AFC: Let's gauge pressure for each team's rookie class

Twenty-one NFL teams will throw open the doors to training camp for rookies this week, bringing the league total to 22. (Baltimore Ravens rookies reported Saturday.)

Some teams need huge contributions from their rookie classes — we're looking at you, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos — while others (Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns) may have the luxury of bringing their rookies along more slowly.

We asked Yardbarker NFL writers to give each AFC team a pressure rating for its rookie class, with "5" being intense pressure to perform this season to "1" signifying the lowest pressure.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | Pressure rating: 4 | After parting ways with multiple key veterans this offseason, mainly due to salary cap constraints, several members of the 2024 draft class must step up. Wide receiver Keon Coleman must shoulder the load at wideout after the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Meanwhile, safety Cole Bishop will be an important rotational piece to fill the void left by Micah Hyde's departure.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Pressure rating: 1 | The Dolphins won't rely on many rookies to make an impact in 2024, as they spent a majority of their draft picks on players who could eventually develop into starters. Even so, considering Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) may be sidelined to start the season, first-round edge-rusher Chop Robinson must be an immediate contributor to Miami's pass-rush unit.

NEW YORK JETS | Pressure rating: 2 | The Jets focused on addressing their biggest holes in free agency, allowing them to use the draft as a way to bolster their depth, including in the first round with the selection of offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. The Penn State product will likely only see time if Tyron Smith or Morgan Moses get injured, but it's possible third-round wideout Malachi Corley could earn a starting role out of training camp.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Pressure rating: 4 | The rookie class doesn't have to lead the team to many wins to consider the season a success, but the team's top draft picks must show signs they are long-term building blocks. All eyes will be on quarterback Drake Maye's development, but wide receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker must prove they can help New England upgrade its 29th-ranked receiving corps. — Colum Dell

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | Pressure rating: 5 |  Denver drafted QB Bo Nix (pick No. 12) and WR Troy Franklin (pick No. 102) as replacements for Russell Wilson (released) and Jerry Jeudy (trade). The former Oregon teammates may start immediately, ratcheting up pressure on the draft class.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Pressure rating: 2 | The Chiefs drafted Texas WR Xavier Worthy (pick No. 28) to upgrade a shaky receiving corps that led the league in drops (44) last season. However, the rest of the draft class faces little pressure, as the reigning Super Bowl champions, who signed free-agent defensive tackle Chris Jones and gave tight end Travis Kelce a new deal this offseason, don't have many holes.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Pressure rating: 4 | The Raiders hope TE Brock Bowers (pick No. 13) jump-starts a passing attack that finished 23rd in the league in yards last season (198.8). With Vegas refusing to re-sign Greg Van Roten, who started in 17 games in 2023, guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (pick No. 44) should also receive plenty of playing time.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Pressure rating: 4 | Right tackle Joe Alt (pick No. 5) will likely compete with Trey Pipkins III, who allowed a career-high nine sacks in 17 games in 2023 per Pro Football Reference, for the starting job. WRs Ladd McConkey (pick No. 34) and Brenden Rice (pick No. 225) must deliver after the Bolts' trade of six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen (Bears) and release of former first-rounder Mike Williams this offseason. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Pressure rating: 3 | One downside to drafting and developing so well is simply not being able to pay everybody. That was the case for the Ravens this offseason. Baltimore is hoping it struck gold with first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins and second-round offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, who could be relied upon as starters as soon as Week 1 for a team ready to contend for a Super Bowl again.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Pressure rating: 2 | The Bengals addressed most of their holes in free agency, but one rookie who may have a larger role than most expect is third-round wide receiver Jermaine Burton. The Alabama product was drafted to replace Tyler Boyd, who joined the Tennessee Titans in May after amassing 513 catches for 6,000 yards and 31 touchdowns the past eight years.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Pressure rating: 1 | The Browns shouldn’t have to rely on any rookie to be an immediate starter this season after retaining most of their key free agents. Of course, it also doesn’t help that Cleveland didn’t make its first selection until the second round (DT Mike Hall Jr.).

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Pressure rating: 5 | It’s not difficult to imagine the Steelers asking their first four picks to play a lot this season. First-round offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and second-round center Zach Frazier should be plug-and-play starters on Pittsburgh’s rebuilt offensive line. Meanwhile, third-round wide receiver Roman Wilson and linebacker Payton Wilson could establish themselves as rotational pieces at their positions. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | Pressure rating: 1 | Houston had a playoff roster even before the draft, so there’s little pressure on any of its rookies to produce immediately. The Texans had so few roster holes to address that they traded out of the first round and loaded up on later-round picks.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Pressure rating: 3 | The Colts were one game away from the playoffs last season, and they brought back most of that roster. After adding just two free agents, Indy will be relying heavily on edge rusher Laiatu Latu and receiver Adonai Mitchell to make an immediate impact in 2024.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Pressure rating: 4 | First-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. has some big shoes to fill in WR Calvin Ridley, and second-round rookie Maason Smith (DT) and third-rounder Jarrian Jones (CB) will likely be competing for starting jobs. Jacksonville was one game away from making the playoffs last season, and it appears it’s banking big on its rookie class to help get it there this season.

TENNESSEE TITANS | Pressure rating: 3 | Nobody expects much from the Titans in 2024 while they usher in a new regime with an entirely new coaching staff that's building an offense around a second-year quarterback (Will Levis) with half a season of starting experience. But first-round pick JC Latham will be Tennessee’s starting left tackle, and T’Vondre Sweat and Eric Gray will likely compete for starting jobs at defensive tackle and inside linebacker, respectively, so there is at least some pressure on the rookie class to contribute. — Michael Gallagher