Atlanta Falcons – Everyone knows the Falcons are looking to win right now with their blockbuster trade to move up and take wide receiver Julio Jones. They also traded up later on to get running back Jacquizz Rodgers. While both of these players should help the team, there is still a question mark at defensive end. John Abraham is 33 and the only real threat they have. They may go after someone in free agency or hope that seventh round pick Cliff Matthews will pan out.
Carolina Panthers – After going 2-14 in 2010, it is obvious that the Panthers had a lot of holes to fill. They got their quarterback of the future in Cam Newton and tried to address their defensive line by taking two defensive tackles in the third round. Both of those players are nice, but neither is a dominant force, especially if the team moves to a 3-4 scheme as planned. Defensive end Charles Johnson may be gone via free agency which would cripple the line. In addition, safety play was awful last year but the team did not bring in anyone else to compete.
New Orleans Saints – New Orleans is definitely set on offense, especially with addition of running back Mark Ingram. Yet like most teams in their division, they need some help on defense, specifically at outside linebacker. The position is definitely in flux and the addition of third round pick Martez Wilson may not immediately help since he played inside in college. The two starters there are in contract talks, so we won’t know what will happen until free agency gets underway.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The defensive line has definitely been taken care of by the Bucs, who spent their first and second round picks on linemen in both 2010 and 2011. Now, the back end of the defense looks to be in some trouble. Cornerback Aqib Talib is in trouble with the law over firearms and may be cut or suspended. Opposite him, Ronde Barber is almost 100 years old (or somewhere around there). Tampa looks like they will definitely need help at corner once free agency starts.
