and the draft, which wouldn’t be too crazy of a strategy if this was just about any other team and not one with the Browns’ current reputation, quarterback shouldn’t be where this franchise allocates much of its free agent funds. However, free agents in the secondary should see some wild offers coming from the 216 area code.

The Browns do not have a long-term answer at cornerback. Jason McCourty did play well as a late-arriving SFA last season, but he’ll be 31 before this coming season begins. Help needs to arrive via free agency and the draft. Fortunately, this franchise has an unbelievable amount of resources it could use to restock this position.

Players like Trumaine Johnson, Malcolm Butler and Kyle Fuller should expect to field offers from the Browns — proposals that could place them on the Josh Norman/Richard Sherman/Patrick Peterson/Xavier Rhodes salary plane. The Browns have the luxury of not having to worry about overpaying players; they just need talent to help here.

Of these top-tier UFA corners, Johnson has the longest sample size of upper-echelon play. But at 28, he’s also the oldest of the group and will be going into his seventh season. Butler and Fuller are fifth-year players, and the former Patriots defender played like a high-end corner during the 2015 and ’16 seasons. He contributed the fourth-most pass breakups in both seasons. Butler’s best work came in 2016, inducing the Pats to place a first-round tender on him. He was benched for Super Bowl LII and had an uneven 2017, but there will be an immense market for the ex-UDFA’s services. And although other teams will be interested, none can outmuscle a Browns offer.

Fuller doesn’t have the multiyear sample size of success Johnson and Butler do, but the 2014 first-round pick — whose fifth-year option the Bears declined last year — did play well in his contract campaign. The Bears defender led the NFL with 17 pass breakups last season, one Pro Football Focus tabbed as a better year than Johnson or Butler enjoyed. But the 26-year-old Fuller, who missed all of 2016, will be the biggest risk of these players because of his only stellar play coming in a contract year. However, multiple NFL personnel men rank Fuller second in between Johnson and Butler among this year’s top UFA corner group. It’s not out of the question the Bears place their franchise tag on Fuller, however.

Other corners who are slated to hit the market include E.J. Gaines, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Colvin, Patrick Robinson and Vontae Davis. The Browns visited with Davis late last week.

Amukamara has been undervalued the past two offseasons, and Davis gave the Colts his best years. However, the Browns should be going after one of the top-level UFAs; they have no reason not to. But if Cleveland is opting to supplement one of them with a second-tier player or a slot defender — which Colvin, Robinson and Nickell Robey-Coleman are — that would a strategy worth considering.

The Browns have been linked to Saquon Barkley with their No. 4 overall pick, but if the Giants or Colts — both running back-needy teams — decide to draft the Penn State dynamo, it could open the door for Cleveland to select Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Needing help at both defensive back spots, but not as much at safety since the franchise selected Jabrill Peppers in last year’s first round, the Browns could look to Fitzpatrick or Denzel Ward at No. 4. Ward is a pure cornerback from an Ohio State program that’s produced plenty of first-rounders in recent years, with Bradley Roby and Marshon Lattimore showing the talent the recent Buckeyes have possessed.

A Fitzpatrick choice could be contingent on whether the Browns believe he fits as a corner or safety. A hybrid player at Alabama, Fitzpatrick has drawn Jalen Ramsey comparisons. And the Browns’ decision at safety in March figures to play into how they view Fitzpatrick — a surefire starter if he were northeast Ohio-bound.

This safety market features maybe the deepest UFA talent pool of any position. Numerous starters figure to be available.

The Rams will have a decision to make on Lamarcus Joyner, a franchise tag candidate who could induce a bidding war if he hits the market. Other young talents like Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro and Tre Boston are headed for free agency. Boston delivered a strong contract season as a top-10 cover safety in 2017, and Reid wasn’t far off that pace despite the 49ers being ready let him walk. Reid, Boston and Vaccaro may not land in the salary stratum Joyner would if not tagged, but each would be an upgrade alongside Peppers.

And with the Browns being able to outflank any competition for these players, it would be a shock to see them not end up with at least one high-caliber UFA in the secondary. More than likely, there will be at least two new starters — and they figure to come via impact free agency buys or via first- or second-round pick — coming to Cleveland to help Gregg Williams‘ defense. Perhaps they will have enough talent to avoid stationing Peppers in another dimension from quarterbacks next season.

3) Sort out skill positions: Employer of one of the most mercurial talents in NFL history, the Browns do not have much in the way of reliable pieces at any of their skill spots.

Josh Gordon returned in December and easily looked like the Browns’ best pass-catcher despite a three-year absence. Because of the litany of suspensions he’s incurred, Gordon will only be an RFA after next season. His service-time clock being stalled to a historic degree benefits the Browns, but they can’t exactly count on the inconsistent star talent (who is still only 26) to be available. Corey Coleman has also failed to live up to his draft status, twice sitting out extensive time due to hand breaks. David Njoku is a work in progress, and Isaiah Crowell is a UFA. There will be new faces moving the chains in Cleveland next season.

Wide receiver is another area where the Browns should consider going big. They have two rookie-contract players as starters presently and can afford a top-market deal at this position. Although, teams’ franchise tag decisions will affect how the Browns can proceed here.

The Dolphins surprisingly tagged Jarvis Landry, who was set to be the top wideout available, and the Rams and Jaguars have nearly two weeks to decide if Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson are worthy of their respective tags. Robinson would cost the Jaguars $16.2MM to tag on a payroll that will have Blake Bortles attached to a $19MM salary. But that’s in play, as is a Watkins tag, though the Rams may see Joyner as a better fit long-term and tag the safety instead.

Despite Watkins’ shaky season in Los Angeles (39 receptions, 593 yards, eight touchdowns), he will command eight figures per year on the open market. So will Robinson, who delivered the best season any UFA wideout has with his 2015 performance — 80 receptions, 1,400 yards, 14 touchdowns. The 24-year-old pass-catcher should still be an ascending player despite his ACL tear, but his other seasons — two of which seeing extensive time missed because of injuries — make 2015 look like an outlier year. A Watkins pursuit would be interesting considering the Browns, two GMs ago, traded out of the position (No. 4 overall) that ended up sending the Clemson wideout to the Bills in 2014.

Neither would have been as good of a fit as Landry, but both should warrant Browns consideration. Marqise Lee or Paul Richardson also could be options, but they would be second-level solutions behind Robinson or Watkins. And the Browns could target a receiver with one of their second-round picks as well.

Despite a brutal Redskins season, Terrelle Pryor has popped back up on the Browns’ radar. He will likely be available for less than he was last season, and the converted wideout might want to return after the Browns’ Kenny Britt-over-Pryor decision (a no-winners outcome) forced the Ohio State product to look elsewhere for his UFA money. Cleveland’s previous regime also tried to reacquire Pryor via October trade. A reunion would be an interesting gamble, but Pryor did surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season that featured a revolving door of QBs throwing to him.

The previous Browns regime and Crowell attempted for months to reach an extension agreement, but the multiyear starter’s contract season featured a bit of a regression (853 rushing yards, two touchdowns, 4.1 yards per carry) from his standout 2016 work (952/7/4.8) despite the Browns devoting attention to their offensive front last March. Of course, DeShone Kizer‘s disastrous debut season made it harder for Crowell and his skill mates.

If Crowell is to leave as a free agent, the best option the Browns have is to draft Barkley. However, how big of a priority is it the Browns take the top Nittany Lion of recent years? If the Browns view Barkley as a transcendent back, might they use the No. 1 overall pick on him? If that happens, though, other teams will be dictating which quarterback the Browns can select. It’s hard to believe a running back would be worth bypassing that privilege.

The Browns have a pass-catching back already, although Duke Johnson is entering a contract year, so would Dion Lewis be a superfluous commodity? Also available as fifth-year players: Carlos Hyde, Jeremy Hill and Jerick McKinnon. DeMarco Murray might become available as well, but does the likely declining match the team’s timeline? The Browns may bypass the higher-end backfield market in March in hopes of getting Barkley, whose abilities could induce Cleveland to part with one of its second-round picks and maybe more to trade up from No. 4 to make sure he ends up in orange and brown. If the Browns do dive into the back market, it’s not an impressive contingent.

However, numerous backs have proven they can thrive as Day 2 or Day 3 picks, as this year’s Kareem Hunt–Alvin Kamara offensive rookie of the year duel illustrated. Using a second- or third-round pick on a back might be a better way for the Browns to go if they don’t land Barkley. USC’s Ronald Jones III, Georgia’s Nick Chubb/Sony Michel combination and Oregon’s Royce Freeman are possible Day 2 options.

The reason the Eagles can feel comfortable trading Peters is Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who struggled when first pressed into action at left tackle but greatly improved as he gained repetitions. The former fifth-round pick is under contract for two more seasons at cheap rates, while right tackle Lane Johnson is signed through 2021. Philadelphia is set as far as starting tackles go, but if the club trades Peters, it will likely need to add a new swing tackle capable of covering for either Vaitai or Johnson in the event of injury.

While the Eagles could scour the free agent market for a new backup offensive lineman, there’s not much out there. Players such as Solder and Cameron Fleming will be looking for starting jobs, while taking a chance on failed starters such as Greg Robinson or Donald Stephenson doesn’t seem viable. Austin Pasztor could be an intriguing addition, as he was excellent as the Browns’ right tackle in 2016 befor finding surprisingly tepid demand the following spring. Additionally, Matt Tobin — whom the Eagles traded to the Seahawks last year — could be interested in a reunion with Philadelphia.

The Birds won’t have the luxury of adding a developmental tackle in the second or third round, but they could use their first-round selection on a front five player. An ideal situation would see one of the draft’s top three tackles — Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame), Connor Williams (Texas), and Orlando Brown (Oklahoma) — fall to No. 32, but if that doesn’t happen, Philadelphia could select Kolton Miller (UCLA) or Will Richardson (North Carolina State) in the mid rounds. The Eagles should focus on linemen capable of playing both tackle and guard, as incumbent left guard Stefen Wisniewski was the weak point on an outstanding offensive line.

3) Sort out the linebackers: The Eagles won the Super Bowl without the benefit of Wentz and Peters, but they weren’t the only top-tier Philadelphia players that went down in 2017. Linebacker Jordan Hicks — who was outstanding during his first two years in the NFL — ruptured his Achilles in October, ending his season. While Hicks should be available when the 2018 gets underway, the Eagles will still likely need to bring in at least one linebacker this offseason.

The need for another ‘backer will be lessened if Mychal Kendricks is retained, but given that he’s been involved in transactional rumors for some time, I expect him to be either released or traded in the coming weeks. Kendricks is only 27 years old and graded as the ninth-best linebacker in the league last year, per PFF, but the Eagles can save $4.4MM in cap space by cutting ties with a player who didn’t even see 50% playtime on defense. Given his age and pedigree, Philadelphia should be able to gin up trade interest in Kendricks, and that would be the preferred means of removing him from the roster.

Assuming Kendricks is gone, the Eagles will need to add at least one off-ball linebacker, and that could be Nigel Bradham, who is scheduled to hit free agency again after completing a two-year deal in Philadelphia. Bradham has been excellent with the Eagles, but he’s probably going to want to cash in this offseason, especially given that he’s only 28 years old. I’d expect Bradham to target at least $8MM annually on a multi-year pact, and that’s not a price the cap-strapped Eagles can afford.

If Bradham prices himself out of Philadelphia’s comfort zone, the club will need to find a cheap free agent to replace him. Off-ball linebackers often see their markets drop once free agency hits, so the Eagles can likely wait out the position and sign a veteran on the cheap. Zach Brown, for example, has been forced to settle for one-year pacts in each of the past two offseasons, and if that happens again, he could move from NFC East team to another and join the Eagles. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Paul Posluszny might be willing to accept a reduced salary in order to play on a Super Bowl contender.

Given that they’ve already spent hefty sums to bring in Lang and Wagner and will need to consider an extension for left tackle Taylor Decker in the relatively near future, the Lions may not be willing to enter the top end of the free agent offensive line market for a second consecutive season. As such, if Detroit does add another body to its interior mix, it likely won’t be Weston Richburg, Andrew Norwell, or any other player of that caliber. Instead, a mid-tier signing — Matt Slauson offers positional versatility, while John Sullivan rebounded during his first season in Los Angeles — makes more sense.

Even if they do sign a middling free agent, the Lions should still use multiple draft selections on offensive linemen. Guard/center will be the focus for Detroit, but picking up a new swing tackle may also be on the club’s to-do list (if not, Quinn needs only look at Greg Robinson‘s game tape to remember what a poor left tackle performance does to a front five). Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com and Todd McShay of ESPN.com each sent an interior linemen to Detroit in their most recent mock drafts, with Ohio State’s Billy Price and Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn heading to the Motor City in Jeremiah and McShay’s respective projections.

3) Remake the defensive line: Like his tutor Bill Belichick, Patricia probably won’t stick with just one defensive system and force his players to adapt. Belichick often waits out the free agent market and draft board for good deals, and then formulates his defensive scheme around his available talent. I’d expect Patricia to do the same, so instead of targeting specific free agents, the Lions might see who falls to them and then solidify their defensive plan.

Having said that, Detroit needs help all over its defense, but the emphasis — and the largest questions — should be along the defensive line. The club’s agenda will be affected first and foremost by what it does with pending free agent defensive Ezekiel Ansah, who will hit the open market coming off a 12-sack campaign. Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com recently argued Detroit should utilize the franchise tag on Ansah (likely price tag: $17.5MM), and it’s difficult to argue with his logic.

Although he’s fresh off a season where he excelled at taking down opposing quarterbacks, Ziggy has posted an up-and-down career to this point. Perhaps I’m leaning too heavily on Patricia’s New England ties, but the Patriots haven’t been open to large contracts for sack artists in recent years. Instead, Belichick & Co. have focused more on stout run defenders who can also rush the passer if need (see: Trey Flowers). As such, I wouldn’t the Lions to hand a hefty long-term deal to Ansah. While the franchise tender could represent a compromise for both sides, Detroit will likely let Ansah walk rather than agree to a multi-year extension.

Whether or not Ansah sticks around, the Lions’ plan should include drafting a young defensive end and signing a free agent defensive tackle. The interior defender market is much stronger than edge rusher market, so Detroit should be able to find an affordable tackle, perhaps on Day 2 or 3 of the free agent period. Sheldon Richardson and Dontari Poe likely aren’t fits for the Lions, but Star Lotulelei and DaQuan Jones could be on the club’s radar if they’re not retained by the Panthers and Titans, respectively. The Giants’ Jay Bromley (25) and the Raiders’ Justin Ellis (27) both offer youth, while — again dipping into the New England well — Alan Branch would be solid veteran addition if he’s cut by the Patriots.

Defensive end-wise, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com recently mocked Sam Hubbard (Ohio State) to Lions, but there are other edge options who might make more sense in the Motor City. Detroit just hired former Boston College defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni as its defensive coordinator, so BC’s Harold Landry — who has been shooting up draft boards — should be a consideration for the Lions at pick No. 20. Similarly, former UT-San Antonio defensive line coach Bo Davis has taken the same job in Detroit, making UTSA product Marcus Davenport a logical target for Quinn, Patricia, & Co.

There are a few inside ‘backers the Steelers could turn to if they wanted to try to replace Shazier in Round 1. Roquan Smith will be long gone by No. 28, but Texas’ Malik Jefferson or Alabama’s Rashaan Evans might not be. And it’s still early in the pre-draft process.

NFL.com’s top Evans comp is Timmons, and he’s expected to put up strong 40-yard dash times this spring. The Steelers are in dire need of speed here to fill in for Shazier, and Evans offered versatility with the Crimson Tide as well. He finished with 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. While he might fit better as a 4-3 outside man, recent NFL transitions (Woodyard, Trevathan and Brandon Marshall, to name three) don’t make conversions to 3-4 inside men deal-breakers. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. mocked Evans to Pittsburgh in Round 1 and doesn’t see his frequent edge placement in college as a deterrent to an NFL inside gig.

Jefferson also displayed a penchant for sacks, registering 13 in three seasons. His 110 tackles as a junior provided a springboard to the 6-3 talent’s early NFL declaration.

Another Round 1 ‘backer would represent overkill in terms of resources expended to stock a defensive second level, given how the Steelers have drafted since making Jarvis Jones their first-rounder in 2013. But Shazier’s injury qualifies these as extenuating circumstances.

2) Seek safety help: Pittsburgh’s defense was difficult to measure. It led the league with 56 sacks, ranked fifth in yards allowed and eighth in DVOA against the pass. But it struggled during the much of the time when either Shazier or Joe Haden were sidelined. Nationally televised games against the Ravens and Aaron Rodgers-less Packers exposed the unit before it caved in against the Jags in one of the franchise’s most disappointing defeats.

While just about no team has an answer for Rob Gronkowski, the Steelers’ inability to stop him from taking over the Week 15 game for home-field advantage cost them dearly. Gronk overwhelmed Sean Davis during the Patriots’ final drive. While the former second-round pick may have another chance to show he’s a long-term NFL starter, the Steelers need to bring in competition and probably a replacement.

PFF categorized 86 safeties as being full-time contributors last season, and the advanced metrics monolith ranked Davis 86th. With Mike Mitchell going into his age-31 season, the Steelers are going to need reinforcements this year to best equip themselves to dethrone the Patriots in the AFC.

Pittsburgh’s used a few high picks on secondary cogs in recent years. Of the Davis/Senquez Golson/Artie Burns/Cameron Sutton quartet, Burns looks like the only surefire contributor. The jury’s still out on Davis, and Sutton only received 113 snaps as a rookie. But the results have not been optimal for a Pittsburgh defense that’s held its often-dominant offense back over this stretch.

This figures to be a nice safety market, even if the Rams tag Lamarcus Joyner. The clear-cut gem of this group, Joyner would command a contract in line with the top safeties in the game if he were to reach the open market. That’s out of Pittsburgh’s price range. But beyond the fifth-year player, Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid, Morgan Burnett and Tre Boston are slated to be available. The younger safeties would appeal to the Steelers, who could split the difference between Mitchell and Davis by landing one of them.

However, the Steelers look to be preparing for another Bell tag. That will take up a sizable portion of their cap space, even after they created $13MM-plus in room by adjusting David DeCastro and Stephon Tuitt‘s contracts. This won’t leave much room at safety, and for a team that rarely splurges in March, it might be unrealistic to expect Pittsburgh to acquire one of the top UFAs.

While not quite the extenuating circumstances Shazier’s injury has caused, the Steelers should recognize they might not get too many more cracks at a Super Bowl with this nucleus.

They were probably the most talented team in the AFC this season, and despite Shazier’s brutal setback, were healthier in these playoffs than they were a year ago. This is the first time the Steelers had lost a playoff game that featured Bell, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown available throughout. The Steelers lost Bell during a 2014 loss to the Ravens, and both Bell and Brown missed a 2015 defeat in Denver. Bell left early in the 2016 AFC championship game.

Defensive upgrades should be viewed as a now-or-never priority, because Roethlisberger — despite committing to play in 2018 and pondering an extension — may not have too much time left. Brown will be 30 next season, and Bell’s work rate is historic. The Steelers should be focusing on immediate defensive assistance to prevent their injury-prone offense from having to win shootouts consistently.

Reid’s admitted his involvement in the Colin Kaepernick-led racial inequality-themed protests could affect his market, but it’s hard to see him going unsigned. Although Reid was moved to linebacker by a 49ers team that doesn’t look to be interested in keeping him, the former first-rounder is only 26. Despite a season-ending injury in 2016, Reid graded as one of the league’s top cover safeties in 2017. He was adept in slot coverage as well.

PFF tabbed Boston, whom the Panthers cut last year, as the No. 9 coverage safety last season. He’ll be 26 next season as well. Despite seeking his third contract, Burnett will be just 29 in 2018 and has 102 games of starting experience, having never played as a backup. Vaccaro’s specialty is run defense, and while also used plenty in the slot, he may not be worth what the cap-strapped Steelers would have to pay.

Midlevel under-30 possibilities include Michael Thomas, Cody Davis, Bradley McDougald and Tavon Wilson. This is one of the deepest positions in this year’s UFA class. The Steelers would be wise to at least inquire on some of of the second-tier talents.

However, if it’s the draft well Pittsburgh intends to go to again, another Crimson Tide talent could be late-first-round material. Ronnie Harrison possesses a size/speed combination that placed him as a key Alabama defender during the Tide’s past two seasons, finishing with 215 tackles across that span. Landon Collins and Eddie Jackson‘s early NFL successes would seemingly be a good sign for Harrison’s potential. It’s unlikely Derwin James will fall this far. However, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report does have the high-end Florida State athlete dropping all the way to No. 30 in his latest mock.

Of course, quality safety play can be attained throughout the draft. Joyner (Round 2, 2014), Adrian Amos (Round 5, 2015) and Kevin Byard (Round 3, 2016) landed on AP or PFF All-Pro teams this season to illustrate this. But the Steelers have not identified secondary performers too well in recent years, so prioritizing one early would not be a bad way to help a defense in dire need of back-eight playmakers.

3) Figure out latest Bell solution: If the Steelers don’t re-sign Bell, this would shoot up to the top of their needs list. But it’s hard to believe the sides won’t be together in 2018. Bell can be tagged again, and should he sign the tender, the All-Pro back’s worst-case scenario is a one-year deal worth $14.5MM. The recent extension the Falcons gave to Devonta Freeman contains $18.3MM guaranteed for a five-year period. Bell could lock down a fully guaranteed $26.6MM in two years via the Cousins route.

The Steelers would obviously be better served if they didn’t have a $14MM-plus cap charge for their running back this season. At the same time, the workload they’ve given Bell is troubling for long-term projections. Bell played in just 15 games this season but his 321 carries were 34 more than the player with the second-most (LeSean McCoy). Bell’s 85 receptions were also more than part-time runners Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey. As far as total touches, McCoy came closest with 346 — 60 behind Bell.

Pittsburgh has given Bell a 1990s ground workload with a 2010s air itinerary, and it’s fair to wonder how much longer he can keep this up. But taking Bell off this offense weakens it significantly.

James Conner had moments, but the Pitt product is obviously not in Bell’s class at this point. Bell has a certain amount of leverage, but what he doesn’t have is the age-25 season he just played to involve in negotiations. By not accepting the Steelers’ five-year deal — worth $60MM and set to pay out $30MM over the first two seasons — going into his fifth season, Bell may have lost ground. The running back market did not change much, with Freeman’s 2017 extension coming in just slightly north of McCoy’s 2015 re-up, and Bell now has 431 extra touches on his resume.

However, the cap is expected to rise to around $180MM this year, and asking prices go up. While Bell said he and the Steelers are closer on terms than the parties were last year at this time, a tag seems likely — idle threats aside. And that will likely lead to another contentious summer.

With key needs on defense, the Steelers don’t have the luxury of using a high draft pick on a running back. They already took Conner in the 2017 third round. But Bell is a two-time All-Pro at what could be his value apex. Would another team be willing to work out a deal with Bell in a tag-and-trade scenario? If that deal brought back a package similar to the Alex Smith trade — a Day 2 pick and a young defensive starter at a need area, or a slightly more lucrative package given Bell’s age — is that a situation the Steelers could tolerate?

Running back value is not exactly in a great place, but with the 21st-century golden-age passer group on its last legs (save for Rodgers), the position’s stock may be higher than it was a few years ago. If the Steelers traded Bell and used a platoon setup of Conner and another Day 2 rookie or Conner and a veteran far cheaper than Bell (available on this year’s market: fifth-season players Jerick McKinnon, Isaiah Crowell, Jeremy Hill and Dion Lewis), how big of a hit does the Steelers’ offense take?

It’s probably a substantial blow. Given Bell’s unique running style, his production as a runner and receiver has been (along with Brown’s all-time stretch) perhaps the defining Steelers component the past four seasons.

Both sides acknowledge how valuable he is, with one (Bell’s) spending much of last summer lobbying for an unrealistic $15MM-AAV contract that reflected his receiving usage as well. That’s part of the running back job description. Even though Bell is the quintessential 2018 back, his previous desire to be paid like an RB1 and a WR2 won’t happen.

The sides will need to find common ground, because it’s difficult to see them apart next season. And the rest of Bell’s prime figures to coincide with Brown’s and the remainder of Roethlisberger’s career. The three will be needed if the Steelers are to finally make it back to a Super Bowl — something that almost seems like it should have happened already — and salvage this explosive era.

The Buccaneers should have their choice of the non-Bradley Chubb edge rushers in the 2018 draft, but there may only be one or two other defensive end worthy of the No. 7 overall selection. In his first mock draft of the year, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com sent UTSA pass rusher Marcus Davenport to Tampa Bay, noting that he compares well to the Lions’ Ezekiel Ansah. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says Davenport has “good quickness in lateral slides down the line of scrimmage” but lacks change-of-direction speed and acceleration. If the Bucs trade down in the first round or wait until Day 2 to draft an edge defender, Harold Landry (Boston College), Sam Hubbard (Ohio State), Arden Key (LSU), or Hercules Mata’afa (Washington State) could come into play.

Speaking of Ansah, he should be the Buccaneers’ top free agent target when the market opens on March 14. Aside from Demarcus Lawrence (who isn’t leaving the Cowboys), Ansah is the best available edge rusher scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency. The 28-year-old managed 12 sacks in 2017 — the second time in three years Ansah has posted double-digit takedowns — but he only put up 21.5 total pressures, meaning he was converting pressure into sacks at an unsustainable rate. Still, Ansah would give Tampa Bay a much-needed burst of athleticism on the edge, and should be general manager Jason Licht‘s first call next month.

Other younger defensive ends such as Alex Okafor and Kony Ealy could also be on the Buccaneers’ radar, but given that Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter are likely facing a “playoffs-or-bust” ultimatum, I don’t think Tampa Bay will be adverse to adding aged veterans. Edge rushers such as William Hayes, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, and Lamarr Houston are each at least 30 years old, but that shouldn’t stop them from being in the Buccaneers’ potential plans.

3) Add a starting corner (plus depth): So, the Buccaneers couldn’t put pressure on opposing quarterbacks…and they also couldn’t hold up in the back end. It doesn’t take a seasoned NFL analyst to realize that’s a combination ripe for exploitation. Not only did Tampa Bay rank 31st in pass defense DVOA, but the team gave up a ton of big plays in the passing game, as it allowed 57 completions of at least 20 yards (third-most in the league).

Veteran cornerback Brent Grimes wasn’t typically the problem last season, although a few advanced metrics have conflicting opinions of the 34-year-old defensive back. PFF graded Grimes as the No. 36 corner in 2017, and the Bucs finished 15th in DVOA against opposing No. 1 wideouts, but Grimes finished just 57th among 80 qualifiers in FO’s success rate and 68th in yards allowed per pass. Overall, it was a slightly above average campaign for Grimes, which is an excellent accomplishment for a defender of his age. Given his fit in defensive coordinator Mike Smith‘s scheme, Grimes should be retained for another year — but he can’t be Tampa’s No. 1 corner for much longer.

Former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves took a large step forward in 2017 after moving to the slot, and if the Bucs can count on him to be their nickel corner (and bring back Grimes), they can take a big swing in free agency to land a top-end defensive back. Malcolm Butler could potentially be in consideration for Tampa Bay, but he played a ton of man coverage in New England, while the Buccaneers play mostly zone. The Rams’ Trumaine Johnson, then, might be a better candidate: most of his career had been in a zone-based scheme before Los Angeles hired Wade Phillips as DC in 2017. Both Butler and Johnson figure to command $10-12MM annually on their next contracts.

Other free agents that could be of in interest to Tampa Bay include Kyle Fuller (Bears) and E.J. Gaines (Bills), but Bashaud Breeland and Byron Maxwell could possibly be had for even cheaper. Breeland is only 25 years old, and the 2018 Pro Football Focus Free Agent Guide indicates he’s best playing off coverage in a zone scheme (another nugget from the PFF guide: Breeland finished 14th among CBs in yards per coverage snap in 2017). Maxwell, meanwhile, has always been solid in zone looks, and while he’s been inconsistent, he could serve as the Buccaneers’ No. 2 option behind Grimes.

Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick is considered the best defensive back in the 2018 draft class, and Todd McShay of ESPN.com sent Fitzpatrick to Tampa Bay in his most recent mock draft. But Fitzpatrick is likely going to play slot corner or safety in the NFL (he played only 13 snaps at outside corner last year), so he may not be what the Buccaneers need. Instead, Tampa could eye Denzel Ward (Ohio State) at pick No. 7, or Josh Jackson (Iowa), Mike Hughes (Central Florida), or Jaire Alexander (Louisville) following a trade down or in Round 2.

Find a linebacker: When Sean Lee plays, the Cowboys have a very capable defense. The problem is that when the injury-prone linebacker misses games, the unit falls apart.

This much was evident in 2018. In the 11 games Lee played, the Cowboys went 8-3 and held opponents to an average of 16.6 points per game. In the five he missed, Dallas went 1-4 and permitted an incredible 29.8 points per contest. 

With Lee signed for only the next two seasons and slated to be 32 at the beginning of the 2018 campaign, the Cowboys need to look for the standout linebacker’s eventual replacement.

Throw in the fact that versatile linebacker Anthony Hitchens is a free agent and second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith — who has his own injury history — was hit-and-miss during his first year of action, and it’s obvious to see the team must address the position in the offseason.

The easiest way to do this would be in the draft. With the No. 19 pick, the Cowboys would love for Georgia’s Roquan Smith or Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds to be there when they are on the clock. Both are projected as high-to-middle first-round guys, but both could make an immediate impact on a Dallas defense desperate for competent playmakers in the middle of the field.

More likely to happen is that the team will address the group in the second to fourth rounds where they have found value in recent years. Lee was a second-round selection in 2010 and Hitchens was tabbed in the fourth round in 2014. In that range, Ohio State’s Jerome Baker and Iowa’s Josey Jewell could both be in play.

The hope for the Cowboys is that Lee plays a full season in 2018, Smith takes the next step to become the player many thought he would develop into coming out in 2016. They would like to have Hitchens back, but there is a strong possibility he leaves with Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus now the defensive coordinator in Indianapolis. By prioritizing bringing back Lawrence, there is likely not much cap space left over for a solid, versatile and underrated player like Hitchens.

If the team doesn’t address the position early in the draft or in free agency, it could be looking at extended playing time for Damien Wilson or veteran Justin Durant, who has already spent two separate stints with the team since 2013.

Prioritize speed at receiver: To say the Cowboys haven’t got much out of their receivers in recent years would be an understatement. Dez Bryant went from arguably a top-five wideout in 2016 to one of the most unreliable players in the league, which has led many Dallas fans and pundits to call for his release. Despite not doing much of anything early in his career and deliver a few costly bonehead mistakes, Terrance Williams somehow was signed to a four-year deal before the 2017 season. Cole Beasley seemed to be the perfect match for new quarterback Dak Prescott, but in his second year with the signal-caller he produced his worst season since his rookie campaign. 

Yes, the Cowboys are a run heavy team with a strong offensive line and arguably the best running back in football. Still, something has to be done to get more production out of this group to enable Dallas to continue to operate its power attack.

They began the overhaul of the position shortly after the end of the season, replacing receivers coach Derek Dooley with Sanjay Lal, who previously has served with Colts, Raiders, Jets and Bills in the same position. With the addition of Lal, who has overseen the likes of T.Y. Hilton and Sammy Watkins, the Cowboys could look to stretch the field more in 2018.

If that happens, they’ll have to find a wideout who can consistently hit the big play with his speed. Currently, the closest thing to a true deep threat on the team is Brice Butler, who averaged 21.1 yards per catch but only hauled in 15 grabs. Routinely forced to take a seat to Williams, Butler has already declared his unhappiness in Dallas and is expected to move on in 2018.

Instead of fixing the position in free agency, the team will likely explore the draft. Though this year’s crop of pass catchers doesn’t boast a huge selection of top-tier talent, there is expected to be plenty of promising options at the back of the first round through the second and third rounds.

If it stayed at its No. 19 slot, Dallas is almost guaranteed to be out of the running for the top talent in the class — Calvin Ridley. It would probably look to add to the defensive or offensive line with that spot and focus on its second-round selection at No. 50. With that spot, any one of James Washington, Christian Kirk, D.J. Chark or D.J. Moore could possibly be in play. Chark and Moore seem to fit the bill.

Chark is an athletic freak who has the speed to burn defenses deep and the size (6-foot-3) to be a problem on 50-50 balls down the field. Moore on the other hand, is a more compact deep threat who receives favorable comparisons to fellow Maryland product Stephon Diggs for his quickness and playmaking ability.

Okafor and Murphy’s injuries, though, could be viewed as discount opportunities for teams who liked their pre-setback work samples. But the Chiefs already have an injury risk at outside linebacker, complicating one of these players’ routes to western Missouri.

If the search parameters are expanded to 4-3 ends, the talent pool widens to include the likes of Demarcus Lawrence, Ziggy Ansah and William Hayes.

Lawrence is expected to negotiate with the Cowboys this month, and it seems likely the sides will work out a deal, especially given Dallas’ trouble to find edge rushers post-DeMarcus Ware. Ansah might not be worth what a team will pay him, but the former top-five pick did bounce back from his persistent ankle trouble and register 12 sacks (nine of them in three games, however). He’s going to be costly, and despite being a 2013 first-rounder, will be 29 by next season’s outset. (And even that age has been questioned.) Hayes continues to deliver underrated work, particularly as a run defender, but he’s going to turn 33 soon and has spent the entirety of a 10-year career in a 4-3 alignment.

The first two don’t seem too realistic, but then again, the Chiefs managed to sign Jeremy Maclin for $11MM per year in 2015 when they had less cap space than they do now. Dorsey preferred to backload deals to free up near-term space. Will Brett Veach utilize this tactic to help a front seven that needs assistance at multiple spots?

The Chiefs could shift focus to the draft, but not holding a pick until No. 54 poses a slight problem. Kansas City has consistently delivered on Day 2 of drafts during Andy Reid‘s run, selecting the likes of Travis Kelce, Mitch Morse, Chris Jones and Kareem Hunt since 2013. This is encouraging considering the team’s current situation, although Dorsey now being out of the picture represents a key variable going forward.

Bradley Chubb– or Arden Key-type players won’t be realistically available for the Chiefs, but this should be a primary focus come Draft Friday. Florida State’s Josh Sweat, Auburn’s Jeff Holland or Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter look like potential second-round options at this juncture. PFF rated Holland as Division I-FBS’ sixth-most productive pass rusher last season — a breakout campaign for the junior that ended with 9.5 sacks. Although, Holland registered just three sacks in two prior Tigers years. Also having to face offensive linemen in the nation’s best conference, Carter ranked 11th on this scale. However, the four-year player never recorded more than five sacks in a season.

With the Combine nearly a month away, it’s early to assess second-day stock. But the Chiefs will need to be on the lookout throughout the offseason for Houston help.

Hali held that job for many years once Houston usurped him as K.C.’s No. 1 edge option, and with Ford not being the Hali replacement the Chiefs envisioned, the team’s current position is not strong — particularly long-term.

2) Find Jones up-front help: Across the board, 2017 was an ugly year for Chiefs defense. They ranked 28th in total defense, 30th in DVOA, 25th against the run and 29th against the pass. Bob Sutton‘s units have a bend-but-don’t-break history, and while Kansas City was 15th with 21.2 points allowed per game, last season marked a step back at a time when the franchise could ill-afford it.

Beyond Jones, the Chiefs’ future on the defensive line looks shaky.

Bennie Logan is a free agent, and Allen Bailey could be a cap-casualty cut. Jones has proven to be a cornerstone player after two years, but the Chiefs’ defensive shortcomings cost them in another bitter playoff defeat. They need to address the point of attack, which Derrick Henry gashed during the Titans’ comeback.

In an offseason that will likely see recent contracts for Johnson and Hali be shed, Bailey may be in the same boat.

It would provide the Chiefs $6MM in cap space to release Bailey while tagging the team with $2MM in dead money. They are already paying $4MM-plus in cap penalties for cutting Maclin, and Bailey will only be 29 next season. While the Chiefs don’t have a slew of ends ready to fill that spot, Bailey has not been a quality performer in a few years. PFF graded the career-long Chief as the No. 88 interior defender in the game last season, charting him as one of this positional grouping’s worst run defenders as well. The team might be wise to absorb the slight cap hit and move on.

PFF graded Logan, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Jarvis Jenkins as worse. The Chiefs’ run defense played well during the season-saving December win streak, but without Jones in the second half of the wild-card loss, the team finished up its slate by allowing a season-high 202 rushing yards to the Titans.

Kansas City also saw no one besides Houston or Jones compile more than two sacks. Dorsey’s savvy Jones pick saves the franchise from having to reboot its entire line, but other than that, it could be tasked with doing so.

This would be an ideal area to invest in this offseason, but the 2018 collection of potential D-line UFAs is not as good as it was in previous years. There are some high-profile solutions that will not come cheap.

Both Dontari Poe and Sheldon Richardson have regional ties, the former a five-year Chief and the latter a St. Louis native who attended the University of Missouri. Poe is a better player than Logan, with the usage-rate maven bouncing back in 2017 after a down 2016 showing, but the Chiefs did not put up much of a fight to keep him last year. Richardson figures to command eight figures per year and has not been the same player as he was early in his Jets run. Mitch Unrein enjoyed a surprisingly productive season in 2017, rating as a top-25 PFF interior defender, but he’ll be 31 and does not have an extensive track record of full-time productivity.

Other options in Frostee Rucker, Tom Johnson or even Haloti Ngata will all be in their mid-30s by the time the season begins.

Richardson’s ex-teammate Muhammad Wilkerson will soon be a cap casualty, and after two letdown seasons might not be incredibly expensive — at least, not compared to the extension he signed in 2016. At just 28, Wilkerson could have several productive seasons ahead of him. He just hasn’t shown much since breaking his leg in the 2015 season finale. Wilkerson’s market will be one of the more interesting non-quarterback situations to monitor this offseason.

But if the Chiefs intend to free up cap space, they’re going to be interested in spending it somewhere. One of these front-seven need areas should receive attention come March. This is also another area to look out for when Kansas City’s second-round pick comes.

3) Give Patrick Mahomes another weapon: During his entire Kansas City tenure, Reid has not placed a premium on having much depth at wide receiver. He’s continued to form rotations behind the No. 1 option of the moment, with a number of cogs functioning behind Dwayne Bowe, then Maclin and now Tyreek Hill. But this period’s also featured Smith, an accurate quarterback whose talents Reid maximized.

But it could also be argued the Chiefs limited Smith by ignoring this role for so many years. Kelce will continue to serve as K.C.’s de facto WR1, so it could also be argued that — like the Chargers during Antonio Gates‘ prime — the Chiefs do not need to devote valuable resources for a player who would be at best the fourth option in this offense. However, the Chiefs’ offense ground to a halt once Kelce left the field during the playoff loss. Hill had a marvelous year and should be ascending, but there are areas a complementary receiver could help the deep threat/rich man’s gadget player.

With Mahomes stepping in, things likely aren’t going to run as smoothly — at least, not at first. Although he showed considerable promise by being ready to step on a field last season and playing well in that debut, the rocket-armed passer remains raw. It makes more sense for the Chiefs, who will no longer have a franchise-quarterback salary on their payroll, to supply Mahomes with an additional auxiliary weapon since he might require more talent capable of winning outside matchups than Smith did to formulate drives.

Unlike the defensive front seven, there are more realistic components available on the wideout market. The Chiefs also do not have a veteran receiver contract on their payroll, though they’re probably planning to extend Hill in 2019. But for now, they could make sense for some of the many WR2-type pass-catchers out there.

They almost have to spend here. Chris Conley is coming off an Achilles tear and is entering a contract year, and Albert Wilson and De’Anthony Thomas are UFAs. Former fourth-round pick Demarcus Robinson could develop into something, or he could merely become another cog in K.C.’s evolving WR2 rotation.

The Chiefs’ situation doesn’t point to a Jarvis Landry pursuit. They have their top two pass-catchers established. But they could use a possession target. Jordan Matthews fits this profile, coming off a down contract campaign and in search of a team with a more stable passing attack.

Matthews served as a chain-mover in Philadelphia. Working primarily out of the slot, he exceeded 800 yards three times — the third of which coming in Doug Pederson‘s now-immortalized Chiefs East setup. But Matthews’ Bills season went horribly, and it should affect his market. However, the Bills’ Tyrod Taylor-centered attack has not been a boon for wideouts — as Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin showed — so Matthews comes with a bounceback appeal.

Kansas City could just bring back Wilson, who obviously knows Reid’s system, and keep the assembly line going. But after a strong contract year, he might not come too cheap.

The ex-UDFA was a four-year contributor who enjoyed his finest season in 2017. The former Georgia State find made some quality plays in big spots en route to a 554-yard season — the most receiving yards by a Chiefs WR2 in a season since Donnie Avery in 2013 — and displayed elite-level elusiveness after catches. Wilson’s 15 missed tackles ranked third among WRs, and he also landed firmly on the Next Gen stats radar despite he and Robinson essentially splitting time as K.C.’s No. 2 wideout.

Kendall Wright is a more established player, but he qualifies as a station-to-station target at this point. And after two years of being buried in Tennessee, Wright once again became a competent target and hauled in 59 passes for 614 yards with a shoddy quarterback situation in Chicago. At just 28, he makes sense as a short-term add, albeit with little upside. Neither he nor Dontrelle Inman look to represent that big of an upgrade from Wilson, if any. But Inman — who is already 29 despite having just four years of service time — could serve as intriguing buy-low option based on his 2016 season (58/810/4) in San Diego.

If the Chiefs turn to the draft to help here — as they have with Conley, Robinson and Jehu Chesson the past three years — it likely won’t be a high pick. There are higher-priority areas of need on which to focus, and this franchise has not selected a wideout in the first or second round since Scott Pioli‘s disastrous Jonathan Baldwin investment in 2011.

A midlevel free agent makes sense, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s hard to see the Chiefs using anything higher than a third-round choice to bolster a spot they clearly don’t hold in high regard.

During his stints as a defensive coordinator and a head coach, Pettine has typically run a 3-4 scheme that features a good amount of blitzing and aggressive man coverage in the back end. While no team generally employs man coverage on even 50% of its plays, and the Packers will need to work on zone coverage in order to be effective, it’s fair to guess that Green Bay will target corners capable of playing press-man if it dips into the free agent market.

A number of free agents (or potential free agents, hinging on a possible release) could be of interest to the Packers based solely on Pettine’s coaching history. Tramon Williams, for example, is both a former Packers and spent one year with Pettine in Cleveland. He’ll be 35 years old when the 2018 season gets underway, so while he’s coming off an excellent rebound campaign, Williams probably isn’t what Green Bay is looking for. However, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Buster Skrine, Pierre Desir, and even Leodis McKelvin could garner a look by the Packers given their working relationship with Pettine.

Green Bay doesn’t figure to spend at the top of the cornerback market to sign a Trumaine Johnson or Malcolm Butler, but the club could look at the second tier of free agent defensive backs. Morris Claiborne stands out as a possible fit, as he’s still only 28 years old and — if 2017 is any indication — may reach a relatively limited market (the Jets signed him for one year and $5MM last year). It also wouldn’t be surprising if the Packers target David Amerson, who was released by the Raiders earlier this week. Amerson, who has thrived in man coverage, can be signed immediately, will take a meeting with the division-rival Bears on Wednesday.

At pick No. 14, the Packers should have their choice of cornerbacks aside from Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, who figures to be selected within the top-10 picks. Lance Zierlein and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com both project Green Bay to take a cornerback in their first mock drafts, with Zierlein sending the Packers Josh Jackson (Iowa) and Jeremiah giving Green Bay UCF’s Mike Hughes. Other cornerbacks who could conceivably be available on either Day 1 or 2 include Denzel Ward (Ohio State), Jaire Alexander (Louisville), Isaiah Oliver (Colorado), and Carlton Davis (Auburn).

3) Bolster the right side of the offensive line: While the Packers’ run-blocking was actually decent in 2017, the club’s pass-blocking prowess was not: Green Bay ranked 26th in pressure rate allowed and 28th in adjusted sack rate allowed, and could be poised to lose offensive linemen this offseason.

While the Packers’ are set at left tackle, left guard, and center, right guard and right tackle may be problems going forward. Veteran right guard Jahri Evans is a free agent and will be 35 years old when the 2018 campaign gets underway. While he offered average play last season (he was the No. 30 guard among 77 qualifiers, per PFF), Evans could fall off a cliff at any time given his age. Bringing him back on another cheap, one-year pact wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but Green Bay could also look to upgrade.

The Packers haven’t historically been amenable to paying for guards (or offensive lineman in general), but the club now has a new general manager and could express a willingness to spend. That doesn’t mean Green Bay is going to sign Andrew Norwell or Justin Pugh, but it could make a serious investment at guard rather than inking another aging veteran like Evans or relying on internal options. I’d expect the Packers to first target the Colts’ Jack Mewhort, who has missed 17 of 32 games over the past two seasons but been effective when on the field. His injury history could make him a bit more affordable, and he worked under new Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin in Indianapolis during the past two years.

At right tackle, Bryan Bulaga inked a five-year, ~$34MM deal just three years ago, but could already be in danger of being released. That’s not due to his talent level, as he’s been a positive at right tackle during his seven-year career in Green Bay. However, Bulaga is now coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in November, meaning he may not be available for the start of the 2018 season. The Packers could save $4.7MM by cutting Bulaga in the near future, and $6.3MM by designating him a post-June 1 release.

If the Packers do part ways with Bulaga, they’ll almost certainly have to find a new right tackle via the draft, as the free agent tackle market is almost completely barren (which could hypothetically be a reason to keep Bulaga in the fold). Connor Williams (Texas) is projected as one of the draft’s top tackles, but like Bulaga, he’s struggled with injuries as of late. Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown and Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey could also go in Round 1, while Tyrell Crosby (Oregon) and Brian O’Neill (Pittsburgh) are among the options that could be available on Day 2, per Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com.