NFC East

Dallas
1) CB – Newman and Henry are a fine combo and comprise one of the better units in the league, but the team has no nickel or dime depth behind them.
2) RB – You can argue til you’re blue in the face about whether or not Marion Barber is the full time answer. But the fact remains that he’s the only RB on the roster, so the team needs depth.
3) NT – Dallas was desperate enough at the all important 3-4 nose tackle position that they gave Tank Johnson a shot last year, and now Jason Ferguson is gone as well.
4) WR – It doesn’t look like Terry Glenn is going to come back from injury any time soon. Pat Crayton has developed well, but Tony Romo needs another target to start developing as TO ages.
5) S – Have Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin made it to the Pro Bowl before? Sure, but if you had a chance to watch the Cowboys last year, it’s clear that the team consistently got killed by the long ball.

NY Giants
1) S – Gibril Wilson wasn’t great, but he’s gone now and this unit is absolutely terrible and definitely the big need if there’s to be any shot of a title defense.
2) OLB – Kawika Mitchell is gone now, and Mathias Kiwanuka has never really made the transition from pass rusher to linebacker. Time to try something different.
3) CB – The story here is a secondary that really improved over this season and during the Super Bowl run, but they also dealt with a lot of injuries and lacked depth all season.
4) WR – Plaxico Burress played as well as any WR in the league this year when healthy and has a crazy rapport with Eli Manning, but he can’t do it alone, and the rest of the WRs are past their prime or not quite to it yet. And Plax could be gone at any moment too.
5) OL – The offensive line was amazing down the stretch and through the playoffs, but they’re not the most talented bunch in the league and lack some depth across the board.

Philadelphia
1) OLB – The linebackers on this team are awful, and none of them should be starting on a legitimate contender. The Eagles got by for years with washed up veterans, but it’s time for a youth movement.
2) ILB – See OLB.
3) WR – What else is new for the Eagles? Kevin Curtis was invisible outside of a few games, and Reggie Brown seems to come and go as well. This team still needs a big playmaker.
4) S – Brian Dawkins is still a star, but one that has been aging for some time. But strong safety looks like the weak link on this defense until further notice.
5) OL – The Eagles have one of the better lines in the league but could use an upgrade at guard and some depth across the board.

Washington
1) DE – Last season was much improved from the year before, but the line still doesn’t do much by way of a pass rush and there is very little depth either.
2) S – No need to rehash the terrible Sean Taylor story. Washington needs a new free safety.
3) DT – Ever heard of Anthony Montgomery? Me either. You simply can’t win a lot of games with average defensive tackles.
4) WR – Washington continues to trot out a bunch of Smurfs and hope they can create a real passing game, but it’s time for someone to admit that it’s not working.
5) OL – The Skins have a solid line at every position, but they’re a little old at every position along the line as well, and not very deep at all.

NFC North

Chicago
1) OL – Chicago had one of the best lines in football a couple of years ago, but they’re getting old now and need to infuse it with some youth.
2) QB – Sure the Bears resigned Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, but does anyone really think either is the answer at this point? It’s time for a fresh start. Again.
3) DT – Tommee Harris is one of the best in the biz but can’t seem to stay healthy, and there’s not much else there. Brian Urlacher is only as good as the tackles in front of him, so having a pair of top DTs is key to making the defense work.
4) WR – The Bears signed Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd this offseason to compete for both starting jobs. Any questions?
5) RB – Running back was a luxury a year ago before Thomas Jones got traded and Cedric Benson got hurt yet again. Adrian Peterson is a fine backup, but Benson doesn’t look like a real option at this point.

Detroit
1) OL – There are a few startable guys on this line, but overall it is just plain terrible. They can’t protect the QB and they’re even worse at opening up holes for the run game. It’s time for an overhaul.
2) RB – Kevin Jones doesn’t look like he’ll ever be 100% again, and the Lions are so desperate to find a RB that they actually resigned Tatum Bell after benching him most of last season. And he looks like the starter until something changes.
3) DL – The defensive line is just one of the many woes on this team. Now the best player, Shaun Rogers, is gone as well. Just another one of the many areas on the team that needs an overhaul.
4) ILB – Ted Lehman was never great as it was, and now he is gone. Just another hole on this team.
5) OLB – Ernie Sims is coming around on the weak side but the Lions could really use some improvement on the other side.

Green Bay
1) DT – Corey Williams was unexpectedly traded this offseason, a loss that will leave the line a little too weak and thin for a contender.
2) CB – Al Harris and Charles Woodson are the best duo out there but they’re not exactly young, and there’s also not a single corner behind them worth mentioning.
3) FB – The Packers haven’t found a good replacement for William Henderson, and this is a team that uses the traditional fullback as much as anyone.
4) OL – Green Bay’s line is one of the best in the business right now. The tackles are probably the single pair in the league, and the interior of the line is solid too, but the team needs some youth and depth.
5) QB – Maybe you have heard, Ol’ #4 has moved on. Aaron Rodgers deserves his fair shot, but the backup right now is some dude named Dalton Bell. The draft probably isn’t the place to help here, but a veteran backup would be good.

Minnesota
1) DE – Kenechi Udeze has disappointed and Erasmus James will probably never be healthy, so this is unquestionably the #1 need on the team. They need depth, and they need pass rush even more.
2) OL – The left side of the line is absolutely one of the best out there, particularly at run blocking, but the right side of the line could use some work.
3) QB – Tarvaris Jackson started to show some improvement this season, but it’s yet to be seen whether he is the answer or not.
4) WR – Bernard Berrian should help this unit out a lot, even if he may not be a true #1, and Sid Rice showed some signs of development as well. But there’s still no standout among the group.
5) S – Darren Sharper is many years past his prime and gives up as many plays as he makes at this point. It’s time to find someone young to groom.

Note: This is a 4 part series. The other half of the NFC will be out tomorrow, and then the AFC on Wednesday and Thursday with a full crib sheet to be posted on Friday for quick access.

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Hired Guns: Wheaton Thunder
SO CFFL: Royale with Cheese
CFA: Wheaton Thunder

Thoughts from the Bo$$

Minnesota
Thats the freakin truth. Unfortunate about James.

A need that can easily be addressed in the draft.

Id like to see em take a shot at the New Hampshire guy if he's available toward the end of day one. Ive also heard they may be making a run at me...so we'll see.

Agreed. Theyve dicked around at WR ever since they lost Moss. Imagine Randy with AP and this group.

Agreed, but this is a weak safety class. Im not sure they can get a good prospect at this position AND fill other needs.

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2008 Black Knights Football - 12 wins isn't enough

I thought he'd been canned?

haha yeah, well, he'll still never be 100% again, will he?

Im not sure that guy was 100% at the start.

Okay, I agree, they need depth at LB in Philly. I don't agree with your ranking on need though.

WR is a dire need here. Pure and simple they have to have a real #1 wr. They tried to get Moss, Walker and other trades...they have to have it. So to me the first need is Wr.

The second need is OT. Both OT's are not young, and Justice has not proven he can fill in, so some OT depth is a must.

Then LB would be next in my opinion.

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Expert on nothing, opinionated on everything...

I agree with these needs, but don't feel any of them are as pressing, as finding a LB to cover the opposing TE's. The Packers have tried to address this with the FA acquisition of Chillars, but I don't know if that quite covers it though. The DT to add to the rotation is a great place to look, but the right guy has to be there or they should wait.

I've seen a few rankings elsewhere that essentially agree with you. I still hold out hope on Justice improving a bunch, and I also don't see the WR need everyone else does. That has been #1 on their "need" list for like 10 years now, but McNabb does just fine with what they have, just like Brady always did. If they could get a Moss, sure they'd do it, but I just don't see it as a major need. Curtis and Brown IMO are good enough to get the job done.

I'll have to agree to disagree here, and I know you're with the majority, but I'm not sure the Eagles franchise sees it the same way.

i totally agree with bomb here. people like to talk about wrs, but what has made the eagles better or worse in the last five-seven years is how the D performs. a wr would be nice, but the LBs are mandatory.

Wasn't sure where to post this nuggett. This looks like the best spot

Linebacker as the #1 and #2 need on this team? Sorry but I totally disagree with this assessment. If anything the Eagles linebackers are younger and more promising than at any other time in the Jim Johnson era. They are going to give Omar Gaither, Stewart Bradley, and Chris Gocong a lot of run this year.

They will probably draft a linebacker for depth - maybe even on the first day but its not even their #2 concern, much less 1 and 2. The #1 concern for the Eagles in this draft is offensive tackle. Andy Reid etc are actually vocally concerned about the aging combo of Runyan and Thomas, plus Winston Justice looks like he is a total bust. Sliding Andrews over to T is risky, and causes your interior line to drop off in talent.

They will draft an OT with the 1st pick in this draft, unless the talent at that position is dried up completely. Just my take on it, thanks for posting yours.

personally i think both andrews and justice were drafted as future OTs and need to be given a chance as such high draft picks. i dont see how all the iggles fans just automatically know thats where the draft pick will go.