AFC Stock Up / Stock Down, Post-Free Agency

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Let's discuss how we think each AFC team has done so far this offseason and if they project as better, worse, or about the same entering the draft (where the champion of the conference will ultimately be determined)

AFC West

Chiefs: Better. My main reason actually has a lot to do with how much bad luck the offense had last year - it would be hard not to improve based on that alone. But it appears LT has some stability, although I'm not sure they're done adding there. The WR trio is one of the best in all of football, though they've yet to play a game together. The Fulton signing is my favorite because it's a force multiplier, allowing Trent to go back to the Star/Nickel role where he can impact games at an elite level and Connor plays Safety. We're a Charles Omenihu away from being in a really great spot entering the draft.

Chargers: Same. Feels like much the same team with the same limitations that will get them bounced in January. They're trying to do it the right way though, building through the draft. May be some short term pain for some long term gain. They need more speed on O.

Broncos: Better. Hate to say that I largely really like what Payton has done so far. They're rolling the dice on some ex-49ers with health question marks, but the defense is set up to be top-five once again. Nix and how he handles the sophomore year is critical, but this looks like a sure-fire playoff team.

Raiders: Better. This is only about the QB, by getting Geno they HAVE to be better. Still not ready to compete at the highest level and won't be for awhile.

AFC East

Bills: Slightly better. This one could easily be "worse" once Joey Bosa has his inevitable long-term injury. Beane did his normal thing, kept his own guys on reasonable contracts. I don't love switching Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins out for Josh Palmer, but maybe I'm stupid. Overall they're betting that their core guys can finally get it done in Jan. Must have a great draft.

Patriots: Much better. Look, they've paid out the nose and a lot of these deals won't age well. But they are much better on paper with these new players. They will win at minimum three more games this yr under Vrabel. If Maye is legit, they are wild card contenders.

Dolphins: Worse. A lot of bad contracts are finally catching up to them. Mike McDaniels days are numbered, just like Tyreek's.

Jets: Worse. Coaching may get them further along this year, but the roster is not any better. I'm not a Justin Fields believer. This team won't be in the playoffs, AGAIN.

AFC North

Ravens: Same. Their only addition is Hopkins, but they kept the Left Tackle. Haven't lost anyone of consequence. This is as same as same gets. Great organization will probably have a nice draft and be right back in the playoffs.

Steelers: Better. Rodgers will be an improvement when he inevitably signs here. Love the Metcalf addition, knocks Pickens down a peg. They'll still struggle to win a playoff game however, if they make it.

Bengals Worse. I'm dying on the hill that they're using the wrong scape goats. Lou Anarumo was the biggest reason for their deep playoff runs, and they didn't continue to give him the requisite talent to succeed. Now, they're putting all their eggs into the same basket that hasn't got it done yet. Burrow will get his stats, but this defense will stink. If Hendrickson walks, they miss the playoffs again.

Browns Better. Kept Myles Garrett and will most definitely improve at QB. Could contend for playoffs as they seem so unpredictable year to year.

AFC South

Texans: Worse. Traded away Tunsil, that alone makes it this for now. I do like the depth they've added on DL, as they will need to draft offense if they want to fix last year's woes and get Stroud back on track.

Jaguars Same. Nothing really to note here. Still a lacking roster that will bank on coaching to maximize Trevor and contend in the worst AFC division.

Titans Same. Dan Moore was an overpay, but does raise the floor of the offense. QB is the ?. I foresee this being the last year of Brian Callahan before Mike Borgonzi might just try to pluck Steve Spagnuolo from us.

Colts Slightly better. I like the adds of Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum in a secondary that really needed some dogs back there. QB is still going to hold them back and finally end the Chris Ballard era next January.

[UChieffyBugger]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Thuney was our best OL. An All-Pro future HOF. Best LG in football.

Sure they added a couple of nice vet players and a lottery ticket LT, but they objectively got slightly worse on paper losing a legit blue chip player.

Doesn’t mean they won’t be better overall after the draft. But shit man. This team won 15 games. Hard to match that every year.

We won a SB WITHOUT Thuney fgs but folks seem to have short memories.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

On paper we look similar.

As of now pre-draft, if we went into the season like this I would expect our defense to be the strength of the team finishing top 5-7.


The offense I expect to be mediocre and be in the 12-14 overall range.

[Chris Meck]

Man, there's some negative Nancies up in here.

[MahomesMagic]

2023 KC was 16th in Points Per Play on Offense.

2024 KC was 14th in Points Per Play on Offense.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

2023 KC was 16th in Points Per Play on Offense.

2024 KC was 14th in Points Per Play on Offense.

2025 KC will be 1st in Points Per Play on Offense!!!!!

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

2023 KC was 16th in Points Per Play on Offense.

2024 KC was 14th in Points Per Play on Offense.

With a gaping holes at LT, minus our top two WR's for almost all of the season, minus our starting RB.

So yeah, if we have a ton of injuries this season too, we might struggle.

If they're relatively healthy, I'd be pretty confident that the team with Rice, Worthy, and Brown finishes better than the one with Toney, Moore, and MVS.

[Couch-Potato]

Rice, Brown, and Pacheco coming back healthy is a big plus.

Omenihu was also out all last season, so I’m hoping we can bring him back and he'll replace Wharton’s production.

Losing Thuney doesn’t help our OL situation, I’m not sold on Moore yet.

[ForeverIowan]

Living in Denver and listening to local talk radio, the Broncos are a year away. After this year, the Russ Wilson dead cap hits are a thing of the past and Bo Nix will be on a rookie deal. If they have a couple great drafts and attack free agency hard a year from now, I suspect the AFC West race will be as tight as it has been in years in 2026/2027.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

With a gaping holes at LT, minus our top two WR's for almost all of the season, minus our starting RB.

So yeah, if we have a ton of injuries this season too, we might struggle.

If they're relatively healthy, I'd be pretty confident that the team with Rice, Worthy, and Brown finishes better than the one with Toney, Moore, and MVS.

Rice and Worthy having that connection with Mahomes is gonna be awesome. Hollywood as WR3 is even more lethal.

They are adding a talented RB as well. As long as LT doesn’t crater and we don’t have devastating injuries we’ll be scoring points

[staylor26]

The dumb**** that constantly cried about WR1 is ignoring the importance of getting back our WR1?

[MahomesMagic]

Breaking in a new LT.

Breaking in a new guard next to him after losing Joe Thuney.

Kelce another year older.

Rice to be suspended.

RB 1 coming back from injury.

Another year with Matt Nagy at OC.

Even with Rice on the field last year Chiefs offense was mediocre.



Hoping they can add a fast and skilled RB in the draft and need to pray Jaylon Moore and Kingsley/Nourad are ready to go.

[staylor26]

How many games did a healthy Rice, Hollywood, and a Worthy that wasn't green have together?

****ing zero.

You cried non-stop about WRs for years on end and now that the Chiefs are stacked at the position you want to ignore it?

[MahomesMagic]

Originally Posted by staylor26

How many games did a healthy Rice, Hollywood, and a Worthy that wasn't green have together?

****ing zero.

You cried non-stop about WRs for years on end and now that the Chiefs are stacked at the position you want to ignore it?

Rice and Worthy were together last year and in those games the offense was not even top ten.


Rice is a very good player but he is not prime Travis Kelce as a difference maker.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

Rice and Worthy were together last year and in those games the offense was not even top ten.


Rice is a very good player but he is not prime Travis Kelce as a difference maker.

Yes a rookie Worthy in his first few games. You're talking about a handful of games, where the Chiefs also didn't have Hollywood on top of Worthy going through some growing pains.

Anybody that isn't a disingenuous bundle of sticks can see the difference in Worthu from the first few games to today. Now he gets a full offseason.

You've been downplaying how good Worthy was down the stretch because you're a full blown hater. You're not even a real Chiefs fan.

[Delano]

Originally Posted by ForeverIowan

Living in Denver and listening to local talk radio, the Broncos are a year away. After this year, the Russ Wilson dead cap hits are a thing of the past and Bo Nix will be on a rookie deal. If they have a couple great drafts and attack free agency hard a year from now, I suspect the AFC West race will be as tight as it has been in years in 2026/2027.

Nix is just another AFCW crater-faced runner up.