AFC Receiver Groups

 

We're getting closer to the 2024 NFL Season, so I'll be taking stock of how I rate groups in the NFL. Today it's AFC pass catching groups. This means taking stock of the whole room, including tight ends. Below is my take on the AFC rooms from No. 1 to No. 16.

No. 1: Miami Dolphins
About: It's a narrow funnel in Miami, where Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been a great duo. This year, the Dolphins added Odell Beckham, Jr., as the No. 3 and added Jonnu Smith at tight end. I like those two as complimentary pieces, bumping the Dolphins to No. 1 for me.

No. 2: Houston Texans
About: The Texans are a great unit from top to bottom. The team has some interesting depth, but also added veteran Stefon Diggs to the emerging duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Then, the team re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz. That's a powerful top four, which was nearly enough for me to vault them to the top. It's a close call, but I have them No. 2 for now.

No. 3: Cincinnati Bengals
About: The Bengals lost Tyler Boyd, but they still have a great unit. Ja'Marr Chase is one of the best receivers in the league, and he pairs well with Tee Higgins. Bengals fans have to hope that the team can find a way to keep Higgins long-term. With them, the team added an interesting rookie receiver in Jermaine Burton and brought in tight end Mike Gesicki. It's a formidable group, led by a great duo at the top.

No. 4: Cleveland Browns
About: The Browns really found a good pass offense last season with Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku, along with the contributions of Elijah Moore, who came over from the Jets. To that trio, the Browns added Jerry Jeudy. I'm not a big Jeudy fan, but I do like the overall group for the Browns.

No. 5: New York Jets
About: The Jets' biggest concern is probably the health of Aaron Rodgers. Beyond that, the team has added weapons for him. This group is led by Garrett Wilson, who's great. They added veteran Mike Williams and rookie Malachi Corley at receiver. The team also still has veteran Allen Lazard and second-year man Xavier Gipson. There are options and some good talent, along with tight end Tyler Conklin. I like the makeup of this group.

No. 6: Kansas City Chiefs
About: This starts with tight end Travis Kelce, who remains one of the best pass catchers in the game at any position. The Chiefs got a good showing from Rashee Rice last season and hope for more of the same in 2024, providing he doesn't get a suspension. Should he miss time, the team hedged with a solid veteran in Marquise Brown and a top rookie option in Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs are building a good group of pass catchers and I like their potential.

No. 7: Las Vegas Raiders
About: The Raiders have questions at quarterback and running back, but not in the pass catching group. Davante Adams is still there, and one of the league's best. The team also still has Jakobi Myers, a solid No. 2, and added veteran Michael Gallup. Beyond that, the Raiders spent a First Round pick on tight end Brock Bowers to add to second year man Michael Mayer. It's a solid group of weapons that's top half of the AFC.

No. 8: Tennessee Titans
About: The Titans have worked to re-build this room and provide Will Levis with options. The team returns the heart of last year's group in DeAndre Hopkins and tight end Chig Okonkwo. The team also still has Treylon Burks, now going into year three and still looking to prove himself. But to that, the Titans added veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. A trio of Ridley, Hopkins, and Boyd is impressive, enough to vault this team into the top half of the draw for me.

No. 9: Jacksonville Jaguars
About: The Jaguars lost Ridley and released Zay Jones, but they certainly re-loaded. The team kept top receiver Christian Kirk and top tight end Evan Engram. That's a great tandem. They added free agent Gabe Davis and drafted Brian Thomas, Jr. That gives them a solid group to lead the pass catching room.

No. 10: Indianapolis Colts
About: While the Texans have a great pass-catching group, the rest of the AFC South is bunched up here. The Colts are last in the division on this list but still have a good group, led by Michael Pittman, Jr. Behind him, they have second-year man Josh Downs, rookie Adonai Mitchell, and Alec Pierce. It's a group with talent and upside. I question what they'll do at tight end, but it's still a solid group.

No. 11: Baltimore Ravens
About: The Ravens didn't really add to this group. The team still has a great tight end in Mark Andrews, backed up capably by Isaiah Likely, and a decent receiver in Zay Flowers, who was WR30 in 2023 as a rookie. Beyond that, the team is hoping former First Round pick Rashod Bateman will step up, but we need to see it first.

No. 12: Buffalo Bills
About: The Bills took a big drop this year seeing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis leave via free agency. The team added rookie Keon Coleman and veteran Curtis Samuel, returning Khalil Shakir, who stepped up down the stretch in 2023. They also have a great tight end duo in Dalton Kincaid, an emerging star, and Dawson Knox, a solid veteran. It's not an overly impressive group, but it is more solid than the bottom tier on this list.

No. 13: Denver Broncos
About: The Broncos have one great receiver in Courtland Sutton. Beyond him, there are questions at receiver and tight end. The Broncos return veteran Tim Patrick, who missed the last two seasons with injury, and added veteran Josh Reynolds. They also have second-year man Marvin Mims, who had a modest rookie year, and rookie Troy Franklin. There's potential, but a lot of uncertainty right now. The same is true at tight end where the question is if Greg Dulcich can stay healthy and Lucas Krull can break out. That keeps the Broncos in the bottom third.

No. 14: Pittsburgh Steelers
About: The Steelers' unit took a hit when Diontae Johnson was traded to the Panthers. That leaves George Pickens as the only real lock at receiver for the team. They added Roman Wilson in the draft and have a few veterans, but it's a thin group. The Steelers do have a solid tight end in Pat Freiermuth. That's enough to vault them above the bottom two, but it's a thin group with some questions.

No. 15: Los Angeles Chargers
About: The Chargers let Keenan Allen go in trade and saw Mike Williams leave in free agency. So, too, did top tight end Gerald Everett leave. So, what now? Well the Chargers have Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston returning, with the hopes one or both can step up. Meanwhile, the team drafted Ladd McConkey and Brendan Rice to add to the group. It's a young group with some holes to fill, but I like the potential.

No. 16: New England Patriots
About: The Patriots brought back tight end Hunter Henry, which helps. But the receiving corps needs work. Veterans Kendrick Bourne and Juju Smith-Schuster are there, and the Patriots added rookies JaLynn Polk and Javon Baker. There are some guys, but I'm not overly bullish. It could be a long season in New England.