NFL free agency officially opens on Wednesday, and by this point, every team in the NFL knows its roster holes.

In the NFC, the defending conference champion San Francisco 49ers will attempt to fill positions that can help them finally capture that elusive Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, will try to put behind them another postseason disappointment. The Cowboys' NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, must deal with filling the roles left by the retirement of two key players.

Here are the most pressing needs for each NFC squad ahead of the start of free agency.

AFC: The biggest team needs in NFL free agency

NFC East

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Dallas Cowboys

Needs: left tackle, cornerback, running back, defensive end

First and foremost, Dallas will almost certainly have to replace a mainstay. Left tackle Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, is set to become a free agent after starting 161 games for the Cowboys over 13 seasons. Availability had been a question with Smith, anyway, so the Cowboys were always going to have to plan for the future at Dak Prescott's blindside. At corner, both Stephon Gilmore and nickel Jourdan Lewis are on expiring contracts, so that becomes an instant area of need. And if Dallas cannot afford to re-sign Dorance Armstrong, as both he and Dante Fowler, Jr. are set to hit the market, the defensive end spot opposite DeMarcus Lawrence should be a priority.

New York Giants

Needs: running back, wide receiver, secondary, defensive line, offensive line, quarterback

New York will almost certainly let its No. 2 overall selection from the 2018 NFL draft, running back Saquon Barkley, walk. And while Barkley's time with the Giants was mostly uneven, he's still a star player with game-breaking potential. That's not an easy hole to fill. But more than anything, this is a roster that lacks star talent on both sides of the ball. Wide receiver continues to be a massive hole. The secondary is depleted, especially with starting corner Adoree' Jackson set to become a free agent. Aside from Dexter Lawrence at nose tackle, the defensive line has also lacked sizzle; both starting defensive ends A'Shawn Robinson and Jihad Ward are also on expiring deals. The offensive line allowed an NFL-worst 85 sacks; the next closest teams were tied with 65. It's still unclear if Daniel Jones has a future at quarterback beyond this season. The Giants' needs are like a dartboard: any place you hit, you're going to fill a hole.

Philadelphia Eagles

Needs: center, defensive tackle, inside linebacker, cornerback, running back

The retirement of two Philadelphia icons, center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, leaves voids in both leadership and in star talent at the middle of the offensive and defensive lines, respectively. Linebacker Shaquille Leonard was on a one-year deal and recently said he needs to weigh his future in the NFL after back surgeries have slowed him down some. At cornerback, once a strength, age and regression have come for both James Bradberry and Darius Slay. And starting running back D'Andre Swift is on an expiring deal, though the team does have some depth there, with Kenneth Gainwell serving as backup.

Washington Commanders

Needs: quarterback, edge rusher, offensive line

The need here is obviously quarterback, though, holding the No. 2 overall selection, Washington might very well look to secure its franchise passer in the draft. Still, if it chooses to recoup assets and potentially trade out of that spot, it could look to sign a veteran. The other obvious need is edge rusher, where Washington never recovered its pass rush after it traded Chase Young and Montez Sweat in the middle of last season. The Commanders cut starting left tackle Charles Leno and backup Cornelius Lucas will be 33 in July and was on an expiring deal, anyway. Either way, Washington was tied for 30th in sacks allowed, with 65, so help along the entire unit is essential — especially if the Commanders do throw out a rookie quarterback in 2024. There is good news, however. Per OverTheCap.com, no team has more salary cap space available to use than the Commanders, with $80.8 million.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Needs: offensive line, edge rusher, wide receiver, running back

Chicago was unusually poor on both sides of the line of scrimmage, ranking dead last in the NFL in defensive sacks per pass attempt (4.86%) and 26th in the same stat on offense (9.75%). Securing any type of pass rush should be a priority, if only to ease the pressure placed on the team's secondary. Along the offensive line, Chicago needs to upgrade everywhere, and this should be the priority; if the Bears opt to select Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, it's imperative to set him up for success. Justin Fields has been the team's leading rusher the last two seasons, so an upgrade at running back should also be a consideration. There are also holes at receiver. Since the Bears just signed safety Kevin Byard, they'll no longer have to worry about the hole left by Eddie Jackson's release, at least.

Detroit Lions

Needs: offensive guard, wide receiver, edge rusher, secondary

Both starting guards when healthy, Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson, are on expiring contracts. Jackson is younger at 27 and has a Pro Bowl to his name, so he'd be the most likely candidate to return, though it might come down to cost. A No. 3 receiver is also a need, as Josh Reynolds, a player who had significant drops in the NFC championship game loss against the 49ers, is set to become a free agent. The team has lacked a consistent threat at edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and defensive end Romeo Okwara — who only has five sacks in the last three seasons — is a free agent. The secondary could use some improvements at corner and safeties are now needed, after the team released veteran Tracy Walker III and with C.J. Gardner-Johnson's contract expiring.

Green Bay Packers

Needs: left tackle, right guard, secondary, return specialist

The Packers and their youth movement came on strong in 2023, and the team is set up nicely for another run. The biggest question comes at left tackle, where David Bakhtiari, 32, has played just 13 games over the last three seasons. Starting right guard Jon Runyan is on an expiring deal. Safety Darnell Savage, Jr., who has started for Green Bay the last five seasons, is set to become a free agent and could fetch significant interest on the open market. Cornerback Keisean Nixon, coming off of consecutive first-team All-Pro seasons as a return man, is set to become a free agent

Minnesota Vikings

Needs: quarterback, edge rusher, inside linebacker, running back

The top two needs for the Vikings might be the most obvious ones in the entire NFL. Quarterback Kirk Cousins, who turns 36 in August, is a free agent and able to test his value on the open market. Two suitors appear to have emerged as favorites, the Vikings and the Falcons. If Minnesota loses Cousins to any team, finding his replacement is vital. The other obvious need is edge rusher, where Danielle Hunter is also a free agent after leading the team in sacks each of the last two seasons, and generating 27 over that span. Veteran inside linebacker Jordan Hicks is on an expiring contract, and the team has never fully recovered from losing Eric Kendricks after the 2022 season. Minnesota has also struggled to find consistency at running back over the last several seasons.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Needs: quarterback, defensive line, edge rusher, wide receiver

From the team Cousins has played for, to a team Cousins might play for, the Falcons will certainly need a quarterback if Cousins opts to play elsewhere. A potential backup to Cousins could be Bears quarterback Justin Fields, should Chicago decide to ship him in favor of Caleb Williams or another quarterback in the NFL draft. Atlanta improved its pass rush from 2022 to 2023, doubling up its sack total from 21 to 42, but veteran defensive end Calais Campbell and linebacker Bud Dupree — both of whom had 6.5 last season — are set to become free agents. And, no matter what the Falcons do at quarterback, they'll still need to find a No. 2 option at receiver, to go alongside Drake London, with Van Jefferson set to become a free agent.

Carolina Panthers

Needs: offensive line, wide receiver, edge rusher, tight end

New coach Dave Canales and new general manager Dan Morgan have the interesting scenario of coming into a roster that has holes not because of expiring contracts, but more so because of an overwhelming lack of talent. The objectives are clear: on offense, it's all about building around 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. That means wide receiver and offensive line. Young was constantly running for his life, and Carolina ranked 30th in sacks per pass attempt (11.1%). It's not just one position on the line; it's all over the unit where upgrades are necessary. Receiver Adam Thielen will be 34 in August and the team's second-leading receiver DJ Chark, Jr. is on an expiring deal. Carolina placed the franchise tag on edge rusher Brian Burns, but this may be his last season with the Panthers. Linebacker Frankie Luvu, who was second on the team in sacks, will become a free agent. Tight end Tommy Tremble is still under contract, but Carolina needs a difference maker there and Tremble, 24 in June, is still developing.

New Orleans Saints

Needs: offensive line, edge rusher, wide receiver, running back

If there's anything the Saints need, it's an injection of youth. New Orleans has had one of the oldest rosters in the league for a few seasons now. The offensive line is a massive concern. Andrus Peat, who played primarily left tackle but also has versatility to slide into guard, is on an expiring deal as is guard Trai Turner, who will turn 31 in June and who missed the entire 2023 season with a torn quad injury. Edge rusher is always a concern, as defensive end Cameron Jordan, who will be 35 in July, was the last player to record a double-digit sack season, back in 2021. The Saints could potentially look to move on from both running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Micheal Thomas. If that happens, both those spots become needs. But, as it seems to be the case every offseason, the Saints continue to be in a precarious cap situation and will need some creative maneuvering to aggressively add pieces.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Needs: linebackers, edge rusher, interior offensive line

Credit Tampa Bay for taking care of two of its biggest needs before the legal tampering period even started. Signing Baker Mayfield to a three-year deal secures the quarterback position, which otherwise would've been the team's biggest need, as Mayfield's contract was set to expire. The team also locked up receiver Mike Evans, so the offense should remain in good shape. Inside linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David — both of whom who have a combined 17 seasons in the NFL (all with the Buccaneers), 257 games, 256 starts and 2,046 combined tackles — are set to become free agents. Immediately, this becomes the team's greatest need. The interior offensive line could use a little depth, but edge rusher, after the Bucs cut veteran linebacker Shaquil Barrett, the team's only double-digit sack generator in 2023, becomes a bigger concern.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Needs: wide receiver, defensive tackle, safety

The Cardinals have the benefit of sitting at No. 4 in the draft, and not needing a quarterback. Which means their glaring hole of wide receiver might be solved with Ohio State's Marvin Harrison, Jr. likely available for the taking. Defensive tackle is worth noting here, as both Jonathan Ledbetter and Carlos Watkins are on expiring contracts. The good news for Arizona is that Ledbetter is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning the Cardinals can extend a qualifying offer if they're interested. Arizona would be wise to add some depth at safety, especially with the uncertainty around two-time All-Pro Budda Baker's future with the team.

Los Angeles Rams

Needs: edge rusher, cornerback, center, quarterback

The Rams enjoyed something of a youth movement in 2023, making a surprise playoff appearance, but losing in the wild-card round. One of those young players, defensive tackle Kobie Turner led the team in sacks with nine. Star defensive tackle Aaron Donald added eight. The Rams will need some of this pass rushing pressure to come off the edge; that will only free up Turner and Donald to wreak havoc even more. While Los Angeles could also use another corner, as Ahkello Witherspoon might have played his way to a lucrative deal with another team through free agency. Otherwise, the position has mostly unproven players. The Rams currently have just one center under contract, Mike McAllister, who has never appeared in a regular-season game. The Rams must also begin to figure out a succession plan for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who just turned 36.

San Francisco 49ers

Needs: cornerback, offensive line, edge rusher, linebacker, backup quarterback

The 49ers had one of the more complete rosters in all of football, but they still were not without holes. The first key to get past their defeat in Super Bowl 58 comes at cornerback. It was their biggest weakness on defense, and finding consistency and depth there will be essential. Charvarious Ward has been steady; the Niners need more. Trent Williams has been the best left tackle in the NFL the last three seasons but he will be 36 in July. San Francisco could look to add some depth and perhaps a nod to the future along the line. Edge rushers Chase Young and Randy Gregory are both on expiring deals. And San Francisco saw — the last two seasons — in fact, the issues that injuries can create. Dre Greenlaw going down with a torn Achilles during the Super Bowl and quarterback Brock Purdy going down in the 2022 NFC title game shows the need to bolster those key spots, especially with backup quarterback Sam Darnold set to become a free agent.

Seattle Seahawks

Needs: quarterback, safety, linebacker, defensive line, tight end

Curiously, new coach Mike Macdonald has not committed to Geno Smith, who's still under contract, at quarterback. In a vacuum, that signals a lack of support that should signal that Seattle will at least weigh the quarterbacks available on the market. This is complicated further, given that backup Drew Lock will become a free agent. After Seattle cut starting safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, that immediately becomes a primary area of concern. The thing with the Seahawks' holes, especially on defense, is that prominent leaders like linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive end Leonard Williams are on expiring deals and may be walking. A secondary need is tight end, where Noah Fant, the receiving leader at the position, is also set to become a free agent.

Contributing: Associated Press