NFL Pro: Highest priority fix for every NFC team in 2026

Find an offensive identity

Across three seasons with Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing’s West Coast offense, the Cardinals ranked 22nd in points per game, and they weren’t that much better in Kliff Kingsbury’s spread system prior. In fact, Arizona hasn’t had a top-10 scoring offense since 2016, with head coach Bruce Arians, QB Carson Palmer and new Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald. Now, they’re likely to move on from Kyler Murray, after the former No. 1 pick won just 38 games over seven seasons. Per NFL Pro, the offense did see significant bumps in called pass rate (+6.6%), total yards per game (+52.9) and success rate (+5.7%) in Jacoby Brissett's 12 starts versus Murray’s five last season. New head coach Mike LaFleur and new OC Nathaniel Hackett will need to find a new QB and figure out a new offensive identity (as soon as possible). And while it won’t be Aaron Rodgers, don’t be surprised to see Hackett create the offense in his image anyway, after doing so in each of his last five seasons as an OC (in both Green Bay and New York).

Establish quarterback consistency

The Atlanta Falcons are one of three NFL teams to have a different leading passer each of the last five seasons (along with the Browns and Colts). From Matt Ryan, to Marcus Mariota, to Desmond Ridder, to Kirk Cousins, to Michael Penix Jr., it’s been a tumultuous and stagnant stretch, resulting in exactly seven or eight wins in five straight years. Cousins is likely to be gone by mid-March and Penix is currently recovering from an ACL tear (in November). Getting him healthy for the start of the season is priority one, but Atlanta also needs to sort out his inconsistent play: he’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in just three of 12 starts since being drafted eighth overall in 2024 and logged a -3.2% completion rate over expected in 2025, third-worst among qualified QBs per NFL Pro. Crucially, in the NFC South, improvement from Penix could very quickly translate to a division title.

Develop a pass rush

Last season, the Panthers ranked dead last in quarterback pressure rate per NFL Pro (26.2%) and tied with the Ravens and Cardinals for third-fewest sacks (30). Their 1.75 sacks per game over the last three seasons is worst in the league and makes them one of just two teams below 2.0 per game (along with the Patriots). They haven’t had an individual player hit double-digit sacks since 2022 and they consequently traded that player — Brian Burns — to the Giants in 2024. In 2025, they didn’t have a single pass rusher over five sacks, with DT Derrick Brown and rookie Nic Scourton each hitting five on the dot. The offense needs a lot of work as well, but Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan was a great start in that respect. Now Carolina needs to find an impact player (or two) for the pass rush.

Sort out the secondary

The Chicago Bears allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt (third-most in the league) and 10 deep passing touchdowns (tied for second-most per NFL Pro) in 2025. Across their six losses, they surrendered 245.5 passing yards per game (seventh-most in losses) and 33.0 points per game (third-most in losses). Despite a resurgent season overall, their defense was typically their undoing. Now, GM Ryan Poles and Co. are $5.3 million over the salary cap and staring down the departure of full-time defensive backs Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Nahshon Wright and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (acquired in a midseason trade), who are all set to be unrestricted free agents this March. Chicago needs to get better on the back end, not barer (no pun intended). Whether by extending their impending free agents, signing new ones or bringing in new blood through the draft — Cynthia Frelund and Dan Parr both mocked Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at 25th overall — the Bears need to shore up their secondary.

Rework the defense

For three straight seasons from 2021 through 2023, the Cowboys had both a top-four scoring offense and a top-seven scoring defense. As a result, they went 12-5 and made the playoffs all three seasons. Unfortunately, the defense fell apart two years ago and reached a new low in 2025 — dead last in EPA per play (0.13) and success rate (47.6%) per NFL Pro — resulting in just seven wins both seasons. And of course, they moved on from Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs in 2025 — Pro Bowl pieces in that previously successful defense — turning instead to trade for Quinnen Williams as the anchor up front. They also fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus in January and replaced him with first-time DC and Vic-Fangio-disciple Christian Parker. Free agency does not figure to be kind to Dallas, but they do have two first-round picks and simply must fix the atrocity that was their 2025 defense if they want to compete in the NFC East.

Solidify the offensive line

The Lions finished 2025 with a disappointing 9-8 record and a postseason on the couch after two years atop the NFC North. And while there were a number of small compounding issues, we’re going to focus on the offensive line. During the 2025 offseason, Detroit lost guard Kevin Zeitler (to free agency) and center Frank Ragnow (to retirement). Between the scramble to revamp and injuries throughout the season, they ended up fielding 13 different offensive linemen (tied for the most in the league) with 11 different starters (tied for second-most behind the Chargers) — and neither Christian Mahogany or Graham Glasgow played up to snuff filling Zeitler’s and Ragnow’s shoes. As a result, Detroit’s -81.1 sack EPA in 2025 was their worst as a team since 2017, per NFL Pro. If they want to bounce back in 2026, they’ll need better personnel or better play on the O-line, especially on the inside. (And it never hurts to stay healthy.)

Acquire a WR1

Across the three years of the Jordan Love era, the Packers are the only team in the entire NFL to have zero players hit 65 receptions in a season. For some added context: every team to win the Super Bowl since 2014 had at least one such receiver, with six of those 12 teams having two such receivers and the 2014 Patriots having three. The hodgepodge of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and first-round rookie Matthew Golden simply has not cut it for Green Bay these last few years. And though Doubs and Watson cracked the list of 78 wide receivers to see 50+ targets in 2025, their respective open rates of 27.1% and 25.5% ranked 67th and 71st on that list, per NFL Pro. Whether the Packers take a risk on an aging Mike Evans or injured Tyreek Hill in free agency, address the position (again) in the draft, or perhaps pull off a trade for someone like A.J. Brown or Michael Pittman … Love needs a number one. 

Shore up defensive inconsistency

In all five regular-season losses, and in the NFC Championship, the Rams scored at least 23 points but allowed at least 26 points. Their 31.0 points allowed per loss were the most among the eight teams with six or fewer losses in 2025 (including the playoffs). In particular, they need a more consistent pass defense. The Rams allowed the ninth-lowest passer rating overall in 2025 but the 10th-highest passer rating specifically in losses, including efficient performances to Bryce Young (147.1), Sam Darnold in the NFC title game (127.8), Jalen Hurts (117.4) and even Mac Jones (100.9). This probably means starting on the outside: their best coverage cornerback, Cobie Durant, still allowed a 5.3% completion percentage over expected in 2025, per NFL Pro … and he’s an unrestricted free agent. Los Angeles might want to make a move for someone like Jaylen Watson, Jamel Dean, Tariq Woolen or Nahshon Wright.

Help (and heal) J.J. McCarthy

J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick of the 2024 draft, was essentially a rookie in 2025 after missing his entire first season in the league. But even with context, the numbers are concerning. Per NFL Pro, he logged the second-lowest EPA/dropback (-0.18), the second-lowest completion percentage over expected (-5.2%) and the lowest passer rating by far (72.6) among all qualified quarterbacks. It certainly didn’t help that McCarthy missed time with (or played through) ankle, head and hand injuries, and priority one should be getting (and keeping) him healthy. But healthy and horribly ineffective will still not cut it in the NFC North, so head coach Kevin O’Connell and OC Wes Phillips need to coach McCarthy towards rapid growth and implement an offense that facilitates that growth. For starters, they may want to discourage his deep-ball tendencies — McCarthy threw deep at the fourth-highest rate in the league but logged a horrendous 48.9 passer rating and 25.8% success rate on those throws.

Figure out the red zone

The Saints were a pleasant surprise down the stretch in 2025, with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough earning Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration and the team winning four of their last five games. But their biggest weakness was pretty consistently clear: the red zone. New Orleans scored a touchdown on just 44.4% of their red-zone drives last season, worst in the league and worst by the team in 20 years. They particularly struggled throwing the ball from inside the 20 according to NFL Pro, as their 30.3% success rate and -0.24 EPA per dropback in the red zone were both bottom three in the league and their receivers recorded the second-lowest open rate (23.2%) and second-highest drop rate (9.8%) as well. The front office should have its eyes on pass-catchers to complement Chris Olave — perhaps a free agent like Mike Evans, a trade target like Michael Pittman or a college prospect like Makai Lemon (headed to New Orleans at eighth overall in Daniel Jeremiah’s Mock Draft 2.0).

Support Jaxson Dart

Amid 13 losses — seven by a single score — it’s easy to forget the Giants lost their bona fide number one receiver in Malik Nabers (and their sparkplug starting running back in Cam Skattebo) to injury. Per NFL Pro, they did not have a single receiver with 50+ targets and a positive catch rate over expected, as Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and even tight end Theo Johnson struggled to log consistent production with Nabers sidelined. New York also surrendered the seventh-highest pressure rate in the league (37.8%) and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who allowed the most pressures and sacks on the team, is an impending free agent. This team could take a major leap if they build better around promising young QB Jaxson Dart — and that probably means a legitimate WR2 and a new right tackle. Perhaps Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate or Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa in the draft (both mocked to New York by multiple NFL.com analysts) or names like Alec Pierce and Braden Smith in free agency.

Scheme to strengths on ofense

Despite an 11-6 record and a division title, it felt as though the Eagles spent much of the 2025 season mired in offensive uncertainty. So, it did not come as a surprise when first-year OC Kevin Patullo was replaced in January (by Packers QB coach Sean Mannion). Patullo’s offense included the sixth-lowest under center rate (21.9%), the second-highest spread rate (28.4%), the fourth-lowest rate of pre-snap motion (52.2%) and the ninth-lowest rate of play action (14.0%), per NFL Pro. And while Mannion is a first-time OC himself, he was a player under Sean McVay in Los Angeles and a coach under Matt LaFleur last year — both of whom historically feature under center, condensed, motion-filled, play-action-heavy schemes. As long as Jalen Hurts can adjust to that kind of system, it could better suit his skill set and possibly trigger a bounce-back for the Eagles offense at large.

Get to the quarterback

Let’s be frank. The number one priority fix for the 49ers is to stay healthy. But barring a change in injury fortunes, and keeping our focus primarily on the field, they absolutely must address their pass rush. (Disclaimer: their 2025 numbers were skewed by the absence of Nick Bosa, who played just three games ... due to injury.) San Francisco logged the NFL’s second-lowest pressure rate (ahead of only the Panthers), second-lowest quick pressure rate (ahead of only the Bears) and lowest sack rate (3.2%), per NFL Pro. That sack rate is the lowest by any team in the last four seasons and their 20 sacks were the fewest in the league in 2025 and their fewest as a franchise since 1982. Even with Bosa returning, the team needs to find additional answers — and depth — across their pass rush. That probably means multiple impact players in free agency and the draft.

Sign a secondary receiver

For those who missed it, this team just won the Super Bowl. Still, there’s almost always room for improvement. For Seattle, that might mean finding a running mate for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Offensive Player of the Year accounted for an absurd 44.1% of the team’s receiving yards, the highest mark by any player over the last decade — no one else has even cracked 40% since Julio Jones in 2015. According to NFL Pro, JSN was targeted on 33.8% of his routes (second only to Puka Nacua), while Seattle used fewer than three wide receivers on 54.2% of plays (sixth-highest rate in the league). Cooper Kupp will be another year older, Rashid Shaheed is an impending free agent, and neither wideout was a consistent target for Sam Darnold during the season. Smith-Njigba proved his merit as a true number one receiver, but the Seahawks could use a relevant number two to share the burden in the passing game.

Find finishers in the pass rush

The Buccaneers were rather average across the board in 2025 and finished with a middling 8-9 record as a result. But there’s one interesting wrinkle to address: despite pressuring the quarterback at the third-highest rate in the league (39.1%), they ranked just 23rd in sack rate (5.8%). That 33.3% gap between their pressure rate and sack rate is the largest for any team over the last two seasons, per NFL Pro. Perhaps as a direct consequence, Tampa Bay allowed the second-highest success rate in the league on pressure dropbacks (37.8%) and only the Cowboys (13) and Falcons (11) allowed more touchdowns with pressure than the Bucs (10). YaYa Diaby was their leading sacker with 7.0, and no one else hit 5.0 on the season. Whether they snag a veteran free agent like Khalil Mack or pencil in a pass-rushing prospect in the draft — or ideally both — this defense needs to find some finishers on defense.

Rebuild the defense

For the second time in the last three seasons, the Commanders finished with the worst scoring defense in the NFL. They also logged the third-worst success rate (48.8%), second-worst EPA per play (+0.10) and second-most missed tackles in the league, according to NFL Pro, and had few, if any, bright spots. Now, they face another free agent exodus, presenting an opportunity to rebuild said defense — their leading tackler (Bobby Wagner) and top two pass rushers (Von Miller and Jake Martin) are both free agents, and midseason cornerback acquisition Marshon Lattimore is a strong cut candidate. With $74.5 million in cap space (fifth in the league) and the seventh overall pick, Washington has plenty of options — they just need to pinpoint and assemble the right group of players. If they can return to even a league-average defense, like they were in 2024, and get Jayden Daniels healthy, the Commanders should be a playoff contender again in no time.