Every AFC team's biggest question mark entering training camp
NFL training camps are set to begin and each club has question marks with the regular season weeks away.
Below is every AFC team's biggest question entering camp. Tap a team's abbreviation below to read its entry, and check back Sunday for the NFC version.
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BAL | BUF | CIN | CLE | DEN | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LV | LAC | MIA | NE | NYJ | PIT | TEN
Baltimore heads into training camp following several significant offseason losses on both sides of the ball. The team's biggest concern is the offensive line, which will have three new starters in 2024. John Harbaugh's outfit ranked first in carries and third in rushing yards per attempt while boasting a top-five O-line in pass block in 2023, according to PFF. The new-look offensive line has big shoes to fill.
The returning starters are former All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. At right tackle, second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten is in line to replace Morgan Moses, who was traded to the Jets. Patrick Mekari, Daniel Faalele, or the versatile Josh Jones can also play RT.
The Ravens lost Pro Bowl right guard Kevin Zeitler and starting left guard John Simpson. Andrew Vorhees seems like the favorite to start at LG, while the unproven Ben Cleveland, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Jones, and Faalele could compete for the RG job.
Is Josh Allen's supporting cast good enough?
Training camp will be our first chance to see how the Bills offense looks. Allen's supporting cast is the most intriguing factor after the team lost Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis - its most targeted wide receivers over the last two campaigns.
Limited by a bad salary-cap situation, the Bills didn't acquire high-profile pass-catchers this offseason. Instead, they added a handful of veterans expected to compete for a depth-chart spot. Buffalo signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins, and Curtis Samuel, who's reuniting with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Buffalo also used a 2024 second-round pick on Keon Coleman, the second straight year the Bills drafted a pass-catcher with its first pick (tight end Dalton Kincaid was a 2023 first-rounder). Add in third-year running back James Cook, and that's who Allen will work with this season.
Bryan Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe lack of a true No. 1 wideout could be an issue for this offense. Allen's impressive arm and standout rushing ability should make Buffalo's offense productive despite potential receiver issues, but the team will need the QB's supporting cast to step up to compete in a stacked AFC.
Will Burrow finally enjoy extended preseason action?
Joe Burrow's entering his fifth NFL season and there's little doubt the 27-year-old's one of the league's premier QBs when healthy. But injuries have been an issue for the 2020 No. 1 pick, who was limited to 10 games last year, and who hasn't been able to post extended preseason action.
Burrow's rookie season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the NFL canceling its 2020 preseason. In 2021, Burrow was limited at camp while rehabbing a torn ACL. In 2022, he underwent an appendectomy at the beginning of camp. Last year, Burrow sustained a calf strain in July that sidelined him for several weeks.
The 2021 Comeback Player of the Year's health will be a major topic at camp, and the Bengals need their star passer at 100% to return to the playoffs after missing out in 2023. With a healthy Burrow, Cincinnati reached at least the AFC title game in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Will Amari Cooper and Nick Chubb be on the field?
The status of Cleveland's top running back and wide receiver are unknown. The biggest storyline from Browns mandatory minicamp was the absence of Cooper, the Pro Bowl receiver who set a career high with 1,250 yards last season and who's looking for a new deal ahead of his contract year. It's been a hot 2024 for the WR market. Cooper has a $20-million base salary, but his current deal doesn't include guarantees before Week 1.
David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyJustin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown reset the market at the position by each signing deals worth more than $30 million a year. Cooper, 30, isn't in position to demand that much money, but he's one of only 15 players with at least 150 catches, 2,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns combined over the last two seasons. If Cleveland doesn't meet his contract demands and Cooper extends his holdout into camp, the WR position would become a big issue for the receiver-needy Browns. Jerry Jeudy, acquired in the offseason, has 11 touchdowns in four NFL seasons and missed weeks in the offseason due to a minor injury, while the unproven receiver depth chart also includes Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and fifth-round rookie Jamari Thrash.
Meanwhile, Chubb's still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL sustained last season. The four-time Pro Bowler recently shared encouraging workout videos on social media, but the Browns' lack of clarity about his return timetable makes his camp status more uncertain and suggests he won't be ready for Week 1. Cleveland will soon decide whether to place Chubb on the physically unable to perform list, and the 28-year-old won't be allowed to practice if he lands on PUP (he can be removed from the PUP list at any time during camp but can't be placed back on it). Chubb will miss at least four games if he's on PUP by the 53-man roster cutdown deadline in late August.
Can Bo Nix step up in 3-QB battle?
The Broncos will have a new Week 1 starter at QB again this year after parting ways with Russell Wilson and all eyes are on Nix at camp. Desperate to find a franchise guy, Denver drafted Nix 12th overall in April, a slot most experts considered too high for the Oregon product. Nix wasn't as highly touted as the other five QBs taken ahead of him in 2024, but the 24-year-old was a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist and started 61 games in college.
Nix will presumably compete for the starting role with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Stidham's in Year 2 with the Broncos and has only started four games in the NFL, including two last season. Wilson joined Denver via an offseason trade after a disappointing stint with the Jets. The Broncos hope a change of scenery will help the 2021 No. 2 pick find his form, but his first NFL seasons suggest he isn't the long-term starter they need.
Sean Payton's outfit has major questions at football's most important position. Nix will need time, but he's Denver's most exciting option. It'll be interesting to see how Payton works out with the rookie, with his track record as a respected offensive-minded coach who's helped other QBs elevate their games.
Who starts at corner opposite Stingley?
After loading up on offense and adding new defensive starters, the Texans don't have a lot of major roster battles at camp, but it remains to be seen who emerges as the team's starting cornerback opposite Derek Stingley Jr. Houston's defense improved in Year 1 under head coach DeMeco Ryans in 2023 and the expectation is for the unit to continue to get better.
Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyHouston's CB2 competition has interesting storylines with a rookie and two former top-10 draft picks seemingly in the mix. The Texans drafted Kamari Lassiter in this year's second round as the sixth CB off the board. The Georgia product stood out at minicamp and is considered a front-runner for the job. There's also Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson, both signed this offseason and looking for redemption following disappointing starts to their careers (Okudah and Henderson were drafted third and ninth overall in 2020, respectively, and the Texans are each player's third NFL team).
With Houston returning Stingley as CB1 and Desmond King in the slot, finding a reliable CB2 is crucial for the team's secondary to reach the next level. The CB depth chart also features Mike Ford, Lonnie Johnson, and Myles Bryant (nickel), among others.
Is Anthony Richardson actually full-go?
There are high expectations for the Colts' offense with Richardson entering his second NFL season as a potential breakout star. His health remains a topic, though.
Richardson underwent shoulder surgery last year and was cleared to resume throwing in February. The 2023 No. 4 pick participated in the first days of OTAs in June, but Indy opted to rest him for the final day of activities due to soreness in his surgically repaired right arm. General manager Chris Ballard has since guaranteed that Richardson will be "full-go" in camp.
Indianapolis insists Richardson is 100% healthy, but the Colts can't predict how the passer's right shoulder will respond to his being a full camp participant. If Richardson is indeed good to go, it'll be fascinating to see if he's changed any elements of his game after an injury-plagued 2023 or improved his passing accuracy. His right arm will steal headlines, one way or another.
Who's the offensive play-caller?
This is an uncommon training camp unknown for a Jaguars team rostering a franchise QB and entering a third season with head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor.
Taylor was named play-caller in 2023 after splitting half of play-calling duties with Pederson in 2022. Jacksonville was expected to boast an elite offense last year and make QB Trevor Lawrence an MVP candidate, but the club didn't even boast a top-10 offensive unit. The team was below average in EPA/play In the season's final stretch, losing five of its last six games and missing the playoffs.
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPederson's yet to announce how the club will handle play-calling responsibilities in 2024. Taylor had a promising 2022 but is likely to lose his job if Jacksonville's offense doesn't improve. Remember that Pederson's had success calling plays in the past, helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LII over Bill Belichick's Patriots while getting the most out of passers Carson Wentz and Nick Foles.
The reigning Super Bowl champs boast arguably the NFL's best O-line interior, but who's protecting Patrick Mahomes' blind side remains a question. Kansas City's battle at left tackle between Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris is the team's most important roster competition at camp.
The Chiefs traded up to draft Suamataia - an athletic but raw prospect out of BYU - in Round 2 this year, while 2023 third-rounder Morris was decent in four starts as a rookie last season filling in for Donovan Smith (though Morris didn't perform well enough to be the unquestioned starter a year later). Suamataia played most of the LT first-team snaps at minicamp, but the real test for him - and Morris - will be in one-on-one camp matchups against George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, and Co.
Aidan O'Connell or Gardner Minshew?
The Raiders didn't address their main 2024 need, passing on drafting a QB and not spending big money at the position. Signing 28-year-old Minshew to a two-year, $25-million deal was Las Vegas' main QB move, after he began last season as a backup but started 13 games in Indianapolis after Richardson got hurt. Minshew almost helped the Colts reach the playoffs, and joins his third team in three seasons.
Minshew will compete with O'Connell, who started 10 games for the Raiders as a 2023 fourth-round rookie. With 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and an 83.9 passer rating, O'Connell was far from great in Year 1, but the Raiders' new-look coaching staff seems to like the 25-year-old. Minshew and O'Connell split first-team minicamp reps and while this battle isn't super exciting, it'll steal headlines for Las Vegas fans.
What will the offense look like?
L.A. underwent major offseason changes on and off the field. They landed the most talked-about coach available in Jim Harbaugh, who put together a coaching staff featuring Greg Roman as offensive coordinator. Roman's known for his run-heavy schemes, so it'll be interesting to see how he can help QB Justin Herbert, one of the sport's most skilled passers.
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyAbout Herbert: His supporting cast looks very different after the Chargers parted with receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler, who played together since 2017. That leaves L.A. with an unimpressive group of wide receivers featuring second-round rookie Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer, and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Roman also reunites with familiar faces in tailbacks Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.
Is Harbaugh still an elite NFL coach after being out of the league for nine years? Can Roman implement an offensive system that helps Herbert maximize his physical potential? Will the unproven supporting cast hold Herbert back? All eyes on Chargers camp.
The Dolphins do have roster questions at camp, but Tua Tagovailoa's contract situation will be the major talking point. Few QBs seeking their first extension this year divide opinions like the Miami signal-caller.
The 2020 first-round pick is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. He isn't a top-five QB but is looking to get paid like one after Jared Goff and Lawrence each inked deals worth at least $53 million per year. The Dolphins and Tagovailoa have been negotiating for months, but Miami reportedly hadn't offered him a market-value deal in the same ballpark as Goff and Lawrence as of late June. Will Tua get a deal done before Week 1? Would he consider holding out of camp without a new contract?
Tagovailoa may not be an All-Pro, but the 26-year-old led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023 and set career highs in pass completion rate (69.3%) and touchdowns (29). He also helped Miami build a top-two offense in 2023. Though Tagovailoa still lacks playoff success, he's been the perfect QB for coach Mike McDaniel's dynamic system.
It was hard to pick one main question for the Patriots, who are going through a major rebuild. New England starts camp without legendary Belichick for the first time in over two decades. Jerod Mayo's now in charge, and one of the 38-year-old coach's first big challenges is to make the right QB decision.
Veteran Jacoby Brissett enters camp as the Patriots' starter, but everyone wants to know when rookie Drake Maye will have his shot as QB1. Brissett - the 31-year-old reuniting with New England this season - was strong in 11 starts for the Browns in 2022 and is the safer option for the Pats out of the gate. But Maye's ceiling is a lot higher.
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Patriots landed Maye third overall as the franchise's highest-drafted player since Drew Bledsoe (first overall in 1993). It's a matter of when, not if, the North Carolina product gets a starting chance. The 21-year-old showed improvements at minicamp, and whether he can continue to elevate his game to push Brissett and potentially become the starter earlier than expected is the New England storyline to watch.
How much does Rodgers have left?
We have a lot of questions about the Jets, but all eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers once again. New York is back at square one with the four-time MVP, who joined the team in 2023 but played only four snaps before sustaining an Achilles injury. Rodgers claimed consecutive MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 but wasn't nearly as good in 2022 (his final year with Green Bay) and essentially missed all of 2023. He turns 41 in December, so it's fair to wonder if he still has it.
Rodgers deserves the benefit of the doubt as one of the most talented QBs of all time. He still boasts a naturally talented arm, but is his footwork as good as it used to be? Will his 2023 injury affect his pocket behavior and mobility?
Rodgers attended all of New York's early offseason activities, but Jets fans surely hope he won't be a huge camp distraction. In March, his name was floated as a potential running mate to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the U.S. presidential race. Two months later, Rodgers wasn't at N.Y.'s mandatory minicamp in what coach Robert Saleh called an "unexcused" absence that the club was aware of. Rodgers reportedly wasn't a big fan of how Saleh described the QB's absence to the media, and we later found out that Rodgers was away on a pre-planned trip to Egypt.
No team remade its 2024 QB room like the Steelers, who signed Russell Wilson, acquired Justin Fields, and traded away 2023 starter Kenny Pickett. Wilson is QB1 for now, but the nine-time Pro Bowler has been on the decline for years. The 35-year-old posted an 11-19 record during his disappointing two-season stint with Denver. He has to earn the job with Pittsburgh, which is implementing a new offensive system after hiring coordinator Arthur Smith. Is Smith's offense a good fit for Wilson to revive his career?
Fields is Plan B if Wilson doesn't meet expectations. The former Bear said he doesn't have the mindset of "sitting all year," and while the 2021 first-rounder can be an exciting playmaker who runs the ball better than most QBs, his development as a passer remains a work in progress. Wilson's and Fields' performance will be a major storyline throughout camp.
Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat can be made of the O-line?
The Titans have high expectations for the left side of their offensive line, but the right side has bigger questions with two spots up for grabs. This line will be led by Bill Callahan, a highly respected O-line coach and father of head coach Brian Callahan, who Tennessee hired this year.
Callahan and Co. signed Lloyd Cushenberry to a four-year contract in March and used a top-10 draft pick on 6-6, 342-pounder lineman JC Latham. The two are projected to start at center and LT, respectively. Peter Skoronski will be the left guard after an up-and-down 2023 rookie campaign. At right guard, Saahdiq Charles - who joined Tennessee in free agency - and returning linemen Daniel Brunskill and Dillon Radunz will presumably battle for the starting role.
The most interesting camp development for the Titans will be at RT, with Nicholas Petit-Frere being the front-runner for the job. The 2022 third-round pick made 16 starts as a rookie but appeared in only two contests last year and finished the season injured. Leroy Watson, acquired in an offseason trade from Cleveland, will also be in the mix. The Titans, who allowed the fourth-most sacks in the NFL last year, also roster 2023 undrafted rookie John Ojukwu, 2023 sixth-round pick Jaelyn Duncan, and veteran Geron Christian.
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