The 2019 NFL Draft is set to begin this Thursday, April 25 and Fantasy Alarm is ready to bring you pick-by-pick coverage right here on the site as well as via videos and livestreams directly from Nashville once the festivities begin. That's right. We've partnered up with SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and we'll be serving up everything you need to know about the NFL Draft, the players being selected and what it measn for your fantasy football teams this year. By now you've been getting acquainted with all the free agent movement, the the top skill position players to know in the draft and the work done at the Scouting Combine thanks to Dom Murtha's coverage. Now it's time to take a look at what each team's needs are as they get ready to make their picks this weekend.
We'll start with the NFC.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys (no 1st round pick)
Offense:
WR – Amari Cooper & Michael Gallup are fine as a 1-2 punch, but an aging Randall Cobb out of the slot needs help and they’re not getting that from Allen Hurns , Tavon Austin or any of the other in-house options.
TE – Jason Witten may be coming back but he’s 37 years old and sat out an entire season. Team needs another pass-catching option at this position.
Defense:
S – They missed out on Earl Thomas and did not reach a deal with Eric Berry . Xavier Woods and Jeff Heath were serviceable but the team needs a much more talented ball-hawker at the position.
EDGE – Demarcus Lawrence was re-signed and they added Robert Quinn , but they could certainly use someone else besides Taco Charlton to put pressure on the QB.
New York Giants (Picks #6 and #17)
Offense:
QB – plain and simple, the team needs to plan beyond Eli Manning
WR – not a major priority, but Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate are the top two and the depth behind them (Corey Coleman , Cody Latimer ) has very limited upside.
OL – They added guard Kevin Zeiler from the Browns but could definitely use added depth on the line as they ranked as the 12th-worst unit last season.
Defense:
EDGE – With the trade of Olivier Vernon to Cleveland, the Giants need a pass-rusher in a big way. Probably their second-biggest need behind QB.
CB – The whole secondary could use a boost. Janoris Jenkins is aging and slowing down and there’s no one on the other side of the field. Adding Jabrill Peppers was good for the middle of the field, but is a 35-year old Antoine Bethea going to be able to keep things going?
Philadelphia Eagles (Pick #25)
Offense:
RB – They traded for Jordan Howard but they seem to be in search of a gadget-back and none of the in-house names have proven their mettle.
Defense:
LB – They signed LJ Fort from PIT, but could use some depth at the position
DT – Same as the linebackers as they brought in Malik Jackson from JAC but could use some added depth.
CB – Re-signing Jalen Mills was important and they already have Jalen Mills but both are free agents in 2020, so youth/depth is important here.
Washington Redskins (Pick #15)
Offense:
QB – Case Keenum is a short-term band-aid and Colt McCoy is barely an adequate back-up. Who knows what kind of condition Alex Smith will be in, whenever he returns.
WR – Neither Josh Doctson nor Paul Richardson is an adequate No. 1 and they lost Jamison Crowder to the Jets in free agency. This is a big hole
Defense:
EDGE – With Preston Smith now in Green Bay, the team needs a serious pass-rusher as the in-house options are somewhat serviceable but lack elite talent.
CB – More of a depth play here as Josh Norman is still strong and they added Landon Collins in the offseason.
NFC North
Chicago Bears (no 1st round pick – first pick is Round 3)
Offense:
RB – They traded Jordan Howard to the Eagles, signed Mike Davis and still have Tarik Cohen . Davis is an average contingency plan, but they could use a between-the-tackles type guy during the colder months.
OL – They need to bring in some depth on the interior
Defense:
S – The added Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the offseason but could still use some depth, especially because he’s on a one-year deal.
Detroit Lions (Pick #8)
Offense:
TE – They brought in Jesse James from PIT but could really use a pass-catching TE, especially with the loss of Golden Tate and need for a chain-mover.
OL – You can never have too many interior linemen, especially if you’re going to start running more.
Defense:
EDGE – Probably their biggest need as their pass rush was average at best last year
CB – Depth play for the Lions as every team in this division needs to bolster it’s secondary given how pass-happy it’s getting.
Green Bay Packers (Pick #10)
Offense:
WR – Davante Adams is the most reliable, but they lost Randall Cobb , Geronimo Allison has injury issues and Rodgers never really jelled with any of the young wideouts they drafted last year.
TE – Could be a battle between them and the Lions for the Iowa tight ends. Jimmy Graham is likely to be released after this season. They’ll go with either TJ Hockenson if he’s there at 10. If not, Noah Fant could be the choice.
Defense:
DL – Probably more of a depth play here, but they could definitely use a run-stopper for up the middle.
LB – They added Preston Smith and still have Blake Martinez , but they could still use a strong sideline-to-sideline linebacker here to rotate in.
Minnesota Vikings (Pick #18)
Offense:
RB – Dalvin Cook is still the lead, but they need someone to serve as a complementary back with Latavius Murray now in New Orleans.
OL – This is probably their biggest and most-pressing need. The need stronger pass-blockers in the interior and more versatile, agile linemen to help with the run.
Defense:
DL – Re-signing Anthony Barr made the line a more-pressing need than the linebacker corps. They did add Shamar Stephen to replace Sheldon Richardson , but they definitely need to add depth here.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons (Pick #14)
Offense:
RB – Possible depth move if the club questions whether Brian Hill is going to develop or if Ito Smith can stand the punishment of a larger role.
OL – Brought in guards James Carpenter (NYJ) & Jamon Brown (NYG) to bolster the interior, but could still use more depth, especially since Carpenter is coming off shoulder surgery.
Defense:
EDGE – Still looking for that elite pass-rusher. Vic Beasley and Takkarist McKinley have been solid but the team had the 10th fewest sacks in the league and were near the bottom in QB hits and Hurries.
CB – Lost Brian Poole and Robert Alford in free agency. Need depth behind Isaiah Oliver and likely a stronger slot corner.
Carolina Panthers (Pick #16)
**NOTE: Just restructured Luke Keuchly’s contract and converted $9.05M of his base salary into a bonus which creates $7.24M in cap room heading into draft.
Offense:
WR – DJ Moore emerged as a solid No. 1, but they need a bigger body on the opposite side of the field. Curtis Samuel and Chris Hogan have speed but no size.
OL – Added C Matt Paradis and re-signed OT Daryl Williams , but they lost LT Matt Kalil and will need to add some additional depth.
Defense:
EDGE – Need a big play-maker with size and speed to rush the passer now that Julius Peppers is retired.
S – Could use some depth behind Da’Norris Searcy and Eric Reid
New Orleans Saints (No 1st round pick or 3rd or 4th round)
Offense:
WR – They need a strong WR2 to complement Michael Thomas . Tre’Quan Smith had some moments but never panned out and Ted Ginn is 137 years old.
RB – While they added Latavius Murray in the wake of Mark Ingram ’s departure, he’s still not as strong of a power-runner. A third body is needed, especially with Murray’s injury history.
Defense:
DB – Need depth in the secondary, particularly at the safety spots. If there’s a potential upgrade to Eli Apple , they’ll draft it
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Pick #5)
Offense:
RB – Ronald Jones was a huge bust last year and Peyton Barber cannot be counted on to be a No. 1 back.
QB – Could they throw a monkey-wrench into the mix and rid themselves of an overrated Jameis Winston and grab a QB?
Defense:
LB – They need a sideline-to-sideline linebacker and someone who could fall back into coverage at times
DB – The secondary needs a major overhaul. In-house cover corners are terrible and their safeties are weak.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals (Pick #1)
Offense:
WR – Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk are locked in but if Fitz is to stay in the slot, they need a strong option on the outside opposite Kirk.
OL – Added guard J.R. Sweezy , but are still in need of upgrades and depth
Defense:
DL – They could use a run-stopper up the middle for sure (Quinnen Williams?), but could also use some fast help on the outside as well.
CB – Just need some depth here as they brought in Robert Alford and are locked with starters like Tramaine Brock
Los Angeles Rams (Pick #31)
Offense:
OL – Rodger Saffold is gone via free agency so some interior protection is something they could use here.
Defense:
EDGE – They consider this a need despite signing Dante Fowler for another year. They want speed in the pass rush on the outside with Aaron taking the middle route in a 3-4 scheme.
DT – No more Ndamukong Suh which means they need a run-stuffer up the middle.
S – They brought in Eric Weddle but could use depth to spell the aging safety.
San Francisco 49ers (Pick #2)
Offense:
WR – They get Jimmy Grapes back but he needs strong, reliable targets. Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis have some speed but there’s no one reliable behind them
Defense:
EDGE – Only because everyone expects them to take Nick Bosa or Josh Allen to join Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander in the front seven.
CB – Richard Sherman isn’t getting any younger and neither is Jason Verrett . They could use some depth here for sure.
Seattle Seahawks (Pick #21 & #29)
Offense:
WR – Doug Baldwin isn’t a lock to start the season on time and beyond Tyler Lockett , there’s not much there in the way of playmakers.
TE – They showed a penchant for throwing to the tight end last year despite the fact that they went through four different ones due to injury. Might be a stretch to think one of the Iowa guys fall here but Noah Fant could be interesting.
Defense:
EDGE – An elite rusher is on everyone’s Christmas list but finding one this far down might be tough. Even more of a need now that they've traded DE Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the 29th overall pick in the 2019 Draft, a 2020 scond-round pick and an exchange of third-round picks this year.
CB – They’re always looking for depth, particularly for the slot.