SEATTLE
Last season: Third in NFC West.
They need: DL, MLB, K. Needs help in middle of defense.
They don't need: QB and other skill positions, OL.
Possibile first pick: Kevin Williams, DT, Oklahoma State; Terrell Suggs, DE, Arizona State; Jimmy Kennedy, DT, Penn State.
Outlook: The Seahawks are stocked with a talented young offense, built in the last four drafts. Now, they must improve a defense that was the NFL's worst against the run and 28th overall.
ST. LOUIS
Last season: Rams let a Super Bowl hangover linger way too long and were slowed by injuries to several top stars, falling from 14-2 to 7-9.
They need: LB, CB.
They don't need: QB, WR.
Possibile first pick: Marcus Trufant, CB, Washington State, or Boss Bailey, LB, Georgia.
Outlook: The clock is ticking on group headed by QB Kurt Warner and RB Marshall Faulk, both hampered by injuries last season. CB Aeneas Williams also is coming off a career-threatening ankle injury. Urgent to return to prominence after last season's free fall.
NY JETS
Last season: After 2-5 start, rallied to make playoffs and win AFC East, then routed Colts in first round before losing at Oakland. Discovered a quarterback in Chad Pennington.
They need: Hurt by free agency departures at WR (Laveranues Coles), LB (James Darling) and G (Randy Thomas), they must find a wideout, a speedy LB and some help on both lines. Plus a KR to replace Chad Morton, awarded to Redskins by arbitrator.
They don't need: QB, RB, TE.
Possibile first pick: Boss Bailey, LB, Georgia; E.J. Henderson, LB, Maryland; Taylor Jacobs, WR, Florida. Also could package picks to move up.
Outlook: Jets got burned by losing Coles, but they can fill some big holes with their two first-round picks. The rest of AFC East has improved in free agency, so they must get better through the draft.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last season: Won first three games after their Super Bowl title, then struggled. Missed the playoffs on last weekend on a tiebreaker.
They need: Improvement in running game and stopping run. A tall WR, a solid OL and a DT to allow Richard Seymour to move to DE.
They don't need: QB, S, pass rusher.
Possibile first pick: Johnathan Sullivan, DT, Georgia; Kevin Williams, DT, Oklahoma State; package the two picks to trade up.
Outlook: Improved defense by signing free agents Rosevelt Colvin, a pass-rushing LB, and S Rodney Harrison. Hope for continued improvement from Tom Brady in his third year as starting QB and a better season from RB Antowain Smith.
SAN DIEGO
Last season: After 6-1 start, lost seven of last nine under new head coach Marty Schottenheimer to miss playoffs for seventh consecutive year. LB Junior Seau and SS Rodney Harrison shown the door after defense finished 30th overall.
They need: DL, OL, DB, WR.
They don't need: RB, QB.
Possibile first pick: Kevin Williams, DT, Oklahoma State; Troy Polamalu, S, Southern California; Johnathan Sullivan, DT, Georgia.
Outlook: Front office must carry on after GM John Butler, one of NFL's top talent evaluators, died of cancer. Butler had two strong drafts, starting with RB LaDainian Tomlinson and QB Drew Brees two years ago. Assistant GM A.J. Smith will run draft.
KANSAS CITY
Last season: Last on defense, fourth on offense, which tells it all.
They need: Defense and backup RB. They can't afford an injury to RB Priest Holmes, who underwent hip surgery in offseason.
They don't need: Much help on offense.
Possibile first pick: Trade down; Andre Woolfolk, DB, Oklahoma; Kevin Williams, DT, Oklahoma State.
Outlook: Signing DE Vonnie Holliday capped an aggressive campaign to upgrade defense. Now Chiefs have more flexibility in draft. GM Carl Peterson likes idea of trading down to get an extra pick.
NEW ORLIENS
Last season: Opened season 6-1, then stumbled late for the second year in a row and missed playoffs.
They need: Defensive help, although trade for S Tebucky Jones will help.
They don't need: TE since signing free agent Ernie Conwell; RB.
Possibile first pick: Andre Woolfolk, CB Oklahoma; Kevin Williams, DT, Oklahoma State; E.J. Henderson, LB, Maryland.
Outlook: Without ex-GM Randy Mueller, the Saints were less active in free agency. With consecutive first-round picks, they hope to help the defense and add speed to the secondary. The offense set team records last season, while the defense struggled.
DENVER
Last season: Broncos ranked third in total offense and sixth in defense. But after a 6-2 start, they went 3-5, including two overtime losses. QB Brian Griese was made the scapegoat. Signed QB Jake Plummer on March 5 and indicated they will release Griese after June 1.
They need: A pass-rushing DE, OL, CB.
They don't need: RB; QB -- Plummer signed a seven-year, $40 million deal and veteran Steve Beuerlein agreed to return for another season as the backup.
Possibile first pick: Chris Kelsay, DE, Nebraska.
Outlook: Head coach Mike Shanahan thinks only a few changes are necessary to restore team to playoff status. Better QB play and another solid year by RB Clinton Portis, the Offensive Rookie of the Year, could get them there.
CLEVELAND
Last season: After 2-4 start, Browns won seven of 10 to make playoffs for first time since returning in 1999. Then, blew 17-point lead and lost to Pittsburgh in first round.
They need: Following second-half playoff meltdown, head coach Butch Davis gutted defense, allowing LBs Dwayne "What-happened-to-my-helmet?" Rudd and Earl Holmes and CB Corey Fuller to leave.
They don't need: QB: have two in Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb; RB William Green, last year's first-round pick, could be future star.
Possibile first pick: E.J. Henderson, LB, Maryland; William Joseph, DT, Miami; Eric Steinbach, G, Iowa; trade down.
Outlook: Only thing Davis likes better than wins are draft picks, so don't be surprised if Browns trade down and pick up another Day 1 pick, perhaps another second-rounder.
BUFFALO
Last season: With Drew Bledsoe running the offense, Bills enjoyed an encouraging rebound from 3-13, but patchwork defense struggled.
They need: Pass-rushing DE and DL depth; S; KR.
They don't need: QB, WR, CB, TE.
Possibile first pick: Michael Haynes, DE, Penn State; William Joseph, DT, Miami; Kenny Peterson, DT, Ohio State; Ty Warren, DT, Texas A&M.
Outlook: By revamping defense with free-agent LBs Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey, DT Sam Adams, the Bills could be AFC East contenders.
INDIANAPOLIS
Last season: Tony Dungy's arrival as coach and a draft in which the Colts went almost exclusively with defensive players made a difference. Defensive rankings improved dramatically and Colts returned to playoffs. But lack of running game and 41-0 playoff loss to Jets exposed holes.
They need: CB, S, LB, TE.
They don't need: RB, QB.
Possibile first pick: Eugene Wilson, CB, Illinois; Andre Woolfolk, CB, Oklahoma; Mike Doss, S, Ohio State.
Outlook: If RB Edgerrin James is healthy, offense remains one of league's best, and a young defense could again make major strides. To become a Super Bowl contender, though, the Colts need more defense.
NY GIANTS
Last season: Rebuilding on offense finally paid off with rookie TE Jeremy Shockey providing the final physical and emotional lift. Offense carried New York to season-ending four-game winning streak and a 24-point lead against the 49ers in the wild-card game before defense collapsed.
They need: Defense, defense, defense, especially on the line. Could use OL in the second round and depth at cornerback and safety later on.
They don't need: QB, RB, WR, TE, or anything on special teams after free-agent signing frenzy.
Possibile first pick: Traded up in the last two drafts to get CB Will Allen and Shockey. Three times gets them either Jerome McDougle, DE, Miami, or Johnathan Sullivan, DT, Georgia.
Outlook: Offense can carry them. DE Michael Strahan needs some help, especially if DT Keith Hamilton doesn't make it back from Achilles' tendon injury. Special teams are solid with P Jeff Feagles, PK Mike Hollis, return man Brian Mitchell and long snapper Ryan Kuehl.