A Question of Need

Times Staff Writer Sam Farmer’s assessment of what each team needs in the draft:

ARIZONA

* The Cardinals got the steal of the draft last year when they selected receiver Anquan Boldin in the second round. He went on to set an NFL rookie record with 101 receptions. Now, they need a defensive tackle and cornerback but not before they grab a quarterback. They have the third pick and might grab Miami of Ohio’s Ben Roethlisberger, provided Eli Manning doesn’t tumble out of the top two spots -- and that isn’t likely to happen.

ATLANTA

* The Falcons, who gave up more yards than anyone last season, are looking for a fresh start under new Coach Jim Mora and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. They’re switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, so they need to load up on linemen. They should be able to get a good one at No. 8, and they like Miami’s Vince Wilfork. They need a cornerback, too, and are intrigued by DeAngelo Hall of Virginia Tech, one of the fastest players in the draft.

BALTIMORE

* Seeing as Travis Taylor is the only Raven receiver who caught more than 14 passes last season, Baltimore is in dire need of some capable hands. Because they don’t have a selection in the first round, the Ravens won’t get one of the elite receivers. So they might use their first selection on a free safety, their other area of need. They like Iowa safety Bob Sanders, who should be around in the second. Safeties seldom go early in the draft.

BUFFALO

* Drew Bledsoe isn’t going to be around forever, and the Bills need to plan for the future. They really don’t have anyone to back up their star quarterback, so they would use the 13th pick on a passer on the chance one of the top three were still around. That’s highly unlikely, though, so Buffalo will probably go with a defensive end. Ohio State’s Will Smith will probably be the most logical choice.

CAROLINA

* The Panthers don’t need one cornerback, they need two. They lost Reggie Howard to free agency and released Terry Cousins. They did sign former Cincinnati corner Artrell Hawkins, but they could certainly use more help there. USC’s Will Poole could be a good fit. The Panthers need some fresh legs at receiver, too, and help at guard, where they lost team leader Kevin Donnalley to retirement.

CHICAGO

* It doesn’t qualify as a full-blown disagreement, but Coach Lovie Smith and the Bear front office have a difference of opinion over what the team needs most. Smith wants a defensive end, management wants a defensive tackle. Either way, the Bears need help up front. They also need a left tackle -- one of the hardest positions to fill -- and a running back who can turn up the heat on Anthony Thomas.

CINCINNATI

* The Bengals nearly made the playoffs last season and clawed their way back to respectability. They plan to start Carson Palmer at quarterback this season and no longer have the services of running back Corey Dillon. That means they’ll welcome all the help up front they can get. Specifically, they need a guard and a center.

CLEVELAND

* Hello, Eli? If the New York Giants don’t trade themselves into position to grab Eli Manning, the Browns might. They desperately need a quarterback for the future, and lots of people see Manning as a guy around whom you can build a franchise. Not that the Browns aren’t needy in lots of other areas. They need a left tackle, a pass-catching tight end and a fullback who can spearhead offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie’s power running game.

DALLAS

* Back in the Emmitt Smith days, the Cowboys never needed to worry about their running game. Now they do, and Troy Hambrick doesn’t appear to be a long-term answer. Don’t be surprised if Dallas trades up from the No. 22 spot to grab a running back, or moves down to get more picks and fill some needs at guard and offensive tackle, and defensive end. Bill Parcells always makes things interesting.

DENVER

* The Broncos would love to get a defensive tackle in the first round, but they might pick too late to get one of the top-tier guys. If so, they will probably shift their attention to cornerback, someone who can shut down receivers better than current corners Lenny Walls and Kelly Herndon. Adding depth at receiver is also a priority, considering they are getting awfully old at that spot. This could be a big season for third-year receiver Ashley Lelie, who has shown flashes of great potential but needs to be more consistent.

DETROIT

* The Lions pick sixth and probably will see the player they covet, Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., go to Washington at No. 5. Maybe they’ll use their pick on Winslow’s college teammate, safety Sean Taylor, who has great size at 6 feet 3, 220 pounds, and hits like an outside linebacker. It’s likely that Detroit can find some help at running back in the middle rounds, and the Lions need someone to take some of the pressure off the passing game.

GREEN BAY

* How long will he last? That question has swirled around Brett Favre for the last few seasons, and it isn’t going away. The Packers need to get a quarterback who can learn under Favre and eventually take over the reins. Will they reach for one early in this draft? Probably not. They have more pressing needs at defensive end, outside linebacker and strong safety. With any luck, they should be able to get a starter with their first-round pick.

HOUSTON

* With some strong games down the stretch last season, the Texans showed they are ready to compete for a playoff spot. Now they need to strengthen their defense, especially up front. If they can get Wilfork with the 10th pick, they probably will take him. They need help at defensive tackle, especially since starter Seth Payne is expected to miss training camp because of a knee injury.

INDIANAPOLIS

* The Colts came oh so close last season, and Peyton Manning proved he can win playoff games. Now, it’s time for some fine-tuning on defense. Mainly, the Colts need to work on stopping the run, so -- not surprisingly -- Tony Dungy is heading into this draft thinking defense. Top priorities are finding a defensive tackle and an inside linebacker, and later the Colts can think about adding some depth at quarterback.

JACKSONVILLE

* If the Jaguars want to give young quarterback Byron Leftwich the best chance to succeed and grow, they need to get him some receivers. They added Kevin Johnson and Troy Edwards last season and can continue to improve their collection of receivers in this draft. If they can get help at cornerback, safety and outside linebacker, the Jaguars can consider this draft a success.

KANSAS CITY

* Remember the days when you could count on Kansas City having a rock-solid defense? Not anymore. The Chiefs have used a ton of picks on that side of the ball in recent years, yet they’re still having problems stopping people. They need to find a way to stop giving up big plays, and they can start by patching their holes in the secondary. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs could use a No. 1 receiver to complement their running game.

MIAMI

* Dave Wannstedt needs to get deep into the playoffs if he wants to save his job. That means the Dolphins need to do a better job on draft day. In the last five years, they have made 37 picks; six have rounded into starters, and 19 are now on other teams or out of the league. The priority areas this year are offensive tackle and receiver, although the Dolphins could use an outside linebacker who could spend a season learning under 35-year-old Junior Seau.

MINNESOTA

* The first thing the Vikings need to do is make sure they get their selection in on time, instead of losing track of the clock in the first round as they did the last two years. They need help at cornerback, possibly someone who can start opposite Brian Williams. USC’s Poole is a possibility. The Vikings also could use a base defensive end, someone who can stop the run and give the team something Lance Johnstone doesn’t -- size.

NEW ENGLAND

* What do you give a team that has everything? A headache. The Patriots might have gotten that in Dillon, who was alternately spectacular and churlish in his years with the Bengals. The Patriots, who have won two of the last three Super Bowls, could also use a big receiver and an inside linebacker who could learn under Tedy Bruschi. Still, this team is solid across the board.

NEW ORLEANS

* The Saints should draft for defense, defense, then a bit more defense. They need a cornerback, middle linebacker, outside linebacker and safety. They should have their pick of some of the best corners and, judging by their history, they’ll grab one who’s fast enough to melt artificial turf. Whether he’s good enough to help turn around this struggling franchise is another story.

NEW YORK GIANTS

* What the Giants would love to do is trade up for Manning, and that possibility became a bit more realistic this week when the Ole Miss quarterback told the Chargers he didn’t want to play for them. If they don’t get Manning, the Giants will set their sights on Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, maybe the best prospect in the draft. They could also use a safety to replace Omar Stoutmire, who has a knack for giving up the big play.

NEW YORK JETS

* The Jets need help all over the field, but most acutely at receiver and linebacker -- especially because new defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson is planning to put a 3-4 scheme in place. Chad Pennington would love to have a capable pass catcher to complement Santana Moss.

OAKLAND

* With the second pick, the Raiders are in a prime spot to trade down and still get one of the top receivers. Al Davis loves speedy players, and Texas’ Roy Williams is blistering fast. Or maybe the Raiders will grab Larry Fitzgerald, who has spectacular abilities and a knack for making all kinds of acrobatic catches. Oakland has no lead running back, particularly with Justin Fargas coming off knee surgery, so Oregon State bruiser Steven Jackson is also an option here.

PHILADELPHIA

* Now that the Eagles have Terrell Owens, they can address the loss of cornerbacks Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent. Philadelphia could also use depth at linebacker and guard. And it would be helpful to pick up a safety, seeing as how 30-year-old Brian Dawkins missed nine games last season. Later in the draft, the Eagles can pick up some help at running back, preferably someone who can catch the ball out of the backfield.

PITTSBURGH

* The Steelers need a quarterback and love North Carolina State’s Philip Rivers. They wouldn’t mind picking up Roethlisberger, either. When they address that need, the Steelers can add some depth at running back, cornerback and offensive tackle. But quarterback is the top priority.

ST. LOUIS

* The Rams are pretty solid across the board, as they have been since 2000, and they are in position to take the best available athlete. They could use a solid, pass-catching tight end, a guard, and a safety who can learn under Aeneas Williams and Adam Archuleta. Depth at defensive end and outside linebacker would be nice, too.

SAN DIEGO

* The Chargers are in an extremely awkward spot now that Manning has told them to take a hike. Should they still draft him, running the risk he’ll hold out for a trade? Or should they move down and try to address their many needs? They could certainly use help on the offensive line -- maybe that’s why Manning doesn’t want to come to San Diego -- and they’re in need of a big receiver.

SAN FRANCISCO

* The 49ers need a receiver to replace Owens, but they won’t get one of the top guys at 16. They could probably get a second-tier one such as Washington’s Reggie Williams or Louisiana State’s Michael Clayton, or maybe wait until a later round and take Oklahoma State’s Rashaun Woods. They need a cornerback, too, and they’ve been eyeing Ohio State’s Chris Gamble. You can never have too many good corners.

SEATTLE

* The Seahawks need help on the defensive line, particularly at tackle, but they draft too low in the first round to get one of the elite guys. They might try to package some picks to trade up and grab a player such as Maryland’s Randy Starks. They could use a defensive end, and maybe a cornerback who could be an understudy to starters Marcus Trufant and Ken Lucas. The Seahawks could use a punter, as well.

TAMPA BAY

* This is General Manager Bruce Allen’s first draft as a Buccaneer and he’s looking to make his mark on the franchise. The roster is certainly in need of an extreme makeover. Areas of particular need are wide receiver, tight end, defensive tackle and safety. Watch for Tampa Bay to trade down, hoard some picks and maybe grab a quality running back in a late round.

TENNESSEE

* The Titans have done a great job drafting for defense over the years, even though their consistent success has put them near the bottom of the pack in the selection process. Their last five drafts have netted eight of their defensive starters, and now they need to address the loss of Jevon Kearse. That won’t be easy. But Jeff Fisher has an eye for talent, particularly on that side of the ball, so they should be fine.

WASHINGTON

* Joe Gibbs is hoping to make the most of his few picks. The Redskins have zeroed in on Winslow, and intend to use the fifth pick on him. Washington has had good success with first-round picks in recent years, grabbing LaVar Arrington and Chris Samuels and Rod Gardner, among others. They also need help at defensive tackle, cornerback, defensive end and running back.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX

NFL Draft

The first three rounds of the NFL draft will be held Saturday (9 a.m.-4 p.m. ESPN; 4 p.m.-end ESPN2), and the next four on Sunday (8-10 a.m. ESPN; 10 a.m.-end ESPN2). The first-round order:

*--* No Team Rounds of other picks 1. San Diego 2, 3, 4, 5 (2), 6, 7 (3) 2. Oakland 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (4) 3. Arizona 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 4. N.Y. Giants 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (2) 5. Washington 5, 6 6. Detroit 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7. Cleveland 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (2), 7 8. Atlanta 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 6 9. Jacksonville 2, 3 (2), 4, 5 (2), 6, 7 (2) 10. Houston 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 6 (2), 7 (2) 11. Pittsburgh 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (3), 7 12. N.Y. Jets 3, 4 (2), 5, 6, 7 (4) 13. Buffalo 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (2) 14. Chicago 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 7 15. Tampa Bay 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (3) 16. San Francisco 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (2), 7 17. Denver** 2 (2), 3, 5, 6 (2), 7 (3) 18. New Orleans 2 (2), 3, 6, 7 (2) 19. Minnesota 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 20. Miami 3, 4, 6, 7 (2) 21. New England* 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 7 22. Dallas 2, 3, 4, 5 23. Seattle 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 24. Cincinnati** 2 (2), 3 (2), 4 (2), 5, 6, 7 25. Green Bay 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (2) 26. St. Louis 3, 4 (2), 5, 6, 7 (2) 27. Tennessee 2 (2), 3, 4, 5 (2), 6, 7 (3) 28. Philadelphia 2, 3, 4 (2), 6 (2), 7 (3) 29. Indianapolis 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 30. Kansas City 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 31. Carolina 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 32. New England 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 7 * Via 2003 draft-day trade with Baltimore; **Exchanged selections in trade

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