Glaring NFL Team Needs

Welcome back to our Glaring Team Needs series! It. Is. Finally. Here! At 8:30pm ET, the 2011 season officially kicks off. Perhaps it was that whole lockout thing (Remember?), but it has felt like a much longer time since the last game was played. Luckily, we are in the best time of season when there is football pretty much every Thursday thru Sunday. Now, a look at the Dolphins, Raiders, Saints and what they may be looking for in the 2012 draft.

 

1. Miami Dolphins - Biggest Need: OL The Dolphins have got some decent offensive weapons highlighted by Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush. Because of these weapons many believe it is Chad Henne's do or die year, but the offensive line might have trouble helping in that quest. 2011 1st round pick in Mike Pouncey and Jake Long are nice cornerstones. However, Marc Colombo wont hold up at right tackle all season and Vernon Carey is also on the wrong side of 30. Adding another top talent to either bookend and solidify the left side of the line could help them be a bigger threat in the competitive AFC East.  2012 Draft Pick: Matt Reynolds, OG/OT BYU Reynolds has been around for a while due to his Mormon mission, but he has the ability to be a great RT or OG. Personally, he projects better inside.

 

1. Oakland Raiders - Biggest Need: QB Its too easy to try and troll on the Raiders. But they have accumulated a bevy of fast weapons on offense and where there is age on the defense, youth is waiting in the wings. The more I think about it, what is really stopping the Raiders from being in the running for one of the top quarterbacks? Sure, they used a relatively high pick on Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft, but not high enough that they have to be handcuffed to him or even play at him at quarterback, though they most likely are. No one is ever really sure what Al Davis is going to do and he could shock everyone by getting a top QB prospect. 2012 Draft Pick: Nick Foles, QB Arizona Foles is the prototypical QB on paper, but has disappeared in the Wildcats biggest games. Could be a QB who tests very well in the combine environment.

1. New Orleans Saints - Biggest Need: CB  The Saints are another hard roster to crack. No immediate needs jump out at this point, but the 16 week season may show some flaws. A OT to pair with Bushrod would be nice, but not a gaping hole. One place that could use a helping hand is the corner position. Former 1st round pick Malcolm Jenkins has been moved to safety leaving Tracey Porter and Jabari Green who are good, but not great corners. Green is also going to be 30 at the end of the season and teaming an elite talent CB with the other great young talent on defense will help in the QB driven NFC South. 2012 Draft Pick: Janoris Jenkins, CB North Alamaba Jenkins has a bad history with the law, hence his attendance at North Alabama after playing at Florida, but he has always had great talent. New Orleans should be picking late and have shown a willingness to gamble on talent.