The AFC East has turned into a clear division of “haves” and “have nots”. Below I will identify who’s what among the 4 teams. I will also give a brief peak at what each team did in VFA Period as well as what I expect them to do in the 2026 Draft. I will Mock the Top 100 players within the division and as a wrap up indicate how I think the teams will rank in the 2026 season.
BUFFALO BILLS (12-5)
Including one trade during the Free Agency window I believe the team has added 4 new potential starters. On Offense the big move was the trade that brought D.J. MOORE from Da Bears for a Round 2 Pick in the upcoming Draft. MOORE is likely to be the closest receiver on their roster who could be considered a WR1. On Defense the team may have landed 3 new starters to the lineup. They are BRADLEY CHUBB/DE/ER who may be replacing EPENESA & Joey BOSA on the edges. They added 2 potential new starters to their secondary in NB/DEE ALFORD and S/GARDNER-JOHNSON, the much traveled vet. Not a huge boost here, but it has been a less than stellar year in the Free Agent class in general.
They currently possess 7 Draft Picks . They are 26 & 91, who I mock below and Picks 126, 165, 168, 182 & 220.
Round 1 Pick 26 BLAKE MILLER OT CLEMSON 6’5/315
Round 3 Pick 91 JACK KELLY LB BYU 6’2/240
Another CB, and a heavy weight NT are priorities in those 5 additional Picks.
I do expect the BILLS to reclaim the Division title, as the PATRIOTS face a tougher schedule and will possess no element of surprise for their opponents this year. But it also seems to me that as dynamic as JOSH ALLEN, is their Super Bowl window may be closing in the very near future. Thus, I can understand why SEAN McDermott, whose Defense was a sore spot in many games last season (again), is gone and the roster is being juggled.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (14-3)
The Pats under new leadership, MIKE VRABEL in particular, were the surprise team of the year in the NFL last season, going all the way to the Super Bowl. The overall roster would seem to be in a selective “upgrade” mode, with more than a few vets being let go and replaced with hopeful talent upgrades.
ROMEO DOUBS/WR, REGGIE GILLIAM/FB, DRE’MONT JONES//DE/ER, ELIJAH VERA-TUCKER/OG, KEVIN BYARD/S could all be veteran upgrades as starters.
But the most help likely needs to come from their 11 Draft Picks this April. They had a bountiful Rookie haul last year, and must do so again this year. Their top Picks I project below.
Round 1, Pick 31 MAX IHENACHER OT Arizona St 6’5/315
Round 2, Pick 63 DERRICK MOORE DE/ER Michigan 6’4/255
Round 3, Pick 95 LOGAN JONES OC Iowa 6’3/300
Right now the team has the following Picks on Day 3 of the Draft; 125, 131, 171, 191, 198, 202, 212, 247. Although the combo of VRABEL & WOLF seem to value Picks a bit more than BELICHICK, don’t be shocked if they trade a few later Picks for additional Draft capitol next year.
I expect the team to enter the 2026 season with a slightly more talented roster than last season. But their harder schedule and earned respect from opponents after last season will land them at about 10-7 with a Wild Card slot for next year’s Play-Offs. The big year for the PATS again may have to wait til the 2027 season.
NEW YORK JETS (3-14)
The JETS did not hesitate to spend freely in the VFA period, but though they may have gained some decent starter upgrades a lot of the guys they brought in are either older than you might hope for, and may not contribute much to the starting line-ups. GENO SMITH is slated to be their starting QB but he’s in his mid-30’s and could not raise the level of play as the RAIDERS starting QB last season. DEMARIO DAVIS?LB from the SAINTS is close to 40-years old, though he can still contribute to an NFL Defense. Throw in Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joseph Ossai and trade acquisition T’VONDRE SWEAT and there might be some starting help on board. But the real hope must come from a healthy Draft.
The team currently holds 9 Picks with 4 of them coming in the Top 44 Picks overall. They then have 5 n Day 3. They currently possess 12 PICKS for the 2027 Draft. The team still has just under $40-million in Cap Space, with a projected $150-million plus currently projected for 2027. They will try to add a few one-year vets through roster cuts by top teams after the Draft.
Here are my projected first 4 Picks in this year’s Draft for the JETS.
Round 1, Pick 2 ARVEL REESE ER/OB Ohio St 6’4/240
Round 1, Pick 16 DENZEL BOSTON WR Washington 6’3/210
Round 2, Pick 33 ZION YOUNG DE/ER Missouri 6’6/262
Round 2, Pick 44 KEIONTE SCOTT CB Miami (F)
My best advice on Day 3 is to worry very little about positional needs and just draft for best available players. This team is in total roster rebuild whether they admit it or not.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-10)
This franchise has finally realized that the personnel decisions of the previous G.M., and melding by the Owner were a disaster in general. And their handling of Salary Cap was also terrible by any NFL standards. So despite a seemingly , almost respectable, record last season it is a total tear down and retool starting NOW! I rank them even below the JETS for the 2026 season.
They faced a challenge entering VFA given they were over the Salary Cap. They managed to shed some spending with cuts and the trade of Jaylen Waddle, but the bottom line is what’s left of their roster is bereft of very much NFL level talent. Their biggest investment, and hope for a way up, lies in the signing of VFA QB MALIK WILLIS, who spent the last two years in Green Bay and looked like he had salvaged his career as an NFL QB. But he has very little to work with in his supporting cast right now. I’m not sure I see any other viable starters beyond Willis with a roster dotted with names like TOLBERT/WR, ATWELL/WR, BAKER/CB, WILLSON/CB, HECK/OL, etc.
The team now has 7 Top 100 Picks to work with and had better strike gold with each one.
Round 1, Pick 11 MONSOOR DELANE CB LSU 6’0/185
Round 1, Pick 30 K.C. CONCEPCION WR/RS Teas A&M 5’10/175
Round 2, Pick 43 KADYN PROCTOR OT Alabama 6’7/352
Round 3, Pick 75 KYLE LOUIS LB/S Pittsburgh 6’0/225
Round 3, Pick 87 BUD CLARK S TCU 6’1/190
Round 3, Pick 90 JALEN FARMER OG Kentucky 6’5/315
Round 3, Pick 94 BRYCE LANCE WR N. Dakota St 6’4/205
On Day 3 the Dolphins have 3 more Picks. If they have scouted well, and listen to those scouts in the Draft room they should be able to have another 3 players who could make their roster. Thats not an indicator of how deep this Draft group is overall, but rather how weak their current roster is.
To my eyes this is the worst roster in the League, and once the Draft is over they will likely be rated in Power Rankings as team number 32. I pity VFA QB MALIK WILLIS for having to prove he is a legit NFL starting QB with the likely roster content come September.
