Around the AFC, a few familiar names kept showing up in league conversations, and the praise was pretty clear. Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren and Quenton Nelson all landed on ESPN’s radar for the Colts, while Trevor Lawrence and Josh Hines-Allen drew notice for Jacksonville. In Tennessee, Gunnar Helm is already looking like a player with more to prove after a strong rookie year.
For Indianapolis, Taylor earned a spot on Jeremy Fowler’s top-10 running backs list, and one anonymous NFL coordinator pointed to exactly what makes him dangerous: “Really special in space. Once he hits the second and third levels with some space to operate, he’s uniquely talented.”
Warren also made Fowler’s top-10 tight ends list after his first NFL season, and the scouting report on him was glowing. “He lived up to expectations,” an NFC scout said.
“He’s a true Y who can handle the point-of-attack run game assignments, but carried over his versatile, game-impacting receiving ability that showed up during his Penn State days. He can kick your ass in the run game on one play and win as a receiver on the next.”
Nelson, meanwhile, remained in the conversation among the league’s best interior linemen. ESPN had him ranked there, and an NFC executive framed it this way: “Some drop-off but still elite,” an NFC executive said.
“[He] was No. 1 for a long time, but the Smiths (Tyler and Trey) and [Quinn] Meinerz are on his heels…Can anchor, bend, wide. Not as dominant as before, but better than he was in 2024.”
Jacksonville also got its share of recognition. Lawrence received an honorable mention on Fowler’s quarterback list, with a veteran AFC offensive coach crediting his decision-making and the help around him.
“He has controlled his turnovers and just has a better understanding of what defenses are trying to do against him. … He plays better ball when the offensive infrastructure and personnel around him set him up for success instead of asking him to do everything on your own.
Liam [Coen] did a nice job in Year 1 of giving him the answers to the test pre-snap.”
Hines-Allen was mentioned on Fowler’s pass-rusher list as well, with an NFC scout describing him as “Not elite but consistently very good, with a quality power-rush game,” noted an anonymous NFC scout.
In Tennessee, Helm is already talking like a player intent on carving out a bigger role after setting a franchise record for receptions by a rookie tight end. He said the offseason is about pushing forward, not resting on what he already did.
“There’s always something to go out there and do, always something to prove, and there’s somebody always coming for your spot,” Helm said, via the team’s website. “There’s room for improvement everywhere for me, and that’s how I am attacking this offseason.”
Titans coach Robert Saleh was just as upbeat about the young tight end and said the next step is about taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him. “Gunnar looks good, man,” Saleh said.
“He looks like a legit dude - from what he was a year ago to what he is now, especially physically. Again, once pads come on, we’ll be able to decide all that, but like all these guys, hopefully they take a big jump and find a way to grab the bull by the horns and take advantage of their opps.”
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