Much of the 2025 offseason is in the rearview mirror, with a majority of top free agents off the market and the draft complete. However, there are still pressing matters for each team to address before the '25 NFL season kicks off on Sept. 4.
Kevin Patra identifies the top remaining offseason priority for each NFC team below.
Top priority: Strengthen the Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection.
After the Cardinals made major investments to upgrade the defense this offseason, it’s going to be critical for the offense to take another step forward, as well. Arizona didn't add a new running mate for Harrison, counting on the 2024 first-round pick to make a Year 2 leap. For that to happen, the chemistry with Murray must improve. It was woeful last season. At times, it appeared that not only were the QB and WR on different pages, but they were reading from a completely different book. The duo must make massive strides if the Cards are going to become a contender.
Top priority: Trade Kirk Cousins.
The Falcons are taking a patient approach with Cousins, waiting for a team to potentially get desperate for his services. The Atlanta brass has consistently said it's comfortable with the veteran backing up Michael Penix Jr. Given the sunk cost on the contract and the fact that former Chargers backup Easton Stick is the next QB in line, that stance makes sense. However, if Cousins remains on the roster into training camp, it's only going to be a distraction -- even if he plays the mentor role perfectly. Already, Cousins' absence from OTAs became a storyline. Imagine how the QB dynamics might be viewed if Penix stumbles out of the gate. The Falcons are all-in on Penix. They need to cut Cousins loose to ensure the 25-year-old has free rein to develop and lead.
Top priority: Figure out the pecking order at wide receiver.
Carolina has invested heavily in its wide receivers, using first-round picks on Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan in consecutive years to buffer Bryce Young. If the Panthers are going to go from doormat to competitor, they’ll need the first-rounders to become threats. The top priority should be ensuring McMillan is ready to be a WR1, or at least close to it, early in the season. If McMillan can walk in Day 1 and demand coverage, it would open up the entire offense. Legette, who struggled with drops as a rookie, can be the field-stretcher. Adam Thielen continues as the trusty slot. Jalen Coker, who flashed at times last year, is a wild card, and sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr. could play a depth role. Hunter Renfrow is attempting a comeback. It's a crowded WR room that needs to be sorted out. Head coach Dave Canales has a chance to develop McMillan and Legette into Carolina’s version of the Mike Evans-Chris Godwin duo Canales had success with as offensive coordinator in Tampa. That would take the Panthers offense to a new level.
Top priority: Figure out the plan at running back.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, there was a lot of chatter about the Bears potentially selecting a running back in the early rounds. The board didn't fall that way, with seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai being the only backfield addition. That leaves D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson atop the depth chart. It's not an awful duo, but it's not close to what Ben Johnson enjoyed in Detroit with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Swift was traded away from the Lions after Johnson's first season as the team's offensive coordinator -- a year in which Swift saw a career-low 99 carries. Since taking over in Chicago, Johnson has said the right things about Swift. However, an upgrade would have been beneficial. Swift was very inefficient last year behind the Bears' porous offensive line. Will he improve with better blocking? At its peak, Johnson's offense dominated with a multifaceted running game. Without the same dynamic backfield, can it be as potent in Chicago? It wouldn’t be a surprise to see another veteran added to the crew.
Top priority: Pay Micah Parsons.
Once again, the Cowboys are slow-playing a contract negotiation. Unlike previous ones, there aren't many leaves that can fall to change the dynamics. The deal probably should have been locked in last year. Parsons wanted to seal it before free agency began in March. Yet, here we are. Again. If past is prologue, the situation will extend into training camp before things finally are settled. It's an avoidable distraction for first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Sure, Schotty doesn’t seem to be fretting amid Parsons’ absence from voluntary OTAs this week. Ultimately, getting a deal done will relieve all involved. Do it already.
Top priority: Add an edge rusher.
It seems GM Brad Holmes doesn't necessarily see the Lions’ edge rushers in the same light as those outside the building. All offseason, the position has been widely viewed as a need opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Holmes hasn’t added one in free agency, although he did re-sign injury-prone Marcus Davenport, who has never played a full season in his seven years and has missed 28 games in the past two seasons. Then the draft came and went, with Holmes only adding project Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round. Acquiring veteran depth is necessary at some point. Whether it's bringing back Za'Darius Smith, adding Matthew Judon, or signing someone like Dennis Gardeck when he's healthy, there are cost-effective rotational options still available.
Top priority: Resolve the situation with Jaire Alexander.
Earlier this offseason, it appeared Alexander's time in Green Bay would come to an end. However, recently, the door has been cracked for a return. The Athletic reported this week that the Packers have offered him a restructured deal. Eventually, the sides need to agree on whether to part ways or give it one more try. If he stays healthy, Alexander would represent the Packers' best boundary corner and solidify a spot on the back end. That sounds great, but Green Bay doesn’t appear willing to pay $16.15 million in base salary for a player who has missed 20 regular-season games in the past two years. How big a pay cut would satisfy both sides?
Top priority: Bolster the secondary.
The Rams made additions this offseason via free agency or the draft at every position outside of the secondary, where Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon are set as the veteran corners buffering youngsters like safety Kamren Kinchens and nickelback Quentin Lake. At this point, it feels like a reunion with Jalen Ramsey -- who remains on the trade block -- makes too much sense to not happen. The veteran would return to a club he knows well and boost the reigning NFC West champions’ chances of another playoff run. If not Ramsey, adding a different veteran would make sense to solidify the group.
Top priority: Figure out the safety rotation.
The Vikings spent the offseason bolstering the trenches, but they also have yet to replace safety Camryn Bynum, who signed with the Colts. Brian Flores excels at using three-safety sets to keep quarterbacks guessing, and the loss of Bynum sapped the defense of a versatile chess piece. Does Flores trust Theo Jackson, a 2022 sixth-round pick who has logged zero starts and 222 defensive snaps thus far in his career? Will the DC simply use fewer three-safety sets? There are still some solid free-agent options out there, including the likes of Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon and John Johnson, if the Vikings decide to add another back-end weapon.
Top priority: Settle the offensive line.
We can pause the questions about the Saints' quarterback situation for now to discuss the shuffling offensive line. The opening of OTAs confirmed much of what was anticipated following the Saints' selection of Kelvin Banks Jr. in the first round of this April's draft. Banks has lined up at left tackle, while 2024 first-rounder Taliese Fuaga flipped from LT (where he spent his rookie season) to RT (where he played at Oregon State). The more intriguing move is the shifting of 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning from tackle inside to left guard. If Penning can win that gig, he could solidify the interior alongside right guard Cesar Ruiz and center Erik McCoy. On paper, a transition to guard makes sense, but changes like these are not always seamless. How Penning performs this offseason will dictate how the O-line rounds into shape heading into the season.
Top priority: Decide how best to develop Jaxson Dart.
As always, it comes down to the quarterback. Veteran free agent Russell Wilson begins the offseason as the starter, but given his lackluster play down the stretch for the Steelers last year, we can't assume he sticks. The biggest question for the coaching staff is how ready Dart is to see the field. Entering the draft, it was a commonly held thought that he could use a Patrick Mahomes-type redshirt season, and GM Joe Schoen has suggested time on the bench will benefit Dart. However, given that Schoen and coach Brian Daboll are under pressure to win now, they might want to accelerate that timeline to prove to ownership that they can turn things around with the young QB. As we saw last year with Drake Maye in New England, sometimes rookies force their way onto the field earlier than initially anticipated -- even behind woeful offensive lines. The 36-year-old Wilson is who he is at this point in his career. Dart brings upside. The key question is if that talent is better tapped by him learning from the sideline or while under fire in 2025.
Top priority: Hold a right guard battle royale.
During his one season in Philly, Mekhi Becton played his way to a pay day in free agency, leaving the door open at right guard on the best offensive line in football. Tyler Steen returns after starting two games last year. Philly brought back Matt Pryor, who started 10 games for the Eagles in 2020, including a handful at right guard, before being traded to the Colts in 2021 and subsequently bouncing to the Niners and Bears. Trevor Keegan and Darian Kinnard remain options. Then there is wild card Kenyon Green, acquired as part of the trade that sent Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to Houston. Green is a former first-round pick who played poorly for the Texans and couldn't stay healthy. Philly is betting that O-line guru Jeff Stoutland, who turned Becton's career around last year, can work his magic on Green. There are few starting gigs up for grabs with the defending Super Bowl champs, but this spot is a key one.
Top priority: Prepare young defenders to shoulder a hefty load.
A series of offseason departures opened the door for the Niners to get much younger on defense. First-rounder Mykell Williams and second-rounder Alfred Collins will be asked to help carry a revamped line alongside Nick Bosa, and the play of the two rookies could determine how the season goes for San Francisco on that side of the ball. Third-rounder Nick Martin could be in line to fill Dre Greenlaw's shoes at linebacker alongside Fred Warner, and fellow third-round pick Upton Stout could work his way into snaps at cornerback early. Even after the youth movement and ensuing financial overhaul, the defensive cupboard isn't bare -- and that will be particularly clear if coordinator Robert Saleh gets his rookies in gear quickly.
Top priority: Solve the right guard spot.
Last year, the entire interior of the Seahawks' offensive line was porous, with the right guard play standing out as particularly atrocious -- and while Seattle plugged left guard with first-rounder Grey Zabel and will continue to hope center Olu Oluwatimi improves, there should be a competition at RG. Ideally, 2024 third-rounder Christian Haynes takes a giant leap forward in Klint Kubiak's system and locks down the position. Haynes owns the power and athleticism to be a starter but struggled to get on the field last year, playing 167 offensive snaps with zero starts. Anthony Bradford (11 starts) and 2024 sixth-rounder Sataoa Laumea (six starts) also struggled. The trio, along with 2025 sixth-rounder Bryce Cabeldue, will battle for starting duty. If right guard becomes an unsolved issue once again, it could spell bad news for Sam Darnold's first year in Seattle.
Top priority: Determine the pecking order in the secondary.
The Bucs have suggested they will move Tykee Smith -- who played well as a rookie nickel last season -- to safety opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. to help ensure Smith stays on the field in base sets. Todd Bowles reiterated this week that Smith is a safety who will, on occasion, play nickel. Moving Smith around will give Bowles a chess piece to work with. Rookie Jacob Parrish is an option to take over Smith's nickel spot, and Bowles suggested Zyon McCollum could also move inside. Tampa used its second- and third-round picks in this year's draft on corners Benjamin Morrison and Parrish, respectively, to upgrade a unit that both struggled at times in 2024 and dealt with injuries. If Morrison and Parrish are ready to play right away, Smith's transition to safety will be easier. If the nickel crew struggles, Bowles might have to adjust on the fly, potentially adding another veteran safety to the mix.
Top priority: Pay Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin is set to earn $15.5 million in base salary in 2025, on the final season of a three-year extension worth $23.2 million per year -- which is obsolete in today's wideout market, where eight players are earning $30 million-plus annually. McLaurin skipped the start of voluntary OTAs, reminiscent of his approach in 2022, when he also skipped mandatory minicamp before landing his current contract. McLaurin has proven to be one of the most consistent and dynamic wideouts in the NFL, having generated five consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Now that the Commanders finally found a quarterback in Jayden Daniels, they should keep their key playmaker happy. Washington traded for Deebo Samuel, who earns slightly more ($23.85 million) than McLaurin annually but hasn't been nearly as consistent. The Commanders know what McLaurin means to the offense and the club. Paying him now (particularly while Daniels is on an affordable rookie contract) makes far too much sense.
