After a flurry of moves through the first several days of the new league year, many NFL teams still have major roster holes to fill. Fortunately, a number of notable free agents are unsigned, the 2026 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching (April 23-25) and the trade block remains open for business -- as we saw earlier this week with Denver's acquisition of Jaylen Waddle. Here's a look at five of the biggest needs that still must be addressed, along with my suggested solutions for each.
- Biggest roster hole: Sack specialist
- Solution: Trade for Maxx Crosby OR draft at No. 31 overall and sign rotational veteran
The Patriots still need a stronger WR1 than free-agent addition Romeo Doubs after releasing Stefon Diggs, so chatter continues to swirl around their standing in the . Given their draft position (No. 31 overall) and with few top-tier WR talents available in free agency, we're going to keep the focus on their need for a sack specialist. After watching K'Lavon Chaisson depart and signing Dre'Mont Jones, the Pats have improved very little in the pass-rush department. The red-hot option? If Brown talks grow stale, New England could shift that trade capital to acquire Maxx Crosby from the Raiders. Mike Vrabel's defense would be an absolute terror with the five-time Pro Bowler on the edge. The more mild and realistic option is to draft an edge rusher in the first round and sign one of the well-seasoned rotational veterans still on the market -- Joey Bosa, Haason Reddick, Cameron Jordan or former Patriot Kyle Van Noy.
- Biggest roster hole: Secondary
- Solution: Draft at No. 25 overall and trade for veteran
After an 11-6 season with new head coach Ben Johnson at the helm, the Bears' already-suspect secondary was gutted by free agency. They lost Pro Bowl corner Nahshon Wright to the open market, as well as four safeties, including full-time starters Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. To balance the scales, they’ve so far signed Coby Bryant and Cam Lewis. That’s not enough. It’s probably going to take several more moves, as Chicago needs to not just patch the holes but improve its defense to compete for the division again in 2026. Many mocks have the Bears addressing the defensive line with their first-round pick (No. 25 overall), but drafting Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren there would be a strong addition to the secondary rebuild. An aggressive trade for a starting DB also wouldn’t hurt: I’d make calls for guys like Denzel Ward, Marlon Humphrey, Riley Moss and Budda Baker.
- Biggest roster hole: WR1
- Solution: Swing a big trade OR trade down from No. 4 overall
There's a battle-tested formula when it comes to fostering growth at the game's most important position: Team drafts a highly touted quarterback, who struggles through the first year or two. Team then acquires a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver, and the young QB breaks out. It happened with Josh Allen after the Bills traded for Stefon Diggs and with Jalen Hurts when the Eagles acquired A.J. Brown. The Titans should try that approach with second-year passer Cam Ward. They picked up Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and restructured Calvin Ridley's contract, but neither player is a true WR1. And there isn't one available to sign -- Jauan Jennings is the top remaining name -- so the Titans need to get creative.
There are a few oft-speculated trade options: A.J. Brown (whom they drafted back in 2019) or Brian Thomas Jr. -- despite Jaguars GM James Gladstone's insistence that Thomas isn't being shopped. Tennessee could also pull off a surprise deal for a player like DK Metcalf, Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson. Another way to address this need is in the draft, trading down from fourth overall to snag Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, while scoring extra capital. If Tennessee can't work out a trade, it could focus on scoring an "X" receiver with its second-round selection (No. 35). Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. and Washington's Denzel Boston come to mind.
- Biggest roster hole: Pass rush
- Solution: Draft several players (including at No. 15 overall)
The Buccaneers' pass rush struggled to seal the deal last season, ranking 23rd in sack rate (5.8%) despite finishing third in QB pressure rate (39.1%). YaYa Diaby led the team with just seven sacks in 2025, and the last Buc to record double-digit sacks was Shaquil Barrett in 2021 (10). While they did sign former Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, who logged a career-high 11 sacks last season, it was a one-year deal for a soon-to-be 31-year-old coming off an outlier year, as his next-best was a six-sack campaign in 2021. Tampa Bay needs more electricity off the edges -- that's likely to be the team's primary focus in the draft. Nearly every mock in existence has the Bucs going that way at No. 15 overall, with frequent appearances by Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell and Miami’s Akheem Mesidor.
- Biggest roster hole: Back seven
- Solution: Sign available free agents and draft on Day 2
After finishing as a bottom-five unit in 2024, Jacksonville's defense improved immensely last season to help secure the most wins (13) in a year by the franchise since 1999. Unfortunately, free agency has not been kind to the Jaguars. While they did re-sign CB Montaric Brown and LB Dennis Gardeck, the Jags lost top safety Andrew Wingard, Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd and starting corner Greg Newsome II. That’s at least one major hole in three different areas of the defense, which means it’ll take a multi-pronged approach to rebuild that side of the ball. For starters, the front office could consider discount deals on veteran free agents like LB Bobby Wagner, CB Trevon Diggs and safety Donovan Wilson. They could also test the trade market for linebackers like Patrick Queen or Pete Werner or for a defensive back (SEE: Bears section above). Finally, while the Jaguars don’t have a first-round pick in this draft, they do have four Day 2 selections. At least two or three of those should go toward filling the holes on the second and third levels of the defense. Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez, Arizona State CB Keith Abney II and Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley could all be available after Round 1.
