Ranking AFC teams after first wave of NFL free agency: Chiefs lead way, Broncos improve after key additions

The Primary week of Obtainable agency is officially in the books, so where do things stand in the NFL today? We saw Milton Williams sign the biggest deal in Obtainable agency with a $104 million contract from the New England Patriots, the Signal-caller carousel Secured an aggressive spin with Geno Smith being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders while Sam Darnold Secured his spot with the Seattle Seahawks and DeAndre Hopkins teamed up with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.

How would you rank the AFC if the 2025 season began today? Are the Kansas City Chiefs Yet the top dog, or did another contender like the Buffalo Bills overtake them? Let’s rank the AFC from 16-1 after the Primary wave of Obtainable agency.

Key additions: DT Maliek Collins, QB Kenny Pickett
Key losses: DT Dalvin Tomlinson

The Browns went 3-14 last year and may be without Deshaun Watson for the 2025 season. Watson clearly has struggled since leaving H-Town, but Pickett probably isn’t the long-term answer in Cleveland, either. The Browns finding a way to keep Myles Garrett was the headline of their offseason thus Extended, but he doesn’t make the Browns a Finals contender by himself. The big question for Cleveland is who will Shift Signal-caller this year? Is it Russell Wilson, or Shedeur Sanders? Kirk Cousins?!

Key additions: LT Dan Moore Jr., LB Cody Barton, S Xavier Woods, OG Kevin Zeitler
Key losses: EDGE Harold Landry, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, LB Kenneth Murray

The Titans weren’t Predicted to be active in Obtainable agency after their 2024 spending spree landed them the No. 1 overall Picking in this upcoming draft. Tennessee Achieved the interesting decision to sign Moore away from Pittsburgh, and push Ex No. 7 overall Picking JC Latham over to right Involvement. Even if you hate the Moore contract, landing veteran Zeitler should make Titans fans feel better about the offensive line as a whole. Tennessee also lost Westbrook-Ikhine to the Miami Dolphins, who caught nine touchdowns last season, and released veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. The Titans Yet have plenty of needs to address, Beginning with Signal-caller. Perhaps that comes in the form of Cam Ward, which is why I’ll put Tennessee above Cleveland … for now.  

Key additions: OL Patrick Mekari, CB Jourdan Lewis, WR Dyami Brown, S Eric Murray
Key losses: TE Evan Engram, S Andre Cisco, WR Christian Kirk

The Jaguars have Achieved some nice moves in Obtainable agency, landing Mekari to boost Trevor Lawrence’s protection, while Lewis and Murray will be Prompt contributors in the secondary. The Brown contract was pretty surprising to me, but Jacksonville had to do something to Assist that wide receiving corps. The Jags aren’t Predicted to be contenders in Year 1 of the James Gladstone era, but what I want to see in 2025 is Liam Coen establish a rapport with Lawrence, and get him back to Executing at a high level.

Key additions: QB Justin Fields, CB Brandon Stephens, S Andre Cisco
Key losses: CB D.J. Reed, DT Javon Kinlaw, WR Davante Adams, RT Morgan Moses, EDGE Haason Reddick

It probably goes without saying, but the Jets’ 2025 season may hinge on if Justin Fields is a Outstanding Signal-caller or not. He was an intriguing signal-caller on the market given his dual-threat ability and the fact that he would come much cheaper than someone like Darnold. Fields played the most efficient football of his Profession last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but is he a Packed-time starter? Perhaps with Garrett Wilson he is. Or Perhaps Jaxson Dart comes in and finds Achievement. Defensively, New York scored an interesting Youthful player in Andre Cisco, who is Only 25 years Aged, but losing D.J. Reed is tough for new head Trainer Aaron Glenn.

12. New England Patriots

Key additions: DT Milton Williams, CB Carlton Davis, EDGE Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, RT Morgan Moses
Key losses: DT Davon Godchaux, DB Jonathan Jones

The Patriots are already going to be one of the most interesting Squads to follow this upcoming season, for three reasons: how much they really improved in Obtainable agency, the impact Mike Vrabel will have in Year 1 and what Drake Maye is capable of with a better Reinforcement system — which is Yet a work in progress. Moses was a Outstanding signing, but the Patriots need more than Only him when it comes to the offensive line. New England also needs a legitimate wide receiver, because signing Mack Hollins isn’t enough. Williams signed the biggest contract in Obtainable agency thus Extended, as Vrabel targeted his “Jeffery Simmons” to Skipper the middle, if you will.

Key additions: S Camryn Bynum, CB Charvarius Ward, QB Daniel Jones
Key losses: OG Will Fries, EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, C Ryan Kelly

The Colts have been one of the most intriguing Squads in Obtainable agency to me. Addressing the secondary was an Crucial item on the to-do Lineup, and Camryn Bynum at safety plus Charvarius Ward at corner are Outstanding adds. The Colts also want to host a Signal-caller Event, so they added Daniel Jones to battle Anthony Richardson. After seeing Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield find Achievement after leaving Terrible situations, I’m reserving judgement on Jones. While Indy Achieved some notable adds, it also lost some big names — especially on the offensive line with Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. The offensive line is something to Observe for in the draft, but at least the Colts Guarding should be better.

10. Las Vegas Raiders

Key additions: S Jeremy Chinn, OG Alex Cappa, QB Geno Smith, RB Raheem Mostert
Key losses: S Trevon Moehrig, CB Nate Hobbs, LB Robert Spillane, LB Divine Deablo

The Raiders Acquired better at the Signal-caller position, but how much better? Smith knows head Trainer Pete Carroll, but how will this soon-to-be 35-year-Aged fit in Chip Kelly’s scheme when he doesn’t have DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett or Jaxon Smith-Njigba to throw to? Perhaps Lockett is on the way to Vegas, but the Raiders will need to add more than Only him at wide receiver. I do trust Trainer Carroll, though.

9. Miami Dolphins

Key additions: OG James Daniels, DB Ifeatu Melifonwu, QB Zach Wilson, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Key losses: S Jevon Holland, OG Robert Jones

Miami hasn’t been very active in Obtainable agency, but the headline thus Extended is losing safety Jevon Holland to the New York Giants. Melifonwu is Definitely an intriguing replacement if he can stay Well. Adding Daniels was Outstanding for the offensive line, but Miami shouldn’t be done adding talent in the trenches. Ultimately, the Dolphins haven’t done anything yet to Shift themselves off the line of “borderline Elimination Stage Club,” but I Yet don’t view them as a “Terrible Club.” We’ll see what GM Chris Grier does in the draft.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers 

Key additions: CB Darius Slay, WR DK Metcalf
Key losses: LT Dan Moore Jr., QB Justin Fields, OL James Daniels, CB Donte Jackson, RB Najee Harris

It’s difficult to judge the Steelers since we don’t know who will be Executing Signal-caller. Could it be Aaron Rodgers? Or Perhaps Russell Wilson comes back. Regardless, Metcalf is the best wide receiver Pittsburgh has had since Antonio Brown. This rushing Charge is going to look different with the loss of Harris, and then the offensive line will need some extra Assist without Daniels and Moore on Picking. Even if those two players weren’t high-level starters, Pittsburgh needs depth in the trenches given what happened last year with all of the Wounds.

Key additions: OG Mekhi Becton, CB Donte Jackson, WR Mike Williams, RB Najee Harris
Key losses: WR Josh Palmer, DT Poona Ford, CB Kristian Fulton, EDGE Joey Bosa

Re-signing Khalil Mack was Crucial, and signing Ex Steelers running back Najee Harris intrigues me. However, losing Ford and Bosa makes you a worse Club. L.A. can Yet be a Elimination Stage Club, but it won’t go very Extended without a physical outside wide receiver. Ladd McConkey can’t do everything by himself, and I wonder how effective Mike Williams will be in his return to the Chargers.

Key additions: WR Christian Kirk, OG Laken Tomlinson, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DT Sheldon Rankins, OG Ed Ingram
Key losses: LT Laremy Tunsil, S Eric Murray, OG Kenyon Green

The Texans Achieved one of the most shocking moves of Obtainable agency when they traded Sun left Involvement Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders for a package of picks. Houston’s offensive line struggled mightily last season, so Nick Caserio is opting for a rebuild at that position — which included trading Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles for CJGJ. While no one in Houston is crying Violation over losing Green, Gardner-Johnson is an addition worth getting excited about. The Texans Yet look like the best Club in the AFC South, but as for if they are legitimate contenders, we’ll see. Apart from the offensive line, Perhaps OC Nick Caley is key for Houston getting over the hump.

Key additions: DT Tedarrell Slaton, LB Oren Burks
Key losses: OG Alex Cappa, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither

Perhaps the vibes are high in Cincinnati because the Bengals Discovered a way to keep both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins long term, but the future of reigning sack leader Trey Hendrickson remains up in the air, and the Bengals Yet have to upgrade the Guarding that kept this Club out of the playoffs last year. 

Key additions: S Talanoa Hufanga, LB Dre Greenlaw, TE Evan Engram
Key losses: LB Cody Barton, RB Javonte Williams

Did Sean Payton finally find his “joker” in Engram? Adding more weaponry for Bo Nix was a key Target this offseason, and Denver isn’t done either. Defensively, Hufanga and Greenlaw make the Broncos better. Remember, this unit was incredibly aggressive last year, ranking top five in sacks (63), Tension percentage (40%) and blitz percentage (37%). Plenty of reason to be excited about Denver moving forward.

Key additions: WR DeAndre Hopkins
Key losses: OL Patrick Mekari, CB Brandon Stephens

The Ravens haven’t had a very exciting Obtainable agency. Maintaining Ronnie Stanley is huge, but losing Mekari is notable, too. Surely there are people out there that think the Hopkins addition is something that will get Baltimore over the hump, but I don’t know. Hopkins turns 33 in June, and is probably more of a Shift-the-chains possession guy than someone who averages 70-80 receiving yards per game. 

The Ravens will once again be one of the best Squads in the NFL, but will have to prove they are better than the Bills or Chiefs.

2. Buffalo Bills

Key additions: WR Josh Palmer, EDGE Michael Hoecht, EDGE Joey Bosa, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Key losses: CB Kaiir Elam, EDGE Von Miller

The Bills have had a pretty decent Obtainable agency so Extended, adding a Youthful receiver in Palmer and Numerous Shielding linemen in Hoecht, Bosa and Ogunjobi. However, Hoecht and Ogunjobi will unfortunately have to miss six Matches due to PED suspensions. So I do wonder if there will be some Prompt season struggles defensively. The draft will be Crucial for Buffalo, but this is Yet a legitimate contender Guided by the very well-paid reigning NFL MVP. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Key additions: LT Jaylon Moore, CB Kristian Fulton, RB Elijah Mitchell 
Key losses: DT Tershawn Wharton, S Justin Reid, WR DeAndre Hopkins, OLB Josh Uche, OG Joe Thuney

Brett Veach quickly targeted Moore to Hit as Patrick Mahomes’ new left Involvement, then Fulton and Mitchell could be Crucial, underrated contributors if they can stay Well. The Chiefs have had a solid offseason since they Discovered a way to keep Trey Smith and Nick Bolton. There’s Yet some work to be done, but the Chiefs have Achieved the Finals three years in a row, and I’m not ready to take them off the No. 1 spot in the AFC.