How each NFL team addressed its biggest offseason needs in 2020

The Super Bowl is played in February. The road to get there begins in March.

The opening of the 2020 NFL league year signaled the official start to free agency. More than 600 players hit the open market on March 18, leaving franchises scrambling to find the missing pieces that stand between them and a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Every team in the league was in the market for the help capable of plugging holes, picking up additions ranging from headliners (Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Byron Jones) to guys who merit only eight-point font at the bottom of the “transactions” ledger. That wave of talent was buttressed in April by the NFL Draft, which poured a solid class of quarterbacks, blockers, and receiving talent onto rosters over the course of three days.

Both options will provide plenty of relief. This offseason was host to a banner crop of veteran passers, but was also rich in pass rushers, defensive backs, and offensive linemen. Some of the players signed this spring will be the catalyst to deep runs through the playoffs. Others might not even make it to opening day without returning to the free agent pile.

We broke down the top 100 free agents of 2020 here, but that’s only part of the equation. The 2020 NFL Draft was a godsend for teams pressed up against the salary cap, providing impact newcomers — and yes, a handful of busts — across the league.

Where did your favorite team need help the most? We’ve dug in to find out. Here’s what each team in the NFL did to address its holes in free agency and the draft this offseason.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: The Bills’ No. 1 priority was getting Josh Allen more help

Miami Dolphins: How the Dolphins are speeding up their rebuild this offseason

New England Patriots: The Patriots’ post-Tom Brady offseason plan is a work in progress

New York Jets: The Jets’ turnaround can start now that they’ve given Sam Darnold more weapons

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens’ offseason is all about setting up a Super Bowl run

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow only solves one of the Bengals’ many problems

Cleveland Browns: The Browns can finally escape football purgatory by protecting Baker Mayfield

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers still invested in the future this offseason, despite limited resources

AFC South

Houston Texans: Did the Texans do enough on defense this offseason to get back to the playoffs?

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts finally spent in free agency to try to get back into the postseason hunt

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars’ once-great defense is rebuilding this offseason

Tennessee Titans: A Titans playoff return depends on their *defensive* improvements

AFC West

Denver Broncos: Drew Lock is the Broncos’ guy. Now they’re building around him

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs can make it back to the Super Bowl if their offseason additions work out

Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders were big spenders to try to start their Vegas era off right

Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers’ offseason wasn’t just about replacing Philip Rivers at quarterback

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: How the Cowboys navigated a tricky offseason to try to reclaim the NFC East

New York Giants: The Giants added some much-needed beef to their offensive line this offseason

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are hoping all the speed they added will make them contenders again

Washington: Chase Young can help set the tone for Washington’s offseason — and its future

NFC North

Chicago Bears: The Bears’ top offseason priority was an expensive Mitchell Trubisky backup plan

Detroit Lions: The Lions are trying to escape the NFC North basement with an improved defense

Green Bay Packers: The Packers could’ve (and should’ve) restored Aaron Rodgers’ MVP status with another strong offseason

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings’ playoff exit created the blueprint for their 2020 offseason

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: Did the Falcons fix their defense enough to save Dan Quinn’s job?

Carolina Panthers: The Panthers’ rebuild hinges on surrounding Teddy Bridgewater with playmakers

New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees can make one last Super Bowl run if the Saints got him enough help

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are increasing their momentum by building around Tom Brady

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are moving toward fulfilling Kliff Kingsbury’s vision

Los Angeles Rams: The Rams had to be a little creative to try to get back into NFC West contention

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers used their offseason to keep their Super Bowl roster mostly intact

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks’ offseason focus needed to be pass rush, pass rush, pass rush