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NFL Free Agency: Breaking Down Each Team’s Biggest Offseason Need

By Peter Panacy

Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Arizona Cardinals

Projected Cap Space: $17,021,989

Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

The Cardinals’ 2016 falloff from one of the NFC West’s best might be a foreshadowing of what’s to come in the very near future.

At 37 years old, quarterback Carson Palmer is counting down the days to his eventual retirement. Arizona will need a replacement here, but one would likely come via the NFL Draft. Not a thin free-agent market.

Instead, Arizona needs help at wide receiver. And preferably someone who can help fill the void left when 33-year-old veteran Larry Fitzgerald also calls it a career.

With Michael Floyd no longer on the roster, look for the Cardinals to try to pull in one of the bigger names on the market. Perhaps a receiver like Alshon Jeffery makes the move out west. Or maybe Arizona gets a little cheaper and rolls with a free agent like Kenny Stills.