Ten days into the new league year, free agency is grinding to a halt. With Dwayne Bowe landing in Cleveland and Michael Crabtree visiting Miami, the marquee names will soon be off the board entirely.
From Around The NFL's original list of the Top 101 Free Agents, just 27 names remain. The teams below can choose from that crop or wait for next month's draft to round out their rosters.
Here are 10 positions that still need to be filled after the initial wave of free agency.
1. Cowboys running back:Darren McFadden is an interesting fit because he is more reliant on scheme and offensive line than other backs, but it's a leap of faith to suggest he will remain healthy and productive for 16 games. The Cowboys needs a more reliable replacement for the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year. Other teams in need of a running back include the Cardinals, Chargers and Jaguars.
2. Titans quarterback: The Browns have added Josh McCown, the Jets have traded for Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills have acquired Matt Cassel and the Texans signed Brian Hoyer. Are the Titans just waiting for the draft? Zach Mettenberger has finished the last two seasons watching from the sideline (once in the pros and once at LSU). His rookie stint showed a quarterback unable to move the chains until garbage time. Quarterback is a major need, whether they realize it or not. We resisted the urge to include the Bears and Bengals in this category.
3. Buccaneers offensive tackle: The Bucs released Anthony Collins, last year's failed savior at left tackle. It's understandable that the position hasn't been addressed in free agency, as blindside protectors were nonexistent on the open market. That said, this team can't draft a quarterback at No. 1 overall and place him behind a sinkhole of an offensive line. The Rams are another team in need of multiple linemen.
4. Raiders wide receiver: For all of the praise lavished on Derek Carr for rookie-year exceeding expectations, the offense was among the leaders in three-and-outs and near the bottom in big plays. One of main culprits was a speed-deficient wide receiver corps that couldn't separate from coverage. The Raiders struck out in free agency after reportedly targeting Randall Cobb and Julius Thomas. Other teams in need of a wide receiver include the Eagles, Ravens, Bears, Browns and Panthers.
5. Seahawks center: Seattle had one of the league's best run-blocking centers in Max Unger, only to flip him to New Orleans in the Jimmy Graham blockbuster. Former Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski, who visited the Seahawks last week, remains a possibility. The Chiefs are another team in need of a center after Rodney Hudson absconded to Oakland.
6. Steelers cornerback: The Steelers exited the playoffs with a talented, young offensive nucleus seemingly prepared to contend for the AFC title in 2015. Unfortunately, the defense has been picked apart with the losses of Jason Worilds, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. Cornerback has been the biggest need for two years now, with no upgrade in sight. The Patriots still need an upgrade as well, even with the recent signing of Eagles castoff Bradley Fletcher.
7. Browns tight end:Jordan Cameron took his Pro Bowl potential to South Beach, leaving the Browns with a passel of size-challenged wide receivers and slow-moving tight ends. Rob Housler, one of the speediest tight ends in the league, could be a match.
8. Redskins safety: The Redskins haven't upgraded at the position since appearing on this list last offseason. Ryan Clark retired and Brandon Meriweather won't be brought back, leaving the secondary without two starters. The Giants and Colts are other teams in need of a replacement.
9. Jaguars pass rusher: The Jags did well to add Jared Odrick as a versatile defensive lineman, but that won't fix one of the weakest pass rushers in the league. An edge rusher should be targeted with the No. 3 overall pick. The Falcons still need help in this area after signing three pass rushers who have averaged 2.97 sacks per season in their NFL careers.
10. Saints guard: The Saints did well to add Unger to the interior, but they traded veteran Ben Grubbs and seem to be undecided about Jahri Evans' $11 million cap number. If they are truly changing their identity to lean more on the ground attack, they need another reliable starter. The Eagles also have issues at guard, with Evan Mathis reportedly on the trading block and Todd Herremans in Indianapolis.
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