March Insanity is upon us, however the NFL isn’t removed from the minds of most sports activities followers. So earlier than the NCAA Event kicks into excessive gear, Yardbarker NFL writers provide essentially the most maddening participant, coach or govt on each AFC staff.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | HC Sean McDermott | With an 86-45 file since becoming a member of the Payments in 2017, McDermott has the fifth-most wins amongst present NFL head coaches. However he enters 2025 on the proverbial “sizzling seat” as his groups have gone 7-7 in 14 playoff appearances with 5 losses coming by seven or fewer factors.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | WR Tyreek Hill | If Hill didn’t anger his teammates by pulling himself out of the Dolphins’ regular-season finale, a 32-20 loss to the Jets, the nine-year veteran certainly did so by saying he was done with the team after the sport. He has since reconsidered, however after ending the season because the league’s Thirtieth-leading receiver, Hill ought to present his teammates extra respect.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | RB Rhamondre Stevenson | Stevenson ran for 801 yards and a career-best seven touchdowns in 2024, however he additionally led the league with a career-worst six fumbles. His 41 damaged tackles have been additionally a profession mark, however his 3.9 yards per carry and 5.1 yards per reception have been profession lows for the staff’s main rusher.
NEW YORK JETS | CB Sauce Gardner | The 2-time All-Professional is arguably the perfect participant on the roster, however Jets followers can’t be proud of the trajectory of his profession. Gardner’s stats have gone down in virtually each class over the previous two seasons. In 2024, the previous first-round decide completed with 26 fewer tackles and 11 fewer passes defensed than he had throughout his Defensive Rookie of the Yr season in 2022. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | WR Troy Franklin | After Franklin performed with Bo Nix for 2 seasons at Oregon, the Broncos figured he would turn into one of many QB’s extra dependable targets. As a substitute, he completed with simply 28 receptions for 263 yards and two landing catches in 16 regular-season video games throughout his rookie season in 2024.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | OT Jawaan Taylor | Since signing a four-year, $80M deal in 2023, Taylor has failed to fulfill expectations in Ok.C. Per Pro Football Focus, he has allowed 12 sacks and been flagged for 37 penalties in 33 regular-season video games over the previous two seasons.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Edge-rusher Tyree Wilson | Wilson — decide No. 7 within the 2023 NFL Draft — has regarded like a bust. In two seasons with the Raiders, the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder has solely eight sacks in 33 regular-season video games.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | WR Quentin Johnston | To Johnston’s credit score, the second-year WR improved in 2024, ending with eight landing catches in 15 regular-season video games. Nevertheless, he additionally led the staff in drops (seven), per Pro Football Reference. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Kicker Justin Tucker | Ravens followers have been spoiled for greater than a decade realizing Tucker was going to make almost each kick he lined up for regardless of the strain. However final season, he went 22-of-30 (career-low 73.3 %) on field-goal makes an attempt. Plus, now he faces significant off-field issues.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Security Geno Stone | The Bengals had the Twenty fifth-ranked scoring protection in 2024, and Stone was a giant cause why. The 25-year-old missed 17 tackles and ranked 136th out of 171 certified safeties within the total PFF grade final season.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | GM Andrew Berry |
There’s most likely nothing Berry can do to win Browns followers again after he signed QB Deshaun Watson to a completely assured $230M contract in 2022. The Browns are caught in cap hell with two years nonetheless left on the deal, which is able to doubtless go down as one of many worst contracts in NFL historical past.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | HC Mike Tomlin/proprietor Artwork Rooney II |
It’s exhausting to argue with Tomlin’s spectacular historical past of sustained success in Pittsburgh, as he’s by no means had a dropping season in 18 years on the helm. However he refuses to adapt to the brand new NFL the way in which different veteran head coaches have. That, coupled with Rooney’s endurance with Tomlin, is why the Steelers have gained solely three playoff video games since 2011 and are not a Tremendous Bowl contender. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Guard Ed Ingram | Ingram hasn’t performed a down but for the Texans, however Texans followers may already be reaching for his or her Excedrin. The four-year veteran was one of many league’s worst guards in Minnesota earlier than being benched in Week 9 final season and but he’s anticipated to have a key position in trying to revive Houston’s poor offensive line after being acquired earlier this offseason for a 2026 sixth-round decide.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | QB Anthony Richardson | Few issues are as maddening as when folks can’t do the naked minimal for his or her job. After failing to finish half of go makes an attempt final season (47.7 % on 264 makes an attempt), Richardson is falling woefully wanting the job requirement.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | EDGE Travon Walker | The No. 1 decide of the 2022 NFL Draft has but to dwell as much as his full potential, and Jacksonville’s new entrance workplace quickly should determine if it needs to provide him a profitable extension. Ought to Jacksonville signal Walker this offseason and run the danger of him failing to dwell as much as his contract? Or will it enable him to probably have a monster 2025, escalating his worth?
TENNESSEE TITANS | QB Will Levis | The 2-year veteran’s mayonnaise obsession is perhaps the least maddening factor about him. Levis was answerable for too many follies to rely final season, making it simple to grasp why the Titans are keen to maneuver on from him so quickly. — Eric Smithling
