Effective salary cap space: $80.5 million

Biggest needs: QB, EDGE, TE

Armed with the No. 2 overall pick, don’t expect the cash-laden Commanders to pursue their new starting quarterback in free agency. Instead, they have a smorgasbord of cap space to work with to build around whomever the Chicago Bears don’t draft with the top spot.

Last I checked, the Commanders have a fantastic interior defensive line between Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, but there’s no one on the outside who can collapse the pocket. I dare you to look at their current depth chart on the defensive edge. It’s not pretty. Oh, and with Logan Thomas’s departure, it’d be nice to have at least one tight end who can catch passes over the middle of the field. Though, in free agency, this would probably be someone who is more of a No. 2. 

Effective salary cap space: $44.4 million

Biggest needs: QB, EDGE, WR

An ascending and young team, the Bears are one of those squads that could do some minor tinkering this offseason and become a major player overnight. With Matt Eberflus returning to the Chicago sideline and the Bears presumably drafting a new quarterback with the No. 1 overall, it would behoove them to surround him with as much talent as possible. 

Look for the Bears to particularly be in the market for a long-term pass-rusher partner for Montez Sweat and a viable playmaking running mate for D.J. Moore. 

Effective salary cap space: $79.8 million

Biggest needs: QB, WR, OT

Does the prospect of No. 1 receiver DeVante Parker excite you? It shouldn’t!

Even after the departure of Bill Belichick, the Patriots still have one of the more promising defensive nucleases in professional football. And their offense still has a massive dearth of any field-tilting talent. As another team in line for a top quarterback draft prospect with the No. 3 overall pick, it’s time to restart refilling the offensive coffers. For one, that signal caller will need someone reliable to throw to (duh). And with Trent Brown on an expiring contract, that offensive line needs a massive infusion (no pun intended).

Between free agency and the draft, the Patriots have an abundance of resources to ensure their defense isn’t winning them every game. We’ll see how they use them.

Effective salary cap space: $66.5 million

Biggest needs: EDGE, DT, CB

Thanks to CJ Stroud and DeMeco Ryans, the young Texans might have one of the NFL’s brightest futures. It’s time to start bringing things full circle with a productive shopping spree in free agency. The Texans won the 2023 AFC South on the strength of Stroud’s greatness but were otherwise stomped the moment they ran into a real contender (the Baltimore Ravens) because they just didn’t have enough talent. Where Houston is especially weak is on defense. Once again, try to name a single Texans defender outside of Will Anderson, Derek Stingley Jr., and Jalen Pitre. (Challenge: Questionable.)

This Texans defense just needs blue-chip, foundational talent everywhere, and we could be talking about a bona fide Super Bowl contender soon enough.

Effective salary cap space: $45.4 million

Biggest needs: EDGE, DT, CB

The 2023 season was about getting Kyler Murray back up to speed after he tore his ACL toward the end of Arizona’s 2022 campaign. But this year, Arizona will be trying to compete and put itself back on the forefront of the NFC playoff landscape. As tempting as it might be to let Murray, more or less, fend for himself again, the Cardinals should be one of the biggest buyers during this free agency.

The focus will be an atrocious defense without any real franchise players outside of safety Budda Baker. I have a strong feeling there will not be much judiciousness in terms of the positions that are addressed. The Cardinals need everything on that side of the ball.