The NFL Draft is consequential for every team, make no mistake. Everyone can turn their franchise around with one perfectly executed weekend, though that’s obviously easier said than done. There are no sure things, and the whole event can be a bit of a crapshoot. Still, it’s the most straightforward way to infuse your organization with talent.
Ten teams, however, need to stand out and draft well for the good of the franchise more than others. There are various reasons for this — coaches with jobs and reputations on the line, aging cores that need to be augmented, or the weight of expectations. Whatever the reason, here are ten teams who are in dire need of a top-quality NFL Draft.
The Browns, not known for drafting franchise quarterbacks, are almost certainly going to use the first overall pick in a bid to find a franchise quarterback. That alone ensures the stakes are high for them, but add the fact that they have the No. 4 pick, are coming off an 0-16 season, and are probably giving coach Hue Jackson one more year to show some progress, and you have an extremely consequential draft. If the Browns get this right — particularly with their top two picks — we could look back on this draft as the beginning of a turnaround. If not, it will be more evidence that the Browns are the dregs of the NFL. No pressure.
The team picking second may have a sturdier foundation than the team picking first, but they still have a lot of questions. This is Dave Gettleman’s first draft as Giants GM, and he’s facing a lot of questions. Eli Manning isn’t going to be around forever, and the team has to figure out how to optimize the rest of his career. One option appears to be going a slightly safer route and giving Manning more weapons. But the team also has needs on defense and Odell Beckham’s long-term future is murky. A lot of questions need answering.
Andrew Luck is supposedly progressing toward a return, even if it’s coming along slowly. That won’t solve all the problems that the 4-12 Colts had, though. They’re fortunate to be one of the teams in the top ten that does have an established franchise quarterback, health permitting, but the supporting cast is woeful. They have holes all over the offense, Luck needs better protection, and the defense isn’t top-shelf either. Luck turns 29 in September. If the team wants to make use of his best years, they need to build a team around him now.
A year ago, you would not have expected to see the Cowboys on a list of teams in need of a consequential draft. But after a 9-7 year and the release of Dez Bryant, Dallas is at something of a crossroads. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott provide a sturdy platform, but with Bryant gone, Dallas needs more skill options and need to fill a big hole at defensive tackle. The Cowboys must show that last year’s step back was a fluke, not the norm.
The Seahawks look increasingly like a spent force. There remains no shortage of talent, but the departures of Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman feel like moments that mark the end of an era. The offensive line has been a lingering issue that Russell Wilson would probably love to see fixed, and there’s a big hole at tight end, too, as well as the obvious need to fill Sherman and Bennett’s roster spots. This draft could be the difference between Seattle’s return to contention and descent into mediocrity.
The Cardinals are very excited about new quarterback Sam Bradford, but they have to ask themselves if he’s really their quarterback of the future. If he’s not, they may want to see what’s available to them at the position when they pick at No. 15. Larry Fitzgerald is aging and Tyrann Mathieu is gone, the latter in particular leaving the team badly in need of secondary help. The offensive line needs help, too. The Cardinals are another team that feels like they’re still just barely a contender. They need to find some impactful players in the draft to keep the window open a little while longer.
The Dolphins have been linked repeatedly to quarterbacks, and it’s evident that the franchise is beginning to lose faith in Ryan Tannehill as a franchise-defining option. They may be all over one of the top four quarterbacks if one falls to 11, but you have to wonder how hard a look they’ve taken at Lamar Jackson. They could use some help on the defensive line and secondary. The defining decision for Miami in this draft will be whether they go for the quarterback position and, if so, what they do with it.
The Bengals filled a need by trading for offensive lineman Cordy Glenn, but moved down nine picks to do so. Marvin Lewis is returning in something of a surprise move, but the Bengals need to be back in the playoffs for it to be adjudged a success. Both lines and the entire defense could use depth, at the very least. The big question: would the Bengals dare use their first-round pick in such a consequential draft on a potential successor to quarterback Andy Dalton?
9) Washington Redskins
Washington enters the post-Kirk Cousins era with much to prove. Alex Smith is in, but quarterback wasn’t really the problem for the Redskins a year ago. They need help across the defense, as Kendall Fuller and Bashaud Breeland are both out the door. Washington needs a good draft to prove that they can contend. Smith is a good enough quarterback, and they are two years removed from a playoff appearance, but they need to halt the backwards slide.
10) Oakland Raiders
As the most high-profile coaching hire of the offseason, Jon Gruden needs to get his second tenure in Oakland off to a strong start. Secondary help will be imperative for a defense that was in the bottom ten in passing yards allowed in 2017. A linebacker and help on both the offensive and defensive line would also be nice additions. The Raiders pick tenth and have a chance to get an impact player. There’s no reason Gruden shouldn’t be aiming high with a potential return to playoff contention in 2018. He could do it if the Raiders get the draft right.
