NFL Offseason Preview: The AFC

What does each AFC team need to do this offseason and what resources do they have to make their approach happen?

The 2021 NFL season is officially in the books, and now every NFL teams enters the offseason phase and must figure out what it needs to do to prepare for the 2022 season.

The 32 NFL teams are all in different positions in terms of the resources they have available to improve the team, whether it's cap space or draft picks. They also differ in terms of how many key players they need to retain or will have to replace.

This offseason preview looks at the 32 NFL teams by utilizing Over the Cap's offseason resources ranking, in which it looked at the percentage of snaps that team free agents played, their projected cap space and the total value of their draft capital. It includes two additions of mine, regarding team needs and the quarterback situation.

An explainer of points follows:

Free agent snaps: The percentage of snaps pending free agents played in 2021.

F-S value: This refers to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger draft pick valuation chart, which is explained here. It tells you the total value of the draft capital.

OTC ranking: The offseason resource ranking for a team by Over the Cap.

QB situation: A team with a "settled" situation has its starting QB and there are no questions about his status. A team with an "iffy" situation has questions it needs to answer about its QB for one reason or another and needs to make a decision. A team with an "urgent" situation needs to find a starting QB. Those who have first-round picks from 2021 are listed as "developing" because the jury is still out on whether those QBs will prove to be long-term solutions.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we'll go over each of the 16 teams in the AFC and where they stand entering the offseason.

AFC East

Buffalo

• Free agent snaps: 20.7 percent

• Projected cap space: $5M over

• Draft picks: 9 (5,112 F-S value)

• OTC ranking: 10th

• Team needs: WR, IDL, IOL

• QB situation: Settled

The Bills don't have many free agents who played a significant number of snaps, so they can allow most of them to depart and draft replacements. They can get themselves under the cap with a couple of restructures and will likely cut a player or two. The Bills also need to determine what to do with Tremaine Edmunds, who enters the fifth-year option of his draft pick deal. While the Bills are aiming for a Super Bowl trip, the core of their roster is young, so it's not imperative to go "all in" with an offseason move.

Miami

• Free agent snaps: 24.8 percent

• Projected cap space: $56.2M

• Draft picks: 7 (4,800 F-S value)

• OTC ranking: 5th

• Team needs: T, G, RB

• QB situation: Iffy

The Dolphins are in a position to keep their top free agents if they want, or to explore other free agents. Given that this is a "make or break" year for Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are likely to go "all in" with free agency. However, another "all in" move could be trading for a quarterback -- and the Dolphins have been linked to DeShaun Watson. They will have to upgrade the offensive line, so it won't surprise me if the Dolphins are players for top free agents there.

New England

• Free agent snaps: 23.9 percent

• Projected cap space: $8.3M

• Draft picks: 7 (4,568 F-S value)

• OTC ranking: 12th

• Team needs: WR, CB, LB

• QB situation: Developing

Normally a team that has drafted a quarterback in the first round will become more aggressive in free agency to take advantage of the cheap contract. However, the Patriots were aggressive last year and don't have the cap room to do it again. They will need to restructure or release certain players so they can put the franchise tag on J.C. Jackson. The Patriots have typically let older players depart in free agency, so it won't be surprising if certain long-time veterans will move on.

NY Jets

• Free agent snaps: 22.1 percent

• Projected cap space: $48.1M

• Draft picks: 9 (9,441 F-S value)

• OTC ranking: 1st

• Team needs: CB, S, WR

• QB situation: Developing

The Jets have two first-round picks in the top 10, which means they are in an excellent position to find two more players to add to their core. Though Zach Wilson struggled as a rookie, the Jets aren't going to give up on him that quickly, so they will need to give him a good supporting cast. The good news is the Jets have the resources to do that. They have been aggressive in free agency in the past and it's a good bet they'll be that way again, in hopes that they can break their playoff drought.

AFC North

Baltimore

• Free agent snaps: 32.1 percent

• Projected cap space: $8.7M

• Draft picks: 10 (7.279)

• OTC ranking: 14th

• Team needs: S, CB. EDGE

• QB situation: Iffy

The Ravens' free agents are mostly older players and, given that the Ravens don't have much cap space, but have plenty of draft picks, they are likely sitting out free agency. Their main concern is an extension for Lamar Jackson. He has shown he can be a good quarterback but hasn't had an elite season since his second year in the league, when he was named MVP. I'd say Jackson is worth extending, but not at top 5 money.

Cincinnati

• Free agent snaps: 31 percent

• Projected cap space: $44.7M

• Draft picks: 7 (4,249)

• OTC ranking: 13th

• Team needs: T, G, C

• QB situation: Settled

The Bengals have gotten more aggressive in free agency in recent years, so it won't surprise anyone if that happens again. Between the available cap space, the number of snaps pending free agents played, and the fact they reached the Super Bowl, the Bengals are a good bet to go "all in" somewhere. Putting the franchise tag on Jessie Bates II is a given. From there, the Bengals need to address the offensive line. It will likely be the last year the Bengals get Joe Burrow for cheap, because he's eligible for an extension in 2023 and, if Burrow cements himself among the elite QBs, he and his agent are certain to start asking for a contract in line with an elite player.

Cleveland

• Free agent snaps: 22.5 percent

• Projected cap space: $23.5M

• Draft picks: 9 (6,518)

• OTC ranking: 4th

• Team needs: WR, EDGE, DT

• QB situation: Iffy

The Browns have plenty of cap space and draft capital, but is it really the best idea for them to go "all in" for 2022? After all, it's not a given that Baker Mayfield is the long-term guy. They do need to address wide receiver and the free agent pool will have some quality options. But any aggressive moves this offseason would indicate that the current coaching and front office regime are on notice to get back to the playoffs in 2022 or change will be coming.

Pittsburgh

• Free agent snaps: 30.9 percent

• Projected cap space: $28.7M

• Draft picks: 7 (4,564)

• OTC ranking: 15th

• Team needs: QB, T, CB

• QB situation: Urgent

The Steelers have the roster in place to be a playoff contender, provided they find the right quarterback. They are not active in free agency, but they have the cap space to acquire a quarterback if one is available in trade. If they give up a high draft pick or two for a QB, they will need to re-sign more of their pending free agents. The other option is for the Steelers to make do with what they can in a free agent QB, then look ahead to 2023.

AFC South

Houston

• Free agent snaps: 45.6 percent

• Projected cap space: $4.5M

• Draft picks: 9 (7,070)

• OTC ranking: 19th

• Team needs: QB, T, CB

• QB situation: Iffy

The Texans are losing a lot of players to free agency, but most of them aren't necessary to retain. They are in a better position with draft capital than they were in 2021, but that alone won't address their team needs. Their QB situation is "iffy" because Davis Mills doesn't look like the long-term guy and that they need to get things settled with DeShaun Watson. A Watson trade needs to happen, because they can't afford to pay him $35M to sit at home. The Texans shouldn't take any old offer for Watson, but they can no longer insist upon three first-round picks in a trade package.

Indianapolis

• Free agent snaps: 35.8 percent

• Projected cap space: $37.5M

• Draft picks: 8 (3,921)

• OTC ranking: 21st

• Team needs: WR. T, EDGE

• QB situation: Urgent

The Carson Wentz trade didn't work out and the Colts have no first-round pick this year. Cutting him at this point would result in $15M in dead money from the fully guaranteed salary he's due. It's going to be difficult to trade him without agreeing to pay a large portion of his salary. The Colts also have a lot of free agents who played a considerable number of snaps, though some of them are older players. Along with quarterback, the Colts need to figure out an appropriate extension for Quenton Nelson.

Jacksonville

• Free agent snaps: 28.6 percent

• Projected cap space: $47.9M

• Draft picks: 12 (8,913 F-S value)

• OTC ranking: 3rd

• Team needs: TE, WR, OL

• QB situation: Developing

The Jaguars certainly aren't lacking for resources to improve the team, but they will have quite a few free agents who could leave and, thus, need to figure out how to fill those holes. They are typically aggressive in free agency and, with Trevor Lawrence on his inexpensive rookie deal, it makes sense to take advantage. With lots of draft capital, the Jaguars will be able to stockpile the roster and, if things fall into place, challenge for the AFC South title.

Tennessee

• Free agent snaps: 29.4 percent

• Projected cap space: $7.8M over

• Draft picks: 7 (4,063)

• OTC ranking: 25th

• Team needs: TE, DE, T

• QB situation: Iffy

Though the Titans claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, they look like a team that has hit its ceiling and needs to reassess. They may need to cut some players and consider restructures in a couple of cases. Harold Landry is a free agent but might not be worth the franchise tag. Given that there are questions about how much longer Ryan Tannehill can be the QB to build around, the Titans need to ask themselves if it's better to build toward 2023 than keep trying for the playoffs in 2022, even if they are in a weak division.

AFC West

Denver

• Free agent snaps: 30 percent

• Projected cap space: $38.05M

• Draft picks: 11 (7,689)

• OTC ranking: 6th

• Team needs: QB, EDGE, CB

• QB situation: Urgent

The Broncos approached 2021 with hopes of making a playoff push but set their position for 2022 so they could improve the roster if things didn't work out. Though they have a lot of pending free agents, the majority aren't necessary to retain. The Broncos have been linked to Aaron Rodgers, but it remains to be seen if he'll be traded. If they acquire him or another veteran, they need to be more aggressive in free agency. If not, their best approach will be to sit out free agency, other than re-signing their own that they want to keep, then do what they can at QB this year and focus on 2023.

Kansas City

• Free agent snaps: 40.4 percent

• Projected cap space: $3.4M

• Draft picks: 9 (4,718)

• OTC ranking: 28th

• Team needs: WR, CB, EDGE

• QB situation: Settled

The Chiefs can gain more cap space by restructuring Patrick Mahomes' contract, which was set up to give the team flexibility. A couple other restructures are likely coming, too. Orlando Brown will likely get the franchise tag and the Chiefs must figure out whether to extend safety Tyrann Mathieu and for how much. The Chiefs went "all in" on addressing the offensive line in free agency and, while they remained a Super Bowl contender, they fell short of getting there. The Chiefs will need to sit out free agency this time, other than keeping their own, and utilize the draft to fill holes.

LA Chargers

• Free agent snaps: 32.7 percent

• Projected cap space: $48.9M

• Draft picks: 11 (5,804)

• OTC ranking: 9th

• Team needs: CB, WR, DT

• QB situation: Settled

The Chargers are in a great position with cap space and draft capital, and with Justin Herbert entering his third year and playing well, now is the time for the Chargers to be more aggressive. Though they haven't been big players in free agency under Tom Telesco and look for value, it may be time for them to go "all in" with a particular move to get them into the playoffs in 2022, particularly if they find one who can boost the defense. Mike Williams is a likely franchise tag candidate, but other free agents will likely be allowed to depart given that they are older.

Las Vegas

• Free agent snaps: 27.3 percent

• Projected cap space: $20M

• Draft picks: 7 (4,801)

• OTC ranking: 11th

• Team needs: CB, WR, DT

• QB situation: Iffy

The Raiders slipped into the playoffs and have a new regime in place, with a solid but not great position in terms of offseason resources. Their QB situation is "iffy" because Derek Carr enters the final year of his contract, and the Raiders need to ask if he's worth extending and at what price. The majority of their free agents are older players, so they need not be retained. The Raiders might be best served by using 2022 as a "wait and see" type of year, in which they aren't aggressive in free agency and see how the upcoming season goes. That will then tell them the direction to go with Carr and others on the team.

Next week, we'll look at the NFC.