According to at least one person (hello), 19 of the NFL's 32 teams are heading toward the draft with a top need that falls on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback is the most popular No. 1 need, with five teams having that atop their shopping list. Or at least the list we so kindly made for them. Of the 13 teams whose top need falls on the offensive side of the ball, three have quarterback as their priority. And, yes, the teams that unloaded Brock Osweiler (Houston) and uploaded Brock Osweiler (Cleveland) need a quarterback. Here are all 32 top needs:
Every team's greatest need in the NFL draft
April 23, 2017 at 5:17AM
Vikings
Need: Right guard.
Jeremiah Sirles is a suitable fallback but would be better utilized as a multiposition backup.
Bears
Need: Safety.
Chicago needs a playmaker next to veteran strong safety Quintin Demps after tying the NFL record for fewest takeaways (11).
Lions
Need: Linebacker.
Paul Worrilow is a possible replacement for DeAndre Levy, but Detroit still needs to beef up the middle of that defense.
Packers
Need: Cornerback.
With all due respect to the running back need, the lack of cornerback depth was alarming last year.
Cowboys
Need: Pass rusher.
Jerry wants, and needs, a pass rusher to take some pressure off the back end of his defense.
Giants
Need: Defensive tackle.
Even if the Giants re-sign Johnathan Hankins, they still need to beef up the middle of the line with another quality player.
Eagles
Need: Cornerback.
Philly lost starters Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll. The Eagles need more help than Patrick Robinson.
Redskins
Need: Defensive line.
Washington brought in Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee to help the D-line, but more is needed after losing Chris Baker.
Falcons
Need: Right guard.
Atlanta is getting old on the interior O-line and needs to replace retired Chris Chester at right guard.
Panthers
Need: Running back.
Jonathan Stewart is 30 and Cam Newton is too valuable to keep taking this kind of pounding as a part of the running game.
Saints
Need: Pass rusher.
With only 30 sacks last season, New Orleans is in the process of trying to find a pass rusher to pair with Cameron Jordan.
Buccaneers
Need: Defensive back.
The Bucs took cornerback Vernon Hargreaves in the first round last year, but the other starter, Brent Grimes, will be 34.
Cardinals
Need: Cornerback.
Arizona needs a corner it can trust on the other side of Patrick Peterson. If it lands an elite one, look out.
Rams
Need: Receiver.
Different year, same need for the Rams. Adding former Bills receiver Robert Woods won't scratch this itch.
49ers
Need: Quarterback.
Can a team really count on Brian Hoyer to (A) be enough to forget this need and (B) stay healthy for 16 games?
Seahawks
Need: Cornerback.
Even if Seattle doesn't trade Richard Sherman, there's a depth problem because DeShawn Shead tore his ACL in January.
Ravens
Need: Receiver.
They must replace Steve Smith Sr.'s toughness, 70 catches and team-leading five receiving TDs.
Bengals
Need: Offensive line.
Bringing back Andre Smith doesn't offset the losses of Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler via free agency.
Browns
Need: Quarterback.
Would you have guessed any different? Not this millennium.
Steelers
Need: Outside linebacker.
It might look as if soon-to-be 39-year-old James Harrison could play forever, but that's highly unlikely to happen.
Bills
Need: Cornerback.
Some say receiver is the priority, but let's lean toward defense for a team that has to play Tom Brady twice.
Dolphins
Need: Outside linebacker.
The strong side is open for competition. Veteran Koa Misi is a former starter there, but Miami can do better at the position.
Patriots
Need: Defensive end.
Trey Flowers showed in the Super Bowl that he can be a star. But free-agent defections have created a need for another DE.
Jets
Need: Safety.
New York can use help at O-line and, of course, QB, but safety seems to be the smart target at No. 6.
Texans
Need: Quarterback.
Hey, Phil Simms suddenly is available. And only slightly less brittle than Tony Romo.
Colts
Need: Pass rusher.
OLB Robert Mathis, the team's career sack leader, retired. Another pass-rushing OLB, Erik Walden, wasn't re-signed.
Jaguars
Need: Defensive end.
Calais Campbell was signed, but he's not enough. Jared Odrick was released and Tyson Alualu signed with Pittsburgh.
Titans
Need: Receiver.
Another top target is needed alongside leading receiver Rishard Matthews and some young players with potential.
Broncos
Need: Left tackle.
Denver's ongoing search for the right fit at left tackle continues as we enter this week's draft.
Chiefs
Need: Running back.
Jamaal Charles is gone. Spencer Ware is a decent back but isn't the lead back the Chiefs need.
Chargers
Need: Offensive line.
Russell Okung was brought in via free agency to settle the left tackle position. But there are other holes and needs up front.
Raiders
Need: Middle linebacker.
The running back need gets more attention, but there's a bigger hole at MLB. And Jack Del Rio knows the value of a good MLB.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
