Caleb Harris
The main pillars of roster construction this offseason have come and gone with the conclusion of 2024 NFL Draft last week. Now we have a rough look at what these league teams will look like when Week 1 begins. While we’re still months away from meaningful football being played, this is as good a time as any to take a snapshot of where things stand for each team currently, with the lineups taking their relative shape.
We already ranked every NFC team after the draft and now it’s time to see where each AFC club stacks up. As expected, the consecutive defense Super Bowl the champion Chiefs still remain the conference leader (and the NFL as a whole), but there are a few teams on the rise that should be on your radar as we enter the summer months.
Here’s a look at the latest AFC power rankings.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
2023 Record: 11-6 (won Super Bowl LVIII)
Kansas City will likely be in this top spot for the foreseeable future as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center. The Chiefs spent the off-season solidifying their wide receiver space, which was their biggest weakness in last year’s Super Bowl-winning campaign. Adding Hollywood Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy in the first round should inject much-needed speed back into the offense. The Chiefs also retained defensive lineman Chris Jones and expanded Travis Kelce, keeping their core intact. Trading L’Jarius Sneed will hurt the secondary, but the Chiefs should once again be in the thick of the battle Super Bowl conversation.
2023 record: 13-4 (reached AFC Championship)
I really think we should be paying attention to the loss of Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and how it could impact the unit after a stellar season. Even with that in mind, though, the Ravens are a legitimate contender in the conference. Lamar Jackson should be even better entering his second season with OC Todd Monken and will now have Derrick Henry with him on defense. Zay Flowers ascending in his second season and bringing Mark Andrews back healthy is also a plus on offense. Defensively, they were able to keep Justin Madubuike and added Clemson corner Nate Wiggins to help the secondary.
2023 Record: 11-6 (reached divisional round)
Buffalo’s offense will be very different in 2024 with the departure of Stefon Diggs (traded to the Texans) and Gabe Davis (signed to the Jaguars in free agency). That said, the franchise still has Josh Allen at center, who rivals being the best defender the league has to offer. Dalton Kincaid and Keon Coleman are an intriguing pass-catching duo, so Allen should be able to make it work. Losing Jordan Poyer and Tre’Davious White in free agency also shakes up the secondary.
2023 Record: 7-10
I’m bullish on the Jets in 2024. Aaron Rodgers is returning from his Achilles injury, and as long as he’s 80% of the player he was before the injury, he’s the best quarterback they’ve had in decades. New York spent this offseason addressing its weaknesses, adding three new offensive tackles and adding wideout Mike Williams to pair alongside Garrett Wilson. With Rodgers controlling the offense and a defense with top-five upside, the ceiling for the Jets is extremely high. Coach Robert Saleh remains the biggest question mark.
2023 Record: 9-8
As long as Joe Burrow can stay on the field, the Bengals have a Super Bowl ceiling. The problem is that he sometimes struggles to do so, which leaves them a little lower in the power rankings than their talent warrants. Add Trent Brown and rookie Amarius Mims to compete for the starting right tackle spot alongside Orlando Brown Jr. It will be interesting to see how they handle trade requests for wideout Tee Higgins and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson throughout training camp. Either way, the Bengals are firmly in the Super Bowl window.
6. Houston Texans
2023 Record: 10-7 (reached divisional round)
The Texans will be the sexy AFC pick this year. CJ Stroud was tremendous as a rookie and there really are no signs that indicate he will experience a sophomore slump. In fact, he could be even better with the additions of wideout Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon this offseason. They are already knocking on the door of being a top five team in the conference and could be in the top three next year.
2023 Record: 11-6 (reached wild card)
Cleveland managed to make the playoffs in 2023 despite having five different starting quarterbacks. If Deshaun Watson can stay healthy, the infrastructure around him will be good enough to contend for the playoffs once again. If Watson can somewhat regain the player he was in Houston, their ceiling is even higher than that. They also added Jerry Jeudy to help bolster the offense. Defensively, these are headlines accumulated by Myles Garrett. In truth, the Browns’ success depends solely on Watson, but the talent across the entire roster is there.
2023 Record: 11-6 (reached wild card)
Miami has arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Their backfield is also extremely fast with Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane and rookie Jaylen Wright. However, the big issue in the attack is the offensive line. Terron Armstead has struggled to stay healthy and could prove to be their Achilles heel once again in 2024. On defense, rookie Chop Robinson is a much-needed addition to help deepen the unit as Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb continue to recover of season-ending injuries in ’23. The signing of Jordan Poyer was another smart move that should improve the secondary.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 Record: 9-8
The Jaguars have the talent to be among the best teams in the conference, but they need to start showing it before we start believing in them. They had an epic collapse in the final stretch of last year’s season that left them out of the playoffs. Offensively, I like the addition of Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis to cushion the blow of losing Calvin Ridley in free agency. Retaining pass rusher Josh Allen was also a huge win for them this offseason. Now, it’s time for Trevor Lawrence to start elevating his team like a No. 1 overall pick should.
2023 Record: 5-12
The Jim Harbaugh era began in Los Angeles. Probably the biggest obstacle for the Chargers over the past few seasons has been questionable coaching decisions, which should be corrected with Harbaugh’s arrival. This club still had Justin Herbert, who has the talent to be a top three defender in the league. However, their offense will be very different this year with the departure of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. He will now need to develop some chemistry with second-round rookie Ladd McConkey, who could end up being his top target alongside Quentin Johnston.
2023 Record: 10-7 (reached the wild card)
Pittsburgh had a strong offseason, which culminated in a stellar showing in the draft. They addressed several important needs, including the offensive line. The big question for this team is who will start for them. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson to a one-year contract and then traded for former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The final result of this position will determine the outcome of the season.
2023 Record: 6-11
Similar to Pittsburgh, the Titans have had a strong offseason as they continue to build around second-year QB Will Levis. They added Tony Pollard to the backfield to replace Derrick Henry and signed free agent Calvin Ridley to pair with fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Tennessee also used its first-round pick on offensive tackle J.C. Latham to address that primary need. On defense, they also acquired L’Jarius Sneed in a trade with the Chiefs to help anchor the secondary. The pieces are in place for the Titans to make a leap in 2024, but it’s all about what Levis develops in Year 2.
2023 Record: 9-8
Anthony Richardson is returning healthy after injuries derailed his rookie season. In the limited look we’ve seen of the former first-round quarterback, Richardson has shown elite potential as a dual-threat option for Indy. The Colts also signed Michael Pittman Jr. and drafted Adonai Mitchell to ensure Richardson has weapons at his disposal in Year 2. Pass rusher Laiatu Latu will also be fascinating to watch develop in his rookie season as the best defensive player drafted of the week last. The Colts are a team on the rise, but they are probably still a year or two away from true contention.
2023 Record: 8-9
Las Vegas missed out on the QB race in the draft, so either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell will start for them in 2024. While useful, this doesn’t exactly give the Raiders a high ceiling on offense. Adding Christian Wilkins to the defensive line should create a devastating duo with Maxx Crosby.
2023 Record: 4-13
Even if Jacoby Brissett starts the full year at quarterback like third overall pick Drake Maye develops, the Patriots will likely play better at the position than they did a year ago. Still, it’s only a matter of time before new head coach Jerod Mayo inserts the rookie center as the potential face of the franchise. New England still has some major questions at wide receiver and left tackle, so the offense could still struggle in 2024. Defensively, the Patriots should be aggressive, especially with Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez returning from injury. This reconstruction is still a few years away from turning the corner.
2023 Record: 8-9
Is it Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham or Ben DeNucci who starts for the Broncos? This matters? While Sean Payton will likely be able to squeeze every ounce of talent out of whoever is under center for him this season, the ceiling doesn’t appear to be particularly high for any of them. Denver’s weapons on offense also leave little to be desired outside of Courtland Sutton.
