During the offseason, approximately 32 NFL teams consider themselves contenders on some level or another. But in reality, only a dozen or so teams are real threats to do damage in the playoffs.
Sure, someone is going to win the NFC South. But a week later, it isn't going to matter.
For the most part, contenders don't have many glaring weaknesses. But just last year, the Minnesota Vikings won 13 games despite an awful pass defense. Even contenders have flaws that could be their undoing in the postseason.
Each of the contenders listed here has such a flaw—or at least a potential one. Luckily, for every flaw, there's a player capable of filling it.
Sometimes it's in free agency. Sometimes it's in the NFL draft. And sometimes it's via a trade.
Every NFL contender has at least one player whom they should be looking to acquire—a target who will get them one step closer to Super Bowl LVIII.
Baltimore Ravens: WR Odell Beckham Jr.
We're working under the assumption that Lamar Jackson will be the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback in 2023. There has been no indication that another team is willing to give up the bonanza of draft capital and salary it would take to pry him away from the Ravens.
That leads us back to the problem the Ravens have seemingly had from the moment Jackson took over under center: His wide receiver corps is among the weakest in the NFL.
The Ravens recently added Nelson Agholor to that group. But while speaking to reporters at the NFL owners' meetings, head coach John Harbaugh indicated Baltimore isn't done in that regard.
"We're not done; we're not done in there at all—plus, the guys we've got coming back," Harbaugh said.
Provided that he's fully recovered from the ACL tear he suffered in Super Bowl LVI, Beckham would offer Jackson a true No. 1 wideout. He's capable of winning 50/50 battles in the red zone and can be a go-to guy.
As the Ravens attempt to mend fences with Jackson, they need to go get him a wideout.
Buffalo Bills: LB Jack Campbell
The Buffalo Bills have one of the most balanced and talented rosters in the NFL, and they have already taken steps this offseason to address their needs. They signed guard Connor McGovern to boost the offensive line and signed running back Damien Harris to add some depth to the backfield.
But after standout linebacker Tremaine Edmunds signed with the Chicago Bears, the Bills have a considerable hole in the middle of the defense. They already have in-house replacements in Tyrel Dodson and Terrel Bernard, but neither are better than average.
Iowa's Jack Campbell is the B/R Scouting Department's highest-ranked linebacker in the 2023 draft class. While Campbell isn't a wildly athletic prospect, B/R's Matt Holder sees plenty to like in the 6'5", 249-pounder.
"He has impressive speed when coming downhill, which helps him plug gaps against the run and close on pass-catchers in zone coverage," Holder wrote. "He's also arguably the best linebacker at stack-and-shedding in this draft class, and he has good instincts in zone coverage."
Campbell is the B/R Scouting Department's 27th-ranked overall prospect, so he could be a legitimate target for Buffalo at No. 27.