Draft Needs: Every AFC team's biggest area of concern
theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest need for every AFC team ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, which will take place April 29-May 1.
AFC I NFC
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Biggest need: Edge rush
Buffalo marched its way to a 13-3 record last season despite lacking an impact pass-rusher. The Bills swung and missed on signing J.J. Watt this offseason, but there's still a lot of time to improve a unit that didn't have a player record more than five sacks in 2020. A strong secondary complemented by a boost in the pass-rush department could be the final piece in putting Josh Allen and Co. over the top in the battle for the AFC's crown.
Top early-round targets: Gregory Rousseau, Azeez Ojulari, Jaelan Phillips
Miami Dolphins
Biggest need: Top pass-catcher
The Dolphins are putting all their chips in on Tua Tagovailoa after a rather flat rookie season. Tagovailoa struggled to push the ball downfield last year, but it's still unclear if that was by design. Regardless, Miami should continue surrounding him with talent in hopes of bringing back the skilled passer we saw light it up at Alabama a few years ago. Luckily for the Dolphins, one of the top two pass-catching prospects in Ja'Marr Chase or Kyle Pitts should fall right into their lap with the sixth overall pick.
Top early-round targets: Ja'Marr Chase, Kyle Pitts, Jaylen Waddle
New England Patriots
Biggest need: Quarterback
Bill Belichick may be inclined to pursue a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo in a year from now, but it'll be hard to look away if one of the top quarterback prospects falls down the board. Neither Cam Newton nor Jarrett Stidham looks to be the future in New England, and the Patriots are hoping they won't draft in the top 15 again next year after retooling the roster in free agency. Even if they can't nab one of the marquee names, New England might take a gamble on whichever passer falls into its lap.
Top early-round targets: Justin Fields, Kyle Trask, Davis Mills
New York Jets
Biggest need: Quarterback
One of the draft's worst kept secrets seems to finally be out - the Jets are going to take a quarterback. After trading Sam Darnold, New York is firmly positioned to select a signal-caller with the No. 2 pick. Some may wonder why the Jets traded a young passer only to take another one. Perhaps New York's biggest need has less to do with the quarterback position and more with the process of developing one. That means making sure it surrounds its next quarterback with all the right tools, a benefit Darnold wasn't provided with.
Top early-round targets: Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Biggest need: Edge rush
As much as the Ravens would love to add a playmaking wide receiver, they need a pass-rusher more urgently. Yannick Ngakoue and Matt Judon both defected in free agency, and nobody on the team had more than four sacks last season. While Baltimore figures to add a wideout at some point in the draft, general manager Eric DeCosta is likely to target an edge rusher first, prioritizing a position group the Ravens haven't addressed in the top two rounds since selecting Tyus Bowser in 2017.
Top early-round targets: Gregory Rosseau, Jayson Oweh, Joe Tryon
Cincinnati Bengals
Biggest need: Offensive line
If the Bengals really are moving ahead with Jonah Williams and Riley Reiff as their two tackles - as head coach Zac Taylor claims - then they'll look to address the inside of their offensive line. Guard and centers rarely go early in the first round because they don't play premium positions, so the Bengals may take replacement candidates for Michael Jordan, Trey Hopkins, and Xavier Su'a-Filo on Day 2. If Taylor's assertion was simply a smokescreen, the Bengals could take tackle Penei Sewell with the fifth pick and move Williams to guard.
Top early-round targets: Landon Dickerson, Wyatt Davis, Trey Smith
Cleveland Browns
Biggest need: Linebacker
The Browns seem fairly set on both sides of the ball but still have some issues to iron out in the middle of their defense. Their linebackers struggled in coverage last year, and there was room for improvement against the run. Tack on the fact that B.J. Goodson is still unsigned, and the stars appear to be lining up for Cleveland to take a linebacker with one of its top selections.
Top early-round targets: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jamin Davis, Zaven Collins
Pittsburgh Steelers
Biggest need: Offensive line
The Steelers made it clear that they're improving their running game this offseason, and that begins with the big boys up front. The holes on the offensive line, especially at center, are bigger than the gaps the running backs had to run through last season. A Day 1 starter to replace the retired Maurkice Pouncey or a quality tackle would do wonders to re-establish the identity of Steelers football.
Top early-round targets: Landon Dickerson, Teven Jenkins, Jalen Mayfield
AFC South
Houston Texans
Biggest need: Defense
Where to start? Houston has more issues than can be counted and aren't on the clock until the third round. While Deshaun Watson's future remains uncertain and possibly out of their hands, the Texans should fix what they can control. With pressing concerns on the edge and in the secondary, Houston should take the best defensive player available when it finally gets on the clock.
Top early-round targets: Paulson Adebo, Patrick Jones, Joe Tryon
Indianapolis Colts
Biggest need: Defensive end
The Colts allowed 15.5 sacks to walk out the door in free agency, as Denico Autry left for the Titans and Justin Houston remains unsigned. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the edge tandem of Tyquan Lewis and Isaac Rochell isn't good enough. DeForest Buckner, an interior lineman, is the only player still on Indianapolis' roster who managed more than four sacks in 2020.
Top early-round targets: Jaelan Phillips, Azeez Ojulari, Joseph Ossai
Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest need: Quarterback
This one's obvious, but not just because the Jaguars all but admitted they're taking Trevor Lawrence first overall. Jacksonville actually boasts a promising, young roster and added some established veterans like Marvin Jones and Shaquill Griffin to the mix in free agency, providing a decent situation for a rookie quarterback. Justin Fields and Zach Wilson will garner consideration if anything unforeseen happens to Lawrence before the draft.
Top early-round targets: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson
Tennessee Titans
Biggest need: Wide receiver
The Titans have an awfully thin receiving corps, with little to nothing behind A.J. Brown and Josh Reynolds. Relying on Reynolds to fill the void caused by Corey Davis' departure is also a risky proposition. Another receiver helps everyone, and it takes attention from Brown while keeping defenses honest in their pursuit to stop Derrick Henry.
Top early-round targets: Terrace Marshall Jr., Rondale Moore, Kadarius Toney
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Biggest need: Quarterback
For the most part, the Broncos have a roster ready to compete, but the biggest question mark comes at the most important position: quarterback. The jury may still be out on Drew Lock, but the number of individuals backing him is dwindling by the minute. Denver shouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger if the opportunity to take a heralded passer presents itself.
Top early-round targets: Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Kellen Mond
Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest need: Offensive tackle
The Chiefs signed Joe Thuney, Kyle Long, and Austin Blythe to shore up the inside of their offensive line, but that won't solve the tackle spots. After releasing longtime stalwarts Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz due to injuries and cap constraints, Kansas City must replenish its protection for Patrick Mahomes. Lucas Niang, a second-round pick in 2020, could be the answer on one side of the line, but that still leaves a gaping hole on the other.
Top early-round targets: Sam Cosmi, Brady Christensen, Walker Little
Las Vegas Raiders
Biggest need: Defensive back
It hasn't been for lack of trying, but the Raiders' largest need still lives in their secondary. At last check, Trayvon Mullen, Damon Arnette, Nevin Lawson, and Johnathan Abram were are still recovering from the first-degree burns they suffered at the hands of their opponents last year. Las Vegas may prefer to take an offensive lineman with their first pick after moving on from three starters in the offseason, but it's hard to win if you can't cover anyone.
Top early-round targets: Caleb Farley, Trevon Moehrig, Jevon Holland
Los Angeles Chargers
Biggest need: Left tackle
The Chargers wasted no time building a wall to protect Justin Herbert in free agency by signing Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler to lucrative deals, but their work isn't done. Los Angeles' final piece to its offensive line puzzle is finding a left tackle to protect Herbert's blindside for years to come. With Herbert and the Chargers on the rise, there may not be many opportunities to pick in the early portions of future drafts, so finding a top tackle is especially important this year.
Top early-round targets: Christian Darrisaw, Rashawn Slater, Alijah Vera-Tucker