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1 major move each divisional-round loser needs to make in offseason

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With only four teams remaining, the offseason is under way for the heavy majority of NFL clubs - and four more teams just joined the ranks.

As the Seahawks, Texans, Packers/Cowboys, and Chiefs/Steelers got one step closer to reaching a Super Bowl, they will be even hungrier to complete the journey next year - but they'll have some business to take care of this offseason before any of that can happen.

Seahawks - Invest in offensive line

The Seahawks' inexperienced line cost Seattle at least two points Saturday when rookie guard Rees Odhiambo tripped Russell Wilson into his own end zone. It wasn't anything new - the Seahawks blockers have been atrocious for a few seasons now and it's time something was done about it.

Seattle will have more cap room than usual this offseason and no key contributors they need to lock up, so there shouldn't be any excuses not to be in the hunt for free-agent blockers.

George Fant, a man who started playing offensive tackle this season, can not be the blindside protector of your franchise quarterback.

Texans - Replace veteran staples

It would be nice to get a new quarterback in there, but Brock Osweiler's $25-million dead cap hit will keep that from happening this offseason. Despite their quarterback issues, the Texans have a good team, but they need to think about how to replace veteran staples J.J. Watt and Duane Brown.

Watt can't be expected to return to his full form after back injuries and Brown, a nine-year veteran at left tackle, is starting to slow down. Neither needs to be replaced with an immediate starter, but the groundwork should be laid through the draft as the team is built around strength at both positions.

Cowboys - Trade Tony Romo

Since he only played one drive this season, losing Romo won't change much in the Cowboys' attack, but ridding the payroll of his contract is crucial.

The Cowboys are set to have negative cap space when the official 2017 year begins, with Romo's $24.7-million hit leading the way. The veteran's $19.6-million dead cap number also means that cutting him could be just as crippling as keeping him - so a trade is necessary.

Few teams have the cap space to take on Romo's contract, and, of the group that could afford him, there's not much hope for the quarterback to join a championship contender. The most feasible way for him to move on would likely be to work out a trade where he could agree to renegotiate his deal with a new team once they acquire him, but that too could prove to be tricky.

Chiefs - Lock up Eric Berry

It was a tad curious to see the Chiefs elect not to give their defending Comeback Player of the Year, Eric Berry, a long-term contract last summer, but after another Pro Bowl nod, the time has come.

Berry appears to have taken the reigns from Derrick Johnson as the leader of the Chiefs' division-winning defense, finishing second in team tackles behind the veteran linebacker. While the Chiefs could be low on cap space, Berry's popularity with teammates and fans would make it difficult to part ways.

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