During a 16-game season, injuries and unforeseen circumstances can often decimate positional depth. Unfortunately, that certainly rang true during Sunday's action and now numerous teams will have to scramble to fill positions where they're sorely lacking.
Not all needs are created equally, however. Here is a ranking of positional groups that need assistance, from least needy to most needy.
4. Panthers' tight ends
Greg Olsen was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls and operated as Cam Newton's safety valve, developing one of the best quarterback-tight end rapports in the league. However, Olsen broke his foot during Sunday's win against the Buffalo Bills and will be out indefinitely. The Panthers now need immediate help with Ed Dickson embodying the label of "replacement level."
It's nearly impossible to replace Olsen's impact and production but the market is full of players that can serve as reasonable, if unspectacular facsimiles. For the time being, the Panthers will rely on Dickson and a prayer.
3. Cowboys' cornerbacks
Nolan Carroll and Chidobe Awuzie both suffered injuries during Sunday's loss to the Broncos, leaving the Cowboys with Anthony Brown, rookie Jourdan Lewis, and Bene Benwikere as their three healthy cornerbacks.
To recap: Brown did a good job during his foray into pro football but he's being asked to function as a No. 1 option in his sophomore year, to say nothing of the rookie Lewis. Benwikere was roasted so badly by Julio Jones during a 300-yard performance last year that he was cut immediately by the Carolina Panthers following his dubious showing. This could get ugly quickly for a team with Super Bowl ambitions.
2. Bears' wide receivers
Cameron Meredith and Kevin White suffered season-ending injuries before the year began in earnest, the latter of whom has only been able to play five games in three seasons. Even with Meredith and White healthy, the Bears may have been the least talented wide receiver cohort in the league; with them gone, the Bears are barely functional.
The Bears can't even start their quarterback of the future, Mitchell Trubisky, in large part because they could ruin his confidence by working with a sub-par receiving corps. As it stands, Mike Glennon isn't faring much better. It's time for general manager Ryan Pace to aggressively scour the market.
1. Seahawks' offensive line
The enduring image of the Seahawks over the past two seasons has been Russell Wilson scrambling for dear life while his offensive line collapses before he can set his feet. Against a 49ers defense that finished last in most major statistical categories, Wilson had to resort to some improvisational magic in order to steer the Seahawks to a 12-9 victory.
Germain Ifedi hasn't lived up to his first-round billing, Justin Britt is widely inconsistent at center, and Mark Glowinski often looks lost. Luke Joeckel is a reclamation project that reeks of desperation, while Rees Odhiambo may be the NFL's worst starting tackle, replacing George Fant, who was the worst player irrespective of position in 2016. In order to extend their championship window, the Seahawks need immediate help on the offensive line, or run the risk of seeing Wilson injured before the playoffs.
