NFL Off Season: Every AFC team’s biggest priorities in 2025

The NFL regular season is almost over, and for most teams in the NFL, now is the time to start looking to the future. Whether it’s a new coach or some young blood in the draft, there will be changes aplenty.

The Ravens took Nate Wiggins in the first round last year, and so far he hasn’t looked the part. It’s not that he’s been awful, and he could yet improve, he just hasn’t looked elite. The simplest move for the Ravens could be to focus on Wiggins’ development, but if a veteran becomes available, they should be all over it.

The Bills defense is fine, if nothing special, ranking 16th in EPA/Play, per SumerSports. An easy way to improve that is by upgrading their pass rush. Currently, they only have a mediocre 38 sacks on the season. Whether it’s via a free agent signing or the draft, in our opinion, the easiest way to improve this defense is with a new EDGE rusher.

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The Bengals have been attempting to improve their offensive line for years, and it has got better. They face an interesting off season ahead, with big decisions to be made over players like Tee Higgins. For us, if a player like Mekhi Becton doesn’t re-sign in Philly, he should be become priority number one in Cincinnati.

The Browns restructured Deshaun Watson’s contract recently to make it easier to cut him in 2026, per ESPN. That suggests he will almost certainly still be in Cleveland for next season, but that shouldn’t stop them from drafting a quarterback. Watson has been awful since joining with the Browns, and now is the time for them to make a move for the future.

It could also be the fault of the offensive line, but the Broncos’ run game hasn’t been good enough this season. Javonte Williams showed flashes but never consistency, which is similar for the other backs on the roster. Bo Nix has put together a nice rookie year, but having a talented running back next to him will take some of the strain off his shoulders.

The Texans defense has been their strength this year, and they have talented players across the unit. However, if there was to be a weak spot, it would be in the heart of their defensive line, as Bleacher Report has pointed out following their blowout loss to the Ravens, writing, “They couldn't stop the run.”

The Colts defense has been good this year, but Sunday’s collapse against the Giants showcased the obvious weaknesses in the back end. Indy could do a lot worse than target Jevon Holland and D.J. Reed, from the Dolphins and Jets respectively, who are both set to become free agents.

Doug Pederson had a huge impact on the NFL when he won the Super Bowl with the Eagles. His aggression on fourth downs played a huge part in the win and has been parroted across the league (correctly). Unfortunately, that success hasn’t translated in Jacksonville, who should be looking for a fresh start in their coaching ranks.

This is dependent on Trey Smith not re-signing in KC. If he doesn’t the Chiefs will have a huge hole to fill at guard given Smith’s stellar play. Per Pro Football Focus, he has been the 10th-best guard in football this year. It could also be time to look to the future and draft a young tight end for Travis Kelce to groom for a year or two.

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The Raiders’ decision to enter the season with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell as QB options was always a strange one. To almost no one’s surprise, it didn’t work, and Las Vegas had another bad year. Two wins late in the season has put them out of contention for the top pick in the 2025 draft, but it shouldn’t be too hard to trade up if they fall in love with one of the prospects.

Ladd McConkey has impressed in his rookie season, but the drop-off from him to the next-best pass catchers is significant. We would love to see Justin Herbert surrounded by elite weapons after all these years. If Tee Higgins does become a free agent, Jim Harbaugh et al. should do everything they can to add him to their roster.

The Dolphins sit sixth from bottom in the NFL with just 32 sacks on the year, per ESPN. It’s hard to win football games when your defense isn’t generating sacks and pressure. There are some good pass-rushing options in this season’s draft, so if a player like Nic Scourton falls to them, the Dolphins should be all over it.

The Patriots’ offensive line is consistently performing as one of the worst units in football, per PFF, making life nearly impossible for rookie QB Drake Maye at times. Their best bet may be to sign and draft a number of options and see what pans out. Getting Maye a reliable pass-catcher might help too. Lots of work to be done.

Aaron Rodgers has hinted his time in New York is over, per NBC Sports. That is probably a blessing in disguise for the Jets, who can move on from their ‘all-in’ experiment and look to the future. Depending on how the board falls, they could be in position to draft a QB early. At the very least, they need to sign someone.

The Steelers will more than likely let Najee Harris walk in free agency, opening up room for a new running back, too. More importantly, however, is the need for another wide receiver across from George Pickens. Pickens is a very good player, but not an elite one. Even so, when he’s not on the field, the options are limited and has been a reason behind their recent skid.

Selecting Will Levis in the second round a couple of years ago was worth a shot. If a team thinks a quarterback could become a starter, draft them. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out, leaving the Titans in desperate need of a new QB. They currently hold the number two selection, which should give them a chance at one of the top two QBs in the draft.

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