Snap judgments: Which AFC rookies will earn the most playing time?

With the 2024 NFL Draft in the rearview, it's time to focus on how the teams will deploy their picks on the field. Not every first-round pick will get the most playing time among each team's rookies this season.

After analyzing the AFC selections, Yardbarker NFL writers selected the player on each team who's likely to earn the most snaps.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | WR Keon Coleman (second round) | It's fair to argue whether Buffalo should've traded down twice before selecting Coleman (658 receiving yards, 11 TD catches in 2023), but the 6-foot-3, 213-pounder from Florida State will be one of QB Josh Allen's top targets as a rookie. Instead of viewing Coleman as Stefon Diggs' replacement, consider him an upgraded version of Gabe Davis, as his field-stretching and run-blocking capabilities will allow him to fill the now-Jacksonville WR's former role.  

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Edge-rusher Chop Robinson (first round) | The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins reported in March that edge-rushers Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) could be healthy enough to play in Week 1. However, given how late into last season they suffered their injuries, it's far from a guarantee, opening the door for Robinson (four sacks in 10 games last season at Penn State) to get substantial playing time out of the gate.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | WR Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) | Quarterback Drake Maye, the third overall pick, will compete for the starting job in training camp, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Patriots named veteran Jacoby Brissett their starter to begin the season. Conversely, Polk — who caught 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine TDs last season at Texas Tech — should earn a sizable role immediately. New England spent a second-round pick on him to bolster its 29th-ranked passing offense. 

NEW YORK JETS | WR Malachi Corley (third round) | After failing to move up in the second round to select Corley, New York swung a deal with Carolina to acquire the No. 65 pick, which it spent on the Western Kentucky WR. The "YAC King" was one of the nation's more productive receivers over the past two seasons (180 receptions for 2,279 yards and 22 touchdowns), and he should quickly emerge as a Swiss army knife for the offense. — Colum Dell

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | QB Bo Nix (first round) | Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Broncos head coach Sean Payton sees similarities between Nix and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, whom he almost drafted when he served as Saints HC. Comparing the 12th overall pick to a two-time MVP is a stretch, but if Payton likes the Oregon standout that much, expect him to start sooner than later. 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | WR Xavier Worthy (first round) | Until he took Worthy with the 28th overall pick, Chiefs GM Brett Veach had never drafted a WR with a first-round pick since he assumed the role in 2017. K.C. is bullish on the 21-year-old, who had 197 receptions for 2,755 yards and 26 TD catches in three seasons at Texas. 

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (second round) | The Raiders didn’t re-sign right guard Greg Van Roten, who started in 17 games for Las Vegas in 2023, so Powers-Johnson will undoubtedly earn a ton of playing time. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed zero sacks in 13 games at Oregon in 2023.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | WR Ladd McConkey (second round) | McConkey could start in Week 1 after the Chargers dismantled their receiving corps this offseason, trading six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears) and releasing former first-round pick Mike Williams (New York Jets). Two-time national champion McConkey had 119 receptions for 1,687 yards and 14 TD catches in three seasons at Georgia. — Clark Dalton

AFC North 

BALTIMORE RAVENS | CB Nate Wiggins (first round) | The Ravens needed to find another cornerback to play on the outside opposite three-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey. The Clemson product is a bit undersized at 183 pounds, but general manager Eric DeCosta believes Wiggins can develop into a “true shutdown-type corner.” 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | WR Jermaine Burton (third round) | The Bengals parted ways with wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who remains a free agent, this offseason, so Burton should slide into his role. The third-round pick’s impact will grow if Cincinnati trades WR Tee Higgins or he sits out after requesting a trade earlier this offseason.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | DT Mike Hall Jr. (second round) | None of the draft picks are likely to be Day 1 starters, but Hall Jr. has the best chance to do so. The Ohio State product joins a crowded DT room with Dalvin Tomlinson (30 years old) and Shelby Harris (32), but those players' best days are behind them. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Center Zach Frazier (second round) | Frazier should slide into the lineup as a Day 1 starter because the Steelers didn't have another center after releasing 2023 starter Mason Cole earlier this offseason. There’s a strong argument that first-round pick Troy Fautanu, an offensive tackle, will also be a Day 1 starter, but he must beat out Dan Moore Jr. first. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | CB Kamari Lassiter (second round) | Cornerback was Houston’s biggest area of need and getting Lassiter — one of the top press CBs in the draft — was a big win. He should push for one of the team's top three cornerback spots along with Derek Stingley Jr., Jeff Okudah and Desmond King II.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | WR Adonai Mitchell (second round) | The Colts getting Mitchell at 52nd overall could be one of the steals of the draft. The speedy wideout has great hands and a wide catch radius, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he pushed Josh Downs into the slot and emerged as QB Anthony Richardson’s go-to big-play WR.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | DT Maason Smith (second round) | The Jaguars are thin at defensive tackle and two of the three players at the position are rookies. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Smith should have a chance to break camp as the team’s No. 1 DT. He will give Jacksonville a stout front seven that includes defensive end Arik Armstead and edge-rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker. 

TENNESSEE TITANS | OT JC Latham (first round) | Offensive line was the Achilles' heel of the Titans last season, and adding Latham gives them a building-block player. Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dillon Radunz will likely battle to be the starting right tackle. GM Ran Carthon has indicated Latham  will start at left tackle. — Michael Gallagher