The AFC is an insanely deep conference. Let's power rank it as training camps continue and also begin across the league. Training camps are nearly in full swing as we head into the back-half of July. Preseason football is right around the corner, and the start of the 2025 NFL regular season in early September is also in view.
The AFC definitely saw some shocking teams vault up and also collapse in shocking fashion. We may see some of these teams return to more of their usual form in the 2025 NFL Season.
Besides the clear-cut top teams in the conference, how does the rest of it look? Let's power rank the AFC as training camps continue.
NFL Power Rankings: AFC rankings as training camp pushes on
16. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans might have something special brewing with Cam Ward, but it may also take quite a while before we see that 'special' emerge. Ward is a bit of a raw prospect and probably isn't going to hit the ground running immediately. The Titans also have a so-so roster, so GM Mike Borgonzi has his work cut out for him, but the offensive line does seem to be in a good spot, which will be huge for Ward's development in 2025. The Titans are last in our AFC power rankings.
15. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have a wide-open QB battle, it seems. It feels a bit dysfunctional, but with the Browns acquiring an extra first-round pick for the 2026 NFL Draft, you get the sense that they hope to find their franchise QB next April. Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are the two rookies in town, and it would be wise for the Browns to see what they have in both. Cleveland is 15th in our AFC power rankings.
14. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have a QB battle between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson...
Need I say more? It's actually a shame since the roster is quite solid. GM Chris Ballard has done a nice job outside of the QB position, so I guess he has largely been a failure.
13. New York Jets
The New York Jets are 13th in our AFC power rankings. Justin Fields is their starting QB, but he's now on his third team in as many seasons, so I am not sure the arrow is pointing up for Fields. The rest of the roster is solid, but with a new front office and coaching staff, it could take a year or two for this franchise to get going.
12. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have made some bold changes this offseason, but in the loaded AFC, it will not be enough. Hiring Pete Carroll was a wise move, and the trade for Geno Smith should give them a temporary and modest upgrade. The Raiders also took Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft and have an elite tight end in Brock Bowers.
The team could be efficient on offense, but the defense needs a lot of work and there just isn't much reason to believe a lot in Geno Smith, who was traded by the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick. Don't count on the Raiders in 2025.
11. Miami Dolphins
If nothing else, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is a winner when he can stay on the field. He's been in the NFL since 2020 and has never had a losing season in any year of his career. Tagovailoa is also efficient when he's on the field, but he's got a lot of 'Kirk Cousins' to him in that he can be efficient for years and stick around in the NFL, but he's not going to lead a team on any sort of deep playoff run.
The Miami Dolphins roster is also quite weak at many other positions, so 11th in the AFC feels right for them.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen as their head coach, and all Coen did in 2024 was lead an elite offense with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They had a stellar rushing attack and saw Baker Mayfield throw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, which are insane numbers.
If Coen can come close to that with Trevor Lawrence in 2025, this team could be frisky, but there is a lot of unknown with the Jaguars, so they can't be ranked higher than this for 2025.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are now down at no. 9 in our AFC power rankings. Both Shemar Stewart and Trey Hendrickson do not have their respective deals, and it feels like the walls are closing in on this franchise. They were actually 4-8 at one ppoint in the 2024 NFL Season and needed to win five games in a row just to be the first team out of the playoffs in the conference.
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are an electric duo, but that's really about it. The Bengals are ninth in our AFC power rankings.
8. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are no. 8 in our AFC power rankings, and while this may seem like a high ranking for the unproven Pats, I am admittedly making this ranking with a bit of projection for this team. In the offseason, New England hired Mike Vrabel as their head coach, revamped their offensive line, and also hired Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator.
McDaniels back to the Pats might be the move of the offseason, honestly. The Patriots are locked, loaded, and ready for a breakout season in 2025.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers added a ton of talent this offseason, but you get the sense that they did not really make all that much progress in the AFC. They still feel like a one-and-done team in the playoffs even with the additions of Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, Darius Slay, and Jalen Ramsey. This would be an all-time team if it was 2020...
Anyway, Pittsburgh could still be good enough to again sneak into the playoffs, so they come in at seventh in our AFC power rankings.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
Did the Los Angeles Chargers get all that better this offseason? Mike Williams has already retired, and Najee Harris avoided a scare with an apparent Fourth of July accident. The Bolts went 11-6 in 2024 and got blown out in the first round of the playoffs, so you would have expected them to make some more bold moves, but they lost out on Evan Engram, as he signed with the Denver Broncos.
This offseason for the Chargers just feels incomplete in my eyes.
5. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are fifth in our AFC power rankings. The big changes this team made was along their offensive line, and if they made the right moves there, this team could propel to the top of the AFC and make a deep playoff run. For now, though, we will keep them just outside the 'big four.'
4. Denver Broncos
How about the Denver Broncos? As far as I am concerned, this team has the best roster in the AFC West, adding key talent like JK Dobbins, Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga this offseason. The defense was already top-3 in the NFL, and Denver also boasts and elite offensive line.
Second-year QB Bo Nix has everything he needs now to make a huge leap and perhaps even turn into a top-tier QB. The Broncos may also have a legitimate shot at capturing the AFC West title for the first time since 2015. They are fourth in our power rankings.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs take a small hit and are third in our AFC power rankings. After getting blown out in the Super Bowl, you really don't get the sense that this roster got all that much better. The offensive line may actually be worse than it was entering the Super Bowl, as left tackle is still a concern, and they traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears.
The defense should still be decent, but I truly just do not see a juggernaut. With all of that said, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid still exist...
2. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens lost in a heartbreaking fashion to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round in 2024. They have not won multiple games in the postseason since 2012, which is a brutal statistic. Something has to give as we enter 2025, but will anything change? The roster is top-notch, and Lamar Jackson is still at the top of his game. He threw 41 touchdown passes against just four interceptions in 2024.
Baltimore is no. 2 in our power rankings.
1. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills rank no. 1 in our power rankings as training camps roll on. Buffalo was seen as being the heavy favorite in the AFC last year, but their playoff run ended in an unsurprising fashion - losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, again.
Can Buffalo's revamped defensive line fill in the weak spots enough for them to finally get over the hump? What more do they have to do roster-wise? Nothing, honestly...
It's now or never for the Bills entering 2025.