NFL
By: Joey MacDonald
The AFC conference in the 2026 NFL Draft had some teams that drafted pretty well in all 7 rounds. There were plenty of winners and losers in all 3 days of the draft by all teams in the AFC. Contenders always move up the ladder when they are ahead of everyone else in the conference for being great. But these teams are ahead of everyone else when it comes to either being a contender or a pretender. So here are the top 5 AFC teams coming out of the draft as early offseason favorites in the AFC.
1. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos reached the AFC Championship game last year and lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots. The defense is elite, and coming off a season leading the league with 68 sacks and ranked #2 in defense. Even without a 1st round pick, the Broncos were able to add depth to an already talented football team. The biggest move by the Broncos is the acquisition of Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins for 3 2026 draft picks. The Broncos, which are already talented, are going to be a team that will be in contention in 2026.
2. Baltimore Ravens
After a disappointing 8-9 season in 2025, the Baltimore Ravens are coming into 2026 with a brand new head coach. The Ravens have had a roller coaster of an offseason, to say the least, after the failed Maxx Crosby trade. Afterwards, the Ravens were able to make some solid moves in both the free agency and the NFL Draft. Both the offense and defense I viewed have been upgraded tremendously, especially the pass rush on defense and the offensive line. And, as long as Lamar Jackson is the quarterback for the purple and black, this team will be in contention.
3. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills had another disappointing end to their season against the Denver Broncos in the postseason. With all of the returning talent to the Bills, they will be in contention going into 2026 and beyond. As well, a new head coach in Joe Brady is going to be eye-popping for the Buffalo Bills in 2026. With Josh Allen still the quarterback under center, the Buffalo Bills will be a favorite in the AFC. The Buffalo Bills are a team that, if they can avoid any problems, can win a Super Bowl.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are a complete juggernaut when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. But the defense seems to be the only thing that is holding this team back within the AFC. In the offseason, they were able to acquire Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants to help the defense. If the defense can make some strides in 2026, then the Bengals could be a team to look out for. The Bengals can be a team that other teams could be scared of if their defense can find its stride.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Even though the Chiefs had their worst season in the Patrick Mahomes era, this team is still dangerous. Their consistency has been helping the Chiefs remain at the top of the AFC for the last few years. Plus, having Andy Reid as your head coach is a plus to the core for any team and quarterback. Some people say that after the 2025 season that Kansas City Chiefs’ run is over after a 6-11 season. But with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid on that team, the Chiefs will still be a contender in the AFC.
Overall Thoughts:
When looking at the AFC conference their are many good football teams in the AFC. But these Top 5 AFC teams are above all the rest in the conference, and coming out of the draft, they solidified themselves. And, with the season a few months away, a lot of things can change from now to then.
