2024 NFL Draft Needs: Here's What Every AFC Team Must Address in the Draft This Week

(Photo : (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)) KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The 2024 NFL Draft is set to start tonight and continue with the second and third rounds on Friday followed by the remaining four rounds on Saturday.

Every team has its annual opportunity to set itself up for the future by adding cost-controlled young talent, and the decisions made this week will make or break several futures.

Each team has its own set of needs it will be looking to address. Here's what those areas for improvement are for all 16 AFC teams.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): Buffalo Bills

Team Needs: WR, DL, LB

It's been an offseason full of change in Buffalo after another brutal playoff exit at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stefon Diggs is out the door, and it feels like this off-season will mark the turn from one Josh Allen supporting cast to the next. It's a foregone conclusion that the Bills will use their first pick in this draft on a receiver, with Allen sorely in need of weapons with Diggs and Gabe Davis out of the picture.

Beyond that, Buffalo could really stand to make some youthful additions to their defensive unit, where injuries and aging plagued them for a significant stretch of last season.

Offensive line is always a consideration as well to ensure that Allen stays upright and healthy.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): Miami Dolphins

Team Needs: OL, LB, DB

The Dolphins are in an interesting spot, still yet to win a playoff game in the Tua Tagovailoa era and having his contract extension coming up very soon.

It seems like Miami will ultimately pay him what he wants, and given their lack of draft capital, that makes sense due to the difficult task it would be to replace him.

That means defensive depth and the offensive line are priorities for the Dolphins, as there's no shortage of weapons available on offense, and injuries on defense and a weak offensive line have killed this team in recent years.

Look for some athletic playmakers on defense and some solid blocking to be added on offense this week.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): New England Patriots

Team Needs: QB, WR, OL

The Patriots own the third overall pick, and there is a lot of intrigue as to what they will do with the selection. They could possibly trade out, select a quarterback, or take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Whatever the decision ends up being, the rest of the draft behind it will be about setting up new head coach Jerod Mayo to lead this franchise into what it hopes will be another chapter of greatness.

The team needs help in all areas, but the offense should be the priority throughout the draft weekend, as the defensive personnel is pretty solid.

Both the wide receiver room and offensive line are in serious need of some bolstering. either to make a rookie quarterback's life easier or better set up for one in the coming years.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): New York Jets

Team Needs: OL, WR, QB

Aaron Rodgers is coming back after his torn achilles cost him and the Jets their season in 2023, and his ability to bounce back from that injury will almost entirely decide this Jets season.

New York and GM Joe Douglas have done a good job of improving the offensive line through free agency, but there's more work to be done in the draft.

The Jets also need to add a wide receiver beyond Garrett Wilson, as Allen Lazard was out of place as a number two option last year, and the team and Rodgers both need someone else to help shoulder the load for Wilson.

Of course, the Jets would also be wise to use a pick on a quarterback at some point to give themselves a dart throw at a possible replacement for Rodgers should he be done playing after this season.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC South): Houston Texans

Team Needs: LB, DB, OL

The Texans shocked the football world last year when they made a run to the Division Championship and postseason with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Now, Stroud is fully considered as one of the league's very best young quarterbacks, and the Texans have his rookie window in which to build a contender around him. The acquisition of Stefon Diggs loads them up at receiver, so look for the offensive line to be the focus in this draft on that side of the ball.

On defense, the Texans are a well-coached bunch with some talent, but more in that regard is always a good thing. Some extra juice in the pass rush and in coverage would go a long way toward getting this unit closer to being championship caliber.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC South): Indianapolis Colts

Team Needs: TE, DL, DB

The Colts also appeared on their way to a surprising season led by a rookie quarterback and first-year coach, as Shane Steichen nearly got them to the playoffs after Anthony Richardson went down with an injury.

The focus for 2024 will be on tweaking some things around Richardson while shoring up the defense to get this franchise back to the playoffs.

Tight end could be addressed in the form of Brock Bowers, which would be a uniquely exciting fit given how Richardson looked last year and Steichen's tight-end heavy Philadelphia background.

Beyond that first-round possibility, more help is needed on the defensive side of the ball to counter all of the explosive offenses present in the AFC. The Colts have huge upside if they do well at this week's draft.

2024 NFL Draft Team Needs (AFC South): Jacksonville Jaguars

Team Needs: OL, WR, DB

The Jaguars choked away what should have been a gimme-season as AFC South Champions and watched the upstart Texans led by Stroud take it instead.

The Jags were doomed by poor offensive line play and disappointing receiver play that saw Lawrence often running for his life, while Calvin Ridley was a letdown with several drops of possible huge touchdowns.

Supporting Lawrence has to be the focus for Jacksonville in this draft, as nothing else really matters if they're not giving him the best chance to succeed.

The front seven has some big names, and they likely won't invest heavily there in the draft, but some help in the secondary could be instrumental in keeping teams off the scoreboard against them this year.

2024 NFL Draft Team Needs (AFC South): Tennessee Titans

Team Needs: OL, DB, DL

The Titans are in what promises to be a full-on tear-down and rebuild after a very bad year and the surprise firing of former head coach Mike Vrabel.

Will Levis surprisingly fell to the Titans in the second round last season, and he looked competent when he took over as the starter in 2023. This season will be about finding out whether or not Levis is the guy long-term, and to do that it's widely expected the team will go offensive line with its top-10 first round pick.

Ridley was a bust in Jacksonville, but his signing makes him an upgrade for Tennessee at receiver alongside DeAndre Hopkins. While those two are aging, look for the Titans to invest later picks in the defense instead.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC North): Baltimore Ravens

Team Needs: LB, DB, RB

The Ravens have seen a slow drip of talent leave the organization in free agency this year. Patrick Queen left for the Steelers, running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins both joined the Chargers, and those were just a few of the departures.

This is still a great roster centered around reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, but there is work to be done this week to add to this group. A linebacker to join Roquan Smith and replace Queen could be good, as could more support for the defensive backfield.

Keaton Mitchell broke on to the scene as a rookie before his injury, but the Ravens also need to add a running back to help keep him on the field.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC North): Cincinnati Bengals

Team Needs: OL, DB, IDL

The Bengals are coming off of a disappointing season caused by an early season-ending injury to star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Keeping Burrow protected has been an issue to at least some level since he was drafted, so look for the Bengals to draft more help in that department. A receiver at some point to attempt to offset the eventual loss of Tee Higgins could be a good idea as well.

The departure of D.J. Reader to Detroit leaves a vacancy on the interior of the defensive line, and much of the defensive backfield that powered the 2021 Super Bowl appearance has aged out or left the franchise. More help there is paramount to success in the AFC playoffs in this quarterback-heavy conference.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC North): Cleveland Browns

Team Needs: QB, WR, OL

The Browns, for better or worse (and really for worse), are married to Deshaun Watson at quarterback for the time being. He has been such a disaster in Cleveland that a day two or three pick on a possible future successor makes sense.

Beyond that, receiver is an area of need for Cleveland. Amari Cooper isn't getting any younger, and the other players in that unit don't inspire much confidence.

Cleveland's dominant defense doesn't need too much help, but they'll certainly add more youth here and there when they can. Offensive line also would be a positive help to try to improve this team's already excellent power running game.

2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC North): Pittsburgh Steelers

Team Needs: WR, OL, DB

Things are pretty straightforward for the Black and Yellow. The trade of Diontae Johnson to Carolina brought Donte Jackson back, but Jackson slotting in as a starter opposite Joey Porter Jr. is not a real solution. Another corner is necessary.

So too is another receiver, as the weapon room outside of George Pickens is looking awfully bare with Johnson gone. The Steelers have a great track record of drafting and developing receivers outside the first round, so look for them to do that here.

Whether it's Russell Wilson or Justin Fields primarily under center for the team this year, more help on the offensive line would be a major plus to give them the best chance to succeed.

2024 NFL Draft Needs Los Angeles Chargers (AFC West): Offensive Line, Wide Receiver

The Chargers have the fifth overall pick and an apparent mandate from new coach Jim Harbaugh to improve the running game, but the truth is this roster has needs everywhere.

A tackle to complement Rashawn Slater, a center to help protect Justin Herbert, and a receiver to give Herbert a new weapon are all paramount for the Bolts.

They have enough picks to address all of these needs, but it will be interesting to see what they do with the fifth overall pick. Receiver seems to be a more pressing need than tackle, but Harbaugh may disagree.

2024 NFL Draft Needs Denver Broncos (AFC West): Quarterback, Defensive Front Seven

The Broncos have been rumored to be enamored with many of the young quarterbacks in this draft, and it's easy to see why Sean Payton doesn't want to wait around in quarterback limbo at this stage in his career.

The Broncos could either trade up for, say, J.J. McCarthy, or hope he falls to them. The rest of this roster is solid but unremarkable. The presence of Pat Surtain II makes defensive backs not a huge need, but pass rush help would be good, as could offensive line support and more weapons.

Denver is well positioned to add a cornerstone piece in the first round, but they need to hit on several picks in the next couple of years to get the franchise as a whole turned around.

2024 NFL Draft Needs Las Vegas Raiders (AFC West): Quarterback, Offensive Line

The Raiders have Antonio Pierce and his intense winning culture in the house as full time head coach, and an intimidating defensive line led by Maxx Crosby going for them.

Wide Receiver is solid too, but everything else is a major need. Pierce was in the program at Arizona State when Jayden Daniels was the Sun Devil quarterback, so there could be some interest in trading up to land the Heisman winner from LSU.

If not, the offensive line could be a good place to start to help build out the group that will protect second-year signal-caller Aidan O'Connell.

2024 NFL Draft Needs Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West): Successors

With two straight Super Bowl championships and Patrick Mahomes just entering his prime, the Chiefs have shown they don't need the most stacked roster to win it all.

The core around Mahomes is either aging or coming due for contracts the team won't be able to afford, though, so hitting on their picks is a huge key to keeping Mahomes surrounded with talent.

Look for the Chiefs to take a shot on a tight end at some point to try to learn under Travis Kelce, and some defensive linemen to one day take Chris Jones' spot could go a long way as well.