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2026 NFL free agency: Biggest needs for each AFC team

The NFL free agency negotiating window opens this coming Monday at noon ET, with the signing period officially beginning at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 11, at 4 p.m. ET. This marks the first major phase of roster building during the offseason, as franchises look to fill their biggest holes.

Before the frenzy begins, it's time to identify the most pressing needs for each of the 32 NFL teams. Below, Jeremy Bergman hits the AFC. (Click here for the NFC rundown.)

Baltimore Ravens
2025 record: 8-9 · 2nd in AFC North


Tyler Linderbaum won't come cheap, and Eric DeCosta knows it. The Ravens GM told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team had already made the star center a "market-setting" contract offer ahead of free agency, where Linderbaum is slated to be the top OL available. If the center doesn't take the deal, Lamar Jackson will have a new battery mate for the first time in four years. There are few replacement-level snappers available in free agency (Cade Mays). Elsewhere on the line, Baltimore is also at risk of losing Daniel Faalele, who started 17 games at right guard in 2026. Add in free agent-to-be Isaiah Likely, and the Ravens could be down three key offensive starters in Jesse Minter's first year at the helm. New OC Declan Doyle benefitted from an improved O-line in his 2025 season in Chicago. Baltimore must ensure Jackson has a sturdy (and preferably familiar) front at his disposal for Doyle and Co. to replicate that success this year.

Buffalo Bills
2025 record: 12-5 · 2nd in AFC East


The mission for Joe Brady, Brandon Beane and Co. this offseason is the same as every other for the past half-decade: Support Josh Allen by any means necessary. This spring, the objective is clear. The receiver room needs work after former first-round pick Keon Coleman fell out of favor, FA acquisition Josh Palmer didn't pan out, and late addition Brandin Cooks somehow served as Allen's most reliable WR outlet in the postseason next to Khalil Shakir. Every big-name WR in free agency or on the trade block is being linked to Buffalo, and justifiably so. After Allen's MVP season, Buffalo's passing attack took a step back. Bills brass must ensure 2025 was just a blip.

Cincinnati Bengals
2025 record: 6-11 · 3rd in AFC North


The Bengals need to toughen up in the trenches. While the Cincinnati defense improved slightly down the stretch, the weak link of the operation was certainly the front seven, where Trey Hendrickson was out for half the season -- and sorely missed. After the Bengals inked a band-aid deal last summer with the disgruntled edge, Cincinnati may be more inclined to ship out Hendrickson and recreate him in the aggregate. Fellow pass rushers and free agents Joseph Ossai (team-high 12 QB hits, five sacks in '25) and Cameron Sample (six, two) could follow the veteran out of town. On the opposite line, the Bengals retained starting right guard Dalton Risner but risk losing depth pieces Lucas Patrick and Cordell Volson to free agency.

Cleveland Browns
2025 record: 5-12 · 4th in AFC North


The biggest question in Cleveland this offseason (and every offseason) is who will be taking snaps under center. Will the Browns lean on Shedeur Sanders and/or Deshaun Watson or find their 2026 starter in free agency? As of last week, GM Andrew Berry didn't even know. But there's no greater integral hole on the roster heading into the new league year than the offensive line, which is set to lose potentially four of five 2025 starters. The Browns have already begun patching up the gaps, trading for Texans veteran Tytus Howard, who can be used at tackle or guard but should slot in at RT. Talent upgrades are needed all over the offense, but without a cohesive line, it won't matter who's at quarterback for Todd Monken's attack.

Denver Broncos
2025 record: 14-3 · 1st in AFC West


The reigning top seed in the AFC needs a major talent upgrade. Go figure. J.K. Dobbins, Denver's injury prone leading rusher, is a free agent. The receiver room, led by Courtland Sutton entering his age-31 season, could use more juice, as could the tight end corps, which was a disappointment in 2025 with Evan Engram posting less than 500 yards. The Broncos defense may be light at linebacker with the exits of Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, but Vance Joseph's league-best unit is not the real concern heading into 2026. That would be the offense, which rarely blew out opponents en route to a 14-3 record in 2025. To avoid regression, Denver should be aggressive with its average cap space to add playmakers for Bo Nix, who's coming off his second broken ankle in five years.

Houston Texans
2025 record: 12-5 · 2nd in AFC South


Despite internet conjecture that C.J. Stroud doesn't have a future in Houston, Texans brass is behind the QB 100 percent. The best way to improve Stroud and Houston's prospects in 2026? Protect him and give him an outlet. That should be done by improving the offensive line. Ed Ingram and Trent Brown, the right side of the line, are also headed to the market, and versatile linemen Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs were shipped out via trade in exchange for draft pick compensation and, in the latter's case, David Montgomery. The former Lions RB should enter 2026 as Houston's starter, filling a need that would have been glaring with Nick Chubb a free agent and Joe Mixon not long for the club.

Indianapolis Colts
2025 record: 8-9 · 3rd in AFC South


With Daniel Jones likely returning from his Achilles injury to again QB the Colts, either via transition tag or long-term deal, Indy can focus on other less high-profile needs this offseason, starting with pass rusher. Kwity Paye (30.5 sacks in last five years), Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis are all impending free agents, leaving a hole on the D-line, next to the likes of DeForest Buckner and Laiatu Latu. GM Chris Ballard has already vowed to add to the room this offseason. After returning Jones and possibly WR Alec Pierce, the Colts should have just enough cap room to improve the pass rush. They need to after ranking 31st in pass defense in 2025 and blowing big efforts by Jones, Philip Rivers and Co. down the stretch.

Jacksonville Jaguars
2025 record: 13-4 · 1st in AFC South


One year into the Liam Coen-James Gladstone era, the Jaguars' roster is in as good a place as it has ever been. But certain positions still need addressing. With Greg Newsome II and Montaric Brown slated to hit free agency and two-way player Travis Hunter recovering from last year's season-ending injury, cornerback cannot be ignored this spring. If Jacksonville opts to move on from Travis Etienne and his three 1,000-yard seasons, RB will shoot to the top of the priority pile. In the front seven, Devin Lloyd is set to make bank, while depth rushers Emmanuel Ogbah, Dawuane Smoot and Dennis Gardeck are slated for free agency. Some of them must be replaced or re-signed. With the Jags in a precarious cap position, Coen and Gladstone will have tough choices to make.

Kansas City Chiefs
2025 record: 6-11 · 3rd in AFC West


Eric Bieniemy is back in the saddle as Chiefs OC after two years away, but the former NFL running back has next to no RBs in the room. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, Kansas City's off-and-on tandem, are both headed to free agency, leaving a vacancy that is begging to be filled by a top-shelf talent. Elsewhere, the Chiefs could use upgrades at wide receiver to fill in for the departing Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. A Travis Kelce retirement could necessitate a tight end addition, as well. K.C. is cap-strapped, so the Chiefs might go bargain-hunting. But with Patrick Mahomes on the mend from an ACL tear, Kansas City should want to buttress the star with as much skill-position talent as possible. 

Las Vegas Raiders
2025 record: 3-14 · 4th in AFC West


The Raiders will almost certainly use their well-earned No. 1 pick on Fernando Mendoza, but how well set-up will the reigning Heisman Trophy winner be on the current roster? The cupboard is bare at the skill positions, aside from former first-rounders Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Las Vegas' main point of focus, however, should be on shoring up the offensive line. With upwards of , the Raiders can make improvements all over the roster, starting with a line that gave up the most sacks in the NFL in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers
2025 record: 11-6 · 2nd in AFC West


The Chargers' offensive line was so snakebitten last season that Justin Herbert just for keeping the offense above water. Injuries to star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater did not help matters, but the depth of L.A.'s line was an issue that needs addressing this spring. With Bradley Bozeman retiring, the of Mekhi Becton and starters Zion Johnson and Trey Pipkins also hitting free agency, the Chargers know they must re-tool the offensive line in 2026, especially on the interior. With a top-five amount of projected cap space, GM Joe Hortiz can be aggressive in targeting hog mollies, starting with top free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum, whom he knows from their time in Baltimore.

Miami Dolphins
2025 record: 7-10 · 3rd in AFC East


The rebuild is on in Miami, and it begins at the most high-profile positions on the roster. Out is receiver Tyreek Hill. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his major cap hit are soon to follow. The Dolphins might not need to discover their franchise signal-caller in this offseason, but they must find a viable solution for the 2026 campaign. A cheap, short-term option -- potentially a high-priced veteran cut loose from another team and able to play on the league minimum -- could be the proper route. Expect Miami to go after depth in the secondary, as well, as the Dolphins were cursed in the back end from the jump in 2025.

New England Patriots
2025 record: 14-3 · 1st in AFC East


The Patriots should enter the 2026 season with a very similar roster to their Super Bowl LX unit, but that doesn't mean there aren't improvements to be made. New England is in need of a game-breaking talent in the WR room for MVP runner-up Drake Maye. Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas are returning, but after on Chris Godwin in 2025, general manager Eliot Wolf could attempt to reel in a big fish again, either on the open market or via trade (cough, A.J. Brown, cough).

New York Jets
2025 record: 3-14 · 4th in AFC East


"Justin's on the roster," Darren Mougey said at the combine, when asked about New York's big 2025 signing, Justin Fields. Plainly said, the GM's statement of fact might as well have been a kiss of death for the veteran QB, accompanied by zero suggestion that Fields is anything more than just one option under contract for the 2026 season. Fields is only the franchise's immediate present, not its future. The Jets have a ton of needs -- Garrett Wilson needs a WR2, the secondary needs warm bodies -- but for the Mougey-Aaron Glenn regime to succeed (and survive), it needs competent play out of the QB position. Whether that's found in free agency, where there figures to be a glut of at least average starters available, or the draft (New York has four picks in the first two rounds) is up to Mougey and Co. But after being held back by Fields, Tyrod Taylor, Brady Cook and OC Tanner Engstrand last season, pairing a new QB with new OC Frank Reich makes sense.

Pittsburgh Steelers
2025 record: 10-7 · 1st in AFC North


Whether and/or when Aaron Rodgers decides to return to the Steelers is the lingering question for Pittsburgh's front office this offseason, as it was last year. But GM Omar Khan said at the combine that he doesn't expect the QB's indecision to last into the summer, theoretically freeing the Steelers to attack their spring spending with confidence. Pittsburgh's first order of business should be locating a WR addition or two. Rodgers ended up relying on RB (and team MVP) Kenneth Gainwell down the stretch of 2025, as suspension and injury limited his options. That won't cut it in 2026. With Gainwell, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller and Marquez Valdes-Scantling hitting free agency, Pittsburgh needs to revamp its DK Metcalf-led pass-catching corps with new bodies, regardless of Rodgers' status.

Tennessee Titans
2025 record: 3-14 · 4th in AFC South


The Titans partially addressed their need at pass rusher by agreeing to send interior D-lineman to the Jets for T'Vondre Sweat for Jermaine Johnson II, a pick of Robert Saleh's when the new Tennessee coach was head man in New York. Hopefully, more help is on the way to support Johnson and All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons. With in projected cap space, Tennessee should be big spenders in Saleh's first year at the helm. While improving the defense will take precedence, supporting quarterback Cam Ward with fresh offensive talent will also be a priority. The Titans can add their pick of wide receiver or, if our mock drafts are any indication, at least the No. 2 pass rusher with the No. 4 overall selection in April. In the meantime, they'll have the cap capacity to bolster both positions with starters in free agency, as well.

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