AFC luxury picks in NFL Draft: A stunning landing spot for touted QB

NFL teams sometimes don't draft for need. Instead, even though they may be stocked at a position, they'll make a luxury pick.

Ahead of the NFL Draft in Green Bay (April 24-26), Yardbarker NFL writers identify a luxury pick for each team in the AFC.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina | Assuming the Bills come to terms with disgruntled running back James Cook, Hampton is a luxury; if not, the 6-foot, 220-pound RB would become something more. Cook wants more money after running for 1,009 yards and tying for a league-high 16 touchdowns last season, but if he holds out, the Bills could do worse than the ACC’s leading rusher (1,660), even with Ray Davis, last year’s fourth-round pick, in the wings.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | WR Tetairoa McMillan | Pro Football Focus called McMillan “a smooth criminal of a receiver,” and getting him would be considered highway robbery for a team that already has Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and tight end Jonnu Smith. Widely considered the top receiver in the draft, McMillan averaged 71 catches for 1,141 yards and 8.6 touchdowns in three years with Arizona, and at 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, he’s significantly taller and heavier than either Hill or Waddle.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado | The Patriots have three cornerbacks (Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones) ranked in the top 32 by PFF and a chance of landing Hunter with the No. 4 pick. Offensively, the 6-foot-1, 186-pound phenom would be a godsend to the NFL’s 32nd-ranked passing attack and a luxury as a defender in New England.

NEW YORK JETS | DE Mike Green, Marshall | For all their faults, the Jets finished 2024 with the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense and fifth-most sacks (43) in the AFC (led by defensive end Will McDonald IV's 10.5). Green comes with off-the-field concerns, but he led the FBS with 17 sacks last season and would fit nicely in a rotation with McDonald and fellow edge-rusher Micheal Clemons. — Bruce Ewing

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona | McMillan (6-foot-4, 219 pounds), a tall wideout, should thrive in head coach Sean Payton’s offense and help the Broncos stretch the field more. Pro Football Focus credited him with 18 contested catches in 12 games in 2024, tied for the seventh most in the FBS.  

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse | Allen (6-foot, 204 pounds) could complement starting RB Isiah Pacheco and give K.C.’s passing attack more juice. In 13 games last season, he had 64 receptions for 521 yards and four touchdown catches.  

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Edge-rusher Jack Sawyer, Ohio State | At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Sawyer (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) said he models his game after Vegas edge-rusher Maxx Crosby. Like Crosby, a fourth-round pick in 2019, Sawyer may be a steal for the Raiders. In 16 games in 2024, the Ohio State pass-rusher recorded nine sacks. 

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS  | LB Teddye Buchanan, California | The Chargers have Denzel Perryman and Daiyan Henley, but HC Jim Harbaugh probably wouldn’t mind adding Buchanan (6-foot-2, 233 pounds) to his linebacking corps. In 13 games last season, he logged 12 tackles for loss. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss | Baltimore’s offense is fine as it is, but QB Lamar Jackson wouldn’t be opposed to adding another dangerous deep threat. Harris (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) averaged 16.1 yards per reception in his college career, and he has an NFL-ready blend of size and speed that could give the offense an immediate boost. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Safety Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina | The Bengals have other needs, but a playmaker on the back end of their defense would be a great addition. Emmanwori (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) has an elite combination of speed and ball skills they should be looking for. Emmanwori is slightly inconsistent in run support, but his rare physical traits will entice Cincinnati’s front office.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | DE Abdul Carter, Penn State | The Browns are likely going elsewhere with the No. 2 overall pick after signing DE Myles Garrett to a four-year contract extension. Still, it’s fun to imagine how much this duo would terrorize QBs. Carter (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) and Garrett would quickly become main characters in the nightmares of Jackson, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and whoever the Steelers play at QB. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado | If the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers, they’ll need a young quarterback to develop behind one of the greatest QBs ever. The increasing thought is that Sanders (6-foot-1, 212 pounds) could fall to Pittsburgh at No. 23 overall. He'd be a great choice and inject optimism into this increasingly frustrated fan base. — Jack Dougherty

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green | The Texans have a deep wide receiver group led by Nico Collins and a solid pass-catching tight end in Dalton Schultz, but why not give QB C.J. Stroud as many weapons as possible? Fannin (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) had 117 catches and 1,555 receiving yards — both FBS season records for a tight end — and 10 touchdown catches last season.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | RB RJ Harvey, Central Florida | The Colts have Jonathan Taylor, one of the best power running backs in the NFL, but he hardly contributes to the passing game. Harvey (5-foot-8, 205 pounds) caught 39 passes for the Knights over the past two seasons and rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024. He makes defenders miss in space and would be a great complement to Taylor.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA | The Jaguars have two above-average starting linebackers (Devin Lloyd and Foyesade Oluokun), but Schwesinger (6-foot-3, 242 pounds) would make the unit truly elite. He led the FBS with 90 total tackles last season, has a nose for the football and is solid in pass coverage. As a bonus, he would have an immediate impact on special teams.

TENNESSEE TITANS | WR Ricky White III, UNLV | With an uncertain QB situation and potentially a rookie starting at the position, the Titans will benefit from winning the field-position battle whenever possible. White (6-foot-1, 184 pounds) led the FBS with four blocked punts last year and had 79 catches, 1,041 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches. He can contribute on offense and in a less glamorous role. — Steve DelVecchio