NFL scorching takes: One AFC participant on every group who should sizzle in 2025

Sizzle or fizzle? For dozens of NFL gamers, it is time for them to lastly shine within the white-hot highlight.

Forward of coaching camps opening in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers establish a participant on every AFC group who should get scorching this season:

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | WR Keon Coleman | The Payments certainly anticipated greater than 29 receptions and 556 yards receiving from their high choose within the 2024 NFL Draft and hoped for higher than three catches for 22 yards in three playoff video games. Except for seventh-round choose Kevin Prather, the group added no large receivers within the 2025 draft. Except former Charger Joshua Palmer regains his 2022 kind (72 catches and 769 yards), second-rounder Coleman should flip up the warmth.

MIAMI DOLPHINS | RB Jaylen Wright | A fourth-round choose in 2024, Wright began his rookie marketing campaign with 5 carries for 4 yards in Week 1 and fizzled with six carries for -4 yards in Week 18. Regardless of his 4.38 pace within the 40-yard sprint, Wright completed the season with 249 yards speeding and no TDs and had double-digit carries as soon as, one thing that should change now that ex-Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert is with the Raiders.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | DE Milton Williams | Williams torched the Chiefs’ offensive line with two sacks and a pressured fumble (with restoration) in Tremendous Bowl LIX, and the previous Eagle should keep scorching to justify his four-year, $104M contract. No free agent obtained more cash this offseason, so he should do higher than the two.8 sacks he averaged over his 4 seasons with Philadelphia.

NEW YORK JETS | RB Braelon Allen | A fourth-round choose in 2024, Allen rushed for less than 334 yards and two TDs behind beginning operating again Breece Corridor. However per the group’s web site, he went nine-for-nine in third-and-one conditions and a league-best 11-of-12 on third-down conversions. Solely 21, Allen ought to get extra carries as new head coach Aaron Glenn seems to gentle a hearth underneath a speeding assault that averaged the second-fewest yards per sport (91.8) final season. — Bruce Ewing

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | QB Bo Nix | Regardless of throwing 29 TD passes in 17 regular-season begins throughout his rookie season, Nix mentioned at OTAs in Might that he nonetheless has “loads to show.” His starvation to enhance may benefit Denver, which wants him to take the following step to grow to be a reliable contender.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | WR Xavier Worthy | In April, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes mentioned the group should hit on extra deep balls this season. Kansas Metropolis wants Worthy, who had 59 receptions for 638 yards in 17 regular-season video games throughout his rookie season in 2024, to supply higher numbers to reignite its vertical passing assault. 

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Justin Herbert | Herbert averaged a career-low 227.6 passing yards per sport in 17 regular-season begins in his first season underneath head coach Jim Harbaugh. To keep away from turning into an unbalanced offense, the Chargers want the QB to air it out extra this season.  

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | RB Ashton Jeanty | The Raiders took 2024 Heisman finalist Jeanty with choose No. 6 within the draft to rejuvenate their floor assault, which ranked final within the league (79.8 YPG) in 2024. New Vegas head coach Pete Carroll appears assured he’ll try this. On a June 19 episode of Marshawn Lynch’s podcast, the coach mentioned Jeanty’s operating fashion is much like that of the previous Seattle Seahawks star. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | LB Trenton Simpson | Simpson had an up-and-down 2024 season that resulted in him dropping enjoying time down the stretch and within the playoffs due to his struggles in go protection. However with Malik Harrison having departed in free company, the Ravens have a giant opening in the course of the protection. Simpson goes to get the chance to indicate he could be a full-time starter.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | DB Dax Hill | Hill, the Bengals’ first-round choose in 2022, should step up for a unit that has been one of many league’s worst the previous two seasons. Accidents and place switches have restricted his affect over the primary three years of his professional profession, however he could be a turnover-creating game-changer.   

CLEVELAND BROWNS | WR Cedric Tillman | The Browns discovered their No. 1 large receiver final season in Jerry Jeudy, who rewarded them with a 90-catch, 1,229-yard season. However they want extra from the gamers round him for the offense to enhance, and that features a greater season from Tillman, who has not contributed greater than 29 receptions or 339 yards receiving in a season. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | WR Roman Wilson | The Steelers had been hoping Wilson would grow to be an prompt contributor as a rookie. Accidents prevented the 2024 third-round choose from getting PT (one sport and nil catches). Now he’s getting a recent begin to assist solidify a large receiver depth chart that lacks playmakers after DK Metcalf.  — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | OT Cam Robinson | C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 instances final season, the second most within the NFL. The Texans signed Robinson, a nine-year veteran, two days after they traded Professional Bowl left deal with Laremy Tunsil to Washington. Houston might be relying on Robinson to assist solidify its go safety, however he has massive footwear to fill.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | QB Anthony Richardson | Richardson is battling a shoulder damage and seems to already be effectively behind in his QB competitors with Daniel Jones, which places him in a tricky spot heading into his third season. Richardson, who has 11 TD passes and 13 interceptions in 15 video games, should discover a solution to earn enjoying time to have a future in Indianapolis.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | TE Brenton Unusual | The Jaguars confirmed confidence in Unusual once they launched two-time Professional Bowl tight finish Evan Engram earlier this offseason. Unusual, a second-round choose in 2023, had 40 catches for 411 yards and two TD catches final season, however Jacksonville hopes for rather more in 2025.

TENNESSEE TITANS | WR Tyler Lockett | Lockett, who signed a one-year, $4M deal with the Titans, could possibly be the steal of the offseason. The 32-year-old’s manufacturing fell off in 2024 (49 catches, 600 yards and two TD catches), however he has been probably the most constant receivers within the NFL for years. He’s the kind of veteran who may grow to be a significant asset for rookie QB Cam Ward. — Steve DelVecchio