by Jazz Ray
Sunday, Apr 12, 2026
Looking at each team in the AFC heading in to the draft (odds to win the conference in parenthesis):
BALTIMORE RAVENS (+500) - There are reports that Lamar Jackson, who in the past has blown off voluntary off-season work, is more invested this year. We’ll see. Whether he shows or not, the Ravens will be looking to bolster their receiving corps in the draft. There is also the not-so-small problem of replacing center Tyler Linderbaum, who is now in Las Vegas.
BUFFALO BILLS (+500) – Oddsmakers still like the Bills’ overall talent starting with perennial MVP candidate Josh Allen. If the Patriots’ winning the division last season was an anomaly, the door is wide open again for the Bills in the AFC East. Buffalo joins a long list of teams who would be looking for an edge rusher. They figure to concentrate on defense in the draft.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (+1400) – Yeah, Joe Burrow has to stay healthy, and that starts with protecting him. They need improvement on the offensive line. But defense comes first for a team that gave up the second-most (Jets) points in the conference in 2025. Don’t be shocked if the Bengals spend spend their first three picks on defenders.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (+7500) – They wouldn’t draft another quarterback. Or would they? If your options were Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson, you might. Maybe not in the first round, though. Published reports indicate that Cleveland – which owns the 6th and 24th picks in the first round, and nine overall picks – is looking seriously at upgrading its offensive line early in the draft.
DENVER BRONCOS (+900) – After acquiring WR Jaylen Swaddle, Denver has only one pick (62) in the top 100, so barring another deal they’ll sit and watch until the middle of Day 2. With a Top 5 defense already in place, an argument can be made for the Broncos to take the best offensive player available when their turn comes.
HOUSTON TEXANS (+900) – Another team with a defense that doesn’t need a lot of tweaking. There is no secret that the Texans weren’t exactly delighted with the play of the offensive line last season. Once the O-Line concerns are addressed, they could use another playmaker for C.J. Stroud somewhere in the middle of the draft.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (+3000) – 2025 ended on the sourest of notes for Indy, which started 7-1, lost QB Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury, then lost its final six to miss the playoffs. There are leaks in several spots (linebacker, WR among them) as the Colts try to navigate the draft without a first-round pick.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+1200) – Eight straight wins to finish the season enabled the Jags to win the AFC South, and even without a first-round pick they have the luxury of drafting for depth. One area of concern is the defensive backfield, where Travis Hunter appears to be the best of the bunch despite an injury-plagued rookie season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (+700) – After a weird non-playoff season in 2025, KC is expected to replenish its defensive backfield in the draft. One way to help the DBs is to add an edge rusher to make life more difficult for opposing QBs. The Chiefs do have two picks in the first round, so they should be able to fill some holes quickly and get back to the post-season.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+7500) – Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick, and the Raiders will spend this season figuring out ways to keep him upright and healthy. The WRs are average at best, so they no doubt will be taking a pass-catcher at some point. LV signed some decent defensive players in free agency.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+800) – No one seems to have a good idea where the Chargers will turn in the draft. They couldn’t score a touchdown in last year’s playoff loss to New England, so offense might be a good start. Shoring up the O-Line and finding another receiver would plug a couple of holes.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (+15000) – Yikes. In Salary Cap hell and without a decent QB, Miami has real problems and it’s hard to see the Fins winning seven games again this season. The best way to be competitive is to assemble a decent defense, but the talk is Miami will be looking at a wide receiver with their first pick.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+900) – It starts and ends in the trenches with New England, where a spotty first season from LT Will Campbell and lack of pressure from the edge were exposed in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots take a page out of the Belichick playbook and trade out of the first round.
NEW YORK JETS (+10000) – A team that scores the fewest and allows the most points in its division (both by wide margins) needs help just about everywhere. Geno Smith is a stopgap at QB, and the Jets will scouring their draft board for players to help him move the chains. Having three picks in the top 33 – including No. 2 overall – makes things easier.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (+2000) – Will he come back or not? The Steelers are getting the full Aaron Rodgers Treatment as they head into the draft. Would they spend the first-rounder on a QB without knowing Rodgers’ plans? Probably. The future is here, no matter what Rodgers decides. At some point the Steelers have to move on.
TENNESSEE TITANS (+5000) – After 3-14, the Road to Respectability for the Titans is long and winding. Coach Robert Saleh is biased toward the defensive side of the ball, so look for Tennessee to spend the No. 4 overall pick on an edge rusher – Step 1 toward patching a defense that gave up 193 more points than the offense produced last season.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (+500) - There are reports that Lamar Jackson, who in the past has blown off voluntary off-season work, is more invested this year. We’ll see. Whether he shows or not, the Ravens will be looking to bolster their receiving corps in the draft. There is also the not-so-small problem of replacing center Tyler Linderbaum, who is now in Las Vegas.
BUFFALO BILLS (+500) – Oddsmakers still like the Bills’ overall talent starting with perennial MVP candidate Josh Allen. If the Patriots’ winning the division last season was an anomaly, the door is wide open again for the Bills in the AFC East. Buffalo joins a long list of teams who would be looking for an edge rusher. They figure to concentrate on defense in the draft.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (+1400) – Yeah, Joe Burrow has to stay healthy, and that starts with protecting him. They need improvement on the offensive line. But defense comes first for a team that gave up the second-most (Jets) points in the conference in 2025. Don’t be shocked if the Bengals spend spend their first three picks on defenders.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (+7500) – They wouldn’t draft another quarterback. Or would they? If your options were Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson, you might. Maybe not in the first round, though. Published reports indicate that Cleveland – which owns the 6th and 24th picks in the first round, and nine overall picks – is looking seriously at upgrading its offensive line early in the draft.
DENVER BRONCOS (+900) – After acquiring WR Jaylen Swaddle, Denver has only one pick (62) in the top 100, so barring another deal they’ll sit and watch until the middle of Day 2. With a Top 5 defense already in place, an argument can be made for the Broncos to take the best offensive player available when their turn comes.
HOUSTON TEXANS (+900) – Another team with a defense that doesn’t need a lot of tweaking. There is no secret that the Texans weren’t exactly delighted with the play of the offensive line last season. Once the O-Line concerns are addressed, they could use another playmaker for C.J. Stroud somewhere in the middle of the draft.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (+3000) – 2025 ended on the sourest of notes for Indy, which started 7-1, lost QB Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury, then lost its final six to miss the playoffs. There are leaks in several spots (linebacker, WR among them) as the Colts try to navigate the draft without a first-round pick.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+1200) – Eight straight wins to finish the season enabled the Jags to win the AFC South, and even without a first-round pick they have the luxury of drafting for depth. One area of concern is the defensive backfield, where Travis Hunter appears to be the best of the bunch despite an injury-plagued rookie season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (+700) – After a weird non-playoff season in 2025, KC is expected to replenish its defensive backfield in the draft. One way to help the DBs is to add an edge rusher to make life more difficult for opposing QBs. The Chiefs do have two picks in the first round, so they should be able to fill some holes quickly and get back to the post-season.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+7500) – Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick, and the Raiders will spend this season figuring out ways to keep him upright and healthy. The WRs are average at best, so they no doubt will be taking a pass-catcher at some point. LV signed some decent defensive players in free agency.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+800) – No one seems to have a good idea where the Chargers will turn in the draft. They couldn’t score a touchdown in last year’s playoff loss to New England, so offense might be a good start. Shoring up the O-Line and finding another receiver would plug a couple of holes.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (+15000) – Yikes. In Salary Cap hell and without a decent QB, Miami has real problems and it’s hard to see the Fins winning seven games again this season. The best way to be competitive is to assemble a decent defense, but the talk is Miami will be looking at a wide receiver with their first pick.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+900) – It starts and ends in the trenches with New England, where a spotty first season from LT Will Campbell and lack of pressure from the edge were exposed in the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots take a page out of the Belichick playbook and trade out of the first round.
NEW YORK JETS (+10000) – A team that scores the fewest and allows the most points in its division (both by wide margins) needs help just about everywhere. Geno Smith is a stopgap at QB, and the Jets will scouring their draft board for players to help him move the chains. Having three picks in the top 33 – including No. 2 overall – makes things easier.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (+2000) – Will he come back or not? The Steelers are getting the full Aaron Rodgers Treatment as they head into the draft. Would they spend the first-rounder on a QB without knowing Rodgers’ plans? Probably. The future is here, no matter what Rodgers decides. At some point the Steelers have to move on.
TENNESSEE TITANS (+5000) – After 3-14, the Road to Respectability for the Titans is long and winding. Coach Robert Saleh is biased toward the defensive side of the ball, so look for Tennessee to spend the No. 4 overall pick on an edge rusher – Step 1 toward patching a defense that gave up 193 more points than the offense produced last season.
