Six NFL teams had their seasons ended after suffering defeats on Wild Card Weekend. How will those teams approach the offseason while looking to improve and make it further next year? Let’s look at all six teams and identify their key free agents and biggest needs that need to be addressed:
Los Angeles Chargers
Free Agents: EDGE Khalil Mack, CB Asante Samuel Jr., WR Joshua Palmer, C Bradley Bozeman
Needs: WR, IOL, DT
Jim Harbaugh’s first season with the Chargers was largely a success. This team wasn’t expected to challenge for a playoff spot in the AFC but managed to win 11 games thanks to a great defense and a quarterback who took care of the football. Most will remember Justin Herbert’s 4-INT performance in the Wild Card round, but this was likely the worst version of a Harbaugh-led Charger team.
The Chargers are projected to enter the offseason with the fourth-most cap space (per OverTheCap) and the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft. They’ll need to get Herbert another reliable pass catcher at some point, but there are holes across the roster. Notably, they need to get more formidable in the middle of their offensive and defensive line. The team has two stalwart tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt but must try and find upgrades at center and guard.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Free Agents: QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, RB Najee Harris, CB Donte Jackson, WR Mike Williams, OT Dan Moore Jr.
Needs: QB, WR, CB, DT
The Steelers watched their season spiral out of control following an impressive 10-3 start. Pittsburgh lost its last four games of the regular season and then got ousted from the playoffs by their division rival Baltimore Ravens. It was their fifth straight postseason loss, as Mike Tomlin’s group hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.
Quarterback is the obvious question mark in Pittsburgh, as it has been since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are free agents. It wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the team give the 25-year-old Fields another contract to see what they’ve got. WR George Pickens and CB Joey Porter Jr. project to be good players at their respective positions, but the depth around each is weak. Adding more size on the interior should also be a priority after the Ravens ran for 299 yards against this front.
Denver Broncos
Free Agents: LB Cody Barton, RB Javonte Williams, CB Ja’Quan McMillan, LB Justin Strnad, DL D.J. Jones
Needs: WR, TE, S, RB
The AFC West was full of surprises this year. Few would have expected a Broncos team led by a rookie QB to reach the postseason. First-year QB Bo Nix enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, and the Broncos defense was among the league’s best units. HC Sean Payton has already made big strides in just two seasons.
Payton will need to add offensive playmakers to keep the rebuild going. A wide receiver and tight end are needed, and even a running back could be targeted. We could see some of this addressed with the No. 20 pick in the first round, or with their available cap space (11th most). Defensively, the Broncos have plenty of talent but need some help at safety and up the middle at linebacker.
Green Bay Packers
Free Agents: CB Eric Stokes, CB Eric Wilson, C Josh Myers, LB Isaiah McDuffie
Needs: WR, C, CB
Out of all the teams eliminated on Wild Card Weekend, the Packers entered the season with the highest expectations. 11 regular season wins is nothing to scoff at, but Green Bay fell flat against NFC North opponents. QB Jordan Love tossed three interceptions in the playoff loss, just a year after tossing two picks in the postseason against the 49ers.
Just like most teams on this list, wide receiver is an area that needs to be addressed here. The Packers have solid depth at wideout, but are lacking a true No. 1. They’ll also need to get better at corner if they want to combat the playmakers they’ll face off against next year in the NFC. They own all of their picks entering the draft (23rd overall) and have the 10th most available cap space.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Free Agents: WR Chris Godwin, LB Lavonte David, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, OG Ben Bredeson
Needs: EDGE, CB, MLB
The Buccaneers won the NFC South for the fourth year in a row but were unable to advance past the Wild Card round. Tampa Bay’s defense was unable to get the necessary stops in their loss to the Commanders. Offensively, the Buccaneers had a balanced attack led by Baker Mayfield who earned every bit of the lucrative contract he signed last offseason.
Missing Chris Godwin for the second half of the season was a big loss. The talented wideout is set to hit free agency and could leave for another team. There’s also uncertainty surrounding the future of longtime linebacker Lavonte David. David announcing his retirement would leave Tampa Bay with another gap on the defensive side of the ball. They’ll likely go with the best defender on the board at pick No. 19.
Minnesota Vikings
Free Agents: QB Sam Darnold, CB Byron Murphy Jr., LT Cam Robinson, S Harrison Smith, RB Aaron Jones, S Cam Bynum, CB Stephon Gilmore
Needs: OL, CB, LB
It was a magical season for the Vikings and QB Sam Darnold, but most will only remember Minnesota’s final two games. In two must-win spots, Darnold and the offense fell flat. The Vikings finished the season 0-4 against the Lions and Rams, and 14-0 against every other team they faced.
The Vikings dominated free agency last season with a few key pickups. They’ll have to make some big decisions this offseason with a ton of players set to enter free agency. Darnold may have played his way out of a massive contract, but the Vikings could still decide to bring him back with J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 outlook up in the air. The offensive line broke down against Los Angeles and will need some upgrades.
