-
Follow Us
On Facebook
On Flipboard
Offensive fireworks? Grading AFC skill-position groups
The usual suspects — we're looking at you, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals — should again have high-powered offenses. But what teams could enter the 2025 NFL season with dreadful offenses?
Ahead of training camps opening in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers grade each AFC team's skill-position group.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Grade: A- | Although his passing numbers were down from the previous season, QB Josh Allen finished last season as NFL MVP, and third-year RB James Cook rushed for a career-high 1,009 yards and tied for the league lead with 16 rushing TDs. Imagine what the NFL’s second-ranked scoring offense could have done had Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, the team’s top two receivers, managed more than four TD receptions each in 2024.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Grade: B | After a disappointing 8-9 2024 season, it’s easy to forget that in 2023, QB Tua Tagovailoa (4,624 yards passing) and WR Tyreek Hill (1,799 yards receiving) led the league at their positions while RB De’Von Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry and rushed for 800 yards. Head and hip injuries cost Tagovailoa six games in 2024, but if he can stay healthy, the offense should rival the team's 2023 attack (league-best 461.3 yards per game).
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Grade: F | Only the Bears gained fewer yards per game (284.6) last season than the Patriots (291.9), who failed to produce a top-20 passer, top-25 rusher or top-50 receiver. Second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson will look to light up the team’s run game alongside Rhamondre Stevenson in 2025, but 31-year-old receiver Stefon Diggs must prove he’s fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered with the Texans last season.
NEW YORK JETS | Grade: D | Starting QB Justin Fields, who's on his third team in five years, threw for five TDs in six starts with the Steelers last season. Jets fans must hope tight end Mason Taylor, the team’s second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, shines as brightly as No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson, who has had three straight 1,000-plus-yard receiving seasons since joining the league in 2022. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Grade: B | After tossing 29 touchdown passes in 17 starts during his rookie season, QB Bo Nix may take the next step in 2025, but that could prove difficult without elite weapons. Except WR Courtland Sutton (1,081 receiving yards in 17 games last season), no Bronco finished with more than 503 receiving yards last season. Denver is also banking on rookie RB RJ Harvey and fellow back J.K. Dobbins to improve its 16th-ranked rushing attack (112.2 YPG).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Grade: A- | Star TE Travis Kelce may be slowing after recording just three touchdown catches in 16 regular-season games last season, but second-year WR Xavier Worthy may be a breakout candidate. He had the most receiving yards (287 in three games) in the playoffs. Let’s not forget about superstar QB Patrick Mahomes, a two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Grade: B+ | The Chargers bolstered their backfield this offseason, signing Najee Harris (one year, $5.25M) in free agency and grabbing North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (pick No. 22) in the NFL Draft. In 2024, Harris rushed for 1,043 yards in 17 games with the Steelers, while Hampton ran for 1,660 yards in 12 games with the Tar Heels. Meanwhile, second-year WR Ladd McConkey should continue establishing himself as a dependable target for QB Justin Herbert after finishing with the league’s 10th-most receiving yards (1,149 in 16 regular-season games) in 2024.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Grade: B+ | New QB Geno Smith should be thrilled to be playing with second-year TE Brock Bowers, who set the NFL rookie record for receptions (112 in 17 games in 2024). Vegas needs rookie RB Ashton Jeanty (pick No. 6) to become a star. He won the 2024 Doak Walker Award as college football’s best RB after rushing for 2,601 yards in 14 games at Boise State. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Grade: B+ | RB Derrick Henry, coming off a 1,921-yard season, makes this group a nightmare for defenses because he can change a game at any moment from any spot on the field. Baltimore has an outstanding tight-end duo (Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely), but the WR depth chart has questions beyond Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Grade: A | After a breakout performance in 2024, Chase Brown (990 rushing yards) gives the Bengals one of the more underrated rushers in the league, while Mike Gesicki is a matchup problem at tight end. The real money with this group, however (both literally and figuratively), is at WR, where Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins form the best one-two punch in the NFL and have an elite QB (Joe Burrow) throwing to them.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Grade: C- | WR Jerry Jeudy had a great first season with the Browns (1,229 yards receiving) and has proved to be a capable No. 1 target. But the rest of this group is uninspiring with unproven RBs (Jerome Ford and Quinshon Judkins) and no reliable No. 2 WR (Cedric Tillman and Diontae Johnson are inconsistent).
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Grade: C+ | DK Metcalf is a legitimate No. 1 WR, and with the addition of Jonnu Smith to Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, the Steelers might have one of the NFL's deeper tight-end groups. But they have a serious depth question at WR (again) with no clear-cut No. 2 guy unless either Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson takes a big step forward. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Grade: B | The Texans need either Christian Kirk or one of their rookie wideouts to seize the No. 2 role behind Nico Collins, who is one of the NFL's best at his position. If that happens, QB C.J. Stroud could be poised for a third-year breakout. RB Joe Mixon was solid last season with 1,325 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns, and tight end Dalton Schultz is a reliable safety valve.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Grade: C- | Except for star RB Jonathan Taylor, the Colts have far too many uncertainties. WRs Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs have flashed playmaking ability, but either QB Anthony Richardson Sr. or Daniel Jones must play well for that to matter. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns at Penn State last season, could quickly become the focal point of Indy’s passing offense.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Grade: B+ | If QB Trevor Lawrence stays healthy, the Jaguars will have serious explosive-play potential. WR Brian Thomas Jr. is coming off an outstanding rookie season (87 catches, 1,282 yards, 10 touchdowns) and should benefit from defenses having to account for rookie WR Travis Hunter. RB is more of a question with Travis Etienne Jr. coming off a bad season and Tank Bigsby only an early down threat, but Jacksonville has elite offensive talent.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Grade: C | It is difficult to project how the No. 1 overall pick, QB Cam Ward, will transition to the NFL, and Calvin Ridley looks like the only sure thing at WR. Veteran Tyler Lockett could prove to be one of the steals of the offseason if he can bounce back from a down season with the Seattle Seahawks, but that is hardly a certainty in his 11th NFL season. RB Tony Pollard was effective last season with 1,079 rushing yards and 4.2 yards per carry; the Titans need similar production from him in 2025 to take pressure off Ward. — Steve DelVecchio
More must-reads:
- Ravens' Rashod Bateman opens up about Cowboys trade rumors
- Jets' Sauce Gardner opens up about facing Steelers' Aaron Rodgers in Week 1
- The 'Super Bowl XXXIX starters (Patriots vs. Eagles)' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
