THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Todd Archer, ESPN.com

WR Dez Bryant: His skills are beyond question. So are his stats. He's put up three straight 1,000-yard seasons and had a team-record 16 touchdown catches. Like Murray, he is set to be a free agent, but if the Cowboys don't reach a long-term deal with Bryant, they will use the franchise tag on him. Bryant has improved each year, but he still struggles at times with press coverage despite his physical prowess. In the red zone, however, he might be the most dynamic receiver in the NFL. Since 2013, Bryant has 21 red zone catches; 18 of those have gone for touchdowns.

RB DeMarco Murray: After missing games with ankle, foot and knee injuries in his first three years, it all came together for Murray in 2014, when he led the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards. He did not miss a game, even playing with a broken hand. He showed the ability to make the big run, with a league-leading 45 carries of 10 yards or more, but perhaps more importantly, Murray became more efficient in picking up the "dirty yards," as coach Jason Garrett calls them. Murray is set to become an unrestricted free agent and offers up an interesting case study for the Cowboys. Is he a premier back worthy of big money? Or is he the product of an elite offensive line? Lately, teams have shied away from giving large contracts to running backs because of how quickly they seem to wear down, but are the Cowboys really going to let one of the key cogs in their 12-4 season sign elsewhere?

G Zack Martin: Truth be told, if Ryan Shazier were available when the Cowboys picked in the first round of the 2014 draft, the linebacker would have been the choice, not Martin. The best decisions sometimes involve luck. Martin was named to the Pro Bowl and became the first Cowboys rookie since 1969 to earn All-Pro honors. But he brought more than just accolades. He solidified Dallas' line, especially the interior where Tony Romo, like all quarterbacks, hates pressure up the middle. Martin was a tackle at Notre Dame and RTs Doug Free and Jermey Parnell are both free agents, but Martin is too good to move out of the right guard spot.

DTs Tyrone Crawford and Henry Melton: The best move the Cowboys made this year was putting Crawford in at the 3-technique early in the season when Melton was battling through leg injuries. Crawford had just three sacks, but he compiled 29 QB pressures and the coaches credited him with 37 tackles. He is the prototype 3-technique and was miscast as a defensive end. Melton's first and likely only year with the Cowboys looks OK because he had five sacks, but he was saved twice from being inactive because of injuries to other players. The coaches were not always enamored with his effort, but Melton insists he was never 100 percent after tearing his ACL in 2013.

ILB Rolando McClain: It was a pretty innocuous trade: The Cowboys gave Baltimore a 2015 sixth-round pick and received McClain and a 2015 seventh-rounder. The linebacker turned out to be the Cowboys' best defender for a good portion of the season. He missed three games, but still managed 108 tackles, a sack, nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, five quarterback pressures, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He looked like the player the Oakland Raiders thought they were drafting in 2010 with the eighth overall pick. McClain will be a free agent this spring, so it will be interesting to see whether he believes more in his fit with the Cowboys than how much money he can make.

QB Tony Romo: What does a quarterback have to do to be elite? Romo had his best season in 2014: He completed 69.9 percent of his passes, threw 34 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions and led the NFL in Total QBR (82.7). His 3,705 yards were the fewest he's had in a full season, but that was a direct result of how much the Cowboys ran the ball in 2014. One thing is for sure: Romo displayed a toughness that statistics cannot capture by playing through torn rib cartilage and two transverse process fractures. The question is, how many more years can he play at this level? Romo turns 35 in April.

TEs James Hanna and Gavin Escobar: Hanna arrived in Arlington known for his speed, but he's made his mark as an effective blocker in the Cowboys' zone scheme. Escobar has the misfortune of being a second-round pick and playing behind Jason Witten. Opportunities will be limited, especially with the way Hanna has blocked. Escobar has shown some ability in the red zone -- three of his four touchdowns in 2014 came inside the 20 -- but the Cowboys had to be expecting more than just 18 catches in his first two seasons.

OLB Justin Durant: When Sean Lee was lost for the year, the Cowboys looked first to Durant as a replacement, before giving the job to Rolando McClain. Durant's best spot, however, is weak-side linebacker. Before suffering a season-ending biceps injury in Week 8, Durant made an impact, putting up double-digit tackles in four of his six games, while adding four tackles for loss. He will be a free agent this spring, and if he comes in at the right price, the Cowboys would like to bring him back.

OLB Anthony Hitchens: The Cowboys drafted Hitchens to serve as Sean Lee's backup and learn the middle linebacker position from one of the game's best. But the Iowa product ended up starting 11 games at all three linebacker spots, and the coaches credited him with 100 tackles. He has the instincts for the position, as evidenced by two fourth-down tackles that stopped drives. He also displayed toughness playing through a high ankle sprain. The Cowboys have decisions to make at linebacker -- Bruce Carter, Justin Durant and Rolando McClain are all free agents -- but they now know they can plug Hitchens in at any spot and not have a problem.

CB Brandon Carr: Since signing a free-agent deal that guaranteed him $26.5 million in 2012, Carr has failed to live up to expectations. He did not have an interception all year and will forever be remembered for giving up Odell Beckham's one-handed grab. If you're looking for a positive, Carr was much more aggressive in all facets of his game since the Beckham catch. Still, his 2015 cap number is $12.7 million, and the Cowboys will either part ways with him or look to get him to accept a pay cut.

DT Nick Hayden: The Cowboys coaches would vigorously disagree with Hayden being in this category. He is not a world-beater, but he led the defensive line in tackles with 52 and had four tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries. Hayden is counted on to do the dirty work in Rod Marinelli's scheme, and while he's not a cornerstone player, his reliability makes him one of Marinelli's favorites.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: The Cowboys looked in real trouble when they lost Sean Lee again for the year before the season began. At the time, bringing in Rolando McClain reeked of desperation, but McClain had a fine season, proving why he was such a highly touted prospect out of Alabama. He notched a run stop on 15.2 percent of his run snaps, second among all inside linebackers and almost double the league average. And he showed well on the blitz, too, earning 15 total pressures on just 39 rushes.

Bad News: One of the reasons the Cowboys were so good this year? There wasn't a whole lot to hate on their roster. Top cornerback Brandon Carr continued to struggle, surrendering a 116.6 passer rating when targeted, tied for ninth-worst in the league. Carr and Morris Claiborne allowed nine combined passing touchdowns; no other Dallas CBs gave up any. Amazingly, Claiborne, who played just 151 snaps on the year, accounted for three of those by himself, before going down with a season-ending knee injury.

Positional Needs

by Todd Archer, ESPN.com

Defensive line: In three of the last four drafts, the Cowboys rebuilt their offensive line with first-round investments in Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. They have to make a similar effort on the defensive line. Jeremy Mincey, who led the Cowboys in sacks with just six during the regular season, is the only regular in the DE rotation under contract next season besides 2014 second-rounder DeMarcus Lawrence. Anthony Spencer and George Selvie could be stopgap free agents as the Cowboys look to revamp the group up front. At tackle, they will not keep Henry Melton at the $9 million option, but they found a keeper in Tyrone Crawford.

Cornerback: Morris Claiborne is going into the last year of his contract, coming off major knee surgery and has yet to live up to his potential as the No. 6 overall pick in 2012. Brandon Carr carries a $12.7 million salary-cap figure in 2015, and, despite his improved play down the stretch, is still a candidate to be released. Orlando Scandrick continues to play at a high level, but the Cowboys need depth -- and quality depth at that -- in the secondary. As much as the Cowboys overachieved defensively in 2014, they can't bank on it happening again.

Running back: This will depend on what the Cowboys do with free-agent to-be DeMarco Murray. If Murray re-signs, then the Cowboys will not look at a runner. If he doesn't, then they will need to find an every-down back, or somebody to pair with Joseph Randle. The Cowboys like Randle's potential, but he still has a lot to learn.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com

G Marshal Yanda: Former offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak called Yanda the best lineman he's ever been around. "I'm so impressed with the technician that he is, how hard he plays, how tough he is, the things he plays through," Kubiak said. Yanda simply doesn't have any holes in his game. He allowed just two sacks this season, and he's an even better run blocker. The Ravens rushed for an NFL-best 728 yards when running toward the right guard, 153 more yards than any other team. Perhaps most impressive, Yanda dominated this season despite dealing with nagging foot and knee issues. The respect for Yanda around the building is palpable: QB Joe Flacco said he's one of the toughest players he's ever been around. And when the Ravens lost both of their starting tackles this season, Yanda volunteered to move outside so rookie John Urschel didn't have to play his first game at tackle since high school.

OLB Pernell McPhee: There's no question that McPhee was among the league's most consistent pass rushers (21 quarterback hits and 35 hurries), but it's a stretch to put him in the elite category. The third-best pass rusher on his team, McPhee benefited from playing with Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. In fact, 4.5 of McPhee's 7.5 sacks -- and his lone forced fumble -- occurred when playing with both Suggs and Dumervil.

RB Justin Forsett: Patience and vision are what keyed Forsett's career season at the age of 29, as he finished fifth in the NFL with 1,266 rushing yards. The former journeyman had never gained more than 619 yards in any of his previous six seasons. But then again, he'd never played behind an offensive line this adept at creating running lanes. Forsett averaged 3.8 yards before contact per rush, tops among RBs, the result of the line opening holes and Forsett finding them. After being an average player his entire NFL career, Forsett compiled a borderline elite season, thanks to how he fits in this system.

OLB Elvis Dumervil: Some might argue that Dumervil, who finished third overall with 17 sacks, should be in the elite category. The only knock against that: He again proved to be a bit of a one-trick pony, playing just 56 percent of the defense's snaps and finishing six separate games with one or fewer tackle. But part-time player or not, Dumervil was an undeniable difference-maker, especially in passing situations. He compiled eight sacks on third downs, third in the NFL.

ILB C.J. Mosley: The coaching staff repeatedly said you would never know Mosley was a rookie by watching the film. As inside linebackers coach Don "Wink" Martindale said: "The best compliment that I can give him is he's been here for months, and it seems like he's been here three years." What Mosley lacks in size (6-foot-2, 235 pounds), he makes up for with smarts and instincts. He finished the season as the only player to post at least 125 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. One thing to keep an eye on in Year 2: How he hangs with speedy RBs like Le'Veon Bell and Giovani Bernard in space. Pass coverage was the one weak spot in the rookie's game.

DE Haloti Ngata: This one is a little tricky. His numbers -- 32 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, seven batted passes and two forced fumbles in 12 games -- suggest Ngata had another elite season. But his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's PED policy puts an asterisk next to everything Ngata did this season. On the film alone, he was once again a "game wrecker," as coach John Harbaugh calls him. Ngata single-handedly ended two goal-line tries this season -- one with a fourth-down tackle, the other with a forced fumble. And his presence is a major reason why the Ravens held teams to 3.6 yards per carry (third-best in the NFL). It would've been an impressive season, if not for that embarrassing smudge.

QB Joe Flacco: His playoff résumé is undeniable: Since 2012, Flacco's 84.9 postseason Total QBR ranks first among passers with at least three starts. That number dips to 53.2 in the regular season over the same span (18th overall). But remember: The Ravens wouldn't have been in the postseason if not for Flacco. When Baltimore needed to beat the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale to clinch a playoff berth, he was 8-of-9 for 161 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

S Matt Elam: The 2013 first-round pick is getting closer and closer to that "bust" label. Elam was benched from his starting strong safety spot midway through the season, and he struggled when pressed into playing nickelback. He allowed 16.3 yards per catch on the season, ninth-most among safeties according to PFF. Elam could go down as the Ravens' worst first-round defensive player ever.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Baltimore currently has three top-level edge rushers, as Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil and Pernell McPhee combined for 175 total pressures in 2014. McPhee led the trio -- and ranked second among all 3-4 OLBs -- with a 14.4 pass-rush productivity score, a metric that evaluates a player's sacks, hits and hurries relative to how often he rushed the passer.

Bad News: Inconsistency plagued the Ravens' receiving corps this season. Torrey Smith and Steve Smith, the team's top two targets, combined for 18 dropped passes, and neither caught more than 61 percent of the passes sent their way, a figure bettered by 64 wideouts in 2014.

Positional Needs

by Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com

Cornerback: When listing the Ravens' top three needs, you could put cornerback down twice. The team will be in decent shape if Jimmy Smith comes back strong from a season-ending foot injury, and the team decides to bring back Lardarius Webb ($12 million cap number in 2015). The problem is, Smith and Webb have extensive injury histories, missing 11 games combined this season. The Ravens' top priority this offseason needs to be finding a third cornerback who can step into a starting role if called upon. The lack of depth in the secondary cost Baltimore in the AFC divisional playoff loss in New England.

Running back: The Ravens are hopeful they can re-sign free-agent-to-be Justin Forsett, but there's no guarantee the NFL's fifth-leading rusher will be back. The only running backs under contract for 2015: Lorenzo Taliaferro, Bernard Pierce and Fitzgerald Toussaint. Taliaferro, a rookie fourth-round pick, showed flashes (four TDs in 68 carries) before suffering a season-ending foot injury. It's unknown whether he can withstand the wear-and-tear of a full season if given a bigger role. Pierce had a second straight disappointing season, which could push the Ravens to upgrade.

Wide receiver: Torrey Smith (49 catches) is an unrestricted free agent, and Steve Smith (79 catches) turns 36 before the season starts. No other Ravens receiver had more than 25 catches this season. Even if the Ravens re-sign Torrey Smith, they need to add a young wideout who can make an immediate impact.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Jeff Legwold, ESPN.com

CB Chris Harris Jr.: His versatility makes him the rarest of finds in the league, especially for an undrafted player. Whereas many of the league's best corners line up on the same side of the formation no matter what the offense does, Harris moves all over the field with regularity, and the result is rarely good for the opposition: Of the 33 cornerbacks to play more than 500 coverage snaps this season, Harris was the only one to not allow a touchdown, according to PFF.

RB C.J. Anderson: Third on the depth chart earlier this season, Anderson gained 894 total yards and scored nine TDs in seven regular-season starts. His tackle-shedding, 7-yard run on a fourth-down conversion in the Broncos' playoff loss was one of the team's best plays all season. Not bad for a guy whose roster spot was in jeopardy last year after he came into offseason workouts too heavy and tumbled down the depth chart. To be an elite player, Anderson has to return to the offseason program as if he plans to be the starter.

WR Demaryius Thomas: Set to be an unrestricted free agent, Thomas is clearly the team's alpha at the position. Big and powerful with close-the-deal speed, the 2010 first-rounder is the only wide receiver in the league to eclipse 1,300 yards in each of the past three seasons. But Thomas had far too many drops in 2014 for a receiver of his caliber -- eight in total, including four in the first three games of the season. (He also added two more drops in the Broncos' playoff loss.) Thomas' stock could vault even higher if he cleans up his technique. Many of his drops have come on potential catch-and-run plays on which he has his back to the defense and looks upfield too quickly.

DE Malik Jackson: As was the case in 2013, Jackson proved to be one of the Broncos' most efficient players. He played just 53 percent of the team's defensive snaps during the regular season yet was third in tackles for loss (eight), second in QB hits (20) and ninth in tackles (42) -- which led all of the team's defensive linemen. The Broncos kept him a rotational player because that was defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio's way -- none of the defensive linemen played more than 69 percent of snaps in 2014. We'll see if that changes with a new coaching staff in town.

OLB Brandon Marshall: If he improves as much between 2014 and 2015 as he did over the past year, Marshall is headed for elite status. The former practice squad member went from playing in just one game in 2013 to ranking as PFF's fourth-ranked 4-3 OLB in 2014. An every-down linebacker, Marshall has the lower-body explosiveness necessary to make tackles in the run game and the quickness to cover tight ends and running backs down the field. The Broncos used him in the base, nickel and dime packages, and before getting hurt in Week 15, Marshall had played 95 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

G Orlando Franklin: The Broncos moved Franklin from right tackle to left guard this season in hopes he would improve Peyton Manning's protection up the middle. Even though he committed a team-high 10 penalties, Franklin allowed just one sack, per PFF, and helped propel the Broncos run game. Denver averaged 5.4 yards per carry on run plays over his left guard spot in the final six games of 2014. Several personnel executives said in recent weeks that Franklin was playing near an All-Pro level over the season's final month. He'll draw plenty of interest as a guard in free agency.

TE Julius Thomas: He was anything but average in the first 10 weeks of the season, as he led the league with 12 touchdown catches. Defensive coordinators considered him far more difficult to deal with when lined up in the slot or out wide as opposed to on the line. Their school of thought: It was easier to slow him down at the line of scrimmage if Thomas was coming out of a three-point stance. They also believed they could muscle him off the spot in pass protection and shed him in the run game. In space, with a large catch radius and top-end ball skills, Thomas is close to an elite pass-catcher, but the rest of his game still lags behind.

QB Peyton Manning: He wasn't quite himself over the last half of the season, especially after suffering a thigh injury in Week 15, but an average player doesn't finish second in the league in touchdown passes (39) at age 38. Manning had eight games with at least three touchdowns, was fourth in the league in passing yards (4,727) and fifth in yards per attempt (7.9). Physically, he isn't the player he was, and he can't overcome personnel deficiencies around him as easily as he once did. But as an opposing defensive coordinator said, "He's still the guy who can beat you with his brain. If they protect him better, the rest isn't an issue.''

DE DeMarcus Ware: The Broncos tried to monitor Ware's snap count to get the most out of the 32-year-old. He ended up playing 69 percent of the defense's snaps -- the highest among defensive linemen -- and the wear seemed to take its toll down the stretch. Ware had just one of his 10 sacks in the season's final six games. Inside the building there's some thought that if they dial it back just a bit, they'll get a little more return on the back end of the season. A lot depends on the new staff's approach, but Ware may become more of a situational player in 2015.

G/T Louis Vasquez: An All-Pro guard, Vasquez moved to right tackle out of necessity midway through the season. He spent the final eight games of the regular season there, allowing four sacks, according to PFF. As a pro personnel director from another AFC team said: "[The Broncos] took their best lineman and moved him out of position because he was still their best option at his second-best position." Vasquez is expected to move back inside next season if the Broncos refurbish their line, as expected.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Denver had the best cornerback in football this season. Coming off an ACL injury, Harris allowed just 0.57 yards per coverage snap. That was a full 0.2 better than Richard Sherman, the next closest qualified CB. And when quarterbacks dared to target Harris, they had a passer rating of just 47.8. That was second in the league among starters.

Bad News: Of the six Broncos offensive linemen to play more than 450 snaps this season, just two (Franklin and Montgomery) had positive PFF grades. This comes a year after four of the five regulars up front had plus-ratings. Left tackle Ryan Clady, coming off a major foot injury, fell from the fifth-ranked tackle in 2012 to 41st overall this season.

Positional Needs

by Jeff Legwold, ESPN.com

Offensive line: Two starters -- Franklin and Montgomery -- are prospective free agents this offseason. Franklin will likely attract a bigger offer elsewhere and Montgomery isn't expected to be re-signed, so it's clear they'll have to expend a premium pick, or two, to find some reinforcements up front. Ideally, the Broncos would come out of free agency and the draft with a swing tackle, guard and center.

Tight end: The top three players on the depth chart -- Julius Thomas, Green and Tamme -- are all scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. It's likely, assuming the Broncos use the franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas, that Julius Thomas will get a bigger offer to play elsewhere. He's looking to be among the highest-paid tight ends (Jimmy Graham signed a four-year, $40 million deal last offseason). The Broncos would like to sign Green, but will he fit into the new coach's plans? Tamme wants to be back, but he had a $1.25 million base salary this season to go with a $450,000 roster bonus. The Broncos likely wouldn't go that high.

Wide receiver: The Broncos are going to try hard to sign as many of their own free agents as possible, including Demaryius Thomas. But it's tough to see Wes Welker coming back unless he's willing to play at a lower rate than the two-year, $12 million deal he signed in 2012. Welker had 49 catches this season, his lowest since 2005. The Broncos rave about the athleticism of Cody Latimer, a 2014 second-rounder, and think he'll be ready for a far bigger role in '15. Still, they'll have to look to get a little more size and speed in the formation this offseason.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Rob Demovsky, ESPN.com

RB Eddie Lacy: Coach Mike McCarthy was more judicious with how he used Lacy this season, and the result was 38 fewer carries but a better rushing average (4.6 this season, compared to 4.1 in 2013). Lacy broke 24 tackles, second in the league among running backs, behind the Steelers' Le'Veon Bell. He's the first Packers running back to post 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons since John Brockington in 1971-72. The question with Lacy: How long can he stay in the elite category, considering the beating he takes?

WR Randall Cobb: After posting career bests in catches (91), touchdowns (12) and yards (1,287), Cobb more than earned his elite rating. (And for the record, he almost certainly would've been there last year had he not missed 10 games with a fractured lower leg.) Cobb is headed for free agency, but he won't get there. A league executive said at midseason that everyone around the NFL knows Ted Thompson won't let a young, homegrown talent like Cobb hit free agency. The Packers will lock him up, and it may cost them in the neighborhood of $8 million-plus per season.

G Josh Sitton: The last time Sitton allowed a sack was all the way back on Sept. 22, 2013, against the Bengals. It's a streak that spans 32 games, including the playoffs. So it's no wonder that Sitton ranked as PFF's best pass-blocking guard for the second time in as many years. Since moving to left guard in 2013, he's taken his run-blocking to another level. The Packers have averaged 5.3 yards per carry on runs off left guard over that span, the second-highest mark in the league.

CB Casey Hayward: The third-year pro spent most of the season as the dime defensive back, meaning he played only when the Packers employed six defensive backs, usually in third-and-long situations. As a result, Hayward saw the field for just 39 percent of the defensive snaps even though he didn't miss a single game. And yet, he tied Tramon Williams for the team lead with three interceptions while allowing only two touchdown passes this season. PFF graded him as its No. 9 cornerback overall, even though he allowed a 65 percent completion rate when teams threw at him, the second-highest percentage among PFF's top nine corners.

S Morgan Burnett: If this weren't a one-year assessment, it would be hard to justify a good rating for Burnett. But after a woeful 2013 season in which PFF ranked him as the 63rd safety out of 86 qualifiers, Burnett rebounded to finish 16th this season, thanks to his No. 1 overall grade vs. the run. Burnett also added an interception and a forced fumble after failing to come up with either in 2013.

OLB Clay Matthews: Maybe PFF downgraded Matthews for playing more than one position, but the decision to split his snaps between inside and outside linebacker may have been what saved the Packers' defense. It was abysmal against the run before the move -- it ranked dead last through Week 8 (153.5 YPG) -- and closed out the season allowing just 86.4 yards per game (seventh overall). As defensive coordinator Dom Capers said: "Every time I looked, [people were saying], 'How smart are they, taking their best pass-rusher and dropping him into coverage?' But we ended up starting to win." Matthews still thrived as a pass-rusher, managing his fourth double-digit sack season (11) in six years. No way is he an average player.

First-round picks: The Packers' past three first-round picks -- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Datone Jones and Nick Perry -- all fell into the average category, and only Clinton-Dix looks like he's trending up. He took over early on as a full-time starter at safety, and although he still misses too many tackles (15 for the season), he did not allow a touchdown in coverage. Meanwhile, Jones and Perry have played two and three seasons, respectively, and have offered no indication that they will be better-than-average players.

ILB A.J. Hawk: He was a reliable player for eight years, but Hawk's ninth season will probably be his last in Green Bay. His limited athleticism in coverage -- he allowed a 74 percent completion rate when he was thrown at -- was never more apparent than this season. Just watch the play on which he tried to cover Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, who ran away from Hawk for a 23-yard gain in Week 12 at Minnesota. It's why, by season's end, he played only in the base 3-4 defense and not in any sub packages. His play this season deserved to fall under the bad category.

WR Davante Adams: Anyone who watched the Packers' Week 13 win over the Patriots would probably quibble with Adams' bad rating. He caught six passes for 121 yards in that game, and finished with 38 for 446 and three touchdowns on the season. After disappearing late in the season (just four catches for 29 yards in the final four games combined), the rookie second-rounder re-emerged with a monster game in the playoffs -- seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: The Packers had two of the nine best wide receivers this season in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, according to PFF's grades. Cobb stood out for his production from the slot, where he compiled 1,067 yards. That's 200 more than the next-closest receiver (Philadelphia rookie Jordan Matthews), and the highest total by a wideout since Wes Welker and Victor Cruz topped 1,200 yards from the slot in 2011.

Bad News: Cobb and Nelson are fantastic weapons, but what do the Packers have behind those two at wide receiver? Rookie Davante Adams flashed potential (three TDs), but had four drops in 42 catchable passes thrown his way. Beyond Cobb, Nelson and Adams, the other wide receivers on the roster combined for just 43 yards.

Positional Needs

by Rob Demovsky, ESPN.com

Inside linebacker: The Packers would like to move Clay Matthews back to outside linebacker full-time, but they'll have to find another inside linebacker first. A.J. Hawk isn't likely to be back -- not at $3.5 million anyway -- and they've tried Jamari Lattimore and Brad Jones without much success. They like Sam Barrington for his ability to play the run, but they need more depth.

Receiver: Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson combined for 50 percent of the Packers' targets this season and 54.3 percent of their total receptions. So, Green Bay is lucky the duo stayed healthy all season. You can't count on that happening every year. Davante Adams emerged at the No. 3 spot after Jarrett Boykin proved to be a major disappointment. Boykin had as many drops (three) as he did catches (three for 23 yards). It looks like his 49-catch season of 2013 was a fluke. Perhaps Jared Abbrederis or Jeff Janis will develop, but the Packers might want to add some more bodies to the mix.

Outside linebacker: Julius Peppers had a resurgent season, with seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. But his 2015 cap number is a steep $12 million -- $7 million of which would be wiped off the books if the Packers cut him loose. There's also a possibility Mike Neal won't be back. Green Bay gave Neal a two-year, $8 million contract last spring after he moved from defensive end to outside linebacker in 2013. He had 4.5 sacks but didn't do much else.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Phil Sheridan, ESPN.com

G Evan Mathis: I'm not about to argue this rating for one of PFF's favorite O-linemen. Mathis was injured for all but 27 snaps in the first half of the season, and that's likely the only reason he didn't rank as PFF's top run-blocking guard for the fourth consecutive season. (He had to settle for third.) To be sure, Mathis, 33, isn't getting any younger, but before this season, the Alabama product had played 98 percent of the Eagles' offensive snaps since 2011.

OLB Brandon Graham: He didn't start and played just 43 percent of Philly's defensive snaps, but Graham proved to be a part-time elite player when he was on the field. He racked up 51 QB pressures according to PFF, five more than Trent Cole despite playing 128 less pass rush snaps. It was a timely breakout season for the free-agent-to-be Graham. The Eagles, who have already talked to his agent about returning, might look to replace Cole (and his $11.6 million cap number) with Graham in the starting lineup.

DE Fletcher Cox: Head coach Chip Kelly said Cox was the Eagles' MVP this season. The former first-round pick really hit his stride in mid-November, when he began a five-game run that had PFF comparing him to J.J. Watt. Cox recorded three sacks, 19 hurries and 14 run stops during that stretch, earning a cumulative +23.8 grade from PFF, the highest given to all 3-4 DEs over that span. "I thought he had a Pro Bowl year," Kelly said. "He's been really unblockable at times."

CB Brandon Boykin: As the Eagles' nickel corner, Boykin was on the field for 43 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps. In a similar role in 2013, he intercepted six passes. This season, Boykin registered just one pick. He played the third-most snaps of any CB in the slot, but secondary coach John Lovett questions whether the 5-foot-10 Boykin would hold up on the outside against 6-foot-3 or taller wide receivers all game.

TE Brent Celek: His receiving stats (32 catches, 340 yards, 1 touchdown) were his lowest since 2008. So why'd he play 40 percent more snaps than second-year receiving specialist TE Zach Ertz (58 catches, 702 yards, 3 TDs)? Celek proved to be an integral part of the Eagles' running game, ranking as PFF's second-best run-blocking TE in 2014.

OLB Connor Barwin: He played 87 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps, most among Eagles LBs, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl with a career-high 14.5 sacks. Barwin, who is capable of dropping into coverage and setting the edge, is the perfect role model for Brandon Graham. Eagles coaches value Barwin's reliability and consistency in all facets.

QB Nick Foles: The best argument for the Eagles sticking with Foles as their starter is his 6-2 record this season. The counterargument? Foles' 13 turnovers were a long way from his 27-touchdown, two-interception breakthrough in 2013. If you're looking for a glimmer of hope, Foles never played behind the Eagles' original starting offensive line, so there's a chance he'll be better next season with the band back together.

RB LeSean McCoy: This requires a bit of a protest. PFF typically cited McCoy for not breaking tackles and missing the holes provided by his offensive line. Those are legitimate criticisms. But remember: that highly graded offensive line -- the same one McCoy rushed behind for an NFL-high 1,607 yards in 2013 -- was not on the field for huge chunks of the season. Despite all the injuries, McCoy finished this season third with 1,319 yards. That's 13 more yards than Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, who ran for 1,306 in the regular season and got an elite grade from PFF. McCoy may have regressed a bit, but he doesn't belong down in the bad category with Riley Cooper and Bradley Fletcher.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: In the Year of The Rookie WR, the Eagles got good production out of their second-rounder Jordan Matthews. The Vanderbilt product compiled 876 yards and eight touchdowns in his first year, trailing Jeremy Maclin by just two scores for the team lead. Matthews did most of his damage in the slot, running 92 percent of his routes inside, the highest rate in the league. It wasn't by accident, either; he gained 1.87 yards per route run from the slot this season, tied for second among all wide receivers behind Green Bay's Randall Cobb.

Bad News: While Brandon Boykin remains one of the league's best slot corners, the two starters outside, Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams, are a far bigger concern. Fletcher allowed nine touchdowns, which ranked second behind Washington's David Amerson. (Williams chipped in with five of his own.) The pair also combined to allow 117 catches and 1,829 receiving yards in 2014, and only one CB duo -- Cleveland's Buster Skrine and Joe Haden -- were targeted more than Williams and Fletcher (214).

Positional Needs

by Phil Sheridan, ESPN.com

Secondary: The Eagles' pass defense truly broke down in the last month of the season. Opposing quarterbacks completed 61 percent of their passes for 1,177 yards and six touchdowns in December. During the three-game losing streak that knocked Philly out of the playoffs, the Eagles allowed 14 pass plays of more than 20 yards, the second-most in the league. Half the secondary starters -- CB Bradley Fletcher and S Nate Allen -- are scheduled to become free agents. A third, cornerback Cary Williams, could be on his way out, thanks to his $8.1 million cap number. Whether it's through free agency or the draft, this beleaguered unit is in need of a major overhaul. Seattle's Byron Maxwell would be worth a look.

Linebacker: With DeMeco Ryans coming back from a second Achilles tear, the Eagles need depth and talent at inside linebacker. The guys on the outside are far from settled, either. Trent Cole is 33 and comes with an $11.6 million cap number, and Brandon Graham is hitting free agency after a solid year. Miami's Denzel Perryman and USC's Eric Kendricks (Mychal's brother) could be had in the draft.

Offensive line: This is the Eagles' greatest strength, but it's time to begin targeting the eventual replacements for Jason Peters (32 years old), Todd Herremans (32) and Evan Mathis (33). Maybe Andrew Gardner and Matt Tobin can develop into solid players, but the draft should be tapped to provide young, cost-effective talent for the future. Right tackle Lane Johnson, the Eagles' 2013 first-rounder, has the skill set to eventually slide over to the left tackle spot.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Michael Rothstein, ESPN.com

DT Ndamukong Suh: Coach Jim Caldwell made a point of repeatedly calling Suh "dominant" in 2014. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft has lived up to that billing -- and his elite rating from PFF -- throughout his five seasons with the Lions. This year, he consistently drew double-teams, freeing up other defenders. The Dolphins tried blocking him one-on-one during the first drive of the season, and Suh compiled two tackles for loss, including a sack of Ryan Tannehill. Multiple Detroit players paid Suh the highest compliment of all, saying they don't want to imagine the Lions' defense without him.

DE Ezekiel Ansah: Part of what freed Suh from time to time was the presence of Ansah, who showed plenty of potential in his second year. The Lions would occasionally line up Suh and Ansah next to each other in pass-rush situations to create leverage and havoc. If Ansah continues his ascent -- he accounted for three of the Lions' 11 forced fumbles -- the BYU product has the look of a future Pro Bowler.

WR Golden Tate: After posting career highs in receptions (99) and yards (1,331), it's safe to put Tate in the "good" category. His 696 yards after the catch led the league, and his 58 first downs ranked 12th. In fact, Tate was the only player to rank top-20 in first downs while having an average yards per target under eight. And don't forget: With Calvin Johnson sidelined, he compiled 17 catches and 305 receiving yards in come-from-behind wins against New Orleans and Atlanta.

RB Reggie Bush: When he played, he was fine. The problem? Bush spent most of the season injured. He played just 25 percent of Detroit's offensive snaps, and his numbers took a big hit. A year after compiling a career-high 1,512 all-purpose yards, Bush could only muster 550 in 2014. The emergence of Theo Riddick could make Bush expendable before 2015.

Detroit's offensive line: The story of Detroit's season was an average-to-below-average offensive line, so it's fitting PFF rated all seven qualifying offensive linemen as average or bad. Detroit's run game regressed from 17th in 2013 to 28th in 2014, and Stafford was sacked a career-worst 45 times.

QB Matthew Stafford: His yards were down. So were his touchdowns. His completion percentage eclipsed 60 percent for the second time in his career, but was still 25th in the NFL. His 12 interceptions were way down, but still tied for 16th. Stafford's teammates and coaches all said he did what was asked of him -- and to be fair, he's better than a lot of other options out there. But his 2014 season was the definition of average.

WR Jeremy Ross: Serving as the team's default No. 3 receiver, Ross had a rough year. He was only targeted on 35 of his 445 routes, and accounted for just 314 yards. Ross also struggled as a returner in the second half of the season, muffing two punts.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: The Lions have searched for a receiver to complement Calvin Johnson, and they finally found one this year in Golden Tate. Doing his best work in space, Tate forced 20 missed tackles (tied for No. 1 among WRs) and racked up 709 yards after the catch, the most by a wide receiver in the past three seasons.

Bad News: After spending a first-round pick on Eric Ebron and re-signing Brandon Pettigrew, the Lions were expecting their tight ends to add a new dimension to their offense. Instead, they proved to be overmatched. The five tight ends who saw the field for Detroit in 2014 compiled just 392 receiving yards, 30th in the league. In fact, 23 TEs managed more than that on their own this season.

Positional Needs

by Michael Rothstein, ESPN.com

Defensive tackle: By pure numbers, this needs addressing in free agency and the draft. There is only one non-practice squad player under contract for 2015 -- little-used Caraun Reid -- so expect a major overhaul here once the team decides what to do about Ndamukong Suh. Free-agency signings are likely, but Ohio State's Michael Bennett could be an early intriguing draft option.

Offensive line: Considering the injury issues -- only Rob Sims started all 16 games this season -- this is an area of need. The instability at right tackle was a killer all season, and the Lions could stand to bolster their interior-line depth. Don't be surprised if Detroit makes this a priority high in the draft.

Cornerback: The Lions have one solidified starter (Darius Slay), but even if they bring back free-agent-to-be Rashean Mathis, they still need a long-term solution at the position. Detroit should be keen on drafting a young corner early and letting Mathis mentor him. It worked out with Slay. Michigan State's Trae Waynes fits the profile if the Lions choose to finally take a defensive back in the first round.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com

LT Joe Thomas: PFF can go ahead and pencil Thomas in to the elite category every year until his body breaks down. Since 2008, Thomas has missed exactly seven of the Browns' offensive snaps. No wonder he's made first-team All-Pro five of the last six seasons. Through Week 10 this year, Thomas had played 295 pass-blocking snaps and allowed just five QB pressures, the lowest among all tackles according to PFF. To put that number in perspective, Cleveland RT Mitchell Schwartz, who had a pretty good year, allowed five QB pressures ... against Jacksonville.

WR Andrew Hawkins: The Browns got a bargain when signing Hawkins to a four-year, $13-million contract this offseason. Through Week 12, he was on pace for his first career 1,000-yard season, but managed just 13 catches and 130 yards down the stretch as the Browns' passing game unraveled (150.2 ypg). At 5-foot-7, Hawkins' biggest asset is his speed (4.34 40) and lateral quickness. He needs to show some of that shiftiness to wiggle free more often in the red zone, as he finished 2014 with just one TD inside the 20. Better QB play would certainly help his cause.

S Tashaun Gipson: A restricted free agent, Gipson will be one of the Browns' easiest offseason decisions: Give him a high-round tender to solidify the starting safety spot for 2015. Gipson has nine interceptions -- including two pick-sixes -- in his last 14 games dating back to late 2013, but he's more than an interception specialist. He consistently gets good breaks on deep-to-intermediate balls with eight passes defended. PFF rated him their fourth-best coverage safety in 2014.

WR Taylor Gabriel: The Browns like Gabriel's big-play ability; he averaged 17.3 yards per catch in 2014. An undrafted rookie out of Abilene Christian, Gabriel accounted for four of the Browns' 11 pass plays of 40-plus yards, including a beautiful 70-yard bomb in the fourth quarter against Baltimore in Week 3. Even with that game-breaking ability, he's a No. 3 receiver at best and far from a good player at this juncture of his career. With Josh Gordon likely out for the 2015 season after failing another drug test, Gabriel's role could mushroom.

C Alex Mack: The numbers are numbing: Cleveland averaged 146.4 rushing yards per game in Weeks 1-6 with Mack in the lineup (third-best over that span). That plummeted to 90.6 (23rd overall) when Mack missed the final 11 games with a broken leg. The lack of a reliable backup center accentuated that difference, but Mack was a calming force on the offensive line that was sorely missed. He allowed just one QB pressure in his five games and graded as the league's third-best center, according to PFF.

CB Joe Haden: He'll give up the occasional big play (see: T.Y. Hilton's two-touchdown game in Week 14), but placing Haden outside of the good or elite categories defies common sense. Browns coaches and players swear he's among the league's best corners, based on his activity against top-shelf receivers. From Weeks 9-13, for example, Haden matched up against A.J. Green, Vincent Jackson, Andre Johnson, Julio Jones and Sammy Watkins, and allowed an average of 4.8 catches, 51.2 yards and 0.2 touchdowns per game. Now-retired safety Jim Leonhard played extensively with Haden and Darrelle Revis and basically considers them the same guy. "He's as good as anybody in the league," Leonhard said of Haden. "I see it every day. He's definitely in the conversation." As good as Richard Sherman or Revis? You could say no. But Haden definitely isn't average.

TE Jordan Cameron: He led all NFL tight ends with four catches of 40-plus yards and will have plenty value as a free agent in March, but his numbers fell off a cliff. Cameron -- who finished with 24 catches, 424 yards and two TDs in 10 games -- failed to live up to the standard he set with his 80-917-7 season a year ago. Simply, he's a good player who had a bad year, thanks to concussion and quarterback issues. His stats will perk back up in a different offense.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Grading as one of PFF's top-11 centers in each of the previous five seasons, Alex Mack was on pace for a career year when a broken leg ended his season in Week 6. Through that point, he'd allowed just one QB pressure in 149 pass-rush snaps; his replacements allowed an average of one pressure every 17.7 snaps.

Bad News: The loss of Mack undoubtedly impacted the QB position. Through Week 6, Brian Hoyer (seven TDs, one INT) rated as our 10th-best quarterback, ahead of the likes of Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Tony Romo. After Week 6, Hoyer (five TDs, 12 INTs) ranked 35th out of 37 qualified QBs.

Positional Needs

by Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com

Outside linebacker: Getting 15 sacks from the primary three-man OLB rotation is not nearly enough, especially when 11 of those sacks came from Paul Kruger. This is a premium position that will offer plenty of difference-makers in the draft's first round -- Missouri's Shane Ray and Clemson's Vic Beasley come to mind -- where Browns own the Nos. 12 and 19 picks.

Quarterback: All 12 playoff teams this year have a solidified quarterback picture (yes, even Cincinnati). The Browns rarely do, and Johnny Manziel's struggles in Year 1 created a muddy picture for the offseason. (With that said, Cleveland traded the No. 26 overall pick and a third-rounder to snatch Manziel with 22nd overall. So, they probably won't give up on him after he played seven quarters in the NFL.) At the very least, the Browns will sign a free agent -- perhaps Brian Hoyer -- or draft a quarterback in the mid-rounds to provide competition. Another intriguing possibility: The Browns packaging their two first-rounders, plus additional picks, to make a play for Oregon's Marcus Mariota.

Wide receiver: The Browns could have drafted Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins or Odell Beckham in 2014 but chose not to address a glaring need at wide receiver. They shouldn't repeat that mistake. Josh Gordon is facing a season-long ban after failing another drug test, and the Browns have one solid veteran behind him who's under contract (Andrew Hawkins). Miles Austin -- 47 catches for 568 yards in 12 games -- is a free agent who might make sense on another one-year deal. This is a deep WR draft, especially at the top, so Cleveland could go that route in Round 1.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Dan Graziano, ESPN.com

WR Odell Beckham Jr.: Beckham's production in only 12 games as a rookie makes his elite rating a no-brainer. No one played the wide receiver position better in the second half of this season: Beckham led the league in catches (73) and yards (1,043), while ranking second in receiving touchdowns (9). The Giants obviously liked Beckham a lot when they picked him No. 12 in the draft last year. But even they were shocked with the level of production he delivered after missing all of training camp and the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury. Quarterback Eli Manning said multiple times that he was impressed with the precision with which Beckham ran his routes, a rare compliment for a rookie.

CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: The Giants signed Rodgers-Cromartie last year believing he'd fall into the elite category. They view him as the kind of cornerback they can assign to shadow the opposing team's top wide receiver each week. But nagging back and leg injuries kept him from playing at full strength for most of the season. It says something about Rodgers-Cromartie that he played in all 16 games through injury, especially with the team losing so many other cornerbacks to season-enders. He finished the year with 12 passes defended, two interceptions and a good rating from PFF. The Giants are hopeful a fully healthy Rodgers-Cromartie will elevate to the higher tier in 2015.

OT Will Beatty: Beatty tends to grade out well because of his technique and athleticism. But Giants coaches will tell you they worry about the consistency of that technique. Since he's not a powerful, mauling left tackle who can dominate people physically, Beatty has to work hard to make sure he positions his hands and feet exactly right. He did that more in 2014 than he did last season, but he still gets too grabby -- hence his league-leading eight holding penalties.

WR Rueben Randle: Thirty-one percent of Randle's 938 receiving yards came in the final two games of the season, when he caught 12 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown. The late flurry surely helped boost his PFF rating to good, but it came after a tough season in which he was benched multiple times for poor practice habits and being late to meetings. Still, with Beckham on the other side and Victor Cruz in the slot (assuming he returns from a serious knee injury), the Giants believe Randle can be a legitimate weapon in 2015.

OLB Devon Kennard: After taking him in the fifth round last year, the Giants were quickly impressed with Kennard's intelligence and versatility. He played several different positions in several different schemes throughout his college career at USC, and the Giants felt they could plug him in at a number of different spots. They just wish he had more speed, which would allow them to use him in coverage more. But they found a role for him in their pass rush late in the season -- he had 4.5 sacks in their last five games -- and will continue to look for ways to maximize his abilities.

QB Eli Manning: Manning set career highs in completion percentage (63.1) and pass attempts (601), while posting his second-highest yardage (4,410) and touchdown totals (30). So it's tempting to claim he should rate higher than average. But I think this is about right, because the Giants' new West Coast scheme didn't ask nearly as much of Manning as the old one did. He showed an encouraging ability to operate the offense, and the fact that he never misses a game obviously provides significant value to the team. But given the Giants' emphasis on the run and the short-passing game, you do wonder whether they need to continue spending 17 percent of their salary cap on the position going forward.

DE Damontre Moore: Giants fans clamor for more of Moore, the quick and talented 2013 third-round draft pick who's shown an ability to make an impact on special teams. But Moore continued to disappoint the Giants' coaches, as he struggled to understand his assignments and practice responsibilities. Moore has the talent to be a better-than-average NFL pass-rusher, but at 250 pounds, he doesn't have great size for a 4-3 defensive end. His opportunities going forward will be limited unless he shows more of an ability to fit into the Giants' scheme.

RB Andre Williams: Williams definitely improved as a pass-catcher as the season went along -- a testament to the daily post-practice work he put in on that part of his game. And he seemed to understand the protection schemes just fine. Where he struggled, somewhat surprisingly, was as a runner. He didn't show the kind of patience and trust in his blocking that the Giants got from Rashad Jennings when Jennings was healthy. Williams -- who compiled 721 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the year -- needs to improve the timing aspect of his running if he's going to succeed in the Giants' zone-heavy scheme.

TE Larry Donnell: He was one of the hot names in the league in the first month of the season, especially after his three-touchdown primetime performance against Washington in Week 4. But while the Giants believe Donnell remains a high-end prospect going forward, they were disappointed that he didn't continue his development during the season. Specifically, they want to see him be a more consistent in-line blocker and to protect the ball better when running with it after the catch. He finished the season with 63 catches for 623 yards and six touchdowns.

C J.D. Walton: The Giants believed their new offensive system required a center smart enough to handle the protection calls and understand the scheme at a high level, and Walton delivered on that part of the job. But he was too often overwhelmed physically, especially in the run game. The Giants should look to upgrade, either by moving second-year man Weston Richburg there from left guard or by finding a more physical option on the free-agent market.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Any time you can stumble on the most dominant rookie wide receiver since Randy Moss, you have done pretty well. After missing the first month of the season, Odell Beckham Jr. averaged 7.5 catches, 108 yards and a touchdown per game. Despite his lofty target volume (nearly 11 per game), Beckham had only two drops all season.

Bad News: The Giants' rebuilt offensive line was supposed to be a strength in 2014, but Geoff Schwartz, one of the major additions, managed just 93 snaps in a season marred by injury. G Weston Richburg and C J.D. Walton (39th out of 41), two more new faces, struggled badly as run-blockers; Richburg ranked 65th out of 78 guards in that area, while Walton graded as the third-worst run-blocking center. So it's no wonder that the Giants averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry through every gap inside the tackles.

Positional Needs

by Dan Graziano, ESPN.com

Defensive line: This is a need regardless of whether they re-sign free-agent defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, but if they don't, then they'll need to find multiple replacement parts for their pass rush. Robert Ayers was a helpful rotational piece before his season-ending injury. Damontre Moore and Kerry Wynn are still too raw, and Mathias Kiwanuka looks to be on his way out. On the interior of the defensive line, the Giants will need to find more depth around good-looking defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, as veterans Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins aren't long-term answers.

Safety: The cornerback issues can be solved if everyone just comes back healthy. But the only safeties signed for 2015 right now are Cooper Taylor and Nat Berhe, neither of whom projects as a starter. They may try to bring back veteran Antrel Rolle, but not if he prices himself out of their plans. Stevie Brown could also return on a low-level deal. This could well be a position the Giants address early in the draft.

Offensive line: Drafting Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg the last two years and signing Geoff Schwartz last year began a rebuild at this key position, but more work is needed, especially on the interior of the line. The Giants could stand to upgrade at center and one of the guard spots, and they need more quality depth on the line as well. They wouldn't be crazy to think about a tackle if there's one they like at No. 9 overall in the draft.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Paul Gutierrez, ESPN.com

ILB Chris Borland: A third-round pick in 2014, Borland didn't see the field until Week 6, when Patrick Willis went down with a season-ending toe injury. And yet, it's hard to argue against Borland being an elite player. After getting his first start in Week 7, he compiled 79 solo tackles in eight games. That's two more tackles than league leader DeAndre Levy, who played 10 games over that span. As good as Borland was this season, he'll likely be a sparkplug off the bench when/if ILBs NaVorro Bowman and Willis return healthy next season. As former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said of Borland: "He's done extremely well. ... He still makes some mistakes, still doesn't react well to certain plays and certain coverages the way he should consistently enough, but I think that will come."

S Antoine Bethea: After signing a four-year, $21 million free-agent contract, Bethea was voted as the Niners' MVP by his teammates. He proved to be a steadying force for a secondary wracked by injury. Replacing the hard-hitting Donte Whitner, Bethea made his bones in coverage, tying or posting a career high in passes defensed (10) and interceptions (four). The nine-year vet also snagged his first career pick-six, a 49-yarder versus the San Diego Chargers in Week 16.

DE Justin Smith: Retirement is staring the Cowboy in the face, and you have to wonder if such a proud soldier would want to go out like this, being rated merely average. Through Week 14, he had compiled 20 run stops (tied for 15th among 3-4 DEs) and 31 total QB pressures (ninth), per PFF. But a balky back got the best of Smith down the stretch, as he registered just one more run stop and three more pressures in the season's final three games.

CB Perrish Cox: Listed as average by PFF, I'll take a leap and say Cox had a good season. He was supposed to be the team's nickel corner but ended up starting 14 games while Tramaine Brock was injured. Cox made the most of his opportunity, leading the team with five interceptions. It was quite a turnaround for a player whom Fangio wasn't sure was going to make the team in camp. Fangio remembers when everything changed for Cox prior to the start of camp: "I remember telling him what he needed to do to make this team. I figured I'd have to call him in in another couple weeks to remind him because he might slack off, but I never did. He had laser focus and got it done." And what timing: Cox is set to be a free agent this offseason, along with 49ers CB Chris Culliver. Cox's skill as a punt returner could give him some added value on the open market.

RB Frank Gore: Despite no longer being the focal point of an offense that shifted to a spread-passing attack, Gore recorded his eighth career 1,000-yard season. His performance in the 49ers' final two games tells you everything you need to know about the former third-rounder. With San Francisco eliminated from the playoffs -- and Gore coming off a concussion in Week 15 -- Gore rumbled for 51 carries and 302 yards in the final two games. At 32, he'll be a free agent this offseason. Expect new Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan, who drafted Gore to the Niners, to make a run at him.

QB Colin Kaepernick: Wait, wasn't Kaepernick supposed to revolutionize the position as a fleet-of-foot, cannon-armed QB? In Year 1 of the 49ers trying to turn him into a pocket passer, Kaepernick completed just 60.5 percent of his passes (24th overall) and was sacked a league-high 52 times. But it was his inconsistency that was most troubling: One week, he'd look like a Pro-Bowler (93.5 QBR Week 1 versus the Dallas Cowboys); the next, a dud (24.3 QBR Week 2 versus the Chicago Bears). Yes, the 49ers' $126 million man is a work in progress. Still.

TE Vernon Davis: A year after leading all TEs with 16.4 yards per catch, Davis' stock took a huge hit in 2014. His 8.2 percent drop rate ranked 30th among the 33 tight ends with 25 or more catches, and his 9.4 yards-per-catch average was by far the lowest of his career. Even worse? He lost the trust of his QB. Consider: Davis' TDs plummeted from 13 last season to two in 2014, and, perhaps most alarming of all, he didn't garner a single red zone target after kickoff weekend. Those two Pro Bowls seem so long ago.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: The 49ers look to have found themselves a steal in linebacker Chris Borland. Despite starting only half the season, the rookie finished 2014 with 43 run stops, tied for fourth among ILBs. Most impressive was Borland's 21.3 run-stop percentage, which was the highest mark since PFF began tracking the stat in 2007.

Bad News: Colin Kaepernick continued to struggle as a passer in 2014. His overall accuracy percentage -- which credits QBs for drops and removes throwaways and spikes from the equation -- ranked 18th among 27 qualified QBs. And his deep accuracy percentage tied for sixth worst overall. It's not all bad news: Kaepernick finished 12th in accuracy percentage under pressure, but he clearly has a lot of cleaning up to do in 2015.

Positional Needs

by Paul Gutierrez, ESPN.com

Wide receiver: The Niners' vertical game was nonexistent last season. Despite the additions of Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd, San Francisco caught just five passes that traveled 30 yards or more in the air (tied for 26th in the league). With Michael Crabtree likely gone via free agency and Anquan Boldin a year older, drafting a big-bodied burner at receiver with the No. 15 pick could be the ticket. Oklahoma's 6-foot-5, 225-pound Dorial Green-Beckham comes with some baggage but has the look of an A.J. Green clone. He would be a coup for the 49ers if he falls to 15.

Defensive line: After cutting Ray McDonald in December, the 49ers finished the season with just four defensive linemen on the 53-man roster, and that included DE Justin Smith, who's contemplating retirement. Nose tackles Glenn Dorsey and Ian Williams coming off IR will help, but the 49ers should still look to add depth in the draft. Two potential prospects who could be options with the 15th pick: Texas' Malcom Brown (6-4, 320) and Washington's Danny Shelton (6-2, 332).

Cornerback: Two of the 49ers' biggest bright spots on defense -- Perrish Cox (team-high five INTs) and Chris Culliver (four picks in the finals seven games) -- are free agents. And Jimmy Ward, last year's first-round pick, still has some learning to do. (Remember his three-TD baptism by fire in Week 2 at the hands of Brandon Marshall?) Re-signing Cox and/or Culliver would go a long way toward shoring up the secondary, but that's far from a sure thing. Michigan State's Trae Waynes is a possibility in the draft.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by David Newton, ESPN.com

RB Jonathan Stewart: After taking over the feature-back duties in Week 13, Stewart led the league in rushing (101.5 ypg) over the season's five games, and averaged 5.4 yards per carry vs. Seattle's No. 1 rush defense in the playoffs. The Panthers are at their best when Stewart is at his best, going 4-0 this season when he got 20 or more carries. He'll enter the 2015 season as Carolina's clear-cut starter, ahead of DeAngelo Williams. When healthy, he is as good as there is.

OLB Thomas Davis: A nine-year vet with the Panthers, Davis consistently gets overlooked as an elite player, in large part because his sack total (just 2.5 this season) pales in comparison to other outside linebackers. But consider: In Carolina's 4-3 scheme, Davis isn't asked to rush the passer much (just 84 times in 2014, per PFF); his job is to be stout against the run and nimble in coverage. He did those two things in spades this season, ranking second on the team with 100 tackles and finishing in a tie atop PFF's coverage rankings for 4-3 OLBs. He's a big reason the Panthers were second against the run in 2013, third this season and first from Weeks 12-17.

QB Cam Newton: His three turnovers in the Panthers' NFC divisional loss to Seattle showed why Newton wasn't elite. But he's not that far off. The Panthers are 18-13-1 with two straight playoff appearances with him as the starter the past two seasons. Newton's 539 rushing yards ranked third among QBs, despite missing two games. He still needs to work on his accuracy, though. His completion percentage dipped a bit this season, from 62 percent in 2013 to 59 percent, which can be attributed to inconsistent mechanics. He has a tendency to not step into his throws, which often results in passes sailing too high.

C Ryan Kalil: Once the Panthers settled into an interior line rotation in Week 11 -- with rookies Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner flanking Kalil -- the offense took off. The Panthers averaged 193.8 rushing yards per game from Week 13 through the wild-card round of the playoffs, first in the NFL. And it started with Kalil, who ranked as PFF's second-best run-blocking center over that span.

CB Josh Norman: Before Norman became a full-time starter in Week 8, Carolina allowed QBs to complete 70 percent of their passes, the 30th in the league. That number dipped to 61 percent (11th) after from Weeks 8 to 17. Why the change? Norman excelled in shutting down the other team's best receiver, limiting the likes of Jeremy Maclin (3 catches, 38 yards), Josh Gordon (4-45) and Mike Evans (2-13). And in two games vs. Julio Jones, Norman allowed 10 catches for 117 yards and no touchdowns. That's a win against one of the league's best receivers.

WR Kelvin Benjamin: He didn't help his case with seven drops this season, tied for fourth-most, but Benjamin still deserved a good grade. The Panthers' 2014 first-rounder ranked third among rookies in catches (73), yards (1,008) and touchdowns (9) in the regular season, and put up 75 yards and two TDs against Seattle's vaunted secondary in the playoffs. And perhaps most impressive, he did it while drawing double-teams.

DT Colin Cole: His job in this scheme is to be a space-eater and run-stopper. Nothing more. The Panthers simply want him taking up blocks so linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis can run free behind and tackles. Cole filled in admirably for Star Lotulelei in the NFC divisional loss to Seattle, as the Panthers held the Seahawks to 100 yards rushing, their second-lowest total of the season.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: One of the league's best backs at eking every yard out of a run, Stewart forced 16 missed tackles (tied for seventh among RBs) and averaged 2.6 yards after contact per rush in 2014 (tied for 11th). His elusive rating -- which measures how hard a running back is to bring down -- was 72.8, second overall and back in range of his pre-injury high (81.4 in 2011).

Bad News: Fifty offensive tackles played at least 400 pass-blocking snaps in 2014. The Panthers' Nate Chandler and Byron Bell ranked tied for 38th and 48th, respectively, in pass-blocking efficiency. Only two other teams -- Bears and Vikings -- had two tackles ranked in the bottom 13.

Positional Needs

by David Newton, ESPN.com

Tackle: The Panthers' inconsistent play at offensive tackle was magnified in the playoffs against Seattle. RT Mike Remmers allowed seven QB hurries, equal to his number in the previous six games. LT Byron Bell -- who ranked 83 out of 84 qualified tackles this season per PFF -- wasn't much better: He gave up two sacks and his missed block was responsible for a fumble. It's time for the Panthers to think about upgrading this position in a significant way.

Secondary: Thanks to the emergence up-and-coming shutdown corner Josh Norman, the Panthers look to have one CB spot solidified. And they have promising prospects at two other spots -- Carolina allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards in the final four weeks of the regular season, after rookies Bene' Benwikere and Tre Boston became starters. But the Panthers could use another every-down starter; Benwikere (5-foot-11) is best suited as a nickel corner.

Wide receiver: The overhaul of this position began in earnest when Carolina drafted Kelvin Benjamin 28th overall last year. But the Panthers -- whose third-best WR (Philly Brown) gained just 296 yards in 2014 -- would be wise to continue adding more depth at the position. A speedster with return abilities would be a plus. After losing Tedd Ginn Jr. in free agency, Carolina ranked 18th in punt return average and 24th in kickoff return average.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Scott Brown, ESPN.com

RB Le'Veon Bell: If you're wondering why Steelers players voted Bell their MVP, look no further than the AFC wild-card game. Pittsburgh's offense managed just 68 rushing yards without Bell, who was nursing a hyperextended knee, and Ben Roethlisberger was sacked five times without his favorite checkdown receiver. Bell -- who finished second in the NFL with 1,361 rushing yards -- led all running backs with 854 receiving yards. Here's another reason why the Steelers love Bell: He's lost just one fumble in 662 career touches, and he followed that gaffe with a 25-yard run during which he hurdled a would-be tackle. "The things that he can do in all three phases of the game to run, to catch the ball and to block are some of the most special things I've ever seen a running back do," Roethlisberger said.

WR Antonio Brown: How's this for a stat: Brown has recorded 32 consecutive games with at least five catches and 50 yards. That's two full seasons -- by far the longest streak in NFL history. (Laveranues Coles is second with 19 such games in 2002-03.) With exquisite instincts and excellent quickness, Brown recorded the second-highest single-season catch total in NFL history (129) and led the league with 1,698 yards. The Steelers are convinced his incomparable work ethic is what sets Brown apart -- and will continue to do so for many years. As Roethlisberger said, "It starts from the second he steps on the field, really, and that's the practice field. How many No. 1 receivers in the NFL are catching punts in practice and running it all the way back for a touchdown in practice?"

OT Kelvin Beachum: A seventh-round pick in 2012, Beachum is shaping up as one of the steals of that draft. Since Beachum got the starting left tackle job in Week 6 last season, Roethlisberger has been sacked 2.1 times per game, 19 percent less than his career average (2.6). At 6-foot-3, Beachum doesn't have the height associated with premier left tackles, but he more than makes up for it with his technique -- he consistently gets his hands inside opposing players' shoulders. It seems to be working: The SMU product ranked as PFF's fourth-best pass-blocking offensive tackle in 2014.

C Maurkice Pouncey: The only center in NFL history to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, Pouncey re-established himself as the unquestioned leader of the Steelers' O-line after missing all but one game in 2013 with a knee injury. Stout and athletic, Pouncey has the ability to pull in the run game, and few centers are better at getting to the second level. So, it's no coincidence that the Steelers' run game, which averaged just 86.4 yards per game last season, perked up to 109.5 in 2014 with Pouncey in the lineup.

CB Ike Taylor: One of the better cornerbacks in Steelers history, Taylor suffered an ignominious end to his career in Pittsburgh. After battling back from a broken forearm, he gave up 69-yard and 81-yard touchdown catches vs. the Saints and Bengals in Weeks 13 and 14, respectively. He didn't play after that, as the Steelers opted against dressing Taylor for their AFC wild-card game against Baltimore even though he was healthy enough to play. That's as good an indication as any that he won't be back in 2015.

DE Cam Thomas: The Steelers re-signed Thomas to a two-year, $4 million deal last March, despite demoting him during the season. At the time, it reeked of desperation by a team that was thin along the defensive line. Thomas did nothing to dispel those notions, recording just 19 tackles and a half sack despite starting nine games. (He also ranked as PFF's worst 3-4 DE in 2014.) With Stephon Tuitt now entrenched at left defensive end, Thomas may be expendable. The Steelers would save $2 million against the cap by cutting him.

CB Cortez Allen: No Steelers player endured a more humbling season than Allen, who signed a five-year, $26 million contract in early September and then tumbled down the depth chart because of inconsistent play. He allowed a 51-yard TD to Browns TE Jordan Cameron in Week 6 and a 31-yarder to Colts rookie Donte Moncrief in Week 8 before landing on season-ending IR with a knee injury. Through eight weeks, PFF rated Allen the NFL's worst corner, as he allowed 552 yards and five touchdowns. The Steelers love his size (6-foot-1, 196) and ball skills, but they have to rebuild his confidence and polish his technique if they want the return they expect from Allen's new deal.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Antonio Brown is the NFL's best and most consistent receiver right now, and the Steelers appear to be on the verge of surrounding him with a legitimate No. 2 option. Martavis Bryant, a 2014 fourth-rounder, played only 306 snaps in the regular season, but notched eight touchdowns and was third in the league with 2.75 yards per route run.

Bad News: The secondary is a wreck. Ike Taylor missed 11 games, but allowed a near perfect quarterback rating (157.3) while on the field. Overall, Pittsburgh's cornerbacks combined to give up 20 touchdowns, while adding just nine interceptions. A major overhaul is needed in the back end.

Positional Needs

by Scott Brown, ESPN.com

Secondary: The entire group requires an infusion of youth and talent. The Steelers' best corner, William Gay, will play his ninth season in 2015. Likewise, Troy Polamalu and Will Allen, two of the Steelers' top three safeties, have played 23 combined NFL seasons. Polamalu, long one of the faces of the Steelers' defense, had no sacks or interceptions this season, and will not be back if the franchise is committed to going all-in with a youth movement on defense.

Outside linebacker: The Steelers managed just 33 sacks this season, their lowest total since 1989. Jarvis Jones, who has three sacks in two seasons, is the only OLB on the 53-man roster signed in 2015. James Harrison came out of retirement to re-establish himself as the Steelers' best edge pass-rusher in 2014, but probably won't be back. Jason Worilds, an ideal No. 2 outside linebacker, led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2014, but came with a hefty price tag ($9.8 million). The team will bring back the fifth-year veteran only at the right price.

Tight end: Matt Spaeth and Michael Palmer, Pittsburgh's two primary backups at tight end, will be unrestricted free agents if the Steelers don't sign each before March 10. Starter Heath Miller, meanwhile, isn't getting any younger as he turned 32 last October. Miller is still reliable -- his 66 catches for 761 yards marked his third-best single-season totals in each category -- but the Steelers need to get younger and more athletic at tight end.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Mike Rodak, ESPN.com

DT Marcell Dareus: The Bills' defensive line has sacked opposing QBs on an NFL-best 9.9 percent of drop backs the past two seasons. So, it can be tricky to separate individual success from the performance of the unit as a whole. There were plenty of games this season in which both Mario Williams and Kyle Williams could be considered in the elite category, but it's hardly an injustice to give Dareus the nod over both of them. Once the season started and Dareus was away from off-field distractions -- he was arrested twice last offseason -- he turned in the best season of his young career. His 10 sacks were the most by any defensive tackle this season. Opposing coaches often talk about how the 331-pound Dareus is considerably more nimble than his weight would suggest. "He's good on the run, really athletic, runs well," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in December. "[He] makes a lot of plays in chase where you don't really think he's going to be in the play, but he runs it down."

CB Corey Graham: Signing Graham last offseason has been one of the best moves of general manager Doug Whaley's tenure. The Bills raised some eyebrows by giving the eighth-year veteran a four-year, $16 million contract when they already had an established core group of cornerbacks, but Whaley made it clear he wanted to build depth at the position. Graham was quickly named a team captain, and early on he played a role on special teams -- finishing with five tackles on the season -- and as a fill-in defensive back. When Leodis McKelvin went down with a season-ending ankle injury in November, Graham stepped into a full-time starting role at cornerback. He responded by posting a career-high 12 passes defensed, tied for fourth in the NFL. That makes for a good year in my book.

S Da'Norris Searcy: This name stands out as one who would be a better fit in the average category. Searcy was a little-known, part-time player his first three seasons in Buffalo, considered more of an in-the-box safety than one who could defend the deep part of the field. That changed this season when he was asked to help fill the shoes of Jarius Byrd, a Pro Bowler who left for New Orleans last offseason. Searcy didn't prove out of place in the role. In fact, the Bills' defense allowed just 16 completions on passes thrown at least 20 yards in the air, third-fewest in the league and seven fewer than they gave up in 2013. Yet it would be a stretch to say that Searcy was one of the top individual performers on the defense this season. A rising tide lifts all boats, and the strength of the Bills' defense as a whole -- especially up front -- might have overrated Searcy a bit in this evaluation.

DE Jerry Hughes: One of the bigger names on the free-agent market this spring, Hughes should spark some healthy debate about his true value. Is he actually a good player, or just an average one surrounded by a glut of talent? After compiling just five sacks in three seasons with the Colts, Hughes was traded to the Bills and exploded for 20 sacks since 2013. Coaches have credited the boost in his performance to his improved pass-rush arsenal, including a spin move that fooled several blockers this season. The only question: Can he sustain his productivity if more double-teams start heading his way?

RB Fred Jackson: The intriguing part about Jackson is not where he's ranked -- he had an average season by most measures -- but rather a noticeable decline in his play this season. After suffering a groin injury in Week 7, Jackson played in nine of the final 11 games of the season but averaged more than 4 yards per carry in only one of those contests. At 33, his speed and explosiveness have declined, which forced him to lower his shoulder and take more hits behind a shaky offensive line. The wear and tear rendered him generally ineffective by the end of the season. Pre-injury, he averaged 2.2 yards after contact per rush. After he returned to the field, that number dipped to 1.8.

QB EJ Manuel: There was nothing average about Manuel's play this season. In four games, he managed a 19.8 QBR, averaged 5.8 yards per attempt and completed 58 percent of his passes. All of those statistics were well below league averages. Manuel's performance was particularly disappointing for the Bills given the talent placed around him. Asked after this season about which member of the front office decided to take Manuel No. 16 overall in the 2013 draft, GM Doug Whaley called it a "Buffalo Bills pick" and added, "You can assign blame wherever you want." He later clarified his statement to mean "responsibility" and not "blame," but the slip-up says all you needed to know about how the pick has worked out for the Bills.

WR Sammy Watkins: The Bills believe Watkins is a "generational talent," one who was worth giving up two first-round picks to acquire in a draft-day trade last May. So even at this early point in his career, having Watkins show up in the average category is a disappointment. Watkins proved to be one of the NFL's most hot-or-cold receivers of the season, finishing with 35 or fewer receiving yards in nine games but eclipsing 100 yards in four other contests. Watkins initially did not adjust well to secondaries paying him more attention, admitting that he got into his own head after his quieter games piled up. With 65 catches, 982 yards and six touchdowns, the rookie flashed some elite potential but often left fans wanting more.

CB Nickell Robey: At 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, there are undoubtedly limitations to Robey's game. He can get pushed around by bigger, more physical receivers and several teams found success running "rub" patterns on the inside part of the field, targeting Robey by essentially setting a pick against him. And he missed 13 tackles on the season, tied for sixth-most among cornerbacks, according to PFF. Still, Robey has shown instincts in coverage, especially against slot receivers. His seven passes defensed this season were the second-most on the team. I'd file him under the average category.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Few interior pass-rushers proved more disruptive than DT Kyle Williams in 2014. He notched eight sacks, 12 knockdowns and 29 additional pressures, earning him a pass-rush productivity score of 9.5, the best mark at the position among players with nine or more starts.

Bad News: Buffalo's offensive line was a wreck, finishing the season ranked 30th, according to PFF's metrics. LT Cordy Glenn (26th out of 86 qualified tackles) was the only lineman who didn't completely disappoint. The other four positions were varying shades of poor. Erik Pears' conversion from tackle to guard was a particular lowlight; only two guards had a lower grade in 2014.

Positional Needs

by Mike Rodak, ESPN.com

Quarterback: Circle, underline and bold this one. This is far and away the Bills' most glaring need. They went into last offseason thinking EJ Manuel was their long-term answer at quarterback, and that decision burned them. If they're smart, they'll look elsewhere this time -- whether it's a trade for Jay Cutler or picking up a veteran such as Mark Sanchez in free agency.

Tight end: The Bills have a stark lack of athleticism at this position, opting to bring back Scott Chandler on a reduced salary last offseason instead of addressing the position in the draft. In-season pickup MarQueis Gray started hot, gaining 71 yards in his first game with the team, but that accounted for more than 60 percent of his production with the team. Buffalo needs a more consistent receiving threat at this spot.

Offensive line: How does Buffalo get better here? Eric Wood and Cordy Glenn, two entrenched starters, both underperformed this season. And 2014 draftees Cyrus Kouandjio (second round) and Cyril Richardson (fifth round) didn't so much as press any of the starters for playing time. The Bills must continue to draft here until they get it right.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Coley Harvey, ESPN.com

OT Andrew Whitworth: If you were to choose only one elite player on the Bengals' roster, Whitworth would be it. Often this season, opposing players and coaches came up to Whitworth after games to tell him they thought he was among the best tackles in the league. The metrics back that up: According to PFF, Whitworth didn't allow a single sack all season, and was the only tackle out of 54 qualifiers to allow fewer than 10 QB pressures. His pass-blocking efficiency (98.7) was better than Joe Thomas (97.6), who made first-team All-Pro. Amazingly, Whitworth didn't even make the Pro Bowl.

G Kevin Zeitler: Remember the Bengals' Week 15 game at Cleveland, when they rushed for a season-high 244 yards and won by 30? That was the best run-blocking performance of Zeitler's young career, according to PFF, but it never would've been possible had he let two separate calf injuries derail his season. That kind of toughness is why coaches and teammates were effusive in their praise of Zeitler throughout the year. It didn't hurt, either, that he proved to be an elite pass-blocker, registering the fifth-highest pass-blocking efficiency rating among guards, per PFF.

WR A.J. Green: He finished with the fewest yards (1,041) and second-fewest catches (69) of his career, thanks to a foot injury that held him out of nearly four games. The highlight of Green's season came from Weeks 11-14, when he lit up secondaries for 33 catches, 529 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers are nearly identical to what he produced in his other nine games (36-512-3), as Green had a wholly average season.

S George Iloka: When evaluating Iloka, you have to all but ignore his tackle numbers (74, fourth on the team). He plays deep safety in the Bengals' scheme, so the team certainly doesn't want him making too many plays in the run game. Where Iloka makes his mark is vs. the pass. According to PFF, he allowed a 39 percent catch rate and 18.4 quarterback rating when thrown at, both of which were the best among 59 qualified safeties. If he's not elite yet, the 2012 fifth-rounder will be soon.

DT Geno Atkins: If you're looking for an accurate description of Atkins' play, look no further than defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who said Atkins was "just a guy out there" in 2014. Playing in his first season following ACL surgery, the once-elite pass rusher registered a 6.7 pressure percentage, which ranked 22nd overall. From 2010-13, Atkins ranked second, fourth, first and fourth in that metric. Yes, by Atkins' standards, he was downright bad this season.

RB Jeremy Hill: One of five players up for rookie of the year, Hill was grossly underutilized by his coaches early on in the season. The rookie played just 29 percent of the offense's snaps through seven weeks. That number doubled over the next nine games, during which Hill led the league in rushing with 929 yards. He could've had an elite season if the Bengals hadn't chosen to bring him along so slowly. But even still, Hill deserved better than an average grade. Consider: His 5.1 yards per carry were the most by a rookie RB since Adrian Peterson's 2007 season (5.6).

DT Domata Peko: According to PFF, Peko ranked dead last among qualifying defensive tackles with a 1.7 pressure percentage. Let me translate that for you: Quarterbacks hardly ever knew Peko was on the field when they dropped back to pass. He wasn't much better vs. the run, finishing 31st out of 48 qualified DTs with a 6.3 run-stop percentage.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: How good was LT Andrew Whitworth's season? The LSU product -- who was once drafted to play guard, believe it or not -- allowed one combined QB sack/hit in 533 pass-blocking snaps this season. An offensive tackle has never done that in PFF's eight years of existence.

Bad News: The Andy Dalton roller-coaster ride was in full effect this year. After registering his worst PFF grade ever in Week 10 vs. Cleveland (-7.7), Dalton put up the second-best grade of his career in his very next game (+6.8 vs. New Orleans). Let us know when you figure this guy out.

Positional Needs

by Coley Harvey, ESPN.com

Defensive line: The Bengals had just 20 sacks in 2014, the fewest in the league and second-fewest during Marvin Lewis' 12-season tenure. Once opposing offenses figured out they could neutralize their blitz by going with heavy, unbalanced offensive line fronts, the front four didn't stand a chance. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has already vowed for change to come in the form of lineup tweaks and personnel additions. Stay tuned.

Tight end: Both Jermaine Gresham and Alex Smith are free agents, so the Bengals could be in need of more bodies soon. The team still believes in former first-rounder Tyler Eifert, who was lost for all but one game this season with elbow and shoulder injuries. They still expect him to be a big factor in the pass game once he comes back.

Offensive line: The Bengals have three unrestricted free agents up front: guard Clint Boling and tackles Marshall Newhouse and Eric Winston. Regardless of whom the team brings back, the front office needs to begin planning for life after Andrew Whitworth. The left tackle is 33 and adding to the line now could help ensure that it's a position of strength for years to come.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Rich Cimini, ESPN.com

C Nick Mangold: A nine-year vet, Mangold continues to win with his superior technique and intelligence. PFF graded him as the league's best center in 2014, and you won't find much disagreement from Jets coaches, who love Mangold because he rarely makes a mistake when calling the pass-protection scheme. And if you're looking for a reason the Jets finished third in rushing (142.5 YPG), Mangold is a good place to start. He rated as PFF's No. 2 run-blocking center.

DE Sheldon Richardson: His teammates voted him the team MVP, and deservedly so. After winning the defensive rookie of the year in 2013, Richardson delivered an encore, ranking as PFF's second-best 3-4 DE behind only J.J. Watt. He improved as a pass-rusher -- his sacks jumped from 3.5 as a rookie to a team-high eight in 2014 -- and maintained his relentlessness vs. the run (11.8 run-stop percentage, second overall). Richardson possesses rare athleticism for a man his size (6-foot-3, 294, 4.96 40); the coaches would even drop him into pass coverage about three times per game. Just 24, Richardson still hasn't reached his ceiling.

DE Muhammad Wilkerson: A versatile every-down player, Wilkerson is capable of playing anywhere on the line -- even over the center in certain packages. If not for missing three games with turf toe late in the season, he might have made his first Pro Bowl. He finished with 34 total pressures per PFF, high numbers for a lineman who often rushes from an interior position and gets double-teamed. Wilkerson has one year left on his rookie contract, and the Jets would be wise to give one of their cornerstone players a new deal.

S Dawan Landry and OLB Jason Babin: Bill Parcells used to have a name for players like Landry and Babin; he called them "hold-the-fort guys." They're past-their-prime players who provide leadership and stability, but they're only short-term solutions. That's a nice way of saying they don't belong in the good category. Landry played more than 900 defensive snaps, yet he wasn't involved in a single takeaway. Babin was competent in his role as a situational pass-rusher, but hardly an impact player. He registered only two sacks in 275 pass-rushing opportunities, according to PFF.

DT Damon Harrison: He played primarily on first and second down -- only 49 percent of the defensive snaps -- but Harrison was vital to the Jets' fifth-ranked run defense because of his ability to tie up two blockers. His 12.5 run-stop percentage was tops for defensive tackles. The only thing preventing him from being an elite player is his lack of pass-rush production. He's had just one sack in three seasons. Nevertheless, the Jets need to break out the checkbook, as Harrison -- a former undrafted free agent -- will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

WR Percy Harvin: He can be a dynamic player, but there's no disputing his production last season was average at best. In eight games with the Jets, who acquired him midseason from Seattle for a conditional sixth-round pick, Harvin had only 29 receptions, tied for 77th in the league over that span. The old coaching staff liked his work ethic and willingness to play hurt, contradicting the public perception of him, but there's a new regime. Harvin is due to make $10.5 million in 2015, and the team can cut bait with no cap ramifications. Chances are, he won't be back next season.

OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson: He played every single offensive snap and allowed only one sack, according to PFF. How is that average? He will struggle occasionally with speed rushers -- he allowed six QB pressures when facing Denver's Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware in Week 6 -- but the coaches liked his down-to-down consistency. There will come a time (maybe 2016) when he no longer will be worth his huge cap charge ($11.7 million in 2015), but he's still good enough to be a winning left tackle in the league.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Once the undisputed best center in the league, Nick Mangold ranked as either PFF's best or second-best-rated player at his position during every season from 2007-11. And after turning in rankings of sixth and 19th the past two seasons, Mangold is officially back (first overall in 2014). He allowed just seven QB pressures all season, the fewest among all centers.

Bad News: No matter how you slice the numbers, QB Geno Smith had an awful 2014. How awful? At one point, he was benched for an equally hopeless Michael Vick. Smith completed just 39 percent of his passes while under pressure, and threw 11 of his 13 interceptions when teams sat back in coverage. So it's no wonder that he finished just two games with a positive PFF grade.

Positional Needs

by Rich Cimini, ESPN.com

Cornerback: The Jets have only three corners under contract, and two of them -- Dee Milliner and Dexter McDougle -- are coming off major surgery. We're talking about a complete overhaul here, especially since new coach Todd Bowles likes to blitz and play man-to-man coverage on the outside. The Jets are coming off a season in which they allowed 31 touchdown passes (30th overall) and picked off only six balls (tied for fewest in the NFL).

Quarterback: They still have Geno Smith, but is he the answer? Probably not. His 35.4 total QBR ranked ahead of only Jaguars rookie Blake Bortles. The Jets must acquire a viable alternative. One possibility could be the Texans' Ryan Fitzpatrick, a possible salary-cap casualty. He'd be a nice fit, having previously played in Chan Gailey's system. Picking sixth, they have an outside shot at Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota.

Wide receiver: If they decide to keep Percy Harvin and his $10.5 million price tag, the need for a receiver is reduced. You can live with a Harvin-Eric Decker-Jeremy Kerley trio because of their complementary skill sets. Harvin and Kerley both have great short-area quickness and are threats underneath, while Decker can do a little of everything. Without Harvin, this becomes a huge need. Alabama's Amari Cooper would be terrific if he slipped to the Jets at the sixth pick.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Tania Ganguli, ESPN.com

DE J.J. Watt: Talk about a no-brainer. Watt's historic dominance will most likely lead to his second defensive player of the year award and at least a few MVP votes. His head coach, Bill O'Brien, termed it a "season for the ages." Watt had 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 10 batted passes, 47 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage, three touchdown catches and two defensive touchdowns. Watt was hit with double-teams, sometimes versions of triple-teams and creative attempts at blocking that verged on holding or beyond. And because of that extra attention, Texans players believe Watt affects his team's defense just as much as a great quarterback impacts his offense. He ranked as PFF's best 3-4 DE by a mile; his plus-107.5 grade was an incredible 67.6 points ahead of second place (the Jets' Sheldon Richardson). For some perspective, Aaron Rodgers' grade was 7.8 points better than second-place Drew Brees.

WR DeAndre Hopkins: He took a major step forward from his rookie season, as he became the Texans' leading receiver with 76 catches and 1,210 yards. He's always clearly had the talent to be a No. 1 option, but during his first year, there were many who felt his maturity, study habits and attention to detail could use improvement. Hopkins has talked several times this season about how he understands better how to be a professional, something aided by his proximity to Andre Johnson.

G Brandon Brooks: For the second time in as many seasons, Brooks snagged a top-10 ranking from PFF. He's an solid run-blocker (fifth among guards), so it makes sense that the Texans chose to run a league-high 138 times off right guard, gaining 560 yards (third overall).

CB Kareem Jackson: After being drafted 20th overall in 2010, Jackson struggled in his first few seasons, so much so that fans clamored for the Texans move on. They didn't and it paid off, thanks to the new staff's decision to try him out at slot corner. Jackson played 184 defensive snaps in the slot from 2010-13, but notched 440 this season alone. It worked well, as PFF gave him the seventh-best grade among corners in coverage and calculated that opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 74.1 when throwing at him. Jackson is a free agent this offseason, and the Texans would be wise to make re-signing him a high priority.

RB Arian Foster: Throughout the year, the Texans constantly gushed about Foster's vision, patience and the smoothness of his running style. These qualities can't be quantified by stats, which could be why PFF underrated Foster. He's at the point of his career when he's going to have the occasional soft-tissue injury, but when healthy, he's a dynamic playmaker. Foster ranked second in the league in yards per game (95.8) and sixth in total rushing yards (1,246), despite missing three games altogether and parts of three others due to injuries.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: He had one glorious outing -- a game against the Titans in which he threw a team-record six touchdown passes. But on average Fitzpatrick was, well, average, with 206.9 yards per game (27th overall), 1.4 TDs per game (18th) and a 63.1 completion percentage (18th). One positive: He got better as the game went on. In quarters 1-3, Fitzpatrick had a middling total QBR (49.9) and averaged 7.7 yards per attempt. In the fourth quarter/overtime, those numbers rose to 74.5 and 8.8.

WR Andre Johnson: He'll go down as one of the greatest receivers to play the game, but this season we saw the figurative torch passed to DeAndre Hopkins, who notched his first 1,000-yard season. Johnson, meanwhile, saw his production dip significantly. After averaging more than 110 catches and 1,500 yards the past two seasons, the 33-year-old caught only 85 passes for 936 yards in 2014. With a hefty $16.1 million cap number next season, Johnson himself has wondered about his future with the Texans.

ILB Brian Cushing: Coming off back-to-back season-ending knee injuries, it's understandable that Cushing didn't make his usual impact in passing situations. The Texans played him on just 35 percent of third- and fourth-down plays in 2014, compared to 85 percent from 2009 through Week 5 2012, when Cushing went down with an ACL injury. Now, for the first time since after the 2011 season, Cushing will go into an offseason without a major surgery from which to recover. "It's different, but it's a good thing," he said. "I wasn't able to really train and prepare the way I want to [coming in to 2014], so having this time and being able to prepare and recover is going to be very important."

S D.J. Swearinger: The Texans' 2013 second-round pick, Swearinger continued to struggle in 2014. PFF rated him as the No. 79 safety out of 88 qualifiers, as he was a liability in coverage (53rd overall) and vs. the run (85th). Swearinger, who began the season as a starter, found himself replaced late in the year by veteran Danieal Manning. His snaps decreased by more than 15 percent after the Texans' Week 10 bye.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: J.J. Watt -- the best player in football, regardless of position -- is completely redefining what people thought was possible from a defensive player. He finished the season with 119 total pressures, 22 more than any other player, at any position, since PFF began tracking the stat in 2007.

Bad News: Outside of Watt, Houston doesn't have much of a pass rush. According to PFF's numbers, D-linemen not named J.J. Watt had just seven sacks and 11 QB knockdowns. OLBs Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus weren't much better: seven sacks and 16 knockdowns.

Positional Needs

by Tania Ganguli, ESPN.com

Pass-rusher: Watt accounted for 53.9 percent of the Texans' sacks this season and 26.5 percent of the Texans' disrupted dropbacks -- both league highs. While that speaks to Watt's dominance, it also speaks to the Texans' need for some help in that department. The Texans drafted Jadeveon Clowney first overall hoping for help there, but he only played four games due to a right knee injury, and has a long and difficult recovery from microfracture surgery ahead of him.

Receiver: Andre Johnson said this year he wishes he had DeAndre Hopkins earlier in his career. That's because two top-notch receivers are better than one -- for everyone. Life after Johnson might not be here yet, but it will be soon, and the Texans need to prepare for it rather than facing a future in which Hopkins finds himself on the island Johnson did for so many years. This year's crop of college receivers is a good one, including Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, Louisville's DeVante Parker, West Virginia's Kevin White and Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham. The Texans should take advantage of that depth.

Secondary: Three of the Texans' key pending free agents are in the secondary -- safeties Danieal Manning and Kendrick Lewis and cornerback Kareem Jackson. Depending on what combination of those players the Texans retain, they'll have needs at both safety and corner. This season the team typically carried an extra DB on game days rather than an extra receiver, which makes depth here important.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Adam Teicher, ESPN.com

OLB Justin Houston: For the second consecutive season, Houston found himself atop PFF's 3-4 OLB ranks, earning the highest grade ever given to a player at his position (plus-51.1). He led the league with 22 sacks -- a half-sack from the NFL single-season record -- and was the only 3-4 OLB to grade out as a top-four player in coverage, against the run and as a pass-rusher. A picture of consistency, Houston had just three games all season without a sack.

FB Anthony Sherman: An excellent lead blocker, Sherman is one of the many reasons Jamaal Charles averaged more than five yards per carry in 2014. For the second time in as many seasons, he ranked as PFF's best blocking and overall fullback. The reason he might be a bit overrated here? Sherman got the ball 12 times this season -- two on carries and 10 on pass receptions -- and played only 25 percent of the team's offensive snaps.

C Rodney Hudson: The Chiefs had one of the most active screen games in the NFL, throwing 57 percent of their passes within five yards of the line of scrimmage (third-most). Hudson's athleticism out in space helped spring receivers for an average of 7.3 yards after the catch on such throws, second overall. He rated as PFF's No. 3 center and the best screen-blocker. Hudson is a potential unrestricted free agent this offseason; the Chiefs would be wise to re-sign him before he hits the open market.

OLB Tamba Hali: By the numbers, Hali had one of the worst seasons of his nine-year NFL career. His six sacks were the second-lowest of his career and the fewest since 2008. He played well against the run and in coverage -- rating 26th and second, respectively, by PFF -- but that's not why the Chiefs are paying him big money. He has a cap number of almost $12 million in 2015, and he will probably have to accept a reduction in pay if he wants to remain with the Chiefs next season.

RB Jamaal Charles: His numbers were down a bit from his fabulous 2013 campaign (1,980 total yards, 19 TDs), but he still posted 1,324 yards and 14 scores. That's far from average, in my opinion. Charles also averaged five yards per carry for the seventh consecutive season -- no small feat playing behind an inconsistent offensive line. The Chiefs, despite not getting a TD from a wide receiver, were eighth in the league in red zone efficiency (58 percent). Charles deserves credit for that, as he gained 3.9 yards per rush from inside the 20, the third-best average in the league.

QB Alex Smith: Just from his stats, Smith looks like a better than average quarterback. He completed 65 percent of his passes and threw three touchdowns for every interception. Smith's biggest flaw in 2014: His inability to lead the Chiefs on crucial late-game drives. Six times this season, the team needed a score late in the fourth quarter to get a victory or go to overtime. It succeeded just once (vs. San Diego in Week 7) -- and even that wasn't a do-or-die situation; the game would've gone into overtime if the Chiefs had failed to score.

S Ron Parker: He was short-changed here a bit. Parker's versatility was crucial for the Chiefs, as he played cornerback early and shifted to strong safety when Eric Berry went out of the lineup. He also helped win the Chiefs' Week 10 game at Buffalo with three pass breakups late in the fourth quarter.

OT Eric Fisher: To say Fisher hasn't lived up to his promise as the 2013 No. 1 overall pick would be kind. Most of the time this season, he wasn't a competent player as he made the switch to left tackle. Fisher lacks the upper-body strength to handle big, strong pass-rushers. He had a particularly bad game against Pittsburgh's James Harrison in Week 16, allowing a sack and five hurries according to PFF, who ranked him 72nd among 84 qualified tackles this season. Fisher had offseason shoulder surgery last year, which set back his progress in the weight room. In that sense, this is a big offseason for the Chiefs' blindside protector.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: No, the Chiefs didn't get a receiving TD all season from a WR, but they got great production from their other skill positions. TE Travis Kelce averaged 2.26 yards per route run, second to only Rob Gronkowski. And RB Jamaal Charles again proved to be one of the toughest backs to bring down, with a 55.8 elusive rating (fourth among RBs).

Bad News: Center Rodney Hudson was the only Chiefs O-lineman who had an above-average season. Former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher and G Mike McGlynn were disastrous on the left side -- especially in pass protection -- as they allowed 13 combined sacks, 15 knockdowns and 42 additional hurries.

Positional Needs

by Adam Teicher, ESPN.com

Wide receiver: The Chiefs' wideouts ranked last in the league in catches (129), yards (1,588), targets (216) and, of course, touchdowns (0). Making matters worse: Other than Albert Wilson and De'Anthony Thomas, their best wide receivers are over 30. A free agent such as Philadelphia's Jeremy Maclin, who played for Andy Reid with the Eagles, would make sense. But the Chiefs won't have a lot of free-agent cash to spend. They might need to make do with lower-priced free agents and a draft pick or two.

Offensive line: The Chiefs lost three regulars from 2013 in free agency last offseason -- Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz -- and didn't adequately replace them. With holes at left guard, right tackle and center (if free-agent-to-be Rodney Hudson doesn't return), expect the Chiefs to draft multiple offensive linemen.

Inside linebacker: It's time for the Chiefs to think about replacing Derrick Johnson, who will be 33 next season after missing almost all of 2014 with a ruptured Achilles. His contract, at slightly more than $5 million, is a bargain for the Chiefs -- if Johnson returns as the same player he was before the injury. The other starter, Joe Mays, turns 30 in July and also is coming off a season interrupted by injuries. The Chiefs ranked 30th in yards per carry allowed (4.7) and 28th in rushing yards per game allowed (127.3) in 2014.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by James Walker, ESPN.com

DE Cameron Wake: Few will argue with Wake's elite status. At age 32, he recorded 11.5 sacks this season and continues to be Miami's best player. Wake still gives offensive tackles fits with his bull rush, but he did slow down a bit late this season. He had just one sack in five games between Weeks 11-15, partly due to Miami's coaching staff subbing him out more, in hopes of keeping him fresh down the stretch. That will be something to monitor in future seasons.

S Reshad Jones: PFF is higher on Jones than many around the league. Finishing second on the Dolphins in tackles (80) and interceptions (three), Jones had the best season of his five-year career, despite missing four games due to a PED suspension. So what keeps him from being elite? As an NFL scout told me, "Jones is an impact player that flashes Pro Bowl ability. But he's inconsistent."

WR Jarvis Landry: The rookie's ascension and rapid development has been fun to watch. Landry plays like a veteran and it showed in the results: His 84 receptions set a new franchise rookie record. To be sure, the LSU product has physical limitations. At 5-foot-11 with a 4.77 40 time, he's not going to catch many jump balls or run by many secondaries. But Landry maximizes his ability by running crisp routes and catching everything thrown his way. He had only two drops all season, tied for the eighth-fewest in the NFL among receivers with at least 100 targets.

ILB Koa Misi: The Dolphins finished this season ranked 24th against the run, allowing 121.1 yards per game. Misi was decent in that area but far from a game-changer. As one opposing NFL scout said: "He's steady and consistent. You know what you're getting when he lines up. I don't think he's special, but I don't think he's a liability." But Misi, who dealt with knee and hamstring injuries this season, doesn't make many plays in the passing game. He had just one pass breakup all season, tied for last in the league among linebackers.

CB Brent Grimes: He wasn't as dominant as last year, when he had four interceptions (tied for 11th overall) and 13 pass breakups (tied for sixth). But I wouldn't go so far as to say Grimes (5 INTs, six pass breakups in 2014) had an average year. As one opposing scout said, "He's definitely a Pro Bowl talent. Grimes wins with good technique."

WR Mike Wallace: In the first year of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor's new scheme, Wallace -- a speedster who came into Miami known for his deep-ball prowess -- essentially became a possession receiver. He averaged just 12.9 yards per catch, 20 percent lower than his ypc average from 2009-13 (16.1). That led to some frustration that eventually boiled over when Wallace had a reported disagreement with the coaching staff at halftime of Miami's Week 17 loss to the Jets. You can't blame Wallace for being a little miffed: He was held back by the offensive system and Ryan Tannehill's inability to consistently throw an accurate deep ball. (Tannehill completed just 26.5 percent of throws of 20 yards or more, fourth-worst in the NFL.)

G Mike Pouncey: The switch from center to guard really hurt Pouncey this year. He went from PFF's No. 14 center in 2013 to their 69th-rated guard in 2014. As one opposing scout said: "[Playing guard] is a little bit of a different animal for a guy who is at center. You have big people running directly at you and pushing you into the backfield." The Dolphins would be wise to switch Pouncey back to his natural position next season.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: For the second time in three seasons, Dolphins safety Reshad Jones ranked third in PFF's rankings. In 2014, Jones proved his mettle as a run defender with 23 defensive stops, sixth among safeties. He was also an effective blitzer, notching 10 pressures in just 20 blitzes.

Bad News: This was the worst offensive line in football this year, especially after LT Branden Albert went down with a season-ending knee injury. The six lowest-graded players on the Dolphins' offense were all offensive linemen. In total, Miami allowed an astounding 210 QB pressures this season, five more than the next worst O-line (Colts), and twice as many as the league's best unit (Bengals).

Positional Needs

by James Walker, ESPN.com

Defensive tackle: The Dolphins' run defense was the biggest breakdown during their 2-4 late-season collapse. They allowed 165.3 rushing yards per game from Weeks 12-17, worst in the league. Miami needs a dominant, run-stuffing defensive tackle it can depend on. Starter Jared Odrick is an unrestricted free agent who is not expected to return, and fellow starter Randy Starks could be released due to his $6 million cap number.

Linebacker: Miami is due for a rebuild at linebacker. Dannell Ellerbe ($8.5 million) and Philip Wheeler ($3 million) both have high salaries next season that do not match their production. Ellerbe suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 1 against the Patriots, and he wasn't the impact linebacker the Dolphins hoped for in 2013. He's had just one sack and two interceptions for Miami in two seasons. Wheeler has been a liability against the run and in coverage. He gave up the game-winning touchdown pass late against the Packers in Week 6. The Dolphins found a good one in 2013 fourth-round outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who led the team with 110 tackles. But he's the only guaranteed keeper in this group.

Guard: Daryn Colledge's head and back injuries started a bad chain reaction along the line. Dallas Thomas filled in for Colledge a little bit, before moving over to right tackle in the wake of Branden Albert's season-ending injury. Shelley Smith finished the season at guard, but the lack of continuity took its toll. The Dolphins could be in the market for two starting-caliber guards, as Pro Bowler Mike Pouncey is expected to move back to center, his natural and best position. The top free agents include the Lions' Rob Sims, the Patriots' Dan Connolly and the 49ers' Mike Iupati.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Eric D. Williams, ESPN.com

CB Brandon Flowers: A late addition to the 2014 roster after signing a one-year deal in June, Flowers served as a significant upgrade to San Diego's ailing secondary. The Virginia Tech product added toughness, versatility and playmaking ability to the back end of San Diego's defense. Flowers finished with 52 combined tackles, led the team with three interceptions and also totaled 10 pass breakups. After San Diego allowed 259 passing yards per game last year (29th in the NFL), that number dipped to 214 this season (fourth in the NFL). Flowers deserves a fair share of the credit for that.

QB Philip Rivers: PFF ranked four QBs -- Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger -- as elite. Rivers also belongs among that group. Over the past two seasons, he's second in completion percentage (68 percent), fourth in touchdowns (63) and fifth in total QBR (69.3). Rivers played at an MVP level through the first half of 2014, with an 85.5 total QBR (second in the NFL, behind Peyton Manning) and 20 touchdowns (No. 3). Then a back injury, inconsistent pass protection and the lack of a running game (3.4 ypc, second-worst) led to a dip in his play. At 33 years old, Rivers can still perform at an elite level for a few more years. He's known for his toughness, having played in 144 consecutive regular-season starts, second only to Eli Manning (167).

RB Branden Oliver: With Ryan Mathews injured most of last season, Oliver received an increased workload and had his fair share of good moments. The undrafted rookie out of Buffalo started seven games and led the Chargers with 582 rushing yards. But he had just three runs of 20-plus yards on 160 attempts and averaged a paltry 3.6 yards per carry. Oliver has potential to rate as a good running back, but we need to see more of a sample size first.

OT King Dunlap: In two seasons, Dunlap developed into an above-average left tackle, and as an unrestricted free agent, he should be San Diego's top priority this offseason. Dunlap played a career-high 1,000 snaps and gave up just three sacks and five quarterback hits on 625 pass attempts. Rivers is not the most fleet of foot, so the Chargers needs a reliable left tackle to protect his blindside. Dunlap consistently does that while also making his presence felt in the run game. The Chargers ran for more yards per carry (4.2) outside left tackle than in any other direction. Rivers said Dunlap should have made the Pro Bowl in 2014; he should be rated higher here.

TE Antonio Gates: At 34, Gates finished this season with 12 TDs, tied for the most among TEs with Rob Gronkowski and Julius Thomas. Gates finished with more touchdowns than elite-rated tight ends Greg Olsen (six TDs) and Jason Witten (five TDs) combined, while also totaling more receiving yards than Witten in 2014 (821 to 703). Sure, he's not exactly a mauler in the run game -- he ranked as PFF's fourth-worst run-blocking TE this season -- but Gates played in 72 percent of the snaps (721), which shows San Diego doesn't use him as a decoy. He remains one of the elite tight ends in the NFL.

ILB Donald Butler: The University of Washington product, who signed a seven-year, $51.8-million contract extension the past offseason, was the third-highest paid linebacker in the league this season ($11.9 million). But his play didn't live up to the contract. Butler made very few impact plays and finished the season with one sack, three fumble recoveries and no interceptions. Eric Weddle took over defensive play-calling duties for Butler midway through the year as defensive coordinator John Pagano took Butler off the field on passing situations due to uneven play. He also failed to play a 16-game season for a third consecutive year, after dislocating his elbow against Denver in Week 15. "The sad thing was he was playing at a higher level before that injury and truly getting better," Pagano said. "He's got to get healthy and be ready to come back next year."

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Signed almost as an afterthought after being released by the Chiefs, Brandon Flowers, PFF's No. 85 CB in 2013, rebounded in a big way this season. Through Week 11, he ranked behind only Chris Harris Jr. and Vontae Davis in PFF's cornerback rankings. Even with some poor performances down the stretch, he finished 15th overall. He allowed a reception from the slot once every 16.6 coverage snaps, a figure bettered by only Darrelle Revis.

Bad News: Corey Luiget and Kendall Reyes continue to underperform along the defensive line. Luiget actually led the team with five sacks, which in itself is a problem, but neither player won much in the run game. Reyes actually had the lowest run-stop percentage of any 3-4 DE with 200 or more run snaps (3.8 percent).

Positional Needs

by Eric D. Williams, ESPN.com

Outside linebacker: Dwight Freeney is a free agent, and the Chargers could save $5 million against the cap by cutting Jarret Johnson (just one sack in 2014). So there's a chance neither player will return in 2015. If that's the case, Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu -- who had six sacks combined this season -- have to create more havoc up front. Look for the Chargers (26 sacks in 2014, fourth-worst in the NFL) to add a few more bodies to the mix at this key position.

Running back: The Chargers called a pass play 63 percent of the time this past season, the 10th-most in the league. The reason? San Diego could not get the run game going. The Chargers averaged 3.2 yards per carry on first down -- when defenses know offenses want to run the ball - which was second-worst in the NFL. Ryan Mathews once again failed to make it through an entire season healthy and will be an unrestricted free agent in March. The Chargers need an every-down running back who can grind it out between the tackles and take some pressure off Rivers.

Offensive line: King Dunlap is a keeper at left tackle, but after that there aren't too many positives here. San Diego's depth was tested up front this season, with five different players starting at center and three different players used at right guard. The Chargers -- who gained 3.6 yards per carry on runs between the guards, 29th in the league -- need more talent along the interior of the line, especially with center Nick Hardwick likely to retire.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Josh Weinfuss, ESPN.com

DT Dan Williams: One major hurdle standing in Williams' way to becoming a top-notch nose tackle is his limited snaps. He saw the field for 413 plays this season -- a little less than 39 percent -- because Arizona often combated spread offensive sets with its nickel and dime packages, leaving Williams on the sideline. But when Williams was on the field, he made his impact felt. The Cardinals' run defense allowed 3.97 yards per rush, which would've ranked eighth best in the league, compared to 4.92 when he wasn't on the field.

WR Larry Fitzgerald: It'd be easy to say Fitzgerald had a bad year. Statistically, it's true. He finished with 63 receptions for 784 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games -- all of which were his lowest since his 2004 rookie season. But that would undermine his importance to the Cardinals' offense. Arizona scored 22 touchdowns with him on the field, compared to five without, and the Cardinals' receivers averaged almost a full yard less per reception when Fitzgerald wasn't on the field. Even at 31 with a diminished role, Fitzgerald still draws enough attention from defenses to help the offense.

CB Antonio Cromartie: You'd be hard-pressed to find a more up-and-down season by a cornerback this season. Cromartie was often brilliant in the team's first 11 games, allowing 11 or fewer yards in eight contests, according to PFF. But sandwiched in there was a game vs. Denver during which the former first-round pick gave up 221 yards and two touchdowns. And down the stretch, in Weeks 13-17, Cromartie was beaten for 50 yards or more in four out of five games. He still managed four interceptions, the second-highest mark of his career, but finished the year ranked 45th overall by PFF.

CB Patrick Peterson: By his standards, Peterson had an average season. He gave up eight touchdowns -- tied for third most in the NFL -- along with 743 yards and a QB rating of 97, according to PFF. It came during a season when, instead of following the offense's top receiver, Peterson remained on the left side for 70 percent of his snaps. (For a comparison, Seattle's Richard Sherman spent 82 percent of his snaps on the left side and allowed 422 yards and one TD.) Peterson had only three interceptions, two of which came in Week 10 against St. Louis, and didn't live up to the $70 million extension he signed during training camp.

QB Drew Stanton: Finishing the season with a 5-3 record as a starter, Stanton performed admirably as a fill-in for Carson Palmer. But there's no question the offense was more limited with him under center. Arizona went through a 10-quarter stretch from Weeks 11 to 13 without scoring a touchdown. Stanton averaged just six yards per attempt on the road, 32nd out of 33 qualified QBs.

RB Andre Ellington: Coming into the season, the plan was for Ellington to be the Cardinals' bell cow, with Bruce Arians even saying during last offseason's workouts that Ellington could get as many as 25-30 touches per game. But a foot injury leading into Week 1 hampered him the entire season, until a second hip injury against Atlanta in Week 13 shut him down for the year. Ellington still managed 660 yards -- 17th most among starting running backs -- but averaged just 3.3 yards per carry while eluding 12 tackles, among the fewest in the NFL.

S Rashad Johnson: The epitome of a boom-or-bust safety, Johnson was one of 15 safeties to have four or more interceptions, and the only player at his position to score two touchdowns. But, according to PFF, he also allowed the 10th-highest completion percentage (75 percent), the second-most yards (610) and the sixth-highest yards-per-catch average (18.5) among safeties. Overall, PFF ranked Johnson 85th out of 88 qualified safeties in coverage.

ILB Larry Foote: At 34, Foote didn't show his age for most of this season, missing just one snap until he was forced to sit out the season finale with a knee injury. When he signed with the Cardinals last offseason, he was expecting to be a part-time replacement for Daryl Washington. But when Washington was suspended for at least a year, Foote was given the keys to the Cardinals' defense and became the one player former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles depended on most. "He's a warrior," Bowles said. "He's not a scrub by any means. He can hold his own. He's smart and he anticipates well and he makes plays."

S Deone Bucannon: Drafted as a safety, Bucannon learned a new position on the fly as a rookie, filling the role as Arizona's nickel linebacker. He finished with 76 tackles and two sacks while showing the speed -- he ran a 4.49 40 at the NFL combine -- and nose for contact that caught Arizona's attention last spring in the draft. But Bucannon was picked on in coverage; he was one of nine safeties to be thrown at 50 times or more, allowing 84 percent of those passes to be caught (highest among safeties).

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: At a position dominated by J.J. Watt, the Cardinals' Calais Campbell still ranks as one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league. His 12.0 run-stop percentage was the highest among all 3-4 defensive ends with at least 20 snaps against the run. He's not just a one-trick pony, either, registering 44 total pressures, the sixth-best mark at his position.

Bad News: The lack of production at the tight end position is a concern. John Carlson struggled as a run-blocker, ranking 65th out of 67 qualified tight ends in that area. He also failed to make much of an impact as a receiver, with 350 receiving yards (25th among TEs) and six drops (tied for fourth most). Backup Rob Housler didn't drop any passes, but managed to pick up just 129 yards through the air.

Positional Needs

by Josh Weinfuss, ESPN.com

Guard: The offensive line was better in 2014, allowing 28 sacks compared to 41 last season, but the guard position needs to be improved. Jonathan Cooper, Arizona's seventh overall pick in 2013, has started just two games in two seasons because of injuries. Ted Larson, Cooper's replacement most of the year, struggled to keep any of Arizona's QBs upright, allowing four sacks, 20 QB hurries and 12 hits, according to PFF. Right guard Paul Fanaika was suitable, but an upgrade is out there.

Running back: Losing Jonathan Dwyer to the non-football injury list really hurt the Cardinals on offense. Without him, Arizona lacked a bruiser who could pound it in for a first down or a touchdown from a couple of yards out. The offense finished with six rushing touchdowns this season (tied for second fewest) and none in its final seven games.

Inside linebacker: With Daryl Washington's status for 2015 uncertain and Larry Foote a free agent, the Cardinals need an athletic, tall inside linebacker who can run with tight ends and receivers and plug the gaps in the run. Kevin Minter is under contract next season, but he doesn't have the speed to go sideline to sideline or match up with receivers.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Mike Wells, ESPN.com

CB Vontae Davis: The Colts gave Davis a four-year, $39 million contract last offseason with the expectation that he could become one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks. Davis more than delivered on his end of the deal. He had four interceptions this season, and was so good that coach Chuck Pagano said he got Richard Sherman-type treatment after the Titans didn't throw his way in Week 4. You have to go back all the way back to Week 13 of 2013 -- or more than 1,000 snaps -- against the Cincinnati Bengals to find the last time Davis gave up a touchdown pass.

WR T.Y. Hilton: After receiver Reggie Wayne was lost for the season with a torn ACL in 2013, Hilton served as Andrew Luck's fill-in go-to receiver. Hilton permanently took over that role this season, finishing with 82 catches for 1,345 yards and seven touchdowns. His speed and ability to line up out wide or in the slot helped him average 16.4 yards a reception, sixth in the league. One league official went so far as to say Luck and Hilton are the next Peyton Manning-Marvin Harrison duo, with the opportunity to win more Super Bowls.

S Mike Adams: The Colts brought in Adams during a three-day mandatory minicamp in June because they weren't sold on Delano Howell starting opposite LaRon Landry. Adams turned out to be the secondary's vocal leader and its second-best player behind Vontae Davis. Adams led the Colts with five interceptions, and one team official said his leadership qualities were reminiscent of Antoine Bethea, whom Adams replaced at that position. "Mike is the quarterback of the secondary back there," coach Chuck Pagano said. "He does a great job as a communicator, getting guys lined up and making sure everybody is on the same page."

QB Andrew Luck: Take Luck off the Colts' roster, and they'd be lucky to win six games. So he's being majorly shortchanged in PFF's evaluation. The No. 1 overall pick in 2012, Luck has led the Colts one step further in the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. He's posted six more victories, 670 more passing yards, one more TD and eight more 300-yard passing games than Peyton Manning did in his first three years in Indy. As WR Hakeem Nicks says: "He's definitely a guy who comes around once every blue moon. He's not your average quarterback."

WR Donte Moncrief: A third-round pick out of Ole Miss, Moncrief finished with 32 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns. His breakout game came against Pittsburgh in Week 8, when he had seven catches for 113 receiving yards and a touchdown. He has the same type of deep-play ability as Hilton, which makes it tough for defenses to provide help over top. Hamilton said the Colts drafted Moncrief to score touchdowns.

RB Trent Richardson: The former No. 3 overall pick was an average player before the Colts acquired him from the Browns for a first-round pick in September 2013. He's been a bad player while with the Colts. He's rushed for 977 yards in 29 games in Indy, and lost his starting job for the second time in as many seasons in 2014. Richardson -- who was eventually demoted to third-string running back and practiced on special teams -- was deactivated against the Broncos in the divisional playoffs. Despite Richardson's ongoing struggles, Colts GM Ryan Grigson said it was a no-brainer to acquire him. "When we made that trade it was a great shot in the arm," Grigson said during a radio interview with WFNI-1070 AM in Indianapolis. "We lost our starter. I felt like it was the right football move at that time. I'll never back off that thought."

WR Hakeem Nicks: In his inaugural season in Indy, Nicks -- a former back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver -- posted just 38 catches for 405 yards. His numbers might have been below average, but the Colts don't think he's a bad player. Pagano said Nicks' lack of production has nothing to do with his talent level; Luck's spread-it-around philosophy resulted in fewer targets for Nicks (68) than was expected at the beginning of the season.

WR Reggie Wayne: After overcoming a torn ACL in 2013 to return to the field, Wayne battled elbow and triceps injuries this season. He still managed to play 15 games, but his production took a huge hit -- 64 catches for 779 yards and two touchdowns, his lowest figures for a near-full season since all the way back in 2003. Wayne himself admitted that he's no longer capable of outrunning a defensive back on a 70-yard catch-and-run play. As the season wore on, it became clear the Colts were grooming Moncrief to be Wayne's replacement.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: Vontae Davis has quietly become one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. He allowed a 44 percent completion rate on passes thrown into his coverage, and QBs targeting him had a passer rating of just 38.8. Both marks were league-best figures. Davis was also one of five corners who played 700-plus snaps and didn't allow a touchdown all season.

Bad News: The Colts don't have any running backs who scare opposing defenses. Since being traded to the Colts in Week 3 last season, Trent Richardson has averaged 3.1 yards per carry, the lowest of all qualified running backs. Ahmad Bradshaw scored eight touchdowns in 10 games this season, but again missed a huge chunk of time due to injuries. He's played just 13 games the past two years.

Positional Needs

by Mike Wells, ESPN.com

Running back: Daniel "Boom" Herron and Zurlon Tipton, the two players who moved ahead of Trent Richardson on the depth chart, aren't starting running backs in the NFL. They combined for just 369 yards on 88 attempts this season. Meanwhile, Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard are too injury prone to be counted on. The Colts likely won't use a high draft pick on a running back, after learning from the Richardson trade. Indy doesn't necessarily need an every-down back, but the Colts have to find someone who can help keep defenses honest.

Offensive line: The Colts are set on the left side with tackle Anthony Castonzo and guard Jack Mewhort, but the rest of the line is far less settled. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus and guard Hugh Thornton didn't progress as the team had hoped, ranking 70th and 48th in their respective position groups, according to PFF. Center is also a need; the Colts started three different players at the position in 2014.

Safety: LaRon Landry, who didn't have any passes defended or interceptions, hasn't lived up to expectations after signing a four-year, $24 million contract in 2013. After being suspended for four games for PEDs, Landry needed five weeks to earn his starting job back. Mike Adams was the Colts' second-best defensive back behind cornerback Vontae Davis, as he led the team in interceptions with five. But the 33-year-old Adams will be a free agent and the Colts don't have any other starting-caliber safeties on the roster.

THE INSIDE STORY

Where NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focus

by Mike Triplett, ESPN.com

QB Drew Brees: There's no question Brees remains worthy of elite status, even after somewhat of a down year by his standards. He tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 yards and ranked second with a 69.2 completion percentage. Brees' biggest problem in 2014 was turnovers -- 20 in all -- many of which came in crucial situations. His pick late in the fourth quarter in Week 7, for example, helped set up the Lions' game-winning drive. But as ESPN analysts such as Trent Dilfer, Steve Young and scouting insider Matt Williamson have pointed out, the Saints' 28th-ranked scoring defense and inconsistent offense forced Brees to be "Superman" on a weekly basis. And he wasn't.

OLB Junior Galette: His pass-rushing chops -- 67 total QB pressures (third-most among players at his position, per PFF) -- are what helped Galette earn an elite grade from PFF. The five-year vet also forced two safeties (both in victories against Tampa Bay). The argument against Galette having a top-tier season starts with his struggles to contain QBs in the pocket (Cam Newton and Andy Dalton, among others). And it ends with one look at the Saints' defensive stats. New Orleans finished in the bottom five in rushing defense, takeaways, third-down conversions and red zone efficiency, and in the bottom eight in pass defense and sacks (34).

TE Jimmy Graham: He was still a Pro Bowler in 2014, but the Saints needed a lot more from their top offensive weapon. Graham battled a significant shoulder injury for most of the season, which affected his ability to dominate physically off the line and in the red zone. He had some success fighting through it with big games in the middle of the season, scoring six touchdowns over a five-game stretch from Weeks 8-12. But the 6-foot-7, 265-pounder fizzled down the stretch, with just 20 catches for 219 yards and one touchdown over the final five games. That included a career-high three dropped passes in a Week 14 loss to Carolina -- he finished with a 4.8 percent drop rate, 18th out of 24 qualified TEs -- and a controversial goal-line fumble in a Week 16 loss to Atlanta.

Entire receiving corps: The Saints' offense lacked a big-play threat on the outside for much of the season. Veteran Marques Colston had a solid year -- 59 catches for 902 yards and five TDs -- but finished with just one reception of 40-plus yards and dropped 6.1 percent of his targets, the third-highest rate of his career. As Colston said, "I pride myself on trying to be part of the solution. Instead this year, I feel like I was part of the problem at times." Meanwhile, young receivers Brandin Cooks and Kenny Stills flashed big-play potential, but neither emerged as a consistent game-changer. Cooks' potential is most exciting: He ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any receiver at the 2014 combine (4.33 seconds) and the fastest 20- and 60-yard shuttles of the past decade (3.81 and 10.72 seconds). Cooks, who was used in a Percy Harvin-type role, led the Saints with 53 catches when he suffered a season-ending thumb injury in Week 10. The timing couldn't have been worse; Cooks was finally starting to hit his stride as a deep threat. Stills had two 95-plus-yard games in the three weeks after Cooks' injury, but averaged just 60 yards per game in the season's final four contests.

G Jahri Evans: Six consecutive Pro Bowl invites notwithstanding, Evans earned an average grade because of his inconsistent pass protection. PFF credited him with six sacks. That's a problem because the Saints have always counted on keeping the pocket clean up the middle, where the shorter Brees loves to step into and find passing lanes. Evans remained a solid run-blocker in 2014, especially during the first three months when the run game was really clicking (126.3 ypg through Week 13, eighth overall). But he had at least three uncharacteristically poor outings this season: Week 5 versus Tampa Bay, Week 12 versus Baltimore and Week 16 versus Atlanta, which knocked the Saints out of the playoffs. The Atlanta performance was the most perplexing of the bunch. It marked the only time in PFF's eight seasons of data in which Evans allowed two sacks in a game -- and it came against a Falcons pass rush that entered the game with the fewest sacks in the league.

OT Bryce Harris: A solid backup right tackle the previous two seasons, Harris struggled mightily in the five games he filled in for injured LT Terron Armstead. That drop-off especially hurt the Saints in their Week 14 loss to Carolina and their Week 16 loss to Atlanta, arguably New Orleans' two worst performances of the season. PFF didn't credit Harris with allowing any sacks in those games (though I had him down for one in my film review of the Carolina game). But PFF did knock Harris for a whopping seven QB hurries allowed in each contest. Harris might still have a place on the roster, but he's probably better served to stay on the right side if he doesn't develop rapidly as a left tackle this offseason.

CB Keenan Lewis: I ranked Lewis as the team's co-MVP -- far from a bad player -- because of the way he handed the opponents' top receivers. He silenced the likes of Dez Bryant (three catches for 44 yards and a TD), Jordy Nelson (three catches for 25 yards), Alshon Jeffery (one catch for 18 yards through three quarters before a late TD versus a backup corner) and Kelvin Benjamin (four catches for 42 yards and one TD in two games). And Lewis rarely, if ever, got beat deep. Former teammate Jabari Greer went so far as to call him one of the best deep-ball cover men in the league. Lewis likely got knocked by PFF's grading system for the Saints' team-wide defensive breakdowns, as they finished 31st in yards allowed.

ILB Curtis Lofton: By PFF's own tally, Lofton led all inside linebackers with 123 tackles, so their bad rating is a bit perplexing. A seven-year vet, Lofton's limited pass-coverage skills and league-high 22 missed tackles likely hurt his PFF grading. But the 6-foot, 241-pounder is a thumper, as evidenced by his 58 run stops (tied for fourth among ILBs, per PFF). At one point this season, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan described Lofton as "exceptional" and "dominating."

S Kenny Vaccaro: This was one of the biggest letdowns of the Saints' 2014 season. Vaccaro battled missed tackles (19, according to PFF, sixth-most among safeties) and blown assignments, as he transitioned from playing hybrid safety/cornerback/linebacker as a rookie to more traditional strong safety role in 2014. Far too often Vaccaro went with instincts over assignments, and it cost him. One high-profile example: Against the 49ers in Week 10, he crashed down on TE Vernon Davis as Colin Kaepernick completed a 51-yard pass over his head to WR Michael Crabtree on a fourth-and-10 stunner. Vaccaro also lost coverage and containment on two big TD plays in a Week 14 loss to Carolina, which led to a temporary demotion. Vaccaro insisted that a blunt meeting with coach Sean Payton that week got him refocused and "changed my career." He's still a big part of New Orleans' future if the team can find the right role for him.

Good News, Bad News

by Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus

Good News: For all the talk of Drew Brees' decline, he proved to be the most accurate QB in the league this season. He was the only QB to crack an 80 percent accuracy rate -- which credits QBs for drops and removes throwaways and spikes from the equation. He was on point across the board too, finishing third in accuracy rate on passes 20 yards or more downfield and second when under pressure.

Bad News: The Saints' struggles on defense were best captured in their 148 missed tackles (second-most overall). ILB Curtis Lofton paced the team with 22, missing one tackle for every 7.5 attempted, 49th out of the 70 LBs who saw at least 25 percent of their team's defensive snaps. Safety Kenny Vaccaro wasn't much help either: He whiffed on one tackle for every 4.5 attempted, second-worst among safeties who played 50 percent of their team's snaps.

Positional Needs

by Mike Triplett, ESPN.com

Cornerback: The Saints badly need a reliable No. 2 cornerback across from Keenan Lewis. They tried rotating Patrick Robinson, Corey White, Brian Dixon and Terrence Frederick through the Nos. 2 and 3 jobs all year, but none proved to be the answer. New Orleans might have to spend decent money in free agency for someone who's ready to start immediately. The top CBs on the open market include Seattle's Byron Maxwell and San Diego's Brandon Flowers.

Linebacker: This is a top need even if the Saints' best pass-rusher, Junior Galette, doesn't wind up facing a suspension because of a January arrest. OLB Parys Haralson is a free agent, and ILB David Hawthorne, who's due $4.5 million in salary and bonuses in 2015, is a potential candidate to get cut. Even if they both return, the Saints lack a dynamic athlete who can cover a ton of space in the open field, which is probably why they allowed the most runs of 20-plus yards in the NFL this season (19).

Guard: Starters Jahri Evans, 31, and Ben Grubbs, 30, are still above average, but their salaries are huge (an average of $8.1 million and $7.2 million per year, respectively) and they've showed signs of regression. Even if they keep both Evans and Grubbs, the Saints must start developing future replacements, maybe even in Round 1 of the draft.