Every NFL Team’s To-Do List for Rest of Offseason – Bleacher Report

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The NFL's coaches and players may be on vacation at the moment, but there is plenty to do before the league's offseason comes to a close.

Just because both sides take a few weeks off to decompress doesn't stop teams and individuals from trying to improve during the down time.

After all, players report for training camp next month, and the Hall of Fame Game featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals is only 44 days away.

Before the league reaches either point, front office personnel continue to tinker with their squads. While most franchises have a general idea of what their team will look like this fall, inherent limitations exist due to the 53-man limit. Even the league's best have problem areas found within the roster.

Plenty can still be accomplished in a short period. Bleacher Report identified three to four areas each team needs to address before the offseason is complete.

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The Arizona Cardinals left free agency with multiple roster holes. The organization did little to address its needs.

First and foremost, the Cardinals defense features the NFL's best cornerback in Patrick Peterson, yet the franchise has yet to find a true bookend. Justin Bethel and Brandon Williams will go into camp still competing for the position. This year's sixth-round pick, Rudy Ford, will also receive a chance to earn playing time as he transitions from safety to cornerback.

Secondly, the franchise failed to acquire Carson Palmer's heir apparent. The 37-year-old signal-caller contemplated retirement after the 2016 campaign before he decided to return. At the moment, former top-10 pick Blaine Gabbert is the most promising young backuphe's still only 27on the roster even though he's already failed during two previous stops.

Arizona will feature a versatile defense with plenty of potential spearheaded by the additions of Haason Reddick and Budda Baker via the draft. However, multiple questions linger regarding unaddressed positions and the team's overall depth.

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Continuity is an often overlooked aspect of offensive line play. A team can feature multiple talented blockers, but their skills sets are nullified when surrounded by unfamiliar circumstances. An offensive front develops into a truly special unit when the same starting five players start alongside each other over the course of multiple seasons.

The Atlanta Falcons don't have this luxury. Instead, the team is looking to replace Chris Chester after the right guard retired. Chester started all 32 games over the last two seasons. Wes Schweitzer and Ben Garland will compete to replace Chester.

Keeping the offensive line intact is important for a pair of the Falcons' skill-position performers. The league's reigning MVP, Matt Ryan, deserves an extension with only two years remaining on his current contract, while starting running back Devonta Freeman is a free agent after the 2017 campaign. These are two major pieces in need of new deals, who also benefited from the offensive line's strong play last season.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is being set up to fail.

Two offensive line starters from last year in Rick Wagner and Jeremy Zuttah are no longer with the team. Flacco's favorite target, Dennis Pitta, was released after he suffered yet another hip injury. The team doesn't have a true No. 1 wide receiver. And none of the running backs on the roster ran for more than 774 yards last season.

The Ravens defense appears devastating, but the offense doesn't pass the sniff test.

Head coach John Harbaugh has time to address each of these problem areas before the regular season begins. John Urschel and James Hurst have starting experience and should take over at center and right tackle, respectively. The team could consider a veteran free-agent option like Nick Mangold, for example.

Competition will ensue at both tight end and running back. It falls on the coaching staff to have each of these units prepared, because neither is viewed as anything more than average.

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The Buffalo Bills were one of two organizations to experience a complete overhaul this offseason with the additions of a new head coach and general manager. How they came together didn't follow a traditional course, though. The team hired head coach Sean McDermott in January. Nearly four months later, Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula hired Brandon Beane to be the general manager after firing Doug Whaley once the draft concluded.

McDermott and Beane's previous relationship with the Carolina Panthers should help create a naturalsynergy, but the Bills have yet to establish a course under their new leadership.

A good place to start is at quarterback, where Whaley remained non-committal toward Tyrod Taylor. By placing the organization's full confidence behind Taylor and adding the right pieces around him, the Bills would be on track to finally challenge in the AFC East.

Right now, the wide receiver corps is banged up and Taylor is working under a contract that is essentially a one-year deal.

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Because of his style of play and a porous offensive line, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton takes a beating. At 6'5" and 245 pounds, the 28-year-old signal-caller can take more punishment than most signal-callers, but the physicality takes a toll.

Newton didn't throw during minicamp sessions while he recovered from offseason rotator cuff surgery.

"It's doing all right," Newton said before the team's final minicamp, per ESPN.com's David Newton."... I can't really throw yet, overhand, but underhand everything is A-OK."

The team's major injury concerns extend beyond the quarterback position, too.

Offensive tackle Michael Oher, once expected to start this year,has yet to be cleared by the league's concussion protocol after missing 13 games last season. The organization could consider cutting the former first-round pick, according to the Charlotte Observer's Joseph Person.

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What the Chicago Bears need is a clear direction at the game's most important position. It'll be difficult to achieve after the team traded up to select the top quarterback in April's draft. Even with Mitchell Trubisky's addition, the organization remains adamant in veteran Mike Glennon being the starter this fall.

If that's truly the case, the coaching staff needs to give Glennon every first-team rep to fully prepare him for the 2017 campaign.

"I think it's going to be an ongoing process," Glennon said after minicamp practice, per ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson. "A new offense with a lot of new guys. I think there have been some good things and some things that we've got to work on, but that's what these OTAs and minicamp are for."

The coaching staff and front office can't waver if the 27-year-old signal-caller struggles. Otherwise, cries for Trubisky to play will be deafening.

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The Cincinnati Bengals made some interesting draft choices in recent years, and those picks will have a major impact on the team's success or failure this fall.

During the 2015 draft, the team chose back-to-back offensive tackles in Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher with its first- and second-round selections. The duo combined to start 16 games over the last two seasons and tended to struggle. Yet the Bengals surely drafted them to become full-time starters and keep quarterback Andy Dalton upright.

Head coach Marvin Lewis can't let their play pull down the rest of the offense. The Bengals are loaded at the skill positions. If Ogbuehi or Fisher continue to struggle leading up and into the preseason, the team must find different answers along the offensive line.

Meanwhile, this year's draft picks help make the Bengals offense far more explosive. For running back Joe Mixon, the key is finding the right influences. The rookie expects to train with Adrian Peterson during his down time, according to ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell. He'll work with Adam Jones, too. Due to the background of both veterans, these may be questionable choices for Mixon, but he can also learn from their mistakes.

Also, first-round pick John Ross and his speed can be a perfect complement to A.J. Green, but the Washington product is dealing with a shoulder injury, which could cost him some reps in training camp.

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Everyone in Cleveland held their collective breath toward the end of minicamp when this year's No. 1 overall pick, Myles Garrett, fell to the ground with a foot injury. The team later announced Saturday the defensive end suffered a lateral foot sprain, and he'll be ready for training camp. Even so, the organization must be careful with Garrett throughout the healing process since the defense will be built around his tremendous skill set.

On offense, head coach Hue Jackson must set the groundwork for a smooth transition into a quarterback competition. Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler and rookie Deshone Kizer will compete to become the team's starter. It'll be beneficial for all parties to know how Jackson plans to rotate each of these signal-callers even before they report for camp.

Until then, the offense will be built around the team's talented offensive line and running game with Isaiah Crowell potentially poised for a breakout campaign. The running back has yet to agree to a long-term contract with the organization, though.

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The Dallas Cowboys rebuilt their secondary this offseason. Growing pains will ensue, but the potential exists for this young and talented group to improve upon last year's 26th-ranked passing defense.

"We've been going back and forth, not only me but all the DBs and all the wideouts," Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant told theDallas Morning News'Jon Machota. "I think this is the best we've ever competed against one another."

The team's secondary includes rookie cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis.

However, a pair of rookies from last year's class will help determine the team's success. The Cowboys are still awaiting the results of an NFL investigation into running back Ezekiel Elliott for allegations of domestic violence. Plus, the organization hopes last year's second-round pick, Jaylon Smith, returns to form after suffering a devastating knee injury during his final collegiate game.

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The Denver Broncos are only a year and a half removed from being Super Bowl champions, yet the team is vastly different today than the one that captured a title in 2016. Vance Joseph was named the head coach in January, and he already faces an extremely difficult decision. Should he start Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch at quarterback?

How the two prepare between now and the preseason is moot, though. Joseph won't name a starter until he can see them in live situations.

"Probably zero to none [impact]," the coach said regarding quarterbacks' performances during minicamp, per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold. "... It's going to be won on the football field. It's going to be won in the games in the preseason, and that's the way the evaluation starts; that has not changed for myself or for the staff."

Thus, it falls on the two young signal-callers to be as prepared as possible to excel once the competition truly begins. Until then, they'll be playing behind a revamped offensive line, which has yet to establish its starting offensive tackles. First-round pick Garett Bolles is on track to take over the blind side, but the staff is making him earn it. Meanwhile, a competition will ensue at right tackle between Menelik Watson, Donald Stephenson and Ty Sambrailo.

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OTA injuries are the worst. The Detroit Lions experienced a major blow to their offensive line when left tackle Taylor Decker suffered a torn labrum that will keep him out of the lineup for the next four to six months, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

In response, the team acquired Cyrus Kouandjio and former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson.The Lions still have a long way to go before they actually replace Decker. Thus, their ability to absorb both incoming options into the locker room and have them prepared to play during training camp will be vital to protect Matthew Stafford's blind side.

Keeping Stafford upright is of the utmost importance because the team wants to keep him healthy. This will be especially true if/when the organization agrees to a contract extension with its franchise quarterback. The former No. 1 overall pick is entering the last year of his current deal. He shouldn't be expected to actually play out his contract. Instead, the 29-year-old signal-caller should become the NFL's newest $100 million man before he takes another practice snap.

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Last year's 31st-ranked pass defense wasn't good enough if the Green Bay Packers are going to compete as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a wizard, but he can do only so much when the Packers secondary serves as Swiss cheese.

A heavy emphasis was placed on improving the team's defensive backs this fall. The team spent its first two draft picks to address the secondary in cornerback Kevin King and safety Josh Jones. The key for the team as it prepares for training camp is finding a consistent group to work together.

"Our biggest challenge was that we had so many guys going through the cornerback position," head coach Mike McCarthy said, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Silverstein. "Teams that are playing the best are the teams that are playing together."

With King and Jones added to a mix that already features veterans Davon House, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter, the Packers now have a talented group of corners who should be able to match up against the league's better passing attacks.

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A few problem areas can be found within the Houston Texans lineup, but the quarterback position creates a gravitational collapse that forms into the black hole and defines the entire roster.

The Texans can play defense. The offense has weapons at wide receiver and running back. But who will be pulling the trigger?

Tom Savage serves as QB1 right now. However, it's only a matter of time before rookie Deshaun Watson takes over as the Texans starter. The team didn't trade up 13 spots in the first round just to have him sit on the bench this fall.

Instead of trying to force Savage into a role he proved incapable of holding, head coach Bill O'Brien should do everything in his power to prepare Watson.

"Mentally, he has it," wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said of the first-year signal-caller, per Texans TV's Drew Dougherty.

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Like most organizations, the Indianapolis Colts are defined by their quarterback. Andrew Luck came into theleague as a prodigy, yet he hasn't fully realized his potential due to multiple injuries. Luck missed all of the team's offseason workouts after he needed shoulder surgery.

The Colts must bring Luck along slowly to make sure he properly heals before throwing him back into the fray.

"To be honest, I have not thought about it," Luck said about his potential return for training camp, per the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer. "If I'm ready for it, then great. If I'm not, then that's the way it is."

The quarterback wouldn't even speculate how long he needed to complete his rehab. This places the Colts in stasis. Yes, general manager Chris Ballard put together a strong free-agent class to make the defense more athletic and explosive, plus found value in the draft, but Luck's presence in the lineup is the most important dangling plot to Indianapolis' offseason.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are at a crossroads. A year ago, the team became a chic pick to challenge for a playoff spot. Instead, the team regressed and finished with a 3-13 record.Owner Shahid Khan fired Gus Bradley after a forgettable tenure, and interim head coach Doug Marrone was granted full-time status.

The front office clearly wants to build around quarterback Blake Bortles. In order to do so, the coaching staff must take pressure off him. It can do so by making this year's fourth overall pick, Leonard Fournette, into a workhorse. The rookie is ready.

"I'm going to be here for most of the time lifting weights, running, conditioning," Fournette said during minicamp, per ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco. "I know how important this month is going to be off for us to just stay in shape, the mental things, learning the playbook more and more until I have it like it's the back of my hand."

Khan is willing to invest heavily in his team as evidenced by the massive free-agent contracts defensive lineman Calais Campbell and cornerback A.J. Bouye received. The Jags must first be able to forge an identity, and it starts before the team even steps onto the field for a training camp practice. Everyone must accept the new approach for it to be effective.

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The Kansas City Chiefs will look quite different at the start of the 2017 campaign. The team's all-time leading rusher, Jamaal Charles, its No. 1 wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin, and its Pro Bowl nose tackle, Dontari Poe, are no longer with the franchise. Even quarterback Alex Smith is treading water after the team decided to select Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in April's draft.

Under head coach Andy Reid's supervision, the Chiefs have been one of the NFL's most disciplined teams. They don't play an exciting brand of football, yet they consistently win with a ball-control passing attack and an opportunistic defense. Clearly, the team needs more explosive options, particularly on offense.

Tyreek Hill will receive a much larger role this year, but the team lacks a reliable top option without Maclin in the lineup. Chris Conley and Demarcus Robinson will both receive opportunities to take over the role.

Others need to fill voids as well. Pass-rusher Dee Ford must supply a more consistent presence off the edge. Spencer Ware has a chance to be the team's lead back. Bennie Logan steps in as the team's new nose tackle. The coaches only have a matter of months to develop these talents and have them playing to the level of their predecessors.

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These aren't the same old Chargers. The franchise now resides in Los Angeles. Head coach Anthony Lynn is leading the way, and disappointing seasons under Mike McCoy are a thing of the past. If not for quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates, the team's transition period would serve as a fresh start.

"The facts are, and I deal in the currency of the truth, we won nine games the past two years," Lynn told The MMQB's Albert Breer. "We're below average. So we have to change some things that we're doing. We have to approach it better. We have to play better."

Lynn also stated his team is talented, and it is. Wide receiver is particularly deep with Keenan Allen returning from injury, Tyrell Williams, Dontrelle Inman, Travis Benjamin and this year's seventh overall pick Mike Williams.

On defense, Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram should terrorize opponents.

But everything comes down to the team playing together under the direction of a new staff and staying healthy. The Chargers have enough to deal with after making the move to L.A. The football part of the equation should be easy.

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While the Los Angeles Rams hope Jared Goff turns into the face of the franchise, the team already features the game's best defensive player. Aaron Donald is a monster, and he should be rewarded for his elite play. At 26 years old, Donald is entering the prime of his career with two years remaining on his rookie contract. The window to renegotiate his current deal opened this offseason, and the Rams would be wise to address the situation before it begins to fester. The former 13th overall pick skipped minicamps due to the fact he doesn't have a new deal in place.

Meanwhile, the Rams are trying to build an offense and culture around Sean McVay's vision. The new head coach is tasked with preparing last year's No. 1 overall pick, Jared Goff, for a full-time starting role after a horrific rookie campaign. As McVay tends to the game's most important position by giving Goff the type of mental exercises necessary to succeed even when the team isn't practicing, the coach feels he's gotten a good head start in creating a new culture.

"By no means are we where we need to be for what were striving to accomplish, but I think in terms of what we were trying to get done in the offseason program, we felt like it was a successful offseason program," McVay said, per ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez.

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The Miami Dolphins' primary concerns lie along the team's trenches, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

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Every NFL Team's To-Do List for Rest of Offseason - Bleacher Report