AFC under-the-radar rookies, training camp reporting dates

The first round of the NFL Draft doesn't produce all the stars. Teams mine gems beyond the first 32 picks.

Ahead of training camp in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers identify an under-the-radar rookie on each AFC team who could make a major impact this season. Training camp reporting dates for rookies and veterans, as well as camp locations, are also listed below.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | OT Chase Lundt | The second of two sixth-round picks for the Bills, Lundt has an outside chance to start after allowing two pressures and one sack in 48 starts for Connecticut. A four-year starter, Lundt spent the offseason training at right and left tackle, but at 6-foot-7 and 304 pounds, the 25-year-old could be even more effective at guard. | Rookies report July 15 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Rochester, N.Y.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | RB Ollie Gordon II | The former Oklahoma State star led the FBS with 1,732 yards and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top rusher in 2023, but fell to the seventh round after rushing for 880 yards with 95 fewer carries in 2024. At 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds, Gordon is much larger than second-year running back Jaylen Wright, and assuming he makes amends for a recent DUI charge, he could do well as a goal-line option behind starter De’Von Achane. | Rookies report July 15 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Miami Gardens, Fla.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Kicker Andres Borregales | Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, New England ranks 22nd in field-goal success rate (84%) and 27th in point-after attempt rate (92%) since moving on from Stephen Gostkowski in 2020. Borregales, a sixth-round pick, converted 94.7% of FG attempts and went 62-for-62 on extra points for Miami last season. | Rookies report July 19 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Foxboro, Mass.

NEW YORK JETS | WR Arian Smith | The Jets have little behind No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson beyond 29-year-old Allen Lazard and 30-year-old Joshua Reynolds. Smith has a 4.36 speed in the 40-yard dash, but the fourth-round pick must overcome the surgeries needed to repair a torn meniscus, broken fibula, fractured wrist and high-ankle sprain that he suffered in college. | Rookies report July 19 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Florham Park, N.J. — Bruce Ewing

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | WR Pat Bryant | After taking Bryant with pick No. 74, Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he reminds him of former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who earned two first-team All-Pro nods when he played for Payton from 2016-21. Bryant living up to the comparison would improve a receiving corps that had the league’s sixth-most drops (32) last season, per Pro Football Reference. | Rookies report July 16 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Englewood, Colo.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | DT Omarr Norman-Lott | The second-rounder may become a solid complement to DT Chris Jones, a six-time Pro Bowler. Per Pro Football Focus, the former Tennessee Volunteers star led FBS interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win rate (18.9 percent in 13 games) in 2024 (min. 215 pass-rush snaps). | Rookies report July 21 | Veterans: July 21 | Site: St. Joseph, Mo.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | TE Oronde Gadsden II | At OTAs in June, Chargers TEs coach Andy Bischoff said the fifth-rounder is “twitchy” like Miami Dolphins TE Darren Waller, a one-time Pro Bowler. This trait could make Gadsden, who had seven TD catches in 13 games at Syracuse in 2024, a reliable target for QB Justin Herbert. | Rookies report  July 12 | Veterans: July 16 | Site: El Segundo, Calif.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | WR Tommy Mellott | The sixth-rounder is converting from QB to wide receiver and may return kicks as well. The former Montana State star — who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day in April, per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler — has elite speed. | Rookies report July 17 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Henderson, Nev. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Kicker Tyler Loop | For years, the Ravens had the best kicker in football in Justin Tucker, a weapon who gave them a huge advantage in close games. But because of legal problems, he is out of the NFL, and that is going to put pressure on Loop, a sixth-round pick who made 83.8 percent of his FG attempts at Arizona. | Rookies report July 15 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Owings Mills, Md.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | OG Dylan Fairchild | The Bengals have the skill-position players locked down, but they need the offensive line to protect franchise QB Joe Burrow better. Guard was high on their list of needs, and third-round pick Fairchild should play a significant role. | Rookies report July 19 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Cincinnati 

CLEVELAND BROWNS | RB Dylan Sampson | The QB situation will steal most of the headlines after the team selected Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 class, but Cleveland also took two running backs high in the draft. Former Ohio State standout Quinshon Judkins is going to bring power to the backfield, but fourth-rounder Sampson could make a big impact as a home-run-type hitter. | Rookies report July 18 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Berea, Ohio

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Edge Jack Sawyer | The Steelers emphasized improving their run defense this offseason, and fourth-rounder Sawyer could end up playing a big role as a rotational depth player. His role could become even bigger than expected if T.J. Watt’s contract situation isn't settled before the season. | Rookies report July 23 | Veterans: July 23 | Site: Latrobe, Pa. — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | WR Jaylin Noel | Christian Kirk projects as Houston’s starting slot receiver, but he missed half of last season because of injuries. Noel (5-foot-11, 201 pounds), a third-round pick, caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight TD catches last season at Iowa State. He was just as productive as teammate Jayden Higgins, Houston's second-round pick. | Rookies report July 22 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Houston

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | RB DJ Giddens | The fifth-rounder can do something RB Jonathan Taylor isn't known for: catch passes. Taylor had just 18 catches last season and 19 in 2023. Giddens (6-foot-1, 212 pounds), meanwhile, had 581 receiving yards over the past two seasons at Kansas State. He averaged an impressive 6.6 yards per carry last season, so he could get the ball more than many anticipate. | Rookies report July 21 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Westfield, Ind.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS  | RB LeQuint Allen | He was the last of nine players the Jaguars drafted, but he has a great path to making the roster. Allen (6-feet, 201 pounds) led all FBS RBs with 64 receptions last season at Syracuse. He is excellent in pass protection, and Jacksonville could use a reliable third-down back. | Rookies report July 19 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Jacksonville, Fla.

TENNESSEE TITANS | WR Xavier Restrepo | The Titans recently signed Restrepo as an undrafted free agent, and it is no secret why. Restrepo (5-foot-10, 202 pounds) played with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, the presumptive starting QB, at Miami last season (69 catches for 1,127 yards and 11 TDs). Chemistry matters, and it would be hard to find a pair of NFL rookies who have more of it than Ward and Restrepo. | Rookies report  July 22 | Veterans: July 22 | Site: Nashville — Steve DelVecchio