The biggest storyline for every AFC team heading into training camp

With NFL training camps set to kick off, we assess each AFC team's most interesting storyline.

NFC I AFC

Baltimore Ravens - Will Lamar Jackson enter the season without an extension?

Time is running out for the Ravens and Jackson to agree on a long-term deal. It's a tricky situation from many angles. Team owner Steve Bisciotti said in March that the team was still waiting for the quarterback to come to the table, fueling speculation over his future. Jackson quieted the chatter last month, saying he expects to stay in Baltimore for his entire career. That was short-lived, thanks to Jackson's new "I need $" Twitter header, though he refuted rumors that it was about his contract.

While details have been sparse on the situation, it's in the Ravens' best interest to tie down Jackson before the 2022 season kicks off. Jackson, who represents himself without an agent, will have certainly noticed the big-money deals handed out to Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, and Kyler Murray this offseason. The former league MVP is entering the final year of his rookie deal, but there's no shortage of leverage on his part. His future contract, whenever it happens, will surely be astronomical, and now it's up to the Ravens and him to get to the table to make it work.

Buffalo Bills - Who will be the Week 1 starting outside CBs?

The answer to the question above will be heavily influenced by the health of Pro Bowler Tre'Davious White. The 27-year-old tore his ACL last November, and his status for Week 1 hasn't been clarified. The forthcoming month should provide some clues on whether he'll be out there, but it wouldn't be a total surprise if he's not cleared for the opener.

In a world where White is ready to go for the Sept. 8 contest against the Los Angeles Rams, the opposite outside cornerback spot will come down to a feisty competition between 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam and third-year pro Dane Jackson. It's a spot that veteran Levi Wallace held down admirably in the past. However, Wallace left for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Elam likely has the early edge, but Jackson will be chomping at the bit after allowing a 50% completion percentage last season, per Pro Football Reference. There's also the prospect that both youngsters will be in the starting lineup if White isn't cleared, though that's a situation Buffalo likely hopes to avoid.

Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow's reinforced OL

The Bengals are coming off their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, but that wasn't the number the front office focused on this offseason. That number would be 70 - as in the number of times Burrow was sacked last season (including playoffs). The Bengals, Burrow, and likely just about everyone in Cincinnati would like to see that number come down, and the club took positive steps in that direction this offseason.

Three newcomers - Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La'el Collins - figure to hold down the center position and the right side of the line. With Jonah Williams back at left tackle, only projected left guard Jackson Carman lacks experience. It's easy to assume the Bengals' offensive line will improve, whether moderately or significantly. What does that mean for Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Co.? Well, if a bruised and battered Burrow staked his flag atop the AFC last year, there's no telling what he can do if given more time to stay on his feet.

Cleveland Browns - Getting Jacoby Brissett ready

New quarterback Deshaun Watson showed up to training camp, but there's a good possibility he won't be the guy under center in Week 1. Watson is still awaiting a decision on whether he'll be suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. That will likely leave the Browns' offense in the hands of the veteran Brissett.

Brissett became the de facto No. 2 quarterback after the team's relationship with the now-traded Baker Mayfield became fractured beyond repair. The Browns' ceiling will surely be lower with Brissett at the helm, but they still can't be counted out due to their strong offensive line and talented skill position players. The journeyman quarterback has filled in on short notice before, going 7-8 in 2019 with the Indianapolis Colts following Andrew Luck's surprise retirement. The key for the Browns will be building an offense that only asks Brissett to manage efficiently while the surrounding playmakers carry the load.

Denver Broncos - Russell Wilson's arrival and 2022 expectations

The game of musical chairs is finally over. Denver has its quarterback - and a good one at that. While the Broncos have a firm answer at the most important position, there are a lot of moving parts involving Wilson and those around him that may shape just how close the club gets to its new sky-high expectations.

Like any new partnership, there's always a period of acclimatization. Wilson will step into a new offense under head coach Nathaniel Hackett, but perhaps that's not much of a concern considering every member of the offense will be starting from scratch with Hackett. The bigger adjustment may come at offensive line, where as many as three positions (C, RG, and RT) could be up for grabs. How quickly the Broncos' offense gets into a rhythm may be key to determining how far this team can go in 2022 and beyond.

Houston Texans - It's Davis Mills' time to shine

One of the lone bright spots of the Texans' dreadful 2021 campaign was the emergence of rookie quarterback Davis Mills. The third-round pick began the season behind Tyrod Taylor before shining down the stretch, with nine touchdowns to two interceptions over his final five games. After going from an early-season afterthought to a potential diamond in the rough, Mills' development will be a key area of focus for the Texans in 2022.

The goal will be to figure out a way to build on Mills' promising play. Houston may not have surrounded him with elite playmakers, but the franchise has done a lot off the field to make his life easier. Finally trading Deshaun Watson from their quarterback room was a necessary move, and promoting Pep Hamilton from QBs coach to offensive coordinator should also do wonders for Mills' ascension. Hamilton has earned praise for his work with other young passers, including Justin Herbert. Expectations are low for the 2022 Texans, though that's probably the perfect environment for a young signal-caller like Mills.

Indianapolis Colts - Matt Ryan's impact

The only constant in life is change, especially for Colts quarterbacks. For the sixth consecutive season, Indianapolis will enter Week 1 with a different starting passer than the year prior. While the Colts have a roster qualified to compete, the quarterback position has been a weak point since Andrew Luck's retirement. The acquisition of the 37-year-old Ryan is another short-term solution, but the franchise should still expect improvements from 2021.

Why Ryan could lift the Colts above last season's disappointing 9-8 finish has more to do with who he isn't rather than who he is. The bottom line is he isn't Carson Wentz. In fact, he's far from it. With better accuracy, decision-making, and pocket presence, Ryan won't be the ticking time bomb that Wentz was during his brief Indianapolis stay. The Colts went off the rails last season, but they couldn't have picked a better option than Ryan to keep the team on track.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Doug Pederson's influence on Trevor Lawrence

The Jaguars wrote a how-to guide on how not to introduce a heralded rookie quarterback to the NFL in 2021. Lawrence played under the disastrous reign of former head coach Urban Meyer in his first year, featuring in an offense that ranked last in scoring. Luckily for him and the Jaguars, the team cleaned up its act before it was too late. The offense was bolstered in free agency, but, most importantly, the team brought in the perfect head coach to further develop the former No. 1 overall pick.

Pederson spent last year out of the NFL after a disappointing end to his Philadelphia Eagles' tenure, but that shouldn't overshadow his history with quarterbacks. He had Carson Wentz playing like an MVP candidate in 2017 and then managed to win a Super Bowl with Nick Foles later that year. How those two have fared outside of Pederson's reach speaks volumes. His next project will be elevating Lawrence to the heights that many expected when he took the college world by storm at Clemson. There's reason to be optimistic, considering Pederson's track record and Lawrence's skill set as they prepare to form one of the most interesting collaborations in the NFL.

Kansas City Chiefs - How to make up for Tyreek Hill's absence

The Chiefs lost one of the game's biggest playmakers this offseason in Hill. Despite having superstar Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, Hill was the lightning bolt that made the offense as dangerous as it was. Replacing Hill one-for-one was never going to be a realistic solution. However, the Chiefs have gotten creative with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the issue. Their plan: Assemble a group of hungry receivers who together may be able to replicate some of Hill's production for a fraction of the cost.

Mecole Hardman has improved his receiving output in each of his three seasons and carries the most similarities to Hill in raw athleticism. Next comes JuJu Smith-Schuster, who signed a modest one-year, $3.25-million deal. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is a larger slot option and will be eager to rebuild his value. The club also drafted Western Michigan receiver Skyy Moore in the second round. However, the most compelling option is free-agent signee Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Scantling's numbers don't warrant a second look on paper, but his untapped potential as a vertical receiver means he'll likely be a key figure in making the offense click. After all, he's recorded seven touchdowns of 40-plus yards over the last three seasons, tied for fourth most in the NFL.

It may not sound like an A-list cast, but the Chiefs will be hoping that in an offense headlined by Mahomes, anyone can be a star.

Las Vegas Raiders - Don't gloss over Darren Waller's contract situation

Let the fireworks begin. Derek Carr and Davante Adams are set to take the field as teammates for the first time since their college days. The duo dominated years ago at Fresno State, and the expectation is that magic will rekindle with the Raiders. While all is well with Carr and his newest target, the next focus of the franchise will likely be the long-term future of Waller.

The Raiders have enjoyed the Pro Bowl tight end's service at a great value in recent years. Waller has led the team in receiving yards in two of the last three seasons, but his contract doesn't reflect that. In the midst of a four-year, $29.8-million deal, Waller's average annual value ranks 17th among tight ends, coming in behind the likes of Will Dissly and C.J. Uzomah, according to Spotrac. He's reportedly looking for a new contract, and negotiations have been civil so far. Waller said in June that he's solely focusing on football and leaving a new contract up to his agent. Though Carr and Adams will steal all the buzz, the state of Waller's contract talks isn't a storyline to skip over.

Los Angeles Chargers - A major makeover on defense

The Chargers topped our top 10 offseasons rankings, and their aggressive defensive reinforcements weighed heavily in their high billing. There's not a whole lot that needs to be said about the quality of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson; their talent speaks for itself. Mack is a former Defensive Player of the Year winner, while no one has recorded more interceptions than Jackson (25) since 2018.

Now, it'll be up to head coach Brandon Staley to show why he was brought on board in 2021 after receiving rave reviews as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator. At his disposal, he's got proper secondary pieces in Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., and Derwin James. Meanwhile, the front seven looks as good as ever with Mack, Joey Bosa, and new defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day. There's a lot of ground to make up after the club finished 23rd in yardage allowed and 29th in points given up in 2021, but Staley has an abundance of star power and little reason for excuse.

Miami Dolphins - Is this Tua Tagovailoa's last chance?

The Dolphins have done everything in their power to make Tagovailoa's life easier. Going out and getting All-Pro wideout Tyreek Hill and former San Francisco 49ers offensive guru Mike McDaniel was a testament to that. Tagovailoa has done little through two seasons to convince the franchise he was worth his fifth overall billing, and there's a sentiment that 2022 could be his last opportunity to prove himself.

While pressure is building externally, there's been nothing but support publicly from the Dolphins about Tagovailoa. Hill has constantly praised and defended his new quarterback since joining the team. Their chemistry will continue to be a hot topic in camp and throughout the season, especially when it comes to the signal-caller's deep ball. Besides, it's not out of the realm of possibility that McDaniel would want his own hand-picked quarterback if Tagovailoa doesn't deliver. The pressure will be on, but Tagovailoa has what he needs to endure the Miami heat. One way or another, the Dolphins should leave the 2022 season with an answer on how to move forward at quarterback.

New England Patriots - Replacing Josh McDaniels

For 13 of the last 16 years, McDaniels has roamed New England's sideline as the club's offensive coordinator. But the longtime Patriot has since taken the Raiders' head coaching gig, and the always secretive Bill Belichick hasn't shown his cards yet for who'll replace him as offensive play-caller.

The obvious and most-discussed candidates are Joe Judge and Matt Patricia. The former revealed part of his duties will include helping second-year quarterback Mac Jones, while Patricia will aid the offensive line. Neither potential candidate carries a resume that will be reassuring to Patriots supporters if they're handed play-calling duties. Having primarily worked with special teams, Judge's experience on offense is limited to a brief stint as wide receivers coach in 2019. Patricia began with the Patriots as an offensive assistant in 2004 before spending the next year as their assistant OL coach. He went on to coach the defense for several seasons after that.

Filling the void left by McDaniels is a hard enough job on its own. Possibly asking an inexperienced offensive play-caller to jump into his now-vacant shoes is an even mightier task. It's unknown who'll be tasked with play-calling duties after the Patriots declined to name an official offensive coordinator, but training camp should provide more clarity to New England fans.

New York Jets - What's going on with Mekhi Becton?

The Jets put together an impressive group of high-ceiling talent with their 2022 draft class, but it's a different youngster that's provoking concern. That player is none other than Becton, a 2020 first-round pick. The 23-year-old's second season was limited to just one game due to a knee injury, paving the way for George Fant to solidify himself as the team's blindside protector.

The job appears to be Fant's to lose, though Becton is set to battle for the spot. Becton, who looked promising at left tackle in his rookie year, undoubtedly has the talent to take back the starting job when healthy. However, it hasn't seemed like Becton has built any momentum on that front all offseason. He opted not to show for voluntary offseason workouts, and rumors of him being overweight circulated when he arrived for mandatory minicamp. Becton said in June that he's going to make naysayers "eat their words," and that's exactly what he'll have to do in 2022 if he hopes to secure his standing in the Jets' long-term plans.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Can Kenny Pickett displace Mitch Trubisky?

It's a new era in Pittsburgh. Heinz Field is no more, Kevin Colbert has left his post as general manager, and for the first time since 2003, the Steelers won't have Ben Roethlisberger under center. Who steps up to fill the spot of the now-retired quarterback will come down to former top prospect Trubisky and 2022 first-rounder Pickett.

The investment in Pickett won't do him any favors in camp. Though Mike Tomlin said there's "certainly" a chance the rookie starts Week 1, it won't come easy. The Pitt product started OTAs No. 3 on the depth chart and will have to put on a very impressive performance to unseat Trubisky, who's hungry for redemption in his third NFL home.

Tennessee Titans - Ryan Tannehill's receiving corps

Tannehill won't see any of his old targets when he drops back during training camp. The Titans bid farewell to eight combined Pro Bowl seasons from their receiving group this offseason, parting with Julio Jones and A.J. Brown. Jones was cut after looking like a shell of his former self in a one-year trial with the Titans. Brown was not only the team's leading receiver, but he was also among the league's highest-rising wideouts. It's been a tough pill for Tennessee to swallow, and early offseason workouts haven't done much to heal those wounds, either.

Robert Woods was brought over from the Los Angeles Rams and was one of the NFL's most under-the-radar pass-catchers while lining up alongside Cooper Kupp. However, he'll have to clear a major hurdle by recovering from last season's ACL tear. First-round pick Treylon Burks is perhaps the most exciting piece of the puzzle, but he's had a less than smooth transition to the pros after being limited with asthma-related problems in OTAs. Behind them lies some uncertainty. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine projects as the No. 3 and only has eight starts to his name, while Dez Fitzpatrick was limited to only five catches in his rookie year in 2021. Kyle Philips, a fifth-round rookie, rounds out the group.

While the Titans' offense will still go as far as Derrick Henry takes it, there'll be even more eyes on how Tannehill performs with his new receiving corps.