With the web page turned on the 2024 NFL season, it is time to dive headlong into the offseason.
All groups have looming contract selections and are turning their focus to free company (March 12) and the NFL Draft (April 24-26).
Forward of these big dates on the NFL calendar, Yardbarker NFL writers establish the most important offseason storyline for every AFC staff. (2024 regular-season data are in parentheses.)
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (13-4) | What is going to it take to beat the Chiefs? | Payments head coach Sean McDermott is 5-1 towards the Chiefs within the common season however 0-4 within the playoffs, shedding every sport by six factors or much less. Buffalo needs to be thrilled to have NFL MVP Josh Allen at QB, however till the staff finds a solution to get previous Kansas Metropolis, there’s little the staff can do to actually excite followers.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9) | Mike McDaniel on the “scorching seat” | Proprietor Stephen Ross took to social media to say the head coach can be again in 2025 but in addition stated that “continuity in management is to not be confused with an acceptance that established order is nice sufficient.” McDaniel is signed via 2028 and has a 28-23 report in three years with Miami, however his 0-2 report in playoff video games will stay a scorching subject amongst Dolphins followers.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13) | New toys for the younger QB | With the fourth general decide within the 2025 NFL Draft and extra projected cap room than some other staff ($123M), the Patriots have a fantastic alternative to encompass second-year QB Drake Maye with higher weapons. Tight finish Hunter Henry led the staff in receiving with 674 yards however did not crack the highest 50 in that class. In the meantime, RB Rhamondre Stevenson completed because the NFL’s Twenty sixth-leading rusher with 801 yards.
NEW YORK JETS (5-12) | Time to seek out one other QB | Simply hours earlier than kickoff of Tremendous Bowl LIX, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer revealed the Jets had informed Aaron Rodgers they’d be “transferring on” from the 41-year-old QB. Backup Tyrod Taylor is signed via 2025, however he hasn’t began greater than six video games in a season since 2017, which may drive the staff to commerce up from the No. 7 spot on draft day. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) | Discover the “joker” | Broncos head coach Sean Payton just lately advised FanDuel’s Kay Adams they must find a “joker,” a flexible TE or RB the coach can use to create mismatches. The 2025 NFL Draft could have prospects who may thrive on this function, together with Penn State TE Tyler Warren and Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2) | Will they reply after Tremendous Bowl loss? | No Tremendous Bowl loser has returned to the massive sport and received it the next season since the 2018 New England Patriots. After shedding to the Eagles, 40-22, in Tremendous Bowl LIX, the Chiefs should improve their roster to rebound and win their fifth title subsequent season.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-13) | Discover a viable beginning QB | Vegas shouldn’t roll with QBs Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew, who collectively posted a subpar 83.9 passer ranking in 2024. The Raiders may hope Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders falls to them at decide No. 6 or signal one in free company, maybe Sam Darnold.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6) | Spending large on a WR in free company | Spotrac estimates the Chargers have $65.6M in cap space, so this offseason looks as if a good time to splurge on a free-agent wideout, maybe Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins or Buffalo’s Amari Cooper. Both WR may give L.A. — which completed nineteenth within the league in passing yards (213.5) in 2024 — extra juice. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) | Offensive line (once more) | Baltimore’s offensive line performed nicely regardless of changing three starters this season, however left deal with Ronnie Stanley and left guard Patrick Mekari are about to enter free company. The Ravens should determine whether or not to re-sign Stanley and/or Mekari or exchange them earlier than specializing in different positional wants.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8) | To Tee or to not Tee? | Tee Higgins is ready to turn into a free agent, however QB Joe Burrow has been vocal about bringing again the star WR. Contemplating the Bengals are 2-7 within the final 9 video games with out Higgins on the sector, they may wish to escape their checkbooks to maintain their franchise QB blissful.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14) | Let the Myles Garrett bidding battle start | Garrett has requested a commerce, and the Browns can be clever to grant his want seeing as this is among the bleakest rosters within the NFL. Will Cleveland commerce Garrett earlier than the draft and snag his alternative in Penn State’s Abdul Carter? Or does it like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward sufficient to take a QB No. 2 general?
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) | Who’s taking part in QB in 2025? | The Steelers should determine whether or not to run it again with Russell Wilson, take an opportunity on Justin Fields or hit the reset button with a brand new QB (Aaron Rodgers?). Sadly for Pittsburgh followers, none of these choices will make this staff a Tremendous Bowl contender in 2025. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7) | Offensive line | QB C.J. Stroud’s second-season stoop was instantly tied to one of many league’s worst offensive strains. Per Over the Cap, Houston is $99,447 above the estimated 2025 wage cap, and it should allocate funds to rectify the evident weak point up entrance.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9) | Competitors for Anthony Richardson? | The third-year QB will get one other crack to earn the “franchise QB” label, which seems much less and fewer relevant after Richardson accomplished 47.7 p.c of his makes an attempt in 2024. He has additionally missed 19 video games already in his profession, rising the worth of the staff’s backup, whoever which may be.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-13) | Who makes the ultimate determination on offseason strikes? | First-year head coach Liam Coen already spurred one main change when he declined the job, solely to flip after Jags proprietor Shad Khan fired Trent Baalke as GM. Almost three weeks later and a month till the beginning of the 2025 league yr on March 12, Jacksonville continues to be looking for an govt to steer a pivotal offseason.
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14) | To commerce or to not commerce the No. 1 decide? | Count on commerce hypothesis to warmth up earlier than the draft. With out a surefire QB prospect on this yr’s class and several other wants on their roster, the Titans is likely to be higher served buying and selling the decide for further draft capital and searching elsewhere for a QB. — Eric Smithling
