Free company will not start till March 12, and the draft in Inexperienced Bay follows on April 24, so groups have vital roster strikes to make earlier than the 2025 season begins in September.
However that hasn’t stopped Yardbarker NFL writers from evaluating the Tremendous Bowl potential of AFC groups for the 2025 season. (2024 regular-season information are in parentheses.)
Here is a way-too-early rundown:
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (13-4) | Kansas Metropolis nonetheless has a crew, proper? | Andy Reid’s Chiefs will proceed to maintain Sean McDermott’s Payments away from the NFL’s greatest sport. Reid gave McDermott his first NFL job whereas head coach of the Eagles in 2001 however has eradicated his former assistant from the playoffs in 4 of the previous 5 seasons.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9) | No cash, extra issues | After asserting that he was accomplished enjoying in Miami, wide receiver Tyreek Hill backtracked, form of, whereas live-streaming a online game by saying the crew wanted to “put some strain on (expletive), repair this (expletive) and add some (expletive) canine on this (expletive).” Eloquent as he could also be, Hill should not understand that Miami is already $14M over subsequent season’s cap, the fourth-worst quantity within the NFL, which doesn’t bode effectively for 2025.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13) | So, you’re saying there’s an opportunity? | Tom Brady, a sixth-round decide in 2000, led the Patriots to their first Tremendous Bowl win in franchise historical past, which clearly means beginning QB Drake Maye will lead New England to glory in his second season with the crew. Really, there are 26 causes the crew received’t attain Tremendous Bowl LX: the 26 groups that completed 2024 with a greater report than New England.
NEW YORK JETS (5-12) | Will the offense within the room please rise up? | The Jets received fewer video games with Aaron Rodgers on the roster than they did with him on the IR in 2023. Whether or not or not new head coach Aaron Glenn retains the longer term Corridor of Fame QB round stays to be seen, however the 19.9 factors per sport New York averaged in 2024 received’t win them any championships, even with the NFL’s third-ranked defense. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) | Inching towards the mountaintop | The Broncos have discovered their man at QB in Bo Nix, who had the league’s sixth-most TD passes (29 in 17 begins) within the common season. If they provide him extra weapons within the NFL Draft and free company, he may lead Denver to its first playoff win since Tremendous Bowl 50. And when you get within the playoffs…
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2) | Can they cease profitable Tremendous Bowls? | In Tremendous Bowl LIX in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs intention to develop into the primary crew to win three straight championships within the Tremendous Bowl period. Even when Ok.C. loses to Philadelphia, it ought to stay within the Tremendous Bowl hunt for years to return, as QB Patrick Mahomes, who will not flip 30 till Sept. 17, continues to be in his prime.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-13) | Can minority proprietor Tom Brady donate one among his Tremendous Bowl rings? | Brady — who received seven Tremendous Bowls in 23 seasons as a Patriots/Buccaneers QB — higher get used to shedding. The Raiders just lately employed new head coach Pete Carroll, however he could flop if Vegas doesn’t discover a viable beginning QB within the NFL Draft or free company. This season, Vegas ranked twenty seventh within the league in passer score (82.4).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6) | Is dependent upon whether or not QB Justin Herbert can step up within the playoffs | In two playoff begins, Herbert is 0-2 and has a below-average 60.7 passer score. In a 32-12 wild-card spherical loss to the Houston Texans this season, he tossed 4 interceptions. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) | Invoice Murray in “Groundhog Day” | Each Ravens season appears to play out the similar approach: superb common season, Lamar Jackson within the MVP dialog after which a demoralizing loss within the AFC playoffs. Except Jackson finds a approach to enhance his playoff performances, Baltimore might be caught in the identical day time and again.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8) | In Joe Burrow we belief | Burrow almost led the Bengals to a Tremendous Bowl in 2021, and he’s the one QB not named Tom Brady who has taken down Mahomes within the AFC. Cincinnati must make some enhancements on protection, however the championship window is open so long as Burrow is donning black and orange.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14) | Is there a quantity decrease than zero? | The Browns have one of many bleakest futures within the NFL contemplating Deshaun Watson carries a $72.9M cap hit in every of the following two seasons and might be coming off an Achilles harm. Cleveland needs to be extra centered on 2026 mock drafts than any hopes of a playoff berth.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) | Not till drastic modifications are made | Mike Tomlin has gone .500 or higher in all 18 of his seasons as the top coach in Pittsburgh, however he hasn’t received a playoff sport for the reason that 2016 season. The Steelers would possibly have to hit the reset button on head coach and QB to get again to Tremendous Bowl contender standing. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7) | Get an offensive line (and coordinator), after which we’ll discuss | Houston reached the AFC divisional spherical for the second consecutive season, nevertheless it received’t be a official title contender except it fixes its offensive line, which ranked No. 22 in ESPN’s pass-block win rate and thirty first in run-block win fee. Houston fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, so who head coach DeMeco Ryans hires as his substitute can even decide how huge of a menace the Texans might be in 2025.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9) | Can Anthony Richardson throw extra completions than incompletions? | In 2024, Richardson turned the primary QB with not less than 250 go makes an attempt to finish fewer than half of his passes since former Broncos QB Tim Tebow in 2011. Poor QB manufacturing is only one of Indianapolis’ issues, nevertheless it’s essentially the most regarding.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-13) | Secondary is main impediment | New Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has stable offensive personnel to work with in Yr 1, however Jacksonville’s protection, notably the secondary, wants an overhaul. The Jaguars ranked last in pass defense (4,375 yards) and twenty sixth in passing touchdowns allowed (29) and intercepted six passes, making it the crew’s most important highway block to success.
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14) | Is there a C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels on this 12 months’s draft class? | The Titans have the No. 1 total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, placing it able so as to add a QB, the crew’s greatest want. If it chooses correctly, Tennessee would possibly have the ability to replicate the success of earlier worst-to-first turnarounds in Houston and Washington in 2023 and 2024, respectively. — Eric Smithling
