Some NFL teams draft for need, and some draft strictly with an eye on talent. Either way, most teams still have weaknesses on the roster after the 2020 NFL draft and the bulk of free agency are over.
Below, Football Outsiders looks at the biggest hole on each NFL roster now that the draft is complete. Many of the advanced stats referenced below are explained here.
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ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAC | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Tight end
The Cowboys didn't overtly address their impending need at safety -- both starters Xavier Woods and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will be free agents in 2021 -- in the draft, but fourth-round cornerback Reggie Robinson II has played safety and has a physical style that fits that position if they need him as depth. The Cowboys don't have a similar contingency plan at tight end, and with Jason Witten now on the Raiders, their need there is more immediate.
Incumbents Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz have promise. Jarwin, in particular, was one of the most efficient receivers at the position in 2018 and 2019, producing 24.0% and 12.1% DVOA. But that efficiency could be difficult to replicate on more than his 36 and 41 targets the past two seasons and against defenses prepared for him as the Cowboys' top option at the position. Neither Jarwin nor Schultz had the standout traits or production to be a Day 1 or Day 2 draft pick, which sheds some doubt on their potential late breakouts.
New York Giants: Wide receiver
If his 9.6% DVOA in his rookie season is any indication, 2019 fifth-rounder Darius Slayton was a winning lottery ticket. Still, Slayton might remain specialized as a field-stretcher, and even if he doesn't, the Giants need more help at wide receiver. Golden Tate will be 32 in September and has been inefficient the past two seasons, with below-average DVOA rates. An expensive contract might make him a cut candidate after the 2020 season. Sterling Shepard has been more effective and is much younger, but he also has a history of migraines and suffered two concussions within a month in 2019. It's difficult to trust that he can be part of the next Giants contender, which could still be another year or two away in the current rebuild. Odell Beckhams don't grow on trees, but a capable backup or two would help the Giants avoid a dilemma like they faced in 2017, when a Beckham injury left them to rely on the likes of Roger Lewis, Tavarres King and Travis Rudolph. A similar situation in 2020 could derail Daniel Jones' development.