One major move for each AFC team to make

With the big wave of free agency over, teams are now focusing on the NFL Draft, scheduled April 25-27 in Detroit.

Every team has a need or needs to fill. As determined by Yardbarker NFL writers, here is a major move each team in the AFC should make — either in free agency, via a trade or in the draft — before the offseason concludes.

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | Add depth at safety | Buffalo's recent signing of Mike Edwards likely takes it out of the running to select a safety early in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the team would benefit from signing another low-cost veteran. Re-signing Micah Hyde, a free agent, might make the most sense for the Bills — GM Brandon Beane apparently isn't opposed to the idea — but ex-Colt Julian Blackmon could also be an option. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Trade the No. 21 overall pick | Miami would benefit from adding more draft capital because it has only six picks overall, the third fewest in the league, and no selections in the third or fourth rounds. Of course, the Dolphins could wait until they're on the clock to trade their first-round pick, but the more time the team has to scout mid-round prospects they'd be in range of, the better. 

NEW YORK JETS | Sign edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney | Although the Jets couldn't secure a deal with Clowney when he visited recently, GM Joe Douglas should continue negotiating with the former No. 1 overall pick, who would be an ideal replacement for Bryce Huff after he signed with the Eagles in free agency. Clowney enjoyed a resurgent season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, racking up 43 total tackles, 9.5 sacks and a career-high 71 pressures, the 11th most among edge-rushers. 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Trade for Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins | Despite striking out in the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes, the Patriots should pursue an established wide receiver who can serve as their No. 1 pass-catcher. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Cincinnati is "willing to listen” to offers for Higgins. The Patriots can afford to extend Higgins, and the fact that an extension would likely be necessary to get a deal done could lower the cost for New England. — Colum Dell

AFC West 

DENVER BRONCOS | Trade WR Courtland Sutton to clear cap space, acquire more draft capital | Sutton tied for fourth in the league in receiving TDs (10 in 16 games) last season, but his numbers will probably dip with presumed starting QB Jarrett Stidham. WR-needy teams (Bills and Ravens?) might be interested. Trading him with a post-June 1 designation would save $13.57M.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Sign CB Stephon Gilmore | The Chiefs recently dealt CB L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans, and his backup, Joshua Williams, only has six starts in two seasons. Gilmore, a former Defensive Player of the Year, had 13 passes defended in 17 games with the Cowboys last season and would be a better replacement. 

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Sign safety Justin Simmons | Simmons, recently released by the Broncos, has made two Pro Bowls and tallied 30 interceptions in eight seasons. He’d be an upgrade over Marcus Epps, who had no picks in 17 games last season.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Sign a veteran WR | The Chargers clearly need more WR depth after trading six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen to the Bears and releasing Mike Williams. They should consider signing a free agent, perhaps former Cowboy Michael Gallup or former Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr., who had 35 catches for 565 yards for Baltimore last season. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Sign veteran wide receiver | The Ravens lack production at wide receiver outside of Zay Flowers, their first-round pick in 2023. Adding a capable veteran on a cheap deal feels like a must as veterans Nelson Agholor (381 yards receiving in '23) and Rashod Bateman (367) are not the answer.

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Add another running back | The Bengals must find a way to replicate the production of RB Joe Mixon (257 carries, 1,034 yards in 2023), who was traded to the Texans. Cincinnati signed Zack Moss in free agency to help fill the void left by the team's third all-time leading rusher, but he won’t be able to fill Mixon’s shoes alone.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Sign another inside linebacker | The Browns lost linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. (Dolphins) and Sione Takitaki (Patriots) in free agency and must find their replacements to keep the NFL's top defense from 2023 stout. Cleveland smartly added veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks, but the signing of former first-round pick Devin Bush, a linebacker, is a head-scratcher after he had just 37 tackles with the Seahawks last season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Trade for veteran wide receiver | The Steelers are in the market for a wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, and the options available on the open market aren’t ideal. So, whether it’s 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk or someone else, Pittsburgh must add to a WR room that includes George Pickens and not much after him. — Aaron Becker

AFC South 

HOUSTON TEXANS | Trade back into Round 1 of the draft | The Texans have nine picks in the draft but none in the first round. Arguably Houston’s biggest need is cornerback, and with the depth at the position in the draft, it should package a few of the multiple picks it has in Rounds 2, 4 and 7 to get back into the later part of the first round to grab one of the top-tier CBs, perhaps Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry or Georgia's Kamari Lassiter. 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Add a starting safety | With Julian Blackmon testing the free-agent waters, the Colts must find a suitable replacement with starting experience. Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Micah Hyde, Marcus Maye and Jayron Kearse fit the bill, or Indy could see if someone such as  Arizona’s Budda Baker or Cleveland’s Grant Delpit is available via trade. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Restructure a contract to create more cap space | Jacksonville has a little over $12 million in cap space with a few other roster holes to fill. By restructuring either receiver Christian Kirk’s or linebacker Foyesade Oluokun’s contract, the Jags could create $11.5 million or $10M, respectively, allowing them to make a few more needed depth signings before the draft. 

TENNESSEE TITANS | Sign another veteran offensive lineman | The Titans will presumably take an offensive tackle with the No. 7 overall pick. In 2023, the O-line was a liability (Tennessee allowed 263 pressures and 64 sacks) and injury prone (11 players took snaps). So the team should add another rotational player to cover its bases. Andrus Peat or Mekhi Becton would make sensible options to compete with Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle. — Michael Gallagher