Ideal gifts for NFC teams — even those ‘needy’ 12-1 Lions, 11-2 Eagles

Even the 12-1 Detroit Lions and 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles have significant needs.

In the spirit of the season, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the perfect gift for all teams in the NFC.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS (5-8) | A TV gig for Mike McCarthy | Owner Jerry Jones recently unwrapped the idea of re-signing his lame-duck coach to a contract extension, but that feels like a pipe dream. At 61, McCarthy may be tired of working under Jones. Instead, he might enjoy swapping stories about his old boss with former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson on “Fox NFL Sunday.”

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-11) | Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders | The Colorado quarterback, presumably a lock for the first round of the April 2025 NFL Draft, has an FBS-leading 74.2 percent completion percentage. Having already secured deals with Beats by Dre, Nike and an apparel company founded by ex-NFL quarterback Tom Brady, Sanders won’t be fazed by the bright lights of the big city and could become the first NFL quarterback to have his own locker on Madison Avenue. 

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-2) | Another 483 yards for RB Saquon Barkley | With 124 yards rushing against the Panthers in Week 14, Barkley broke LeSean McCoy’s franchise record for season rushing yards (1,623) but must average 120.75 yards over his next four games to break the NFL season record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson of the Rams in 1984. If Barkley tops Dickerson’s mark, an MVP award is sure to follow for the gift that keeps on giving for the Eagles. 

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (8-5) | Cowboys DE Micah Parsons | Dallas exercised Parsons’ $24M fifth-year option in the offseason, but with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb already accounting for $125M in cap space next season, the Cowboys could look to make a gift exchange. Washington GM Adam Peters traded three picks in last year’s draft, and with $103M in projected cap space, the Commanders can afford to reunite the three-time Pro Bowler with head coach Dan Quinn, Parsons’ defensive coordinator with Dallas in 2025. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-7) | A better contract for Kyler Murray | The problem with Murray (68.4% completion percentage, 2,862 passing yards) is not necessarily his play but his contract ($49M salary-cap number), which is elite player money. He is nowhere close to that level, and that cap number (with no real out anytime soon) can destroy a team’s ability to build a roster.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-6) | A defense | With QB Matthew Stafford and WRs Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp healthy, the Rams can outscore almost anybody in the NFL and should be feared if they sneak into the playoffs. The problem is the defense, which has resided in the league’s bottom half for the past four seasons and is 24th in points allowed this season (25.5 PPG).

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-7) | Healthy skill-position players | The 49ers are one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL due mainly to injuries to their offense. WR Brandon Aiyuk and RBs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are sidelined for the stretch run, making things much more difficult for QB Brock Purdy.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-5) | A franchise quarterback | Geno Smith deserves a ton of credit for turning his career around in Seattle, and he has by no means been a problem for the Seahawks. But for Seattle to go from “good” to “Super Bowl contender,” it must get a QB who can carry them against top-tier teams. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS (4-9) | Lions OC Ben Johnson | With interim head coach Thomas Brown likely not retaining his gig after this season, Ben Johnson — the mastermind behind Detroit’s historically dominant offense this season — has been named as a top candidate to become Chicago’s new head coach. An offensive-minded head coach is necessary for the Bears as they continue to develop 2024 first-overall pick QB Caleb Williams. Johnson would be an ideal fit. 

DETROIT LIONS (12-1) | A Super Bowl appearance | The Lions are one of four franchises (Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars) who have yet to appear in a Super Bowl — a trend they are likely to break this season. (As of Dec. 10, the Lions are +260 favorites to win the Super Bowl. per DraftKings Sportsbook). Winning a championship is every team’s goal, but erasing the Lions from the short list of teams never to make the big game would also be a grand accomplishment for Detroit.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-4) | Obtainable season tickets |
In the Green Bay Press-Gazette recently, reporter Kendra Meinert wrote that the team’s season-ticket waitlist has reached “nearly 150,000 names” and has a “renewal rate of more than 99% for tickets.” There would be no better present to find under the tree as a Packers fan than season tickets — an experience few in Green Bay will ever enjoy.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-2) | A Sam Darnold extension | Minnesota struck gold when it signed QB Sam Darnold (3,299 passing yards, 28 TD passes) to a one-year, $10M deal in the offseason. The Vikings’ signing of Darnold to a multi-year extension would be the perfect gift for a team whose future at QB seemed dicey following Kirk Cousins’ departure after last season. — Josh Eaton

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS (6-7) | A one-way ticket for Kirk Cousins to New York | With his touchdown-less streak at four games, Cousins is struggling as a starting quarterback. At this rate, we’re a couple of weeks away from the Falcons putting Cousins on a bus to New York and telling him to bother the Giants or Jets.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-10) | A plumber | The Panthers need someone to fix a leak. Carolina’s rush defense has been gashed all season, allowing a league-worst 2,211 yards (five yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-8) | Bubble wrap | When unpacking presents this year, don’t throw out the bubble wrap. Instead, donate it to the Saints, who desperately need it after injuries ruined their once-promising season. QB Derek Carr (hand fracture) is among the latest Saints sidelined.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-6) | Mike Evans a 1,000-yard season | Evans must average 102.5 yards receiving per game over Tampa’s next four games to reach 1,000 yards receiving for the 11th consecutive season, which would tie him with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in league history. Get ready for quarterback Baker Mayfield to feed Evans the ball down the stretch. — Eric Smithling