With the 2023 NFL draft complete, these 7 teams still have major roster holes to address

The NFL draft is an excellent (and typically cheaper) opportunity for teams to fill holes on their depth charts, when compared with free agency.

But part of the issue with waiting until the draft to make a move is that teams have to be willing to be at the mercy of the board, and they may see a coveted player selected prior to their slot. Then, once a team is poised to pick again later in the draft, the position they may have been targeting might be depleted by then. That means that if teams still have holes on their rosters, there are simply fewer chances to fill them; cut day during training camp presents the option with the most player movement.

And, for teams that are playoff contenders, these holes could prove to be significant.

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Here are seven teams that, after the draft, still have holes to fill.

Dallas Cowboys depth at running back

It's a nice story, the Cowboys drafting running back Deuce Vaughn, whose father, Chris, is currently the assistant director of college scouting for the team. But Dallas' offensive identity over the past half decade has been on the ground and after the team released Ezekiel Elliott in March, it is missing the two in the one-two punch behind emerging star Tony Pollard. Vaughn, a sixth-round selection out of Kansas State, is only 5-foot-5 and doesn't figure to be a threat to get a substantial volume of carries and — if he makes the team at all — looks bound for a role on special teams. The good news for Dallas is that both team execs and Elliott have spoken publicly about a potential return on a reduced contract.

Buffalo Bills at wide receiver

The Bills still have Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis — two excellent weapons on the outside. The problem is that Diggs' contract suddenly will eat up a significant amount of salary cap space starting in 2024, and Davis is entering the final season of his rookie contract this upcoming year. As it was, the Bills already needed some depth at the position, with Khalil Shakir projected to be the third receiver, so Buffalo — and quarterback Josh Allen — will likely be feeling the lack of depth at the position. The Bills did select receiver Justin Shorter, a tall target out of Florida with some deep-play ability, in the fifth round. Buffalo, though, did move up in the first round to pick tight end Dalton Kincaid at No. 25, and he becomes an instant pass-catching threat. Still, the Bills could stand to give Allen some more help and will almost certainly need to in subsequent free agency and draft cycles.

Atlanta Falcons' pass rush

While the Falcons have done some work to shore up a pass rush that was sorely lacking pop — signing veteran Calais Campbell helped slightly but was not enough — Atlanta simply didn't come away from the draft with a dynamic pass rusher. That goes for both off of the edge and along the interior. The Falcons did draft Ohio State edge Zach Harrison in the third round, but Atlanta ranked dead last in sacks per pass attempt (3.74%) in 2022. Harrison and Campbell are merely stopgaps. The Falcons held the No. 8 overall selection, so they had the chance to take a difference maker in defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who went one pick later to the Philadelphia Eagles. All this points to the Falcons possibly spending another season at the bottom of the league in sack production.

Los Angeles Rams at linebacker

Though Bobby Wagner ended up being a one-year rental, and while he was 32 last season and a slight step slower from his earlier days, he was still a force in the middle of the Los Angeles defense, racking up 140 total tackles, a pair of picks, 10 quarterback hits and a second-team All-Pro selection. And, yes, the Rams were tied for 21st in scoring defense (22.6 points per game allowed) last season, but the Rams didn't draft a true inside backer. Meanwhile, Christian Rozeboom and Ernest Jones aren't close to being on Wagner's level.

Cincinnati Bengals at right tackle

Once the Bengals signed four-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown to shore up their left tackle spot, they planned to transition three-year starter Jonah Williams to right tackle. Williams responded by requesting a trade. Cincinnati seems inclined to ride the season out with Williams, who is set to begin the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. Still, it will take some convincing to get him to buy into the move to the right side. Either way, it's seeming likely that Williams will want to move on at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Cincinnati will need to find a long-term replacement on the right side, and not drafting a single lineman leaves that hole open. Additionally, the Bengals didn't pick a tight end, another area of need.

New York Giants at wide receiver

New York traded up in the first round, but perhaps it should've moved up a little higher. The Giants had entered the night with the No. 25 pick but slid up one spot to take cornerback Deonte Banks out of Maryland, which filled one need. But as New York has reiterated its investment in quarterback Daniel Jones, it needs to give him better weapons. Trading for tight end Darren Waller was a start. A run on first-round receivers started at pick No. 20 and saw the next three selections devoted to the position, leaving the Giants on the outside. Still, New York did trade up in the third round to select Tennessee speedster Jalin Hyatt, who was widely projected to go higher. While Hyatt does have some potential, it will likely take time for him to develop into a consistent weapon, if he does at all.

Miami Dolphins' offensive tackle depth

The Dolphins have gone all-in for a shot at Super Bowl contention and has as complete a team as they have fielded in decades. Miami was rolling last season behind one of the most prolific offenses in the league, before injuries derailed its season. And while the two reported concussions that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will draw most of the coverage, the 19 combined missed games by both starting offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson were just as crucial. Miami had just four draft picks, so it was limited with what it could do. The Dolphins' lone offensive tackle selection came in the seventh round, Ryan Hayes out of Michigan, who figures to be a developmental prospect, at best. To be sure, with Armstead and Jackson, securing depth at tackle was more of a luxury need. Still, as last season showed, depth goes a long way, especially when the protection of the quarterback is paramount.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL draft 2023: Cowboys, Dolphins still have major needs to address