The NFL offseason may still be unfolding, but several AFC teams are already navigating unexpected challenges and pivotal decisions that could shape the 2026 season. Recent comments from key figures around the league reveal shifting draft strategies, roster adjustments, and major questions at the quarterback position.
One of the most surprising revelations came from Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, who admitted the upcoming NFL Draft landscape changed dramatically almost overnight.
According to Veach, the Chiefs had to completely restructure their draft board after a wave of college players unexpectedly chose to remain in school for another season instead of declaring for the draft.
“When the official decision date for the underclassmen came, I believe we moved over 25 guys off our board that we had in the Top 75 and Top 100,” Veach explained via Pro Football Talk.
That kind of shift is massive for any front office. Draft boards are carefully built over months of scouting, analysis, and internal debate. Removing more than two dozen highly rated prospects forces teams to rethink their entire evaluation strategy.
Veach acknowledged that the trend of players staying in college longer—often due to NIL opportunities and increased development time—is reshaping the way NFL teams approach scouting.
“It really impacts the draft,” Veach said. “You’re getting older prospects as you go on. I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon, and it’s something we have to adapt to.”
The change has created an unusual dynamic where incoming rookies may actually be closer in age to current NFL players than ever before.
“You see their birth dates and then you look at the roster and a lot of our guys are as young as these guys,” Veach noted.
While Kansas City deals with a shifting draft landscape, the Las Vegas Raiders are facing their own set of strategic decisions—particularly when it comes to the offensive backfield.
New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak recently made it clear that the team doesn’t want to overload second-year running back Ashton Jeanty, who is expected to play a major role in the offense moving forward.
Instead, the Raiders are planning a more balanced approach.
“We definitely want to have a two-man show, guys that can share the load,” Kubiak explained. “It’s a long season. You don’t want to put all the carries and targets on one guy.”
The strategy reflects a growing league-wide philosophy that spreading touches among multiple backs helps keep players healthy and maintain explosiveness throughout the grueling NFL schedule.
For Jeanty, that means the Raiders are actively searching for a backfield partner—whether through the upcoming draft, free agency, or even someone already on the roster.
“Right now we’re identifying guys that are available in the draft, identifying free agents we might go after, looking at our own roster and seeing who can share that,” Kubiak added. “It’s important that Jeanty has a wingman.”
But the biggest question hovering over Las Vegas may not involve the running game—it’s the quarterback position.
Kubiak was recently asked about the future of veteran quarterback Geno Smith, whose performance last season failed to fully meet expectations. Instead of offering a definitive answer, the Raiders coach suggested the team is still evaluating every possible option.
“Looking at all options right now,” Kubiak told reporters. “Watching Geno play last year, obviously very familiar with what he had done before.”
His response hinted at a franchise still exploring multiple directions.
“We’re just kind of putting it all on the table right now, trying to see every possible avenue we can go right now at quarterback,” Kubiak continued. “He’s definitely one of those options we’re considering.”
That cautious statement leaves the door open for several possibilities: Smith returning as a starter, competing for the job, or even the Raiders turning to the draft or free agency for a new leader under center.
With the draft approaching and roster decisions looming, teams across the AFC are clearly entering a critical phase of evaluation and planning. Whether it’s Kansas City adapting to a changing draft landscape or Las Vegas searching for answers at multiple positions, the coming months could dramatically reshape the balance of power in the conference.
And if these early signals are any indication, the offseason drama is only just beginning.
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