As the NFL offseason progresses, teams are assessing their biggest weaknesses ahead of the 2026 season. Each of the 32 teams has unique flaws that need addressing to enhance their chances for success.
Key points
NFL teams are assessing weaknesses for the 2026 season
Each team has unique flaws that need addressing
Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans have different priorities
Teams are using advanced stats to identify concerns
Offseason decisions are critical for future success
Seattle SeahawksTennessee Titans
The NFL Draft has come and gone. Free agency has died down from a roaring fire to a few glowing embers. The offseason doldrums are upon us.
That means it's time for schedule leaks, some low-key trade rumors that use the vacuum of real news to generate drama and some rest time for the veterans and prospects who will throw themselves back into the fire come August. That doesn't mean it's time to rest, however. Coaches, executives and players still have work to do to either patch the holes that sunk the 2025 season or reinforce the strengths that made last fall a success.
Not all these fixes have the same urgency. The Seattle Seahawks have much different priorities than the Tennessee Titans when it comes to their biggest flaw as the 2026 season approaches. But everyone could use at least a little help.
Thus, I scoured over rosters, 2025 results and advanced stats from Pro Football Reference,NFL Pro and RBSDM.com to find out what concerns from last season could carry over to this one or which new ones could derail Super Bowl hype trains. Let's run down each team's most interesting flaw, in alphabetical order.
Arizona faced the league's second-lowest blitz rate but fielded its fourth-highest pressure rate thanks to uneven quarterback play (and, trailing throughout the majority of their second halves, the shrug and butt-pat to allow Jacoby Brissett to go out there and try and create some magic). Pass protection is an issue, but so is finding wideouts who can win early and often so whomever is throwing passes in Glendale can get rid of the ball. The Cardinals had one of the league's higher times to throw, and while Trey McBride remains awesome and Michael Wilson bailed out plenty of fantasy seasons last year, additional help is needed.
: Passing game uncertainty
Q&A
What are the biggest weaknesses for NFL teams heading into the 2026 season?
Each of the 32 NFL teams has identified specific weaknesses, ranging from roster issues to performance concerns from the previous season.
How do the Seattle Seahawks' offseason priorities differ from the Tennessee Titans'?
The Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans have different offseason priorities based on their unique roster needs and performance from the 2025 season.
What factors are influencing NFL teams' offseason decisions?
Teams are analyzing rosters, past performance, and advanced statistics to identify and address their weaknesses as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Why is the NFL offseason important for team success?
The offseason is crucial for teams to address flaws, reinforce strengths, and prepare effectively for the challenges of the upcoming season.
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Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) attempts to make a catch over New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (4) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) attempts to make a catch over New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (4) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The quarterback room is set and the top two options are an injured Michael Penix Jr. and a diminished Tua Tagovailoa. Not ideal, but workable. The wideout corps, however, has only a single reliable presence to lift that duo. Drake London remains great, but even if Kyle Pitts continues his rise at tight end there are going to be a lot of double-teams thrown London's way.
That means someone from a receiving corps of Jahan Dotson, a returning Olamide Zaccheaus and rookie Zachariah Branch has to step up. This could be a windfall for Bijan Robinson fantasy owners and a headache for Falcons fans, who need someone to elevate their flawed quarterbacks with few reliable receiving options after London.
2025 was a concerning year for Baltimore's pass protection. The team's 9.6 percent sack rate allowed was one of the worst in the league. Lamar Jackson's absence didn't help, but he posted a career-worst 10.7 percent sack rate when on the field.
As a result, the Ravens' third down conversion rate dipped, what had been the league's most efficient offense fell outside the top 10 and a rebuild took place in the offseason, replacing parts along the offensive line and ushering out the John Harbaugh era.
The Bills gave up nearly four full yards after contact per carry last season -- last in the NFL and nearly 0.3 full yards more than the 31st place Atlanta Falcons. This was partially a product of backs running through defensive back arm tackles on the outside -- only the Chicago Bears faced more outside runs -- but it played a significant role in what turned out to be the league's second-worst run defense. Modest help has arrived in the form of Bradley Chubb and TJ Parker, but sure-handed, block-shedding tacklers are needed.
Carolina blitzed 27.7 percent of the time and generated pressure on only 26.2 percent of opponent dropbacks, which is the kind of inefficiency that leads you to a nine-game losing streak. That led to a massive contract for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and a more modest one for off-ball linebacker and useful blitzer Devin Lloyd.
Even with them on board, the pass rushing rotation will lean heavily on 2025 Day 2 draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen making leaps in their sophomore seasons. They have the talent to get there, but the Panthers could use some veteran rotational help to bring proven production to the position.
Chicago Bears: Pass rush
There's room for Caleb Williams to up his game outside of play-action sets, but that's a pretty minor concern. The league's 27th-ranked pass rush, on the other hand, didn't get the boost it hoped from Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett last season and then made minimal tweaks to the front four. A revitalized Devin Bush will add occasional help as a blitzer, but if Chicago is going to maximize an injury prone cornerback group it needs to create pressure with its down linemen.
The Bengals had the league's fifth-worst passing defense in terms of EPA in 2025, but this wasn't just a coverage issue. Cincinnati gave up 611 yards after catch over expected (YACOE), 200-plus more yards than the second-worst team in the NFL. Minimal pressure created space for opponents to shake free downfield. Poor angles and missed tackles led to bonus yards that made everything worse.
Cleveland is trying to rehabilitate Deshaun Watson, who has been the league's 41st-best quarterback when on the field for the Browns and missed a wide swath of games due to injury and the 20-plus accusations of sexual misconduct that the league itself deemed "predatory behavior." Behind him are Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, 4-9 combined as starters despite a top four defense and the league's 39th and 40th-best quarterbacks in terms of EPA in 2025 out of a field of 40). Just one more year before Watson can reasonably become one of the largest dead salary cap space hits in NFL history.
Dallas' pass rush wasn't as grim as it seemed; the team's 34.7 percent pressure rate was right around league average, as was its blitz rate. But that manifested in only 35 sacks. Now the team heads into 2026 without either Jadeveon Clowney or Osa Odighizuwa, who ranked first and second on the team in total pressures.
Rashan Gary arrived via trade, Quinnen Williams will have a full season with the team and Demarcus Lawrence was one of the franchise's two first round draft picks. They should help keep the pressure rate constant, but it may not matter if they're not better at turning chaos into lost yards.
Nov 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nov 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Denver is pretty well set on both sides of the ball, but the team's defense regressed after a thrilling 2024, falling from first in EPA allowed to eighth last season. Losing John Franklin-Myers means only one member of the team's three-man front had more than 19 pressures in 2025. While Zach Allen remains a stud and Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike remain reliable run stoppers, the Broncos will hope for breakthroughs from recent third round picks Tyler Onyedim and Sai'vion Jones around a 31-year-old D.J. Jones.
The Lions once had one of the NFL's most reliable, punishing offensive lines. Time took an ax to that, leaving the group to rely on young replacements (Blake Miller, Christian Mahogany) and questionable veteran imports (Cade Mays, Juice Scruggs, Larry Borom).
Despite an explosive run game, Detroit ranked in the bottom 10 when it came to run play stuff rate and juuuuuust outside the bottom 10 in run game success rate. It also led to a career low in pocket time for Jared Goff, manifesting in the lowest average target distance of his life (6.0 yards downfield, second-lowest in the league ahead of only Aaron Rodgers among full-time starters).
Green Bay paid a lot of money for Aaron Banks, who underwhelmed his first season as the team's left guard. It's turning left tackle over to Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first round pick who wasn't great as an interior lineman but showed flashes of his Day 1 potential while working on the outside.
2025 second round pick Anthony Belton's rookie season was uneven and frustrating. By those powers combined, the Packers fielded a below-average run game and Jordan Love faced pressure on more than 35 percent of his dropbacks.
Houston Texans: Boosting CJ Stroud with a competent run game
Stroud has never had an above average run game in Houston, but 2025 saw things approach crisis levels with the league's third-worst rushing offense. While Houston generated more than 100 rush yards over expected, it averaged fewer than four yards per carry, showcasing how grim things were behind a rebuilding offensive line. The key to improvement in 2026 will lie with new arrivals Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller (both on the wrong side of 30), first round pick Keylan Rutledge and David Montgomery, who has nearly 1,800 career NFL touches under his belt.
Only one team in the league had four players with at least 84 targets last season. That was the Colts, who used a diverse receiving array to help restore Daniel Jones' value. This reduced double teams, helped push Alec Pierce into a new tax bracket and resulted in a 7-1 start (please do not ask what happened next).
Indianapolis has largely opted to keep the band together by re-signing Jones and Pierce, but did so at the expense of losing top target Michael Pittman, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after Pierce's megadeal went through. Can Josh Downs and Tyler Warren command enough focus to keep Pierce flying? Can Nick Westbrook-Ikhine or Deion Burks pick up the slack? And what will it all look like in the space between Jones' recovery from a torn Achilles and whomever gets the call to start for him until he's ready?
The Jags got off the ball effectively and had an above-average time to pressure average in their AFC South championship campaign, but didn't turn that into devastating losses. Their 4.6 percent sack rate was fourth-lowest in the league.
While the effective duo of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker remain, the useful blitzing of Devin Lloyd is gone and the depth behind that pair is… limited. Consistently crumpling pockets will be a concern unless someone steps up around or behind that Hines-Allen/Walker tandem.
Yards after catch are a superboost for quarterbacks. While the Chiefs' 5.8 yards after catch per reception were fourth best in the NFL, their eight yards after catch over expected across the entire season was the worst mark in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes threw deep more than he had since 2020 but had the most frustrating season of his career because those downfield connections weren't reliable. Even when they were there, they lacked the "explode to the end zone" juice Tyreek Hill once had in this offense.
Las Vegas Raiders: That receiving corps
Fernando Mendoza steps into an offense where his top wideouts, in some combination, will be Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton. The presence of Brock Bowers and a rebuilt offensive interior in front of Ashton Jeanty and rookie Mike Washington Jr. will help. Even so, third-and-long will be remarkably easy for opposing coordinators to plan against if Las Vegas continues to lack reliable targets who can consistently create separation.
Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) drops back to pass as offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) provides coverage against Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) drops back to pass as offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) provides coverage against Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
This is step two after overhauling the offensive line. Tyler BIadasz and second round pick Jake Slaughter should be solid contributors inside, but the healthy returns of Joe Alt and (hopefully, as patellar tendon injuries truly suck) Rashawn Slater should upgrade a unit that allowed the league's second-worst pressure rate last fall.
That pressure led to quicker throws, wideouts who weren't quite established in their routes and the lowest average separation number (3.2 yards, second-lowest in the NFL) of Justin Herbert's career. We've been waiting for the Pro Bowl quarterback's breakthrough to MVP candidate, only to have it repeatedly derailed. Paving the way won't just be up to his offensive line but the wideouts around him to create space and thrive downfield.
Look, the Rams don't have many weaknesses -- they're favored to win Super Bowl 61 for a reason. But one issue was in the run game, where an 11.9 percent run stuff rate was second-lowest in the NFL.
With only 66 tackles for loss (24th-best) there's room for improvement along a front where Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske are asked to do a little more as pass rushers than other hand-in-the-dirt linemen. Poona Ford remains one of the league's underappreciated gems, but finding someone who can consistently turn first down into second-and-long would be another jewel in Los Angeles' crown.
The Dolphins have several problems to address, but the most glaring is the one that threatens to tank Malik Willis' tenure as a Dolphin in his debut season. His top veteran targets, in no particular order, are a combination of Malik Washington, Greg Dulcich, Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and Terrace Marshall. Rookies Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas and Will Kacmarek can contribute, but Bell is rehabbing a torn ACL and Kacmarek is primarily a blocking tight end. It's gonna be a rough year for the Miami offense.
McCarthy was buoyed by a run-heavy attack at Michigan that created space when he aired the ball out. In his rookie season he threw the ball deep more often than his predecessor Sam Darnold, whose average pass went 8.9 yards downfield to McCarthy's 9.3 It was a bold play for a win-now team loaded with receiving talent, and it failed to pan out.
McCarthy was a disaster, had a 3:9 TD:INT ratio when throwing to those talented wideouts split wide and had a 48.9 passer rating on deep throws. He had only 2.1 yards of separation on those deep shots, on average, because he also stunk in the short range; a -0.12 EPA per dropback on low-risk throws that went an average of only 2.1 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If he can't restore his short game, the Vikings' deep ball has no prayer.
Maye's protection wasn't an issue until it was, as his ability to handle pressure declined dramatically in the postseason. Let's assume Will Campbell continues to grow, Alijah Vera-Tucker stays healthy and Caleb Lomu makes an impact as a rookie. That will buy him more time, but he still needs a reliable WR1 who can maximize his potential as a young gunslinger like Stefon Diggs years earlier in Buffalo. Romeo Doubs was a nice addition, but unless he's ready to make a big leap he's more of a high level WR2 than a true top guy.
New Orleans got an encouraging rookie campaign from Tyler Shough despite a bottom-two run game. The Saints gave Travis Etienne $48 million in contract value to fix that and take some weight from Alvin Kamara's shoulders, but he could be similarly grounded. The team's 0.76 yards before carry per handoff were third-worst in the NFL -- significantly lower than the 2.2 yards before contact he averaged in 2025.
That's concerning, since his two least efficient seasons as a pro came in seasons where the Jaguars failed to consistently clear space for him. Now Kellen Moore's big ticket acquisition could wind up similarly mired in his first season in Louisiana.
The Giants will have a fearsome pass rush after pairing Brian Burns with Abdul Carter and now 2026 fifth overall pick Arvell Reese. This may not matter if opponents simply run all over them like they did in 2025. New York's 0.109 EPA per run play allowed was worst in the league and more than twice as bad as 31st-place Buffalo (0.049). Veteran help has arrived (Shelby Harris, DJ Reader, Tremaine Edmunds) but more reinforcements may be needed.
New York Jets: Secondary stability
New York went through a substantial overhaul after Aaron Glenn's ominous debut. A defense that recorded zero interceptions last fall could have as many as eight new starters. That includes a high-ceiling, iffy-floor cornerback duo in Nahshon Wright and rookie D'Angelo Ponds and a safety combination of Andre Cisco (eight games played in 2025) and a soon-to-be 30-year-old Minkah Fitzpatrick (14 games).
Bolstering the depth there would insulate the team from rookie mistakes or veteran drop-offs. Oh, and the quarterback situation is a mess, but you're not gonna do any better than Geno Smith in the middle of the offseason.
Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau brings down Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley during second half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 28, 2025.
Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau brings down Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley during second half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 28, 2025.
That's not just a mileage problem. Barkley and the Eagles offense in general backslid last fall thanks to stale playcalling and an uneven push up front. Philadelphia faced a top five stacked box rate and that helped lead to a top three run stuff rate as Barkley's yards per carry dropped from 5.8 to 4.1 and the team's rushing EPA fell from first in the NFL to 13th. Replacing embattled offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo should help, though new hire Sean Mannion is taking his first gig higher than position coach.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Clearing running lanes
This isn't just a blocking concern; the Steelers had one of the league's lowest yards-before-contact numbers because they had one of the league's highest stacked box (with eight or more defenders near the line of scrimmage) rates. Mike Tomlin was predictable, in part because he had to be with an aging quarterback. Receiving corps upgrades will ease the burden of crowded running lanes, but whomever is slinging passes in Pittsburgh still has to get the ball out in a way that stretches the field and actually threatens defenses. Barring that, it's going to come down to a Herculean effort up front for Mike McCarthy.
San Francisco 49ers: Over-the-top passing defense
The 49ers had one of 2025's lowest pressure rates, in part, because of one of the NFL's lowest blitz rate. It's easy to understand why Kyle Shanahan was reticent to throw extra attackers at the pocket; his safety help stunk. While passer rating isn't a great metric for the position, it's telling that all four of the safeties to start at least one game last fall gave up a rating of 102.4 or worse in coverage. The Niners only pressured Sam Darnold on 16 percent of his dropbacks in a Week 18 showdown for the NFC's top seed, ceding the easiest path to the Super Bowl to a bitter rival.
Seattle Seahawks: Pass rushing depth
The reigning Super Bowl champions used high value draft picks to backfill free agent losses in the secondary and at running back. That left them unable to take big swings when it came to the pass rush, where veteran Dante Fowler is currently the team's top addition. The Seahawks consistently generated chaos without having to blitz, but the player who led the team in pressures is a 34-year-old DeMarcus Lawrence. Boye Mafe and his 41 pressures are now under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. While talent remains, it's fair to worry about a dropoff from what was an elite, title-winning unit.
The Buccaneers backslid as Baker Mayfield played through injury last fall. A deficient run game didn't help, ranking fourth-worst in rushing yards over expected and third-worst in rushing yards after contact despite roughly average space-clearing up front (14th in yards before contact per carry). Rachaad White is gone, replaced by Kenneth Gainwell -- coming off a career-best season but who still had only 537 rushing yards. Bucky Irving will be called upon to put an injury-marred and inefficient season behind him, but it's clear a more dynamic attack is necessary.
Tennessee Titans: Big beefy boys on the inside (both sides)
Tennessee didn't do anything entirely well last season and responded by hiring Robert Saleh as head coach and signing or drafting what could be 11 new starters on both sides of the ball. Concerns remain about a defense that was fourth-worst in the NFL against the run remain, particularly after dealing away enormous tackle T'Vondre Sweat. While Peter Skononski is lock solid at left guard, the two interior spots next to him are a question mark even after the signings of Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson and the drafting of Fernando Carmona and Pat Coogan.
Washington Commanders: The secondary
Washington had the league's second-worst passing defense last season, beaten out, just slightly, by the Dallas Cowboys. This offseason's fixes include safety Nick Cross (gave up more than eight yards per target each of the last two seasons) and Amik Robertson (a 115.7 passer rating allowed in 2025). The hope for improvement rests with recent second-round draft picks Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil, though neither was especially impressive as the Commanders fell back to earth after 2024's breakthrough.