Worst flaw for every NFC team: Cowboys, Commanders have glaring issues

Heading into the offseason, no team is perfect. Most will aim to address their flaws — some glaring, some not — in free agency (March 13) and in the NFL Draft (April 25-27 in Detroit). As identified by Yardbarker writers, here is the worst flaw for each NFC team:

NFC East 

DALLAS COWBOYS | Run defense | While Dallas' run defense improved by 16.9 yards per game in 2023, the team still gave up 222 rushing yards against Arizona in Week 3, 170 against San Francisco in Week 5 and 266 against Buffalo in Week 15 — three of the team’s five regular-season losses. Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones sealed Dallas' playoff fate with 118 yards rushing and three TDs in a 48-32 wild-card win, giving new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer something to think about for 2024.

NEW YORK GIANTS | Passing game | Giants quarterbacks were sacked a league-high 85 times in 2023, which could explain their 31st-ranked passing game. Of course, the three-headed monster of QBs Tommy DeVito, Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor did them no favors, but 552 yards and one touchdown from free-agent tight end Darren Waller didn’t help either.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Secondary | Two thirty-something cornerbacks (Darius Slay, James Bradberry) and an undrafted free safety (Reed Blankenship) couldn’t get the job done last season. After allowing a league-best 179.8 passing yards per game in 2022, an overmatched secondary gave up 262.2 yards per game in 2023, second most in the NFL.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Quarterback | Last season, no quarterback took more sacks (65) or threw more interceptions (21) than first-year starter Sam Howell. Among starters with at least 12 games played, only the Jets' Zach Wilson (77.2) and Carolina’s Bryce Young (73.7) had a worse quarterback rating than Howell (78.9) in 2023. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Wide receiver | With Marquise “Hollywood” Brown set to become a free agent, the Cardinals have a desperate need for an impact receiver. No returning Cardinals wide receiver had more than 41 catches in 2023, which should make Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. a strong possibility with the No. 4 overall pick. 

LOS ANGELES RAMS | Secondary | The Rams never adequately replaced superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey after trading him to the Dolphins, finishing the 2023 season 20th in the NFL against the pass (231.1 yards per game). They need help at cornerback and safety and are set to have a first-round pick for the first time since the 2016 NFL Draft.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Offensive line | The 49ers do not have any glaring weaknesses, but it might be time to start thinking about rebuilding the offensive line and adding more depth at tackle. Three of their offensive line starters were over 30 in 2023, including 35-year-old left tackle Trent Williams, a future Hall of Famer. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Run defense | The Seahawks finished the 2023 season 31st in the NFL against the run, allowing 138.4 yards per game. It is a problem that must be addressed at defensive line and middle linebacker. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS |  Interior offensive line | The interior of the offensive line needs an upgrade, especially at right guard and center, where, as of now, they don't have a starter at the position for 2024. (Center Lucas Patrick is a pending free agent and the team released veteran guard Cody Whitehair.) Last season, Chicago's O-line recorded the fifth-worst pass-blocking efficiency grade, per Pro Football Focus (81.1), and only five quarterbacks had a higher percentage of pressures resulting in sacks than Justin Fields (19.3). 

DETROIT LIONS | Cornerback | This is a glaring hole on the Lions, and without significant upgrades at the position, it could hold back the franchise as its championship window begins to open. In 2023, the Lions had the third-lowest coverage grade in the NFL (52.6), per PFF, and after Cam Sutton struggled as the No. 1 CB, Detroit may need to make several new additions to shore up the spot. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Safety | The makeshift safety unit didn't fare well in 2023, struggling with injuries and tackling issues. Safeties Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens are scheduled to become free agents, and their potential replacements are inexperienced. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Quarterback | The Vikings have a group capable of contending in the NFC, but they still need a quarterback to lead the way. Kirk Cousins, who suffered a season-ending Achilles' injury in Week 8, is a pending free agent. Minnesota went only 3-6 without their starter down the stretch, so whether a reunion with Cousins is on the horizon or not, the team's 2024 hopes likely hinge on the decision they make at QB. — Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South 

ATLANTA FALCONS | Quarterback | Quarterbacks coach T.J. Yates put it succinctly when discussing Atlanta’s fatal flaw, telling the Falcons team site, “Obviously, we all know that position for this football team has to improve, and we’re going to do everything we can to improve that position.” The Falcons are a quarterback away from ruling the NFC South and must replace the uninspiring duo of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Wide receiver | The Panthers did rookie quarterback Bryce Young no favors by trading their best skill-position player, wideout D.J. Moore, to the Bears in the trade for last year’s No. 1 overall pick. Carolina wide receivers accounted for an NFL-low 3,245 receiving yards, including a paltry 4.1 yards after the catch per reception, also the worst in the league.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Defensive line | The Saints have problems on both of their lines, but changes in the offensive coaching staff are a positive sign for that side of the ball. However, the defensive line still has questions; for the second year in a row, the Saints struggled to stop the run, allowing 4.4 yards per carry in 2023, and ranked in the bottom five in pressure rate.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Rushing offense | Since 2016, Tampa Bay's average rank in rush offense has been 27.8, including last-place finishes in 2022 and 2023. The offensive line and running backs are equally responsible for the lack of production; in 2023, the Bucs tied for 31st in yards before contact (2.1) and tied for last in yards after contact (1.4). — Eric Smithling