NFL Draft intel: Bold predictions for every AFC team

Every NFL Draft has a huge surprise or three, so what about this year's draft in Detroit?

Will a team surprisingly pass on touted Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in the first round? Which team picking within the top five will skip over North Carolina QB Drake Maye? What QB could land in Vegas?

As the clock to the start of Thursday's first round winds down, Yardbarker NFL writers offer intel and bold predictions for every team in the AFC.

AFC East 

BUFFALO BILLS | Double dip on wide receivers early | Bills GM Brandon Beane recently told the media the team doesn't need a No. 1 wideout to replace Stefon Diggs, which is true in the sense that he doesn't have to draft a perennial 1,200-yard receiver. Still, Buffalo needs more receiving help and while it has 10 2024 selections, only two fall within the first three rounds, so look for Beane to draft a pair of wideouts with vastly different skill sets early on.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Trade out of the first round | Holding just six selections and no third- or fourth-round picks, the cash-strapped Dolphins will move out of the first round to acquire additional draft capital. Since there could be a run on wideouts late in Round 1, perhaps the receiver-needy Carolina Panthers — who own the Nos. 33 and 39 picks — will try to swing a deal with Miami to ensure they land one.

NEW YORK JETS | Pass on Georgia TE Brock Bowers, select Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga | Rather than drafting another weapon for QB Aaron Rodgers, GM Joe Douglas has seen enough injuries to his offensive line to recognize the unit's lack of depth could undermine the team's Super Bowl aspirations. After narrowly missing out on Notre Dame's Joe Alt, Douglas will select Fuaga — who has zero sacks allowed since 2022, per Pro Football Focus — largely due to the 6-foot-6, 324-pounder's versatility.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Select Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy following a trade with the Giants | History repeats itself as Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, formerly the assistant GM in Cleveland, deems North Carolina's Drake Maye is too risky of a selection, similar to how he viewed now-Bills QB Josh Allen in 2018. The Giants, however, value Maye highly enough to send a package including the sixth pick and three second-rounders to New England, which lands its QB of the future in McCarthy at No. 6.  — Colum Dell

AFC West 

DENVER BRONCOS | Pass on a QB in the first round, take one later | The Broncos acquired former New York Jets QB Zach Wilson on Monday, which could signal they’re not planning to move up from No. 12 or reach for Oregon’s Bo Nix. However, expect Denver to target a passer in the third round, perhaps South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler or Tulane’s Michael Pratt. 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Draft an OT before they take a WR | Chiefs general manager Brett Veach mentioned the draft class is deep at WR but not at OT. Don’t be surprised if K.C. prioritizes improving its O-line and takes Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton or Arizona OT Jordan Morgan with pick No. 32.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Stand pat at No. 13, take Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. | Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted he’s heard the Raiders like Penix and LSU QB Jayden Daniels. While Las Vegas could try to move up for Daniels, that could be costly, so taking Penix seems like a solid fallback plan.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Draft Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. | The Chargers could trade down and stock up on picks, but they need a WR after dealing six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears this offseason. The Arizona Cardinals could trade the No. 4 pick to a QB-needy team such as the Minnesota Vikings. If this happens, anticipate 2023 first-team All-American Harrison landing in L.A. at pick No. 5. — Clark Dalton

AFC North 

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Draft running back early | The Ravens signed Derrick Henry, but he’ll turn 31 this season and general manager Eric DeCosta said there’s a “strong chance” they’ll draft a running back at some point. This year’s draft class isn’t deep, so if Baltimore wants to land one of the top prospects (Texas’ Jonathon Brooks or Michigan’s Blake Corum), it may draft the position earlier than expected.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Draft wide receiver Tee Higgins’ replacement | Higgins requested to be traded earlier this offseason but recently revealed he expects to play for Cincinnati in 2024. If the Bengals don’t trade him, which they don’t seem interested in doing, there’s still a good chance they draft his eventual replacement from this year’s wide receiver-rich class.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Trade up with limited capital | The Browns have just five picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and aren’t scheduled to make their first selection until No. 54 in the second round. As a result, most think Cleveland will stand pat or trade back to acquire more draft capital, but trading up for an impact player shouldn’t be ruled out for a team without a ton of holes to fill.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Trade for veteran wide receiver | The Steelers are still in the market for a wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason. However, Pittsburgh still has several other holes to fill (center, offensive tackle, cornerback), so addressing those needs early in the draft and then dealing a mid- or late-round pick for a veteran wide receiver makes a lot of sense. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | Trade for Browns CB Greg Newsome II | Houston’s biggest area of need is cornerback, and with its first pick in the draft not coming until 42nd overall, there’s a good chance many of the top corners will be off the board. Newsome II is reported to be on the trade block because Cleveland is not likely to be able to afford his extension next year. The Texans should capitalize on their two second-rounders and acquire a top-tier CB to pair with Derek Stingley Jr.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Draft the best WR available | Cornerback and safety are the Colts’ two biggest needs, but can they really go wrong giving second-year QB Anthony Richardson more weapons to throw to? LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. or Texas’ Xavier Worthy would give Richardson an excellent complement of weapons along with WRs Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs and RB Jonathan Taylor.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Trade for Bengals WR Tee Higgins | Losing Calvin Ridley in free agency is a big blow to the Jaguars' passing game, and though they signed free agent Gabriel Davis, he’s more of a No. 2 WR than a top option. Jacksonville should send the No. 48 overall pick in Round 2 and No. 116 overall in Round 4 (an additional pick it acquired from New Orleans) to Cincinnati for Higgins and give QB Trevor Lawrence another weapon.

TENNESSEE TITANS | Draft TE Brock Bowers | It seems the Titans are down to deciding between offensive tackle or wide receiver, but why not swing big on a guy like Bowers? Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks (if he’s healthy) are a solid WR trio, and adding Bowers gives Tennessee a George Kittle-like playmaker in the middle of the field to go with its weapons out wide.— Michael Gallagher