Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

The NFL draft is in the books, but that doesn't mean each team addressed all its needs.

NFL Nation looks at the remaining question each team faces that could linger into the season.

AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

AFC EAST

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Buffalo Bills

Do the Bills have good enough pass catchers for their starting QB to succeed?
We'll find out this summer whether AJ McCarron or first-round pick Josh Allen wins the starting job, but in either case, there are questions about whether the Bills have done enough to upgrade their wide receiver and tight end positions. If Kelvin Benjamin and Charles Clay stay healthy and are effective, the Bills will be fine. If not, there is little depth and a lack of top-tier prospects -- outside of 2017 second-round pick Zay Jones, who was disappointing as a rookie -- to support a first-time starting quarterback. -- Mike Rodak

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Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Miami Dolphins

Who will replace Ndamukong Suh in the middle of the Dolphins' defensive line?
The team addressed multiple needs in the draft, from tight end to defenders who could match up against tight ends. But none of its eight draft picks can play defensive tackle. That's one area the Dolphins will have to address, either through internal development or free agency, in the coming months. -- Kevin Seifert

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

New England Patriots

Did the Patriots do enough to help their linebacker corps?
One of their top needs entering the draft, they stayed put in the first round as four off-the-line linebackers were selected before their pick at No. 23, and then waited until the fifth and sixth rounds to select Purdue's Ja'Whaun Bentley (more of a middle linebacker) and Arizona State's Christian Sam (more of a weakside linebacker), respectively. Adding more speed and athleticism to the front seven seemed like a must after Super Bowl LII, and the draft was one of the primary avenues to do so. -- Mike Reiss

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

New York Jets

Will the Jets regret ignoring the offensive line?
The Jets believe they found their franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold, but they didn't take an offensive lineman. They signed centers Spencer Long (Redskins) and Travis Swanson (Lions), and they have Kelvin Beachum, Brandon Shell, Brent Qvale, James Carpenter and Brian Winters returning, so there's not an immediate need. But any NFL franchise that doesn't respect the need for depth and quality on the O-line does so at its own peril. The Jets now have a glut of quarterbacks. Something has to give. -- Lenn Robbins

AFC NORTH

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Baltimore Ravens

How much will Lamar Jackson get on the field this season?
The Ravens made it clear Joe Flacco is the starting quarterback this year, but team officials have been vague on whether Jackson will see any game action. When Ravens offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was the play-caller in Philadelphia, he devised special packages for Michael Vick when he wasn't the starter. There's no question the Ravens view their first-rounder as a quarterback. The uncertainty is how much everyone sees of Jackson, who has been described as a "unique talent" by team officials. -- Jamison Hensley

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Cincinnati Bengals

Did the Bengals do enough to fix their offensive line?
Sure, they added LT Cordy Glenn and C Billy Price, but they didn't address the tackle position until the seventh round of the draft. That leaves holes on the right side of the line, and there is no sure starter penciled in at either right guard or right tackle. The Bengals didn't feel there were enough good tackles in this year's draft to reach for one, but that could remain a problem down the road. -- Katherine Terrell

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Cleveland Browns

Will Baker Mayfield be able to learn and develop behind Tyrod Taylor, or will he be thrown into action as a rookie?
He'll start the season as a third-stringer with the expectation of being brought along slowly, but will the plan change? -- Pat McManamon

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Pittsburgh Steelers

What will the Steelers do now at inside linebacker?
A massive hole remains in the spot Ryan Shazier deftly commanded for four years, but the Steelers ignored the position in favor of two safeties in the first five rounds. They signed free agent Jon Bostic, who's more of a stopgap. Here's where it gets interesting, though: The Steelers navigated a weak linebacker class by getting versatile players who might be able to handle linebacker duties in third-down subpackages. "Those lines bleed together" in today's hybrid NFL, coach Mike Tomlin said. So perhaps first-round pick Terrell Edmunds will end up replacing Shazier, he just doesn't know it yet. -- Jeremy Fowler

AFC SOUTH

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Houston Texans

Who will start the season as the Texans' backup quarterback?
It's a good problem to have when the most pressing question is about a backup. But as Houston learned last season after Deshaun Watson tore his ACL, it's an important one. The Texans did not draft a quarterback, so along with Watson, the only two passers on the roster are Joe Webb III and Brandon Weeden. -- Sarah Barshop

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Indianapolis Colts

Who will be the Colts' starting right tackle?
The Colts made the offensive line a priority during the draft. They used two of their first three picks on guards -- Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith -- to go with center Ryan Kelly and left tackle Anthony Castonzo. Now it's about finding out who will play right tackle along what should be an improved offensive line next season. Joe Haeg and Denzelle Good are the two internal candidates. But don't be surprised if general manager Chris Ballard looks to bring in more players via free agency to continue his theme of adding more bodies to increase the competition for snaps and also add depth on the roster. -- Mike Wells

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Jacksonville Jaguars

Can the tight end position be productive?
The addition of Austin Seferian-Jenkins offsets the loss of Marcedes Lewis, but Seferian-Jenkins averaged just 7.1 yards per catch on 50 receptions in 2017. Niles Paul, another FA signee, has 68 career catches but was signed to have a big role on special teams. David Grinnage, Ben Koyack and James O'Shaughnessy have a combined 46 career catches. That's not enough production to help Blake Bortles in the middle of the field. Seferian-Jenkins is the best blocker, but he's a step down from Lewis, so the Jaguars' run game might be impacted, too. -- Mike DiRocco

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Tennessee Titans

Are the Titans satisfied with their WR core?
The Titans got subpar production at receiver last season despite adding Corey Davis (first-round pick), Taywan Taylor (third-round pick) and Eric Decker (free-agent pickup), but this offseason, they didn't draft a wide out and signed only veteran backup Michael Campanaro. Titans GM Jon Robinson seems to have ignored the position, but he said, "I like that position group, I really do." Robinson is confident that Davis and Taylor can make a big Year 2 jump under a new coaching staff. They are also high on Tajae Sharpe, who missed the 2017 season because of injury, and the always productive Rishard Matthews. -- Cameron Wolfe

AFC WEST

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Denver Broncos

What's Paxton Lynch's future?
He is a 2016 first-rounder the Broncos traded up to select, but he lost back-to-back training camp battles to Trevor Siemian and has been limited to four starts in two seasons combined. As the draft drew to a close Saturday, president of football operations/general manager John Elway said the Broncos will not acquire another quarterback during organized team activities and minicamp and will instead let Lynch and Chad Kelly, a seventh-round pick in last year's draft, compete for the No. 2 spot behind Case Keenum. Elway has said he still believes in Lynch's potential, but it was the first time Elway has also publicly put Kelly on the same footing as Lynch moving forward. -- Jeff Legwold

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Kansas City Chiefs

Did the Chiefs fix their defense?
They added a couple of defensive starters through free agency and traded for a third. They also drafted defensive players with their first five picks, and they're getting back a couple of injured players in Eric Berry and Dee Ford. But the Chiefs also parted with four defensive starters this offseason, including Marcus Peters and Derrick Johnson. Maybe they just have been treading water, which isn't good enough. -- Adam Teicher

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Los Angeles Chargers

When will the Chargers draft a QB?
The Chargers did extensive work on this year's quarterback draft class, with coach Anthony Lynn personally attending Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold's pro days. However, for a fifth straight year, the Chargers did not draft a quarterback. Cardale Jones and Geno Smith will battle it out for the No. 2 job behind veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers. However, the Chargers could use a developmental prospect to groom as an eventual replacement for the aging Rivers. The Chargers have not selected a quarterback in the draft since 2013. -- Eric D. Williams

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Oakland Raiders

What's going on with NaVorro Bowman?
Sure, the Raiders drafted an inside linebacker in Washington's Azeem Victor in the sixth round, and they have last year's fifth-rounder in Marquel Lee and signed Tahir Whitehead in free agency. But the big question mark is Bowman. The Raiders need experience at middle linebacker, and Bowman helped shore up the interior of Oakland's defense after signing in October. While the Raiders would like to bring him back, he has yet to re-sign. This question will hang over the Raiders until he either re-signs, signs elsewhere or retires. -- Paul Gutierrez

NFC EAST

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams - ESPN

Dallas Cowboys

Are the Cowboys really content at safety?
At the moment, the Cowboys are looking at Jeff Heath and either Kavon Frazier or Xa

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