Forward of the AFC and NFC championship video games Sunday, Yardbarker NFL writers determine which pending free brokers within the AFC benefit a brand new cope with their present groups.
From midday ET on March 10 to 4 p.m. ET March 12, groups are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the licensed brokers of gamers who will change into unrestricted free brokers. Free company formally begins March 12. (Common-season data are in parentheses.)
BUFFALO BILLS (13-4) | CB Rasul Douglas | In November, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named the nine-year veteran as one of the top free agents for 2025, calling him a “bodily nook with the size to disrupt the ball and the willingness to set an edge in opposition to the run.” At 6-foot-2 and 209 kilos, Douglas is larger than any of the group’s different cornerbacks, together with Kaiir Elam, the group’s first-round choose in 2022 and a participant some think about a bust.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9) | LB Tyrel Dodson | Dodson performed eight video games for Miami and led the group with three interceptions after being claimed off waivers from Seattle in Week 11. He was the Seahawks’ main tackler on the time of his launch and had his Seattle stats carried over to Miami, his 107 tackles would have been second most on the group.
NEW YORK JETS (5-12) | Offensive deal with Morgan Moses | If the Jets plan on letting first-round choose Olu Fashanu take over totally free agent Tyron Smith at left deal with, preserving Moses at proper deal with makes good sense. Moses missed three video games in 2024 however has been an iron man in any other case, showing in 166 of a attainable 180 profession video games, maybe due to a routine that had the 33-year-old, 320-pound lineman sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber this season.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13) | QB Jacoby Brissett | Brissett went 1-4 as a starter for New England earlier than giving method to Drake Maye, the third general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft. The 32-year-old has performed with QBs Tom Brady, Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers throughout his nine-year profession, and he is an ideal mentor for the group’s younger beginning QB. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) | LB Cody Barton | Barton stepped up after beginning LB Alex Singleton suffered a torn ACL in Week 3. In 17 regular-season video games, he completed with Denver’s second-most tackles (106).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2) | LB Nick Bolton | Bolton performs a vital position for the Chiefs, who completed fourth within the league in factors allowed (19.2) throughout the common season. In 16 regular-season video games, the 24-year-old led Okay.C. in tackles (106) and tackles for loss (11).
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-13) | LB Robert Spillane | After lacking the playoffs for a 3rd straight season, the Raiders can’t afford to lose a productive participant in Spillane. In 17 regular-season video games, he tied for third within the league in tackles (158).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6) | RB J.Okay. Dobbins | If the oft-injured RB can keep wholesome, he ought to proceed to be an efficient weapon for head coach Jim Harbaugh. In 13 regular-season video games, Dobbins ran for a career-high 905 yards and 9 touchdowns on 195 carries. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) | Security Ar’Darius Washington | Offensive deal with Ronnie Stanley will doubtless be Baltimore’s principal precedence this offseason, however he is perhaps too costly to deliver again contemplating the cap crunch the Ravens are in. Washington, who ranked fifth of 170 certified safeties in Professional Soccer Focus’ protection grade this season (84.2), is a less expensive re-sign candidate at a place of want.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8) | WR Tee Higgins | Higgins is perhaps out of Cincinnati’s worth vary, however Joe Burrow has been vocal about doing all the pieces within the group’s energy to maintain the star large receiver on the town. Contemplating the Bengals are 2-7 previously 9 video games performed with out Higgins, they need to pay as much as maintain their franchise QB pleased.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14) | LB Devin Bush | Bush stepped right into a banged-up linebacker room and performed effectively on his one-year, prove-it deal. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s future unsure following his devastating neck harm, the Browns want succesful choices at LB.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) | RB Jaylen Warren | The Steelers have a choice to make between Warren, a restricted free agent, and fellow RB Najee Harris, an unrestricted free agent, this offseason, nevertheless it shouldn’t be a lot of a choice in any respect. Warren is cheaper (made slightly less than $1M this season) and extra dynamic. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7) | Vast receiver Stefon Diggs | Diggs’ first season with the Texans was minimize brief when he suffered a torn ACL in October. He shaped a promising early reference to QB C.J. Stroud, who had a strong 108 passer score when focusing on the four-time Professional Bowler in eight video games, throughout which Houston went 6-2.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9) | Proper guard Will Fries | Fries, a 2021 seventh-round choose, has exceeded expectations by turning into an important member of the offensive line over the previous three seasons. He suffered a season-ending leg harm in Week 5 in opposition to the Jaguars, however Colts.com author JJ Stankevitz wrote about how he “earned the respect of everyone” on the group.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-13) | Proper guard Brandon Scherff | The veteran offensive lineman has been an iron man for Jacksonville, beginning all 51 regular-season video games since signing as a 2022 free agent on a three-year, $49.5M contract. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed no sacks and solely 17 pressures in 591 pass-rush alternatives this season.
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14) | Security Quandre Diggs | Diggs signed in Tennessee late throughout the 2024 offseason after 5 years with the Seahawks. He was on monitor for an impressive season earlier than struggling a season-ending Lisfranc harm in Week 9. He allowed solely 9.7 yards per reception and posted the bottom missed deal with charge (4.7 %) of his 10-year profession (h/t PFF). — Eric Smithling
