The upcoming NFL Draft in Detroit promises its share of surprises, with questions looming over potential first-round skips for highly touted prospects like Georgia’s Brock Bowers and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Speculation abounds about which teams within the top five might pass on Maye, and there’s curiosity about where certain quarterbacks might land, including in Las Vegas.
With the draft approaching, Yardbarker NFL writers provide insights and bold predictions for each AFC team. In the AFC East:
- The Buffalo Bills may opt to bolster their receiving corps early on by selecting two wide receivers with differing skill sets, despite their GM Brandon Beane’s assurance that they don’t necessarily need a top-tier receiver.
- The Miami Dolphins, facing limited draft capital, might trade out of the first round to accumulate more picks, potentially engaging with the Carolina Panthers to secure a receiver.
- The New York Jets could prioritize fortifying their offensive line by passing on Brock Bowers and instead selecting Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, recognizing the need to address depth and protect their quarterback.
- The New England Patriots might make a bold move by trading with the Giants to secure Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, reminiscent of past draft maneuvers by their management.
In the AFC West:
- The Denver Broncos, having recently acquired Zach Wilson, may choose to pass on a quarterback in the first round and target one later, perhaps in the third round.
- The Kansas City Chiefs, prioritizing their offensive line, could select an offensive tackle before addressing their wide receiver needs.
- The Las Vegas Raiders might opt to stay put at No. 13 and select Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. as a backup plan if their preferred options are unavailable.
- The Los Angeles Chargers could draft Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to fill the void left by Keenan Allen’s departure.
In the AFC North:
- The Baltimore Ravens might opt to draft a running back early despite signing Derrick Henry, acknowledging the need for long-term depth at the position.
- The Cincinnati Bengals could consider drafting a wide receiver to eventually replace Tee Higgins, who has expressed a desire to stay with the team.
- The Cleveland Browns, lacking significant draft capital, may explore trading up for impact players despite their limited resources.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers could address various needs early in the draft before potentially trading for a veteran wide receiver to bolster their roster.
In the AFC South:
- The Houston Texans might look to trade for Browns CB Greg Newsome II to address their cornerback needs with their limited draft picks.
- The Indianapolis Colts may prioritize providing QB Anthony Richardson with additional weapons by drafting the best available wide receiver.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars could seek to trade for Bengals WR Tee Higgins to compensate for the loss of Calvin Ridley and enhance QB Trevor Lawrence’s options.
- The Tennessee Titans could surprise by drafting TE Brock Bowers to complement their existing offensive weapons, potentially providing a George Kittle-like presence on the field.
