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Biggest training camp storyline for every AFC team: Patrick Mahomes' return, Cam Ward's Year 2 leap and more
You know when you walk into a department store and see "Back to School" gear on the shelves and realize the school year is right around the corner? Well, that's effectively what training camp is in the NFL . With all 32 teams reconvening and laying the foundation for the upcoming season, Week 1 will be here before we know it.
While the 2026 regular season is fast approaching, there's still a lot that needs to be ironed out. That's why we're going to comb through the AFC and highlight one major storyline looming over each team. It could be a contract negotiation, recovery from a prior injury or a good old-fashioned position battle. If you're curious about the big questions in the NFC, my colleague Garrett Podell has you covered here .
What are some of the biggest stories lingering in the AFC as camp begins? Let's discuss.
Storyline to watch: New pieces being added to the pass rush unit
Yes, all eyes will be on new head coach Joe Brady and how the former offensive coordinator differentiates himself from the previous regime after his promotion. Dig a little deeper, though, and how Brady -- along with defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard -- gets the new edge rushers to mesh with the returning pieces could be the key to Buffalo finally getting over the hump. According to TruMedia, the Bills ranked 24th in the league in total pressures (198) in 2025 and 20th in total sacks (36).
Injuries and player absences contributed to those lackluster numbers, with defensive tackle Ed Oliver and edge rusher Michael Hoecht both missing time. With both expected back for 2026, they'll join edge rusher Bradley Chubb -- who signed a three-year, $52 million deal in free agency -- and second-round defensive end T.J. Parker out of Clemson. There's enough talent for this group to become a more serviceable pass rush, if not a strength of the defense. That depends, however, on Brady and Leonhard putting all the pieces together.
Storyline to watch: When will Christian Gonzalez's extension happen?
New England is fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and an offseason in which it improved in several areas. The last order of business, however, is undoubtedly the most expensive. All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez is extension-eligible but has yet to receive what will likely be a market-setting contract.
Over the weekend, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters the team has been negotiating with Gonzalez's camp and has made an offer that would make him the highest-paid player at his position and the highest-paid player in franchise history.
"We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player, as a person, and that's why we've made an offer to him to make him the highest-paid player to ever play that position in the NFL," Kraft said, via ESPN . "And coincidentally, it is the highest contract in Patriots franchise history. So we're glad we drafted him, he's developed here, and we hope he'll be with us for a long time."
If that's true (and there's no reason to think it isn't), what's the holdup? With Seattle's Devon Witherspoon also seeking a market-setting deal, could that be the obstacle preventing this contract from getting over the finish line?
Storyline to watch: Who emerges in the WR room?
Miami is coming off a transformative offseason that included hiring a new head coach (Jeff Hafley), general manager (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and quarterback ( Malik Willis ). On top of that, the Dolphins gutted their wide receiver room, cutting bait with veteran Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos .
Before suffering a gruesome season-ending injury last year, Hill averaged 147 targets per season. Over that same stretch, Waddle averaged about 94 targets per season and saw 100 targets over 16 games in 2025. That's a massive share now up for grabs, and Miami didn't exactly bring in players who will automatically command most of those looks.
Malik Washington is the key holdover. The Dolphins also signed veterans Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell in free agency and drafted Caleb Douglas (third round), Chris Bell (third), and Kevin Coleman Jr . (fifth) this spring.
Someone from this group needs to emerge as Willis' top target if Miami wants a chance to be competitive in 2026.
Storyline to watch: What version of Geno Smith is New York getting?
There's a new quarterback under center in East Rutherford, but he's a familiar face to Gang Green: Geno Smith. He returns to the Jets -- who drafted him in the second round in 2013 and with whom he spent four seasons -- after a decade away.
Naturally, the question is what version of Smith the Jets are getting in his second stint. Will it be the player who revitalized his career in Seattle? Or will it resemble the quarterback who threw an NFL-high 17 interceptions for the Raiders last season?
It's worth noting Smith played behind one of the NFL's worst offensive lines in Las Vegas last season and was sacked a league-high 55 times. The Jets have a much better offensive line, which could help him return to his Seattle form.
There's only one direction for New York's passing game to go after it ranked last in the NFL in passing yards per game (140.3) in 2025..
Storyline to watch: Can Shemar Stewart break out?
The Cincinnati Bengals deployed a ton of resources and capital into improving the defense this offseason. They signed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen , edge rusher Boye Mafe and safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger in free agency. They also traded the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to acquire star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and used a second-rounder to select Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell .
Those newbies will almost certainly help bring Cincinnati to a more respectable level, but the team's 2025 first-rounder, Shemar Stewart, could be the X-factor.
It was a rocky rookie campaign for Stewart after being the No. 17 overall pick. A contract squabble disrupted his offseason before a Week 9 knee injury landed him on injured reserve. In eight ga...
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