Five biggest draft needs for all 32 NFL teams

— -- Every team will have to balance their draft boards with team needs when making selections in the 2016 NFL draft, and there's no question that in many cases, teams will choose to take the highest-ranked prospect on their board, without necessarily having a weakness at that position. But we see teams every year influenced by their biggest positions of need in deciding which players to pick.

That will be no different this year, so let's take a closer look at the five biggest needs for all 32 teams.

Note: Teams are listed in alphabetical order. To quickly get to your team, click on the links below.

Arizona Cardinals

Top needs: OC, 3-4 OLB, QB, CB, S

Jonathan Cooper was traded to New England, and Ted Larsen is gone. Arizona signed G Evan Mathis, but only to a one-year deal. So with QB Carson Palmer now 36 and not getting any more mobile, the Cardinals need to address the interior of their offensive line -- particularly center -- at some point in this draft. Alabama's Ryan Kelly, our No. 1 center, might still be on the board when Arizona goes on the clock at No. 29 overall. It could also look to draft a developmental backup QB with one of its two picks in the first three rounds. While Palmer played at a high level last season, it's time for Arizona to start planning for the future at the game's most important position.

Atlanta Falcons

Top needs: OLB, S, DE, TE, OG

The Falcons were the worst defense in the NFL at covering RBs and TEs last season, giving up 213 combined completions, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Adding a weak-side outside linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed and coverage ability would help Dan Quinn's defense become a more versatile unit. After releasing William Moore this offseason, Atlanta has Kemal Ishmael slotted into the starting strong safety role right now. The Falcons should look to draft a player who can push to win the starting job there. Keanu Neal, Su'a Cravens and Jeremy Cash are all good Day 2 options. Matt Ryan hasn't had a TE who can stretch the seam since Tony Gonzalez retired. This isn't a deep tight end class, but the top two players at the position -- Hunter Henry and Jerell Adams -- would provide a boost in that regard.

Baltimore Ravens

Top needs: 3-4 OLB, CB, OT, ILB, OG

Elvis Dumervil is 32, and Terrell Suggs is coming off his second torn Achilles in three seasons at age 33. That duo has combined for an incredible 202.5 career sacks but look for the Ravens to inject some youth into their pass rush at some point in this draft. Baltimore lost stud guard Kelechi Osemele in free agency and OT Eugene Monroe has proven to be an injury risk (15 missed games the past two seasons), so adding depth along the O-line is a must. Don't be shocked if GM Ozzie Newsome pulls the trigger on  Laremy Tunsil or Ronnie Stanley at No. 6 overall if either are available and the Ravens don't trade down. ILB C.J. Mosley is the team's top returning tackler, but he could use some more help at the second level. 

Buffalo Bills

Top needs: DE, LB, DT, OT, WR

The Bills badly need a pass-rusher to play opposite Jerry Hughes. He struggled last season as offenses focused more attention on him as  Mario Williams floundered. Williams is now in Miami after getting cut this offseason, and Buffalo could look to bring in a replacement in Round 1 if the picks fall the right way. Leonard Floyd would be a good fit, but he might not last until No. 19 overall. It's never a good sign for a defense when your free safety leads the team in tackles, and that's exactly what happened last season, as the Bills allowed 4.4 yards per carry (25th overall). Reggie Ragland, the best ILB in this class by a wide margin, is another option in the first round if the value doesn't align for a pass-rusher.

Carolina Panthers

Top needs: DE, OT, DT, CB, S

OT Mike Remmers really struggled last season, and while the Panthers might have a replacement already in-house (2015 fourth-rounder  Daryl Williams), they could certainly take a swing at a high-upside player like Germain Ifedi late in Round 1. You might be a little surprised to see defensive end and defensive tackle on this list, but remember: DE Charles Johnson and DTs  Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei will all be free agents next offseason. The best teams find a way to fill needs before they are gaping holes. With this being an incredibly deep D-line class, Carolina could find a few good players in the mid-to-late rounds who could develop into starters if Johnson, Short and/or Lotulelei weren't back in 2017.

Chicago Bears

Top needs: 3-4 OLB, LOT, CB, SS, TE

The Bears have done a good job of shoring up the middle of their LB corps with the additions of Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, but their lack of speed off the edge is alarming. Lamarr Houston led the team in sacks last season with just 8.0, so they have to find a way to add another pass-rusher. If Leonard Floyd is still on the board when the Bears pick at No. 11 overall, they should give him a hard look. Chicago signed OT Bobby Massie in free agency, but he's not a true left tackle. Drafting a long-term solution at that position would enable Massie to move over to right tackle and Kyle Long to bump back inside to guard, where he's more comfortable. That would solidify the entire O-line.

Cincinnati Bengals

Top needs: WR, 4-3 NT, OG, LB, RDE

The bad news is that both  Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones left in free agency, leaving a gaping hole opposite A.J. Green at wide receiver. The good news? Cincinnati will have a decent chance to get one of our top-four WRs -- Laquon Treadwell, Josh Doctson, Will Fuller, Corey Coleman -- with the No. 24 overall pick. All four of those guys rank within our top-26 players overall. More good news: The Bengals will have plenty of Day 2 options to fill their need at 4-3 nose tackle. Meanwhile, at linebacker, A.J. Hawk is 32, Karlos Dansby is 34 and Vontaze Burfict is suspended for the first three games next season. Cincinnati would be wise to pick up a LB with some upside in the mid-to-late rounds.

Cleveland Browns

Top needs: QB, WR, 3-4 DE, ROT, OLB

Since 1999, the Browns have had 24 starting quarterbacks. That's five more than the next-closest team. With the Rams trading up to the No. 1 overall pick, Cleveland will no longer have the choice of the top two quarterbacks in the draft -- Carson Wentz and Jared Goff. But if the Browns forego options to trade down, they'll still have the ability to fill their biggest need with a really good player. Whoever ends up playing quarterback will need someone to throw to. Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins are the top two WRs currently on the roster, and while they both have the ability to contribute in 2016, neither is a good No. 1. Michael Thomas or Chris Moore could be Day 2 options if Cleveland goes QB in the first round. 

Dallas Cowboys

Top needs: RDE, CB, QB, WR, RB

The Cowboys' 31 sacks last season tied for 25th in the league, so pass-rusher is a major hole. DeMarcus Lawrence, who led the Cowboys with 8.0 sacks in 2015, has some upside there, but he's more of a complementary piece than a premier guy off the edge. Joey Bosa, who has a pretty good chance to be there when the Cowboys go on the clock at No. 4 overall, is the best player on our board and would fit perfectly in Rod Marinelli's defense. I'm a firm believer that Dallas needs to come out of this draft with an upgrade at its No. 2 quarterback. The Cowboys were 1-11 in games that Tony Romo did not start last season, and he's coming off two collarbone injuries. Connor Cook, Paxton Lynch and Christian Hackenberg would all be good developmental options in Round 2 if they're available.

Denver Broncos

Top needs: QB, ILB, OG, RB, 3-4 DE

It's not often you see the defending Super Bowl champions with such a dire need at quarterback, but after Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler bolted to Houston, here we are. Denver has just Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian on the QB depth chart right now. Even if the Broncos try to move up in the first round to get their passer of choice, they're unlikely to get a guy who's ready to start from Day 1. The rest of the board doesn't really fall great for Denver, either. Inside linebacker is its second-biggest need, but there's a huge drop-off once Reggie Ragland gets selected, and I'm not sure he'll last until No. 31. And there aren't any guards worth a first-round pick. GM John Elway will have his work cut out to fill his biggest needs without reaching.

Detroit Lions

Top needs: LOT, CB, DT, MLB, 4-3 OLB

The Lions have invested heavily in their offensive line since 2012, spending four picks in Rounds 1-3 on guys to protect QB Matthew Stafford. But something is still missing, as Stafford has been sacked 89 times during the past two seasons, fourth-most in the league. Drafting a capable left tackle would enable Riley Reiff to go back to the right side, where he's a better fit. Plus, Detroit needs to start planning for the future at tackle, with Reiff set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2017. At cornerback, the Lions could use another young stud to play opposite Darius Slay, and at defensive tackle, Haloti Ngata is now 32, so look for Detroit to find a future starter at some point.

Green Bay Packers

Team needs: ILB, 3-4 NT, CB, TE, 3-4 DE

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has said that he wants to move Clay Matthews back to outside linebacker. That would leave 2015 fourth-rounder Jake Ryan, 2014 undrafted free agent Joe Thomas and  Sam Barrington, who has played just 22 of a possible 48 games in his three seasons, as the next guys up at ILB. Unless Reggie Ragland falls to No. 27 -- not inconceivable, but not likely either -- the Packers will likely look to draft an inside linebacker on Day 2. But they will have some good options to fill their needs at 3-4 NT and DE (their only good starter remaining along the D-line is Mike Daniels). Vernon Butler, Andrew Billings and A'Shawn Robinson could all be in play if still on the board. 

Houston Texans

Top needs: WR, 3-4 DE, OC, TE, SS

The Texans have spent the offseason overhauling their offense with the additions of QB Osweiler and RB Lamar Miller, but there's still work to be done. Houston's in-house options for the No. 2 WR spot include Jaelen Strong, Cecil Shorts III and Keith Mumphery. So I'd be surprised if GM Rick Smith and coach Bill O'Brien didn't give wide receiver a hard look in Round 1. The Texans are well-positioned to find a playmaker with the No. 22 overall selection. Picking right ahead of two other WR-needy teams (Minnesota and Cincinnati), there's a good chance that at least one of our top four WRs will be on the board when Houston is on the clock. This class also features some good Day 2 values at the 3-4 DE and interior O-line positions, which is even more reason why wide receiver could be the pick of choice in Round 1.

Indianapolis Colts

Top needs: ROT, 3-4 OLB, ROG, OC, TE

When your franchise quarterback suffers a lacerated kidney because he took such a beating, it's probably time to take a hard look at your offensive line. In an ideal world, one of our top-four offensive tackle prospects (most likely Taylor Decker) would fall to Indianapolis at No. 18. They need a plug-and-play right tackle in the worst way, and there's a big drop-off from Decker and our No. 5 OT, Germain Ifedi. The Colts haven't had a pass-rusher eclipse seven sacks since 2013, when Robert Mathis put up 19.5. Mathis is now 35, and while he played 15 games last season after suffering an Achilles injury in 2014, his play dropped off quite a bit (7.0 sacks). The Colts need to get younger and faster off the edge.   

Jacksonville Jaguars

Top needs: OC/OG, OLB, DT, PK, DE

After QB Blake Bortles was sacked a league-high 51 times in 2015, the Jaguars smartly gave OT Kelvin Beachum a five-year deal worth $9 million annually. But they still need to strengthen the interior of their O-line. That'll be a priority starting on Day 2 of the draft, where C Ryan Kelly or G Joshua Garnett could come into play. If the chips fall the right way, Round 1 could present an opportunity for the Jaguars to add some much-needed speed and athleticism to the second level of their defense. OLB Myles Jack would be a dream for Jacksonville fans with the fifth-overall pick. Luckily for the Jaguars, this defensive tackle crop is one of the deepest we've seen in years, so they'll be able to find solid contributors in the midrounds.

Kansas City Chiefs

Top needs: CB, S, WR, OG, ILB

The Chiefs hit a home run on 2015 first-round CB Marcus Peters, who won defensive rookie of the year after picking off eight passes. But CB Sean Smith signed with the Raiders in free agency, so they still have a hole at their other outside corner spot. (While Phillip Gaines showed flashes before tearing his ACL last season, he's a better fit for the slot role.) William Jackson III has the skill set to play in Bob Sutton's press-man scheme, but he might not last until No. 28 overall. If either of our top-two safeties ( Karl Joseph or Vonn Bell) are still on the board when the Chiefs get on the clock, they'd make for a nice tandem with Eric Berry. 

Los Angeles Rams

Top needs: QB, WR, OC, S, CB

By trading from No. 15 all the way up to No. 1, the Rams ensured they'll get the quarterback of their choice. It remains to be seen whether that'll be Jared Goff or Carson Wentz, but for a team whose top two QB options are currently Nick Foles and Case Keenum, it's a much-needed development. The catch, of course, is that trading up leaves the Rams with pretty limited resources to address their other needs. After picking No. 1, they aren't slated to be on the clock again until No. 110 -- the 12th selection of the fourth round. The Rams had an NFL-low 11 TD catches last year, so they need to add a WR to complement Tavon Austin's skill set in the slot. Kenny Britt had just 681 yards last year and is a free agent in 2017, while former second-rounder Brian Quick has been a disappointment.

Miami Dolphins

Top needs: CB, RB, DE, LB, OT

The Dolphins picked up Byron Maxwell in a trade with Philadelphia, and we'll see if he's able to rebound from a down season. Even if he does, Miami doesn't have much playing opposite Maxwell. The next three guys on the depth chart -- Jamar Taylor,  Tyler Patmon and  Tony Lippett -- have 11 career starts in six combined seasons. The value might not be there for the Dolphins to address this need with the No. 13 pick, but it's something to keep an eye on Day 2. If RB Ezekiel Elliott drops out of the top 10, Miami would be a great landing spot. The Dolphins spent a fifth-rounder on Jay Ajayi last year, but he's not ready to take over the void left by Lamar Miller's departure. With Mario Williams (31) and Cameron Wake (34) getting up there in age, look for Miami to inject some youth at the DE position in this draft.

Minnesota Vikings

Top needs: WR, OT, CB, SS, OG

Stefon Diggs was a great find in the fifth round last year, but QB Teddy Bridgewater still needs a big WR to play opposite Diggs. Jarius Wright is a slot guy, Cordarrelle Patterson is a former first-rounder who really helps only in the return game, and Charles Johnson lost his job to Diggs last year. Picking at No. 23, the Vikings should be hoping that at least one of our top-four WRs -- Laquon Treadwell, Josh Doctson, Will Fuller, Corey Coleman -- falls into their lap. There's a big drop-off after them. At offensive tackle, Matt Kalil enters a contract year, and while Minnesota has bodies at RT, it remains to be seen whether it has a good long-term answer.  Andre Smith, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, will compete with Phil Loadholt (torn Achilles in 2015) and T.J. Clemmings (struggled as a rookie).

New England Patriots

Top needs: OT, DE, ILB, CB, DT

With Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon both unrestricted free agents and Nate Solder coming off a season-ending biceps injury, the Patriots are in dire need of some new blood at offensive tackle. QB Tom Brady was sacked 42 times in 2015, the third-highest figure of his career. Barring any trades, the Patriots will have to wait until the 60th pick to find the 38-year-old QB some more help up front. At defensive end, New England traded Chandler Jones and picked up Chris Long in free agency on a one-year deal. Long will be a UFA again in 2017, along with fellow DEs Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard. Prospects like Jihad Ward and Shilique Calhoun could be among Bill Belichick's options at DE on Day 2.

New Orleans Saints

Top needs: DE, DT, OG, CB, OLB

There's a chance the Saints will have the opportunity to pick the first defensive tackle of the 2016 draft. Ideally, they'd find someone who has some pass-rushing capabilities, along with the skills to stuff the run. Sheldon Rankins, our No. 9 overall player, would make a lot of sense. Last season, New Orleans finished dead last in yards per carry allowed (4.92) and 28th in sacks per dropback (5.2 percent). Picking at No. 12, the Saints could be too far down the board to find one of the premier edge rushers and a little too early to dip into the next tier. They might have to settle for addressing their DE need on Day 2 with a player like Kevin Dodd or Jonathan Bullard.

New York Giants

Top needs: OT, DE, OLB, WR, FS

The Giants spent the No. 9 pick last year on Ereck Flowers, who projected as a right tackle but was forced to the left side after Will Beatty suffered a season-ending pectoral injury shortly after the draft. Whether the Giants think Flowers is their left tackle of the future, it's concerning that Marshall Newhouse is expected to line up on the opposite side. Eli Manning's lack of mobility makes it imperative that GM Jerry Reese finds another tackle in the draft. There's a chance one of the top-three OTs on our board -- Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin -- could still be there at No. 10 overall. The Giants spent a truckload of money in free agency upgrading their defense, but they should still be aggressive trying to find a DE to mix in with Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul, along with an OLB who covers and gets sideline-to-sideline vs. the run.

New York Jets

Top needs: QB, 3-4 OLB, TE, CB, DE

We're a week and a half from Day 1 of the draft, and the Jets and free-agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick are still engaged in a contract staredown. Geno Smith, the current No. 1 on the roster, has been a disappointment thus far in his career, so if the Jets really are content moving on from Fitzpatrick, they'll need to find another option in the draft. The chances of getting a Day 1 starter with the No. 20 pick are nil. Settling for a developmental option like Christian Hackenberg or Jacoby Brissett might be the Jets' only option. Last season, the Jets got just eight catches and 95 yards from their tight ends. The next-worst team (Texans) were miles ahead: 41 catches and 448 yards. There aren't a ton of dynamic receiving TEs in this class, but the Jets would be wise to consider one of them -- Hunter Henry, Jerell Adams. 

Oakland Raiders

Top needs: DT, ILB, DE, RB, S

The Raiders are set at pass-rusher after signing Bruce Irvin to team up with Khalil Mack, but they could use some more difference-makers in the middle of their defense. Where they're picking in Round 1 (No. 14 overall) will be a good spot to fill either of their needs at DT or ILB. One of our top three defensive tackles -- Jarran Reed, Chris Jones, Andrew Billings -- should still be on the board then, and none would be egregious reaches. Same goes for our top ILB, Reggie Ragland. They could also use a mid-to-late-round pick on a running back who can backup free-agent-to-be Latavius Murray in the short term, and maybe take over the starting gig in 2017.

Philadelphia Eagles

Top needs: CB, RB, OG, OT, 4-3 DE

The Eagles did a good job to move up in the first round while shipping Byron Maxwell's hefty contract to Miami. But now picking No. 8 overall, I'm not sure there's a CB who should be taken that high, assuming Jalen Ramsey is off the board. Vernon Hargreaves III is our next-best CB, and he's our No. 22 player. Running back is a need after the Eagles off-loaded DeMarco Murray's mega deal on Tennessee. Ezekiel Elliott would fill that hole nicely and take pressure off QB Sam Bradford in the process. Finally, with Jason Peters now 34, finding a developmental OT at some point in this draft is a must.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Top needs: CB, S, 3-4 OLB, 3-4 DE, OG

The Steelers' pass defense needs a major upgrade after allowing 272 yards per game last season (30th overall). After they released Cortez Allen late last week, William Gay appears to be the No. 1 CB currently on the roster, with Ross Cockrell and  Senquez Golson behind him. Their safeties aren't much better ( Shamarko Thomas and Mike Mitchell), so if I was Pittsburgh, I'd consider using my first- and second-round picks to improve the secondary. A dream scenario for the Steelers: safety Karl Joseph (our No. 19 player) and/or cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III (No. 22) are still on the board when Pittsburgh picks at No. 25.

San Diego Chargers

Top needs: LOT, 3-4 DE, OC/OG, S, TE

San Diego was one of the biggest winners in the Rams-Titans trade. With Los Angeles moving to No. 1 to get its QB, it's likely that passers will now go 1-2 in the draft. That means the Chargers could have the opportunity to draft the top non-QB on their board with the No. 3 selection. With King Dunlap having proved to be an injury risk at left tackle and QB Philip Rivers coming off a season in which he was sacked 40 times (28th overall), the Chargers will have the opportunity to pick the top blindside protector on our board (Laremy Tunsil). Or they could plug their second-biggest hole (3-4 DE) by selecting DeForest Buckner. Can't go wrong either way.

San Francisco 49ers

Top needs: QB, WR, OT, CB, ILB

The ripple effects from the Rams' trade up to No. 1 were felt throughout the league, and San Francisco was no exception. It now appears that the 49ers will have to move up to the No. 2 pick if they want to fill their biggest need (quarterback) with either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff. Conventional wisdom says if they don't get one of those top two guys, Colin Kaepernick will stay put. San Fran also needs to take a hard look at the receiver position, where Quinton Patton is penciled into the No. 2 role right now. Coach Chip Kelly has a habit of selecting WRs early in drafts -- he picked three pass-catchers in Rounds 1-3 in his past two seasons in Philly -- so don't rule out him doing so again in 2016. Perhaps Laquon Treadwell would be in play if the 49ers stay put at No. 7, but that'd be a bit of a reach (he's our No. 14 overall player).

Seattle Seahawks

Top needs: LOT, CB, OC, DT, DE

QB Russell Wilson was magnificent last year at creating plays behind a ragtag offensive, but he was still sacked 45 times, tied for third-worst in the league. And that was with Russell Okung as his left tackle. Okung is now in Denver, and the Seahawks don't have a good in-house option to replace him. Making matters worse, center Patrick Lewis is slated to start in the middle, but he didn't play well last year and is set to be a free agent after next season. Getting some more continuity up front should be GM John Schneider's top priority in this draft. Another cornerback wouldn't hurt, either. Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane are locked down for the foreseeable future, but they're lacking a third corner who can play in Kris Richard's press-zone scheme.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top needs: DE, CB, S, OT, WR

If it seems like defensive end has been one of the Bucs' biggest needs for a while, it's because it has. The last Tampa Bay edge rusher to record double-digit sacks was Simeon Rice back in ... 2005. DT Gerald McCoy is a beast on the interior (26.5 sacks in his past three seasons), but he needs some help off the edge. The problem for Tampa Bay? Joey Bosa and DeForest Buckner are unlikely to fall to the No. 9 pick and the next-best DE ( Shaq Lawson, No. 18 overall player) might be a reach. Same goes for cornerback, their second-biggest need. With free-agent signee Brent Grimes turning 33 in July and Alterraun Verner struggling the past two seasons, they are in need of some new blood at CB. But if Jalen Ramsey is off the board, their next-best option would be Vernon Hargreaves III (No. 22 overall player). 

Tennessee Titans

Top needs: OT, CB, WR, 3-4 OLB, OG

Whether the Titans want to keep Taylor Lewan at left tackle or draft a true blindside protector and bump Lewan to the right side, I think we can all agree that Tennessee needs to get an OT. Protecting QB Marcus Mariota should be the team's top priority. After trading back from No. 1 to 15 in exchange for a haul of picks, Titans GM Jon Robinson has the draft capital to move back up the board and get one of our top tackles -- Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin. If Tennessee wants to stay put at No. 15, there's a chance plug-and-play RT Taylor Decker could still be around. Regardless, with six picks in the top 76, the Titans have a great opportunity to fill a lot of these needs in the first two days of the draft.

Washington Redskins

Top needs: 3-4 NT, S, 3-4 DE, CB, WR

A season after allowing 4.8 yards per carry (31st in the NFL), the Redskins need to come out of the draft with some active run defenders at nose tackle and defensive end. If Jarran Reed, our No. 13 player, fell to the No. 21 pick, that'd be a perfect fit for the Redskins' scheme. And it's not inconceivable that could happen, given that he is best suited for a 3-4 scheme and some teams might be turned off by his limited pass-rush skills. If the value isn't quite there for the D-line in Round 1, safety is certainly an option. DeAngelo Hall moved from corner to safety last season, but he's 32 and there's a chance both of our top players at the position (Karl Joseph, Vonn Bell) will be on the board when Washington is on the clock.