What should each NFL team be worried about entering camp? Picking one concern for all 32

As the offseason creeps along slowly with four weeks remaining until training camp, every NFL team still has lingering questions about its roster.

Did the front office do enough in free agency and the draft to take a step forward? How will the new additions pan out? Can the players stay healthy? Will the starting quarterback’s minicamp absence be a distraction?

As the offseason creeps along slowly with four weeks remaining until training camp, every NFL team still has lingering questions about its roster.

Did the front office do enough in free agency and the draft to take a step forward? How will the new additions pan out? Can the players stay healthy? Will the starting quarterback’s minicamp absence be a distraction?

Baltimore Ravens

Did they do enough to fill their defensive holes?

This offseason saw an exodus from arguably the league’s best defense in 2023. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and key position coaches Dennard Wilson and Anthony Weaver left for promotions elsewhere. The Ravens also lost outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, cornerback Ronald Darby and safety Geno Stone, among others, in free agency. They added some pieces in the draft and are confident several younger players will emerge at other spots. Still, their defensive depth, particularly at outside and inside linebacker and safety, could become a significant problem if injuries hit. — Jeff Zrebiec

Buffalo Bills

Does Josh Allen have enough to work with at wide receiver?

Just one wideout on the roster has caught a pass from Allen in a game. That’s third-year pro Khalil Shakir, who has looked promising but still has a ways to go to establish his bona fides. Buffalo parted with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, who combined for 162 receptions, 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Also gone are depth receivers Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield. The organization has collected a menagerie to complement tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, including newcomers Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, K.J. Hamler, Mack Hollins, reclamation scratch-off ticket Chase Claypool and 2023 fourth-rounder Justin Shorter. Fans are excited by 33rd pick Keon Coleman, although rookie receivers offer no guarantees.  The new faces must win Allen’s trust to make this offense work. — Tim Graham

Carolina Panthers

Who besides Jadeveon Clowney can get to the quarterback?

The Panthers were a top-five defense last year despite getting solid but unspectacular production from edge rushers Brian Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos, both of whom departed this spring. They signed veteran Jadeveon Clowney to a two-year deal and added former Viking D.J. Wonnum in free agency. But Wonnum (quad) won’t be ready for the start of training camp, and the rest of the outside linebacker group was either hurt or underwhelming during the spring. Expect general manager Dan Morgan to keep a close eye on the waiver wire, where the Panthers have first dibs the first three weeks of the season. — Joseph Person

Chicago Bears

Can they protect Caleb Williams?

The Bears feel confident in their projected starting offensive line: left tackle Braxton Jones, left guard Teven Jenkins, center Ryan Bates, right guard Nate Davis and right tackle Darnell Wright. But it’s still a unit that will benefit from more time together. They didn’t get it during the offseason program. There are two players to watch. The first is Bates, a backup guard for the Buffalo Bills last season who is competing with Coleman Shelton. The second is Davis, who appeared in only 11 games last season after signing a three-year, $30 million contract last year. — Adam Jahns

Cincinnati Bengals

Should they add a veteran running back?

The shift from Joe Mixon to a combination of Zack Moss and Chase Brown came by design to create more explosiveness and versatility. Yet, the Bengals feel one man short as they search for a third-down back. Moss can fill the role, but backups Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans need competition. Samaje Perine filled this masterfully in 2022 (and might end up being the answer here if Denver cuts him), but the Bengals never replaced him. Jerick McKinnon, Joshua Kelley, Latavius Murray and Matt Breida are all free agents and took a higher percentage of third-and-long snaps than any Bengals running back last year. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Cleveland Browns

What will they get from Deshaun Watson?

If this feels awkwardly familiar, it should. For the third straight offseason, the internal focus revolves around getting Watson ready to play at a consistently high level. This year, he is recovering from November shoulder surgery and might not be fully cleared by the start of camp. The Browns feel like they have a top-shelf roster and enough pieces to help Watson, but his ceiling is the team’s ceiling. Watson is set to play in 2024 at a record salary-cap number of $63.9 million, and the Browns as a whole have become an older team. It’s not that Watson has to be phenomenal in September, but by the back half of the season, we’ll probably know if he can finally deliver big returns — or if the Browns’ big spending might yield only mediocre results. — Zac Jackson

Dallas Cowboys

How quickly will injured defenders return to expected form?

The Cowboys have justified a lot of their inactivity, particularly on the defensive side, by pointing to the return of players they lost last year to season-ending injuries. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown showed promise in training camp as a rookie, but his season ended with a torn ACL in the preseason. Trevon Diggs got off to a great start but tore his ACL in practice before Week 3. Although the Cowboys added Eric Kendricks in free agency, they’ll rely heavily on Overshown emerging as the real deal. After not re-signing Stephon Gilmore, they’ll also count on Diggs returning to his All-Pro level to hold down one side opposite of DaRon Bland. — Saad Yousuf

Denver Broncos

Do they have enough of a ceiling at quarterback?

The Broncos have been pleased with rookie Bo Nix’s progress. They believe longtime backup Jarrett Stidham has starting potential and looks comfortable in his second year in Sean Payton’s offensive system. Zach Wilson has talent that could make him a problem for defenses if he can put it all together. Having all three on the roster gives the Broncos options at quarterback in 2024 — but few guarantees. Nix is the future after being selected with the 12th pick in April’s draft, but can the sixth quarterback selected immediately operate the offense more efficiently than Russell Wilson did last season? The lukewarm expectations for the Broncos externally are primarily tied to the big question at quarterback. — Nick Kosmider

Detroit Lions

Do they finally have enough to elevate their defense?

The Lions made a series of moves to address a defense that allowed the third-most points per game (23.2) of any playoff team last season. Even then, Detroit made it to the NFC Championship Game, but their defensive deficiencies were on display throughout the season. To address those issues, the Lions traded for Carlton Davis III, signed Amik Robertson and drafted Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the first two rounds — all cornerbacks. They also signed tackle D.J. Reader and edge Marcus Davenport to strengthen their defensive line. The hope is that these pieces won’t take long to integrate and that Aaron Glenn will finally have the horses to run his aggressive, man-heavy defense. — Colton Pouncy

Green Bay Packers

How will the second outside cornerback spot shake out?

Eric Stokes is starting there now opposite Jaire Alexander, but the 2021 first-round pick, despite everyone singing his praises in May and June, has barely played over the last season and a half. Carrington Valentine held his own as a seventh-round rookie in 2023, but do the Packers see him as consistent starter material or just a worthy fill-in like last season? The Packers didn’t draft a cornerback, so it’ll be on one of those two to show the flashes they’ve shown in the past can happen regularly. — Matt Schneidman

Houston Texans

How will additions to the secondary fare, and is there enough linebacker depth?

The Texans knew they had holes to fill in their secondary and tried to address those needs by drafting cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock. It could take some time for the unit, including corners Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson, to solidify. However, the linebacker unit also represents an area of concern because of limited playmakers. Free agent addition Azeez Al-Shaair helps, and Christian Harris remains in the mix, but depth is a real issue. There aren’t any obvious developmental difference-makers to turn to if either goes down with an injury, and few reliable options remain in the free agent market. — Mike Jones

Indianapolis Colts

Will Anthony Richardson continue feeling shoulder soreness?

The Colts will go as far as Richardson and his surgically right shoulder take them. The second-year quarterback underwent season-ending surgery last October and began throwing again in February. Richardson was fully cleared for spring practice but missed the final day of veteran minicamp due to what he described as “a little soreness” in his shoulder. He wasn’t concerned, nor was Colts coach Shane Steichen, who said Richardson would’ve played if they had an upcoming game. Richardson needs all the reps he can get after being limited to just four games as a rookie. But if he continues to miss practice this summer, the level of concern regarding his shoulder will only increase. — James Boyd

Jacksonville Jaguars

Who are they?

It’s more about the unseen and the unknown with the Jaguars. For as strong as they looked from late 2022 into early 2023, they were equally mistake-prone and inconsistent as they blew their AFC South lead to the Texans. So, was the success a mirage? Or will they be able to eradicate the mistakes and make another run at the playoffs? The staff changes clearly indicated Doug Pederson knew they couldn’t stay the course, so that’s a positive sign. And a healthier (and richer) Trevor Lawrence will be enough to shield the Jaguars from subtle faults. But we won’t know until the season whether they’re a changed team ready to meet the expectations that have been in place for a couple of years. — Jeff Howe

Kansas City Chiefs

Who will protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side?

The lone major position battle when the Chiefs start training camp next month is at left tackle, the premium position most responsible for protecting the blind side of Mahomes, the league’s best quarterback. The two players competing for the job are rookie Kingsley Suamataia and second-year player Wanya Morris. During mandatory minicamp, the Chiefs gave more first-team repetitions to Suamataia to help prepare him for the next few months. As a rookie, Morris was solid but showed he needed to improve as a pass protector. The primary concern is that both players struggle to progress throughout training camp and the preseason. — Nate Taylor

Las Vegas Raiders

Will someone step up at cornerback?

The Raiders have two starters set with outside corner Jack Jones and nickelback Nate Hobbs locked in as starters. The second outside cornerback spot, however, is up in the air. As it stands, it’s a three-way competition between Brandon Facyson, Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson. Facyson and Bennett both struggled with their health and performance last season and Richardson is a raw rookie, so it’s easy to understand the concern. Rather than sign a one-year stopgap, the Raiders hope the coaching staff can develop someone already on the roster into a competent starter. If that bet doesn’t pay off, the Raiders will have a significant weakness on a defense that otherwise looks to be in great shape. — Tashan Reed

Los Angeles Chargers

Do they have enough safety depth?

Coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz have done a commendable job turning over the roster and filling out depth in their first offseason together. But one position that lacks depth is safety. The starting pairing of Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman returns from 2023, but the players behind them are unproven. This could become an issue because defensive coordinator Jesse Minter plans to move James around. James played regularly in the slot during spring practices, and when he moves to that position, a safety must replace him in the deep part of the field. AJ Finley and JT Woods have been rotating with the first team when James moves to nickel. Those two have a combined 117 defensive snaps in their NFL careers. — Daniel Popper