Sizzle or fizzle? For dozens of NFL players, it’s time for them to finally shine in the white-hot spotlight.
Ahead of training camps opening in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers identify a player on each AFC team who must get hot this season:
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | WR Keon Coleman | The Bills surely expected more than 29 receptions and 556 yards receiving from their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and hoped for better than three catches for 22 yards in three playoff games. Aside from seventh-round pick Kevin Prather, the team added no wide receivers in the 2025 draft. Unless former Charger Joshua Palmer regains his 2022 form (72 catches and 769 yards), second-rounder Coleman must turn up the heat.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | RB Jaylen Wright | A fourth-round pick in 2024, Wright started his rookie campaign with five carries for four yards in Week 1 and fizzled with six carries for -4 yards in Week 18. Despite his 4.38 speed in the 40-yard dash, Wright finished the season with 249 yards rushing and no TDs and had double-digit carries once, something that must 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 forced fumble (with recovery) in Super Bowl LIX, and the former Eagle must stay hot to justify his four-year, $104M contract. No free agent received more money this offseason, so he must do better than the 2.8 sacks he averaged over his four seasons with Philadelphia.
NEW YORK JETS | RB Braelon Allen | A fourth-round pick in 2024, Allen rushed for only 334 yards and two TDs behind starting running back Breece Hall. But per the team’s website, he went nine-for-nine in third-and-one situations and a league-best 11-of-12 on third-down conversions. Only 21, Allen should get more carries as new head coach Aaron Glenn looks to light a fire under a rushing attack that averaged the second-fewest yards per game (91.8) last season. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | QB Bo Nix | Despite throwing 29 TD passes in 17 regular-season starts during his rookie season, Nix said at OTAs in May that he still has “a lot to prove.” His hunger to improve could benefit Denver, which needs him to take the next step to become a legitimate contender.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | WR Xavier Worthy | In April, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said the team must hit on more deep balls this season. Kansas City needs Worthy, who had 59 receptions for 638 yards in 17 regular-season games during his rookie season in 2024, to produce better numbers to reignite its vertical passing attack.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Justin Herbert | Herbert averaged a career-low 227.6 passing yards per game in 17 regular-season starts in his first season under head coach Jim Harbaugh. To avoid becoming an unbalanced offense, the Chargers need the QB to air it out more this season.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | RB Ashton Jeanty | The Raiders took 2024 Heisman finalist Jeanty with pick No. 6 in the draft to rejuvenate their ground attack, which ranked last in the league (79.8 YPG) in 2024. New Vegas head coach Pete Carroll seems confident he will do that. On a June 19 episode of Marshawn Lynch’s podcast, the coach said Jeanty’s running style is similar to that of the former Seattle Seahawks star. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | LB Trenton Simpson | Simpson had an up-and-down 2024 season that resulted in him losing playing time down the stretch and in the playoffs because of his struggles in pass coverage. But with Malik Harrison having departed in free agency, the Ravens have a big opening in the middle of the defense. Simpson is going to get the opportunity to show he can be a full-time starter.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | DB Dax Hill | Hill, the Bengals’ first-round pick in 2022, must step up for a unit that has been one of the league’s worst the past two seasons. Injuries and position switches have limited his impact over the first three years of his pro career, but he can be a turnover-creating game-changer.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | WR Cedric Tillman | The Browns found their No. 1 wide receiver last season in Jerry Jeudy, who rewarded them with a 90-catch, 1,229-yard season. But they need more from the players around him for the offense to improve, and that includes a bigger season from Tillman, who has not contributed more than 29 receptions or 339 yards receiving in a season.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | WR Roman Wilson | The Steelers were hoping Wilson would become an instant contributor as a rookie. Injuries prevented the 2024 third-round pick from getting PT (one game and zero catches). Now he’s getting a fresh start to help solidify a wide receiver depth chart that lacks playmakers after DK Metcalf. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | OT Cam Robinson | C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, the second most in the NFL. The Texans signed Robinson, a nine-year veteran, two days after they traded Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington. Houston will be counting on Robinson to help solidify its pass protection, but he has big shoes to fill.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | QB Anthony Richardson | Richardson is battling a shoulder injury and appears to already be well behind in his QB competition with Daniel Jones, which puts him in a tough spot heading into his third season. Richardson, who has 11 TD passes and 13 interceptions in 15 games, must find a way to earn playing time to have a future in Indianapolis.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | TE Brenton Strange | The Jaguars showed confidence in Strange when they released two-time Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram earlier this offseason. Strange, a second-round pick in 2023, had 40 catches for 411 yards and two TD catches last season, but Jacksonville hopes for much more in 2025.
TENNESSEE TITANS | WR Tyler Lockett | Lockett, who signed a one-year, $4M deal with the Titans, could be the steal of the offseason. The 32-year-old’s production fell off in 2024 (49 catches, 600 yards and two TD catches), but he has been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL for years. He is the type of veteran who could become a major asset for rookie QB Cam Ward. — Steve DelVecchio
