NFL Draft 2014 team needs, AFC

Parity still rules to large extent in the NFL -- at least, more so than in other professional American sports leagues -- but the AFC was looking up at the NFC in some ways last season. The last impression of the season was the Seattle Seahawks beating down the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, and the next will be the NFL Draft, when AFC teams will be on the clock for four of the first five picks.

That doesn't mean that the conference has to stay down for long, however. The NFL isn't the NBA, where the right player can set up a team for years of success, and where the Western Conference's rein over the Eastern Conference isn't expected to dissipate soon. The nature of football, and especially a stringent salary cap, is such that teams can improve drastically with minor adjustments and much smarter thinking.

Next year's Super Bowl champion could easily come out of the AFC. The Broncos are the second favorite to win at 8/1, and the New England Patriots are fourth at 12/1. There are 14 other teams with plenty of hope to become favorites themselves, starting with a draft that is especially deep. So without further ado, here's how the AFC stacks up heading into the first round.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens fell victim to the Super Bowl hangover, and missed the playoffs last season. Joe Flacco was ineffective and some glaring issues were revealed. That said, the team had a lot of injuries last season, and the Ravens are still well-positioned to compete going forward. But there are still some issues to address.

Notable Losses

FB Vonta Leach, LB Jameel McClain, DT Arthur Jones, CB Corey Graham, OT Michael Oher, S James Ihedigbo, TE Ed Dickson

Key Additions

TE Dennis Pitta (re-signed), OT Eugene Monroe (re-signed), WR Jacoby Jones (re-signed), WR Steve Smith, S Darian Stewart, C Jeremy Zuttah, TE Owen Daniels, RB Justin Forsett, NT Terrence Cody (re-signed)

Draft to-do list

Offensive tackle

The Ravens managed to bring back Monroe, who will hold down the left side of the line for the foreseeable future. But the right tackle position, previously manned by Oher, is a big question mark. Oher himself was struggling before he left in free agency, so the Ravens likely always planned on addressing the position in the draft this year.

Wide receiver

Baltimore had a void last season after trading Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers. Most figure the answer going forward is a rookie, and we echo the sentiment. The Ravens brought in Steve Smith to hopefully make an impact, but he's not going to contribute much beyond a single season.

Safety

Matt Elam will probably end up being a solid contributor, but with Ihedigbo going elsewhere, the Ravens need another starting safety. Michael Huff didn't work out, and really, Ihedigbo wasn't very good to begin with. This is a solid draft for the position, as well.

Buffalo Bills

As usual, the Bills missed the playoffs in 2013, making it the 14th consecutive season without a 17th game for the fans in western New York. Under first-year head coach Doug Marrone, Buffalo struggled to find its footing with rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel and a host of other signal-callers.

In 2014, Buffalo is hoping to find improvement not only in Manuel's game, but in its record. The Bills have not made a bunch of splashy moves in free agency, apparently waiting for the draft to rebuild some of the team's weaker spots. Armed with the eighth overall pick, they will have their chance.

Notable Losses

FS Jairus Byrd

Key Additions

WR Mike Williams, LB Keith Rivers

Draft to-do list

Wide Receiver

Other than Steve Johnson, Buffalo does not have an accomplished receiver for Manuel to target. Robert Woods seems like an interesting prospect and Williams is a talent, but neither can be considered reliable at the moment. Picking up somebody like Mike Evans would give the offense a new dynamic.

Tackle

The Bills have been without a franchise left tackle for what seems like eons. Buffalo has shuffled through a plethora of options but is yet to find the mainstay that Jake Matthews or Greg Robinson might become. If either of those tackles are on the board, they could be tough to pass up.

Safety

With Byrd gone for the Big Easy, the Bills find themselves with Aaron Williams and not much else in the way of safeties. It might be too risky to take Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix in the top ten picks, so a second-round choice could be appropriate. There are plenty of nice Day 2 prospects, including Jimmie Ward, Deone Bucannon, Lamrcus Joyner and Terrance Brooks.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals managed to finish the 2013-14 season with an 11-5 record, but once again quarterback Andy Dalton failed to deliver in the playoffs. Cincinnati is now at a crossroads where it needs to determine if Dalton is its franchise quarterback. The Bengals will need to upgrade the defense to give Dalton an honest shot at proving himself again, though. All of Cincinnati's biggest issues are on the defensive side of the ball.

Notable Losses

C Kyle Cook, CB Brandon Ghee, DE Michael Johnson, LB James Harrison

Key Additions

WR Brandon Tate (re-signed), S Taylor Mays (re-signed), S Danieal Manning, OT Marshawll Newhouse, QB Jason Campbell, WR Andrew Hawkins

Draft to-do list

Cornerback

Leon Hall has torn his Achilles twice in three seasons, and it's hard to imagine Terence Newman and Adam Jones putting up too many more solid seasons. This is a stacked draft at the cornerback position and the Bengals could take advantage of this.

Defensive end

Michael Johnson departing is a big deal, but the Bengals decided to bring back Carlos Dunlap with a big contract. The team will need an impact defensive end in the draft to play opposite Dunlap, and an early pick could be used to acquire one.

Defensive tackle

Geno Atkins is recovering from an ACL tear, and it's unclear who will play alongside him regardless. Margus Hunt could end up making the need for a defensive end superfluous, but getting some insurance at the defensive tackle position is a big concern.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are simply a mess at this point. It's a revolving door at the quarterback, head coach and coordinator positions. Mike Pettine is in charge now, but will that be the case heading into the 2015 season? Nobody knows, but the Browns have one significant need they need to address in the draft: quarterback. A franchise signal caller is sorely needed, and this is the draft to get him.

Notable Losses

WR Davone Bess, LB D'Qwell Jackson, S T.J. Ward, G Shawn Lauvao, QB Brandon Weeden, CB Chris Owens, QB Jason Campbell

Key Additions

K Billy Cundiff (re-signed), LB Karlos Dansby, S Donte Whitner, C Alex Mack (re-signed), WR Nate Burleson, G Paul McQuistan, RB Ben Tate

Draft to-do list

Quarterback

This one is about as obvious as it gets, right? The Browns need to get a franchise quarterback. Both Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell are going elsewhere, and the fact that the latter significantly outplayed the former was a bad sign last year. Brian Hoyer has some potential, but if there's a guy the Browns like in the first round, they desperately need to pull the trigger to potentially establish some much-needed stability.

Wide receiver

If the Browns are going to get a quarterback in the first, grabbing an impact wide receiver in the second round is a possibility. This is one of the best receiver classes in a long time, and getting a player to draw coverage from Josh Gordon would be huge. The team did bring in Nate Burleson, but a rookie would be a smart play for the Browns here.

Cornerback

Joe Haden is excellent, but the Browns need someone behind him. Leon McFadden and Buster Skrine are probably not the answers. Mike Pettine needs to secure a cornerback opposite Haden to lock down the secondary and help ease the pain of losing T.J. Ward.

Denver Broncos

Denver is coming off one of the most disappointing Super Bowl appearances in history, being drubbed 43-8 by the Seahawks. Perhaps that is why general manager John Elway was so aggressive in free agency, practically signing anybody who breathed.

With Peyton Manning coming off arguably the best season a quarterback has ever had with 55 touchdowns and more than 5,500 passing yards, Denver appears poised for another championship run. However, questions remain on the other side of the ball leading into the draft. If the Broncos are to win a fourth straight division title, they will need all hands on deck.

Notable Losses

CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Champ Bailey, RB Knowshon Moreno, OG Zane Beadles, WR Eric Decker, LB Shaun Phillips, LB Wesley Woodyard, PR Trindon Holliday,

Key Additions

CB Aqib Talib, DE DeMarcus Ware, WR Emmanuel Sanders, SS T.J. Ward

Draft to-do list

Cornerback

Despite adding Talib, the Broncos still need help in the defensive backfield. Chris Harris Jr. is the only other solid corner on the roster, and he's coming off a torn ACL. At the 31st pick, maybe a player like Jason Verrett or Bradley Roby will be available.

Guard

Losing Beadles was a blow to this offensive line, which relies on good technique and quick movements more than any other in football. With Beadles now in Jacksonville, the Broncos may look to find his replacement in the early rounds of the draft. If they do so in the first round, Xavier Su'a-Filo may be an option.

Linebacker

Woodyard and Phillips are both gone, and while Ware will play the role of Phillips, nobody has been picked up to adequately replace Woodyard. The linebacker class is not overly deep this year, with most of the top talent playing on the outside in a 3-4 scheme. This might be a tough spot to fill early.

Houston Texans

The Texas quickly went from Super Bowl favorites to the worst team in the NFL in a bizarre season that forced plenty of changes for the franchise.

With Bill O'Brien now running the show for the team that owns the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Texans will have the chance to add elite talent to a roster that already featured three Pro Bowlers despite the NFL's worst record.

Notable Losses

CB Brice McCain, RB Ben Tate, TE Owen Daniels, DT Earl Mitchell, OLB Bryan Braman, ILB Joe Mays, DT Terrell McClain, ILB Daryl Sharpton, DE Antonio Smith, S Danieal Manning

Key Additions

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, S Kendrick Lewis, S Chris Clemons, RB Andre Brown

Draft to-do list

Quarterback

The Texans traded Matt Schaub to Oakland and don't have an obvious long-term starter on the roster. Many expect them to draft a rookie early, possibly in the second round if they don't take one with the No. 1 pick. There are half a dozen quarterbacks projected to go early, giving the Texans a few options. Whether that rookie is thrust into the starting lineup or given some time to develop remains to be seen.

Nose tackle

Jerrell Powe is the only nose tackle on the Houston roster, which doesn't bode well for a team that was already in the bottom 10 of the NFL at stopping the run. While there isn't a run-stopping tackle in the first round that the Texans can even be considered in the market for, Houston will have to find a way to add more than Powe to hold off opposing rushers.

Outside linebacker

The Texans already have a pair of significant investments in Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus. However, the pair combined for only 10 sacks in 2013. Those aren't impressive numbers for players drafted that high, and that leaves the team with a pair of positions that can be upgraded -- or, at the very least, supplemented with rotational players.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts definitely weren't a great team in 2013, but they had more than enough firepower to handily win the AFC South, which was arguably the weakest division in the NFL last season. One year after the strong rookie season of Andrew Luck, general manager Ryan Grigson was aggressive during the 2013 offseason, and he's repeated his actions so far in 2014.

With another offseason of aggressive moves, the Colts expect no less than a postseason berth in 2014, and likely have Super Bowl aspirations to match. A solid draft class could take the team over the top, although it does not own a first-round pick.

Notable Losses

S Antoine Bethea, RB Donald Brown, C Samson Satele, G Jeff Linkenbach, G Mike McGlynn, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, CB Cassius Vaughn

Key Additions

ILB D'Qwell Jackson, DE Arthur Jones, C Phil Costa, WR Hakeem Nicks

Draft to-do list

Interior offensive line

Andrew Luck has been sacked 73 times in his first two NFL seasons, which likely would be a higher number if he wasn't exceptionally good at eluding, escaping and throwing off pass rushers. Still, the Indianapolis offense would only be enhanced if Luck was given more time to survey the field.

Safety

The 49ers replaced Donte Whitner with Antoine Bethea, which left the Colts as the odd team out for a game of free safety musical chairs. Now the club has a hole in the back of its defensive backfield that could use a new starter.

Outside linebacker

Make no mistake, Robert Mathis is a killer on one side of the Indianapolis defense, but the team has struggled to find a pass rusher to complement him. Erik Walden finished with only three sacks, and Jerrell Freeman was second on the team with only 5.5 sacks.

Jacksonville Jaguars

One year after Dave Caldwell took over as general manager, the Jaguars still have lots of holes to fill on a roster that started 0-8 in 2013. While there is plenty of optimism surrounding the franchise's future, it's still a group devoid of elite, Pro Bowl-level talent.

If Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley hope to keep the franchise's momentum going into the 2014 season, it is crucial that they use their 11 picks in the 2014 NFL Draft to add talent that can contribute right away.

Notable Losses

C Brad Meester, G Uche Nwaneri, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, OLB Russell Allen

Key Additions

G Zane Beadles, RB Toby Gerhart, DE Red Bryant, OLB Dekoda Watson, DE Chris Clemons, DT Ziggy Hood

Draft to-do list

Quarterback

The trade of Blaine Gabbert to the 49ers only sealed an already obvious point: the Jaguars badly need a quarterback. Whether they elect to take one with the No. 3 pick is hard to tell, but it seems obvious that the Jaguars will take a passer at some point in the draft, and he'll have a strong chance of starting ahead of Chad Henne.

Interior offensive line

The Jaguars took their best shot at pulling Alex Mack away from the Cleveland Browns to replace long-time stalwart Brad Meester, but they struck out. That, coupled with the release of Uche Nwaneri, leaves some wide-open holes in the middle of the offensive line that absolutely have to be addressed at some point in the draft.

Pass rusher

Trying to model a defense after the Seattle Seahawks is difficult, but additions like Red Byrant and Chris Clemons will make the transition a little easier. Still, the addition of two pass rushers on the wrong side of 30 doesn't change the fact that the Jaguars haven't had a legitimate threat in that area of the game for a long, long time.

Kansas City Chiefs

No team had a bigger turnaround in 2013 than the Chiefs, who went from 2-14 to 11-5 and a playoff berth. Kansas City brought in general manager John Dorsey, head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith, who all contributed to the surprising campaign.

Still, this team needs some pieces if it wants to truly be a Super Bowl contender. Over the second half of the season, the Chiefs defense began to fall apart as key injuries and a lack of adjustments buried the unit. Offensively, Kansas City was putting up plenty of points toward the end of the year but still needs another playmaker.

Notable losses

WR/PR Dexter McCluster, OG Jon Asamoah, LT Branden Albert, OG Geoff Schwartz, DE Tyson Jackson, LB Akeem Jordan, FS Kendrick Lewis, KR Quintin Demps

Key Additions

LB Joe Mays, OT/OG Jeff Linkenbach, DE Vance Walker, WR Weston Dressler

Draft to-do list

Wide receiver

Outside of Dwayne Bowe, who had a sub-par 2013 campaign with less than 600 receiving yards, the Chiefs have no legitimate threat. Junior Hemingway has shown flashes and Donnie Avery is decent, but Kansas City can take the offense to another level with the addition of someone like Brandin Cooks or Odell Beckham Jr. Luckily for the Chiefs, this class is loaded.

Guard

After losing Schwartz and Asamoah to free agency, Kansas City has some issues at this spot. Jeff Allen is the only sure starter of the two guard positions, and frankly he could be upgraded. Rishaw Johnson stands to start at the other spot, and while he shows good promise it would not hurt to bring in some competition.

Free safety

No position was worse last season in Kansas City than free safety. As more film emerged on Bob Sutton's defense, it became obvious that Lewis was a massive weak spot. The Chiefs desperately need somebody who can play a center field role alongside stud Eric Berry to help curtail long gains through the air.

Miami Dolphins

Needing only one win over their final two games to claim a playoff berth for the first time since 2009, the Dolphins could not beat Buffalo or New York. Miami fell short of the mark despite spending more money than any other NFL team in free agency the prior offseason, forcing general manager Jeff Ireland out the door.

Dennis Hickey took over for Ireland and went back to the free agent market to bolster the roster. Hickey attempted to give aid to quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who found himself sacked a league-high 55 times in 2013. With a solid draft, the Dolphins believe they can be a playoff team and perhaps a threat to the Patriots.

Notable Losses

NT Paul Soliai, CB Nolan Carroll, S Chris Clemons, OG John Jerry

Key Additions

OT Branden Albert, RB Knowshon Moreno, OG Shelley Smith, DT Earl Mitchell, S Louis Delmas, CB Cortland Finnegan

Draft to-do list

Tackle

With Albert locking down the left side, the Dolphins could decide to fortify the right side of the line with a man such as Taylor Lewan of Michigan or Antonio Richardson of Tennessee. Considering the beating Tannehill endured in 2013, it would make plenty of sense for Hickey to spend the top pick on protection.

Tight End

The hopes of Dustin Keller being a nice find for the Dolphins were dashed in the preseason last year when D.J. Swearinger hit him low, wrecking Keller's knee. At the 19th spot, Miami might be able to land the top prospect at the position in North Carolina's Eric Ebron, a quality pass-catcher.

Cornerback

Brent Grimes is back in the mix, but there are questions on the other side. Finnegan was brought in, but many around the league believe he is on the back nine of his career. There are a bevy of corners to be plucked in the early-to-middle rounds this May. Maybe Hickey pulls the trigger on a diamond in the rough.

New England Patriots

After coming within one game of their sixth Super Bowl since 2001, the Patriots decided a revamping of a few key roster spots was necessary in the offseason. While Tom Brady is still Tom Terrific, the rest of the offense has been anything but in the last few years. With Rob Gronkowski injured, the receiving corps was a complete mess.

On defense, the pieces have been coming in recently with the additions of men such as Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones. Still, there was more work to be done, something Bill Belichick did not overlook. New England is still the best in the East, but as always in Foxboro, a season without jewelry at the end is a failure.

Notable Losses

S Steve Gregory, CB Aqib Talib,

Key Additions

WR Brandon LaFell, CB Brandon Browner, CB Darrelle Revis

Draft to-do list

Safety

New England has not had a top-notch safety since having Lawyer Milloy and Co. patrolling deep. The class of safeties this year is pretty deep, and at the 29th spot, the Patriots might have Lamarcus Joyner, Jimmie Ward and Deone Bucannon available to them.

Wide Receiver

Despite adding LaFell, the Patriots still need another option on the outside. No position has more top-tier players in the draft than receiver, giving Belichick plenty of options. A few prospects that would fit are Kelvin Benjamin and Odell Beckham Jr., should he fall a few spots further than expected.

Tight End

New England is credited for ushering in a new era of football, using a two tight-end set as a lethal passing combo instead of a power-running scheme. With Aaron Hernandez long gone and Gronkowski injury prone, the Patriots could look for another solid receiving tight end, maybe a Jace Amaro from Texas Tech.

New York Jets

Nobody expected the Jets to finish 8-8 last season, but head coach Rex Ryan and the boys pulled off the .500 record behind solid defense. Geno Smith was average, but improved down the stretch. Over his last four games, Smith threw for four touchdowns and two interceptions. In the first 12 games, Smith threw for eight scores and 20 picks.

Going into the offseason, general manager John Idzik's goal was to add more weapons around Smith. The rookie quarterback did not have much to work with, shown by Jeremy Kerley leading the team in receiving and Chris Ivory in rushing. While some fans are still clamoring for more, Idzik has given hope.

Notable Losses

CB Antonio Cromartie, WR Santonio Holmes, OT Austin Howard

Key Additions

WR Eric Decker, OT Breno Giacomini, RB Chris Johnson, OG Willie Colon

Draft to-do list

Wide receiver

Even with Decker in the fold, New York absolutely needs to add another receiver. In the middle of the first round, the Jets will have their pick of the litter, likely sans Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans. Any of the other top prospects will probably be there, including Marqise Lee, Brandin Cooks, Beckham, and others.

Running back

Johnson will provide a stabilizing force in the backfield for Gang Green, but he is not going to be a long-term answer. New York could remedy the situation by drafting a quality back in the middle rounds. Jeremy Hill of LSU might be available in the second, along with Tre Mason of SEC champion Auburn.

Cornerback

Do the Jets have the guts to take another corner in the first round? Recently, New York has missed on corners, with Kyle Wilson disappointing and Dee Milliner being benched repeatedly in his rookie campaign. With Cromartie gone, a hole exists on the outside. Darqueze Dennard could be available, along with Jason Verrett and Bradley Roby.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders were clearly the worst team in the AFC West, but made some nice upgrades to help make them more competitive in Dennis Allen's third season. Allen has gone 4-12 in each of his first two campaigns, and another tough year will likely result in his ousting and perhaps the removal of general manager Reggie McKenzie.

With three tough teams in the division and a schedule that includes the NFC West, the Raiders will need to be on top of their game if they want to be significantly better. Oakland has not enjoyed a playoff appearance since 2002, a length of time only eclipsed by the Buffalo Bills.

Notable Losses

OT Jared Veldheer, DE LaMarr Houston

Key Additions

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR James Jones, QB Matt Schaub, CB Carlos Rogers, CB Tarell Brown, DT Antonio Smith, DE Justin Tuck, DE LaMarr Woodley, OT Austin Howard

Draft to-do list

Wide receiver

Oakland added Jones but really needs to add another threat. The Raiders only have Rod Streater on the other side, who while capable is more of a third option. With the fifth overall pick, McKenzie could go for gold and snag Sammy Watkins. Watkins would instantly be the No. 1 option for Schaub.

Cornerback

The Raiders struggled in coverage throughout 2013, being torched repeatedly down the field to rank 28th in pass defense. Despite a bevy of signings, the team did not pay much mind to the corners. In the draft, Oakland will need to address that issue before hitting the field in 2014 if it wants to be formidable on defense.

Quarterback

Despite adding Schaub, the Raiders still need a long-term solution. Oakland doesn't appear to have that in Matt McGloin, and Terrelle Pryor is now in Seattle, so adding a top-notch quarterback in the early rounds could go a long way toward a healthy franchise. The top of the second round could offer some intriguing possibilities, including Zach Mettenberger and Derek Carr.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers finished last season with an 8-8 record, but if not for an officiating mistake, they might have made it into the postseason. They were in it right until the very end in Week 17, but now will go back to the drawing board. There's aging talent that needs to be replaced with young bodies and some key veterans who may still have what it takes to win it all again. Pittsburgh primarily needs to address its defense come draft day

Notable Losses

CB Curis Brown, LB LaMarr Woodley, LB Larry Foote, RB Jonathan Dwyer, NT Al Woods, DT Ziggy Hood, WR Emmanuel Sanders, WR Jerricho Cotchery, S Ryan Clark

Key Additions

S Will Allen (re-signed), OLB Jason Worilds (re-signed), NT Cam Thomas, OT Guy Whimper, WR Lnace Moore, LB Arthur Moats, RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, P Adam Podlesh

Draft to-do list

Cornerback

With a particularly deep class, the Steelers will have an opportunity to snag a No. 1 cornerback in one of the top two rounds. Pittsburgh's secondary was torched with regularity last season, and Ike Taylor can't do a whole lot to change that.

Defensive line

With Brett Keisel and Ziggy Hood going elsewhere, the Steelers have a lot of rebuilding to do on the defensive line. Cameron Heyward is solid, but the team needs another starting defensive end and starting defensive tackle. They won't be able to address both of these positions more than likely, but one of them absolutely needs to be upgraded sooner rather than later.

San Diego Chargers

After starting 5-7 and appearing dead in the water, the Chargers rallied to win four consecutive games and make the playoffs as the AFC's sixth seed. San Diego then upset the Cincinnati Bengals before narrowly losing to Denver in the Divisional round. The Chargers certainly look like a team on the rise behind second-year coach Mike McCoy.

The biggest issue facing this team is its defense. The unit played better down the stretch but still needs a lot of work, as the level of talent just isn't high. Youngsters like Manti Te'o will help with maturation, but there is still some significant dead weight, especially in the backfield.

Notable Losses

DT Cam Thomas, CD Derek Cox, CB Johnny Patrick

Key Additions

LB Kavell Conner, RB Donald Brown

Draft to-do list

Cornerback

No team is more desperate for a cornerback than the Chargers. San Diego has no legitimate starter on the outside, a major problem in a division featuring Alex Smith and Peyton Manning. While Justin Gilbert and Darqueze Dennard will be off the board, San Diego will likely have options including Bradley Roby and Jason Verrett at the 25th pick.

Safety

Eric Weddle is easily the best defensive player on the roster, but he has no partner in crime on the back line. The secondary has been a blight for the Chargers over the past few years, and a solid player in the form of Calvin Pryor, Lamarcus Joyner or Jimmie Ward would be immensely beneficial. Last year, the team ranked 29th against the pass.

Nose Tackle

With the loss of Thomas on the interior, San Diego could use another big body to help push the pocket. The Chargers might have some nice options available to them in Ra'Shede Hageman and Louis Nix III. The Chargers need so much help defensively, and adding a legitimate player inside could make a big impact.

Tennessee Titans

A 7-9 season in 2013 was good enough for second place in the AFC South, but it wasn't enough to keep Mike Munchak as the head coach of the Titans. With Ken Whisenhunt taking over in Tennessee and rumors that Jake Locker isn't solidly in the long-term plans, the Titans are in flux while still looking to compete in 2014.

Despite the coaching changes, expectations are high for the Titans in 2014, although they'll likely need to add some pieces on defense in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Notable losses

CB Alterraun Verner, RB Chris Johnson, OT David Stewart, K Rob Bironas, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Kenny Britt

Key Additions

WR Dexter McCluster, DT Al Woods, LB Wesley Woodyard, OT Michael Oher, QB Charlie Whitehurst, DE Shaun Phillips

Draft to-do list

Defensive line

Jurrell Casey provided plenty of pressure from the interior of the Titans' defensive line, but the team lacked a pass rush otherwise. They weren't particularly stout against the run either, as they allowed the third-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL. Additions on the defensive line will be key to improving the Tennessee defense from average to a top 10 unit.

Running back

With the departure of Chris Johnson, it's up to Shonn Greene and Jackie Battle to handle rushing duties for the Titans. That is, unless Tennessee adds another running back in the draft, which certainly seems likely. Neither Battle nor Greene averaged more than four yards per carry, which is not something that an offense can afford if it hopes to be productive.

Cornerback

Alterraun Verner earned Pro Bowl honors for his play during the 2013 season, but he left to join the Buccaneers. That leaves a tough hole for the Titans to fill that they didn't address during free agency. While Blidi Wreh-Wilson is one player who could step into the role, an addition of talent might be necessary.