AFC combine watch: One player each team should have on its radar

With the Super Bowl far in the rearview, all NFL teams turn their attention to the NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 27-March 2), free agency (March 12) and the NFL Draft (April 24-26). 

Ahead of the combine in Indianapolis, Yardbarker NFL writers select one player who each team in the AFC should have on its radar. (2024 regular-season records and first-round draft positions are in parentheses.)

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS (13-4 | First-round pick: No. 30) | South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori | NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein called the 6-foot-3, 227-pound safety "a physical specimen with rare size and outstanding speed, capable of playing over the top, inside the box or even matching up with pass-catching tight ends." Emmanwori had four interceptions (including a pick-six) for South Carolina last season and would start immediately if pending free agent Damar Hamlin signs elsewhere.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9 | First-round pick: No. 13) | Alabama guard Tyler Booker | Booker (6-foot-5, 325 pounds), a two-year starter and team captain with Alabama, gave up one sack in college. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa took 21 sacks and missed six games with head and hip injuries last season and could use help now that guards Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn are about to become free agents.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13 | First-round pick: No. 4) | LT Will Campbell | Per ESPN’s Field Yates, New England ranked 31st in pass-block win rate (50.9 percent) last season and allowed the fifth-most sacks (52) in the NFL. New head coach Mike Vrabel has said the offensive line will be a top priority for the Patriots, and the team could do worse than a 6-foot-6, 323-pound consensus All-American who allowed only four sacks in three years with LSU.

NEW YORK JETS (5-12 | First-round pick: No. 7) | Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart | The Jets need a QB to usher in the post-Aaron Rodgers era but have no chance of landing top QB prospects Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Cam Ward (Miami) with the seventh pick in the draft. Dart (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) may have a second-round grade, but with 11,970 yards and 81 touchdowns passing and another 1,543 yards rushing for his college career, the QB could give New York a dual-threat option it hasn’t had since Michael Vick played 10 games for the team in 2014. — Bruce Ewing

AFC West 

DENVER BRONCOS (10-7 | First-round pick: No. 20) | Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen | Much like former Saints RB Darren Sproles — who played for Broncos HC Sean Payton from 2011-13 — Allen (6-foot, 201 pounds) is a multi-skilled back. In 13 games in 2024, he had 20 touchdowns (16 rushing and four receiving) and 1,542 yards (1,021 rushing and 521 receiving).

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2 | First-round pick: No. 31) | Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. | Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 times in 16 regular-season starts in 2024, so K.C. should consider targeting Conerly (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) to improve its O-line. In a recent scouting report, The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs compared Conerly to Buffalo Bills OT Dion Dawkins, a four-time Pro Bowler.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-13 | First-round pick: No. 6) | Miami QB Cam Ward | Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders could also be a good choice for the Raiders, but Ward (6-foot-2, 223 pounds) may be a better prospect. In 2024, he led the FBS in TD passes (39 in 13 games) and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6 | First-round pick: No. 22) | Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka | Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh — a former Michigan coach — probably wouldn’t mind having the Ohio State star on his team. Egbuka (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) set a school record for receiving yards (2,868) in four seasons with the Buckeyes and could become a reliable playmaker for Chargers QB Justin Herbert. — Clark Dalton

AFC North 

BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5 | First-round pick: No. 27) | Arizona OL Jonah Savaiinaea | The Ravens might need to rebuild the offensive line this offseason with Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones and Ben Cleveland set to hit free agency. Savaiinaea is a house on legs at 6-foot-5, 336 pounds, and he’s ready to step in and contribute at the NFL level right away.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8 | First-round pick: No. 17) | Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr. | Winston (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) isn’t the top safety on most draft boards, but that’s mostly because he missed most of the 2024 season with a torn ACL. He led the Nittany Lions in tackles (61, three for loss) and had five passes defensed and two fumble recoveries in 2023.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14 | First-round pick: No. 2) | Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter | The Browns need a QB, but none of the options in this draft class feel worthy of the No. 2 overall pick. Carter (6-foot-3, 259 pounds), however, seems like a can’t-miss prospect and a Micah Parsons clone. Cleveland must bolster its pass rush if it trades Myles Garrett.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7 | First-round pick: No. 21) | Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson | Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds) is coming off a junior season in which he led the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,537) and rushing touchdowns (21). With Najee Harris likely departing in free agency, the Steelers could replace him with Johnson, who seems like a perfect fit for OC Arthur Smith’s scheme. — Jack Dougherty

AFC South 

HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7 | First-round pick: No. 25) | North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel | It’s no secret the Texans must address their offensive line, making Zabel (6-foot-6, 305 pounds) a player Houston should watch closely in Indy. Per Pro Football Focus, Zabel has impressive versatility, playing all five positions on the O-line in his five seasons with the Bison.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9 | First-round pick: No. 14) | Miami TE Elijah Arroyo | Arroyo (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl after a senior season in which he had 35 receptions for 590 yards (16.9 yards per catch) and seven touchdown catches. If he makes another solid impression at the combine, he might already be home in Indianapolis, which has tight end among its biggest needs.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-13 | First-round pick: No. 5) | Michigan CB Will Johnson | Jacksonville’s pass defense was arguably the league’s worst in 2024. Johnson (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) is a shutdown corner with nine career interceptions. After being limited because of injuries this past season, he needs a strong combine performance to show scouts he’s worth a top-10 pick.

TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14 | First-round pick: No. 1) | Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders | Per FanDuel, Miami QB Cam Ward is the betting favorite (-140) to hear his name called first in April’s NFL Draft, making the combine one of the final opportunities for Sanders (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) to make his case to the Titans. Sanders holds the FBS record for highest career completion percentage (71.8 percent), but he might need to show more than accuracy in Indy to be Tennessee’s man. — Eric Smithling