Room for growth: One unit on every AFC group that wishes paintings

Roster building is generally most sensible of thoughts 365 days a 12 months for each and every NFL entrance place of work. But no group is constructed completely.

Ahead of coaching camp in past due July, Yardbarker NFL writers determine the weakest place room on each and every group within the AFC. 

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | Safety | Buffalo went heavy on protection within the 2025 NFL Draft, drafting defenders with six of 9 alternatives (together with 3 cornerbacks), nevertheless it failed so as to add a security. That can be a mistake with starters Taylor Rapp (75th) and Damar Hamlin (85th) ranked a few of the worst on the place through Pro Football Focus.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Secondary | Miami waited till the 5th around of the 2025 NFL Draft to deal with its secondary (Florida’s Jason Marshall Jr.), which is fairly unexpected for a group actively seeking to industry cornerback Jalen Ramsey after shedding protection Jevon Holland to the Jets in unfastened company. Miami’s cross protection tied the Giants through permitting the eighth-fewest yards in step with sport in 2024 (210.6), nevertheless it has giant holes to fill.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Wide receiver | No group handed for fewer yards in step with sport (176.1) than New England closing season, and new Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs gained’t lend a hand if he’s no longer recovered from an ACL tear that ended his 2024 season after 8 video games. His rehab it seems that has long gone smartly, however will the 31-year-old be in a position to hold a group that didn’t have a participant catch greater than 3 landing passes closing season?

NEW YORK JETS | Wide receiver | The Jets obviously hope to money in at the Ohio State reference to new QB Justin Fields and No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson, however except the previous Buckeye, Fields’ passing choices are restricted. WR Davante Adams had 854 yards receiving and 7 landing catches closing season, however he signed with the Rams within the offseason, making Allen Lazard New York’s No. 2 receiver. — Bruce Ewing

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | Running again | The Broncos signed J.Okay. Dobbins (twelve months, $2.745M) on Wednesday, however the RB is injury-prone. The 2020 second-round pick out suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in 2021 and a torn proper Achilles tendon in 2023. Denver may be banking on rookie RB RJ Harvey (pick out No. 60) to lend a hand beef up its 17th-ranked dashing assault (112.2 YPG)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Offensive line |
Despite permitting 41 sacks throughout the steady season, the Chiefs traded O-lineman Joe Thuney, a two-time first-team All-Pro, to the Chicago Bears in March. They signed offensive take on Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30M deal in unfastened company, however he allowed a career-high 10 pressures in 15 video games with the San Francisco 49ers closing season, in step with Pro Football Focus. 

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Secondary | The Raiders ranked 15th within the league in passing yards allowed (216.2) closing season and let beginning cornerback Nate Hobbs signal a four-year, $48M care for the Green Bay Packers in unfastened company. With pick out No. 68 within the 2025 NFL Draft, Vegas decided on CB Darien Porter, however he had simply 3 interceptions in six seasons with the Iowa State Cyclones. 

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Tight finish | Rookie TE Oronde Gadsden II — a fifth-round pick of Syracuse — higher be a scouse borrow for the Chargers. L.A. TE Will Dissly isn’t a risk within the vertical passing sport, as he had most effective 481 receiving yards in 17 regular-season video games in 2024. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Cornerback |
Marlon Humphrey makes a large number of giant performs, however Baltimore nonetheless wishes extra intensity and every other out of doors nook to around out its protection. With Jaire Alexander (unfastened agent, previously with Packers) and Miami’s Jalen Ramsey (to be had by the use of industry), the Ravens have choices. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Edge-rusher | Defense has been an issue for the Bengals the previous two seasons, and issues are taking a look even bleaker going into 2025. Their easiest pass-rusher, Trey Hendrickson, is caught in a freelance dispute and would possibly get traded, and first-round pick out Shemar Stewart left obligatory minicamp this week as a result of he hasn’t finalized his rookie contract. 

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Quarterback | They may have 5 quarterbacks on their roster, however amount does no longer equivalent high quality. There is long-term hope with rookie Shedeur Sanders, however he fell into the 5th around and wasn’t even the group’s first selection at QB within the draft. (Cleveland drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel within the 3rd around.)  

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Wide receiver | Aleven though the Steelers traded for DK Metcalf this offseason (giving up a second-rounder to Seattle), they to find themselves in the similar place as closing 12 months with a powerful No. 1 and important intensity questions in the back of him. Calvin Austin III is No. 2 at the intensity chart, however he is higher fitted to a No. 3 function within the slot.  — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | Offensive line | The Texans traded Pro Bowl left take on Laremy Tunsil to Washington and changed him with Cam Robinson, which is most likely a downgrade. Second-round rookie Aireontae Ersery may just push for enjoying time at both take on spot, as proper take on Blake Fisher gained a horrible Pro Football Focus evaluate as a rookie closing season. On the internal, Houston has a number of veteran guards who may well be higher as backups.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Offensive line | The Colts have a cast pair of tackles in Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith, however the latter battled knee problems closing season. Indy may just use take on intensity, and it has an excellent larger drawback at the inside of the offensive line. Four-time Pro Bowl middle Ryan Kelly and beginning guard Will Fries signed with the Vikings in unfastened company, and they are going to be tricky to switch.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Safety | The Jaguars must have a cast cornerback workforce led through rookie Travis Hunter and a now-healthy Tyson Campbell, however protection is riddled with questions. Free-agent addition Eric Murray is ranked as reasonable at easiest through Pro Football Focus in maximum classes, and projected fellow starter Darnell Savage Jr. graded even worse. Jacksonville would possibly combat to protect the center of the sphere this season.

TENNESSEE TITANS | Linebacker | The Titans have made over their linebacker workforce, even though they misplaced much more than they won. Cody Barton used to be a pleasant free-agent addition (100 or extra general tackles the previous 3 seasons with Seattle, Washington and Denver), however Tennessee’s linebacker room has nearly no enjoy out of doors of him. Another veteran addition this summer time feels crucial. — Steve DelVecchio