Photo: Benny Sieu, USA Today Sports

AFC

Cleveland - The team fired GM Michael Lombardi and parted ways with CEO Joe Banner. Ray Farmer was also named to the general manager position after he removed himself from consideration for the same job in Miami in January.

Why It Matters: The Browns' priorities in the draft and free agency could change greatly with a new mind in charge of personnel. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport speculated that Alex Mack and Greg Little could find new life with the team and also reported that current Oregon QB Marcus Mariota was Farmer's favorite college quarterback last year, which could induce the team to pass on a quarterback at #4 this year.

Denver - The Denver Post reports that Montee Ball said he "want(s) to be a starter, and yeah, I want the football every time".

Why It Matters: Ball's assertion shows more confidence than he displayed for most of the season, and Knowshon Moreno is very likely to leave in free agency. The second-year back's ADP is sure to rise as the offseason marches on and it becomes more inevitable that he will enter training camp as the lead back in Denver.

Kansas City - Adam Teicher of ESPN expects second-year tight end and 2013 second-round pick Travis Kelce to get "plenty of playing time" in 2014. 

Why It Matters: Kelce has some Gronkowski-esque qualities, but his 2013 was wiped out by injuries. The Chiefs have no quality third option in the passing game behind Dwayne Bowe and Jamaal Charles, so Kelce will have a chance to be relevant for fantasy leagues in 2014 if he can stay healthy and make up for lost developmental time.

Miami - The Ted Wells report was released, detailing evidence gathered in the investigation of bullying allegations against offensive lineman Richie Incognito.

Why It Matters: In addition to Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey, along with Dolphins OL coach Jim Turner were also implicated in the report. The report details harassment based on race and sexual orientation. The Dolphins may be looking to replace more than two of their opening 2013 offensive linemen now, and Turner's job is in jeopardy. Head coach Joe Philbin endorsed Turner after the story broke last year, so he may not be safe, either. The NFL also sent a clear message in Wells' report: “We encourage the creation of new workplace conduct rules and guidelines that will help ensure players respect each other.” 

Oakland - The Raiders signed former Dolphins running back and reigning Grey Cup (CFL championship) MVP Kory Sheets.

Why It Matters: The Raiders have a lot of cap room and can afford to bring back free agent Rashad Jennings or sign another starting quality back, but Sheets is coming off of a wildly successful two-year run in the CFL. We'll be watching to see if he generates any buzz this summer. Players like Cameron Wake, Jerrell Freeman, Andrew Hawkins, and Brandon Browner have reminded us to not write off talents who first have to prove themselves north of the border.

Oakland - CSN Bay Area beat writer Scott Bair predicted that Josh Freeman will be the team's opening day starting quarterback.

Why It Matters: The Raiders are obviously in play to take a top quarterback at the fifth pick of the first round, but Freeman also has a history of his best years coming while he was under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Greg Olson. Freeman was terrible the last time we saw him on a football field, but the Vikings sloppily rushed him onto the field, and then never gave him another shot after signing him to a three-million dollar deal for a little over half of an NFL season.

Pittsburgh - Long-time Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Steelers will not re-sign free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. He also reported that the team has "already indicated that to Ben Roethlisberger" that "their intent is to take a tall receiver early"

Why It Matters: 2013 third-round pick Markus Wheaton would be in line to start, and Dulac wrote that the team thinks Wheaton will be a better receiver than Sanders. Taking a big receiver early would revisit Roethlisberger's desire for a replacement for Plaxico Burress. The team took Limas Sweed (who recently signed with Ottawa in the CFL) in the second round of the 2008 draft, but he was a spectacular bust. If they do follow through, Roethlisberger will be a strong candidate to be one of the first 12 quarterbacks taken in this year's fantasy drafts.

NFC

Dallas - Todd Archer from ESPN Dallas reports that the "sounds coming from Valley Ranch" indicate that the Cowboys will "move on" from wide receiver Miles Austin.

Why It Matters: Second-year wide receiver and 2013 third-round pick Terrance Williams had some shining moments in his rookie year, and he should be a breakout candidate in what will likely be a pass-happy offense again in 2014.

Detroit - The Lions released Nate Burleson and Louis Delmas.

Why It Matters: The Lions passing game has a massive target vacuum with Ryan Broyles nursing a torn achilles (following two torn ACLs in the last three years), Brandon Pettigrew entering free agency, and no Burleson. He had opened up the possibility of taking a pay cut, but the Lions decided to outright release him. Second-year tight end Joseph Fauria or quarterback Matthew Stafford's college roommate and restricted free agent Kris Durham could assume larger roles, but it is also likely that the Lions seek immediate help in free agency and the draft. Beat writer speculation threw out the Cowboys (where deposed Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan now works) and Buccaneers as possible landing spots for Burleson.

Detroit - Second-year tight end Joseph Fauria wants to play a role similar to Jimmy Graham's in the Lions new offense, led by new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who previously worked for the Saints.

Why It Matters: With the release of Nate Burleson and Brandon Pettigrew entering free agency, there are a lot of targets up for grabs in the Lions pass offense. Fauria has already demonstrated the hands, size, and ball skills to be a red zone wonder. If he gets a chance to be more in 2014, he'll has a legitimate shot to be a fantasy TE1. Don't let him sit on the waiver wire in dynasty leagues.

Green Bay - Soon-to-be free agent Tight end Jermichael Finley's agent said that he will be fully healed from neck surgery in the next 4-8 weeks. 

Why It Matters: The Packers are almost surely not going to re-sign Finley with their conservative medical staff. He could recover completely and be a strong receiving option elsewhere, but he is going to take a hit in quarterback quality no matter where he ends up. He probably has more name value than real value unless his situation lines up perfectly for increased production.

New Orleans - The Saints released Will Smith, Roman Harper, and Jabari Greer.

Why It Matters: The defense should be fine with younger replacements for all of these former starters. The big fantasy story here is the looming showdown between the Saints and free agent Jimmy Graham, who may seek a wide receiver designation and four-plus million dollars that is likely to come with that over a designation as a tight end - if the Saints choose to use the franchise tag on Graham instead of signing him long-term. The Saints and Graham could find middle ground, which would in turn allow Graham to remain a tight end, but if they don't, there is a real chance Graham is designated as a wide receiver, which will shake up fantasy draft boards and cause a value shift in dynasty leagues.

New York Giants - According to the Newark Star-Ledger, third-year tight end and 2012 fourth-round pick Adrien Robinson said 2014 "has to" be his "breakout year".

Why It Matters: Like Julius Thomas, Robinson was drafted as a project, but has barely seen the field in his first two seasons because of injuries. He isn't as polished a receiving talent as Thomas, and Eli Manning isn't Peyton, but Robinson has an outstanding size/speed combination and the Giants tight end job is currently wide open. He is a potential sleeper if he has a healthy offseason full of progress under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.

San Francisco - Pro Football Talk reports that the 49ers offseason priorities include extending Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick, and keeping Anquan Boldin, a looming free agent. 

Why It Matters: Kaepernick came on once Michael Crabtree returned to the lineup, creating an outstanding 1-2 punch at wide receiver. If the 49ers bring back Boldin, it will block 2013 fourth-round pick Quinton Patton and cap the upside of Crabtree, Boldin, and tight end Vernon Davis because the 49ers are a run-first with a smaller passing game pie than the majority of teams.