The reign is over. After five consecutive years atop the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills were dethroned last season by an upstart New England Patriots team that finished as the Super Bowl runners-up.
The Patriots' first AFC East title since 2019 infused a bit of life into a division that had become stale over the past half decade. Nobody will confuse this division for one of the NFL's deepest, but it should provide another exciting race to watch in 2026.
The Bills will open their new stadium with hopes of returning to their divisional dominance, and New England made one of the blockbuster moves of the offseason, trading for star receiver A.J. Brown .
Both teams are led by MVP-candidate quarterbacks who will make them must-watch television on any given Sunday. Then, there are the other teams: the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins .
Despite bringing in new quarterbacks this offseason ( Geno Smith to the Jets and Malik Willis to the Dolphins), neither team is expected to compete this year, and they will likely spend the season in a race of their own -- for the top pick in the 2027 NFL draft. Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg, Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, Jets reporter Rich Cimini and Patriots reporter Mike Reiss set the stage for the 2026 season in the AFC East, where the Bills are the odds-on favorites (-125) over the Patriots (+120), Jets (19-1) and Dolphins (40-1), according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
What do the offseason moves mean for your QB? Bills Josh Allen has additional help for the present and future, but were the moves enough?
Trading for receiver DJ Moore was the big splash of the offseason. The acquisition was designed to give Allen a top target and open up opportunities for the rest of the receiving corps.
The team also brought in some youth, drafting receiver Skyler Bell in the fourth round. Whether enough was done to address the room remains unanswered.
Allen will also benefit from consistency up front with center Connor McGovern signing a four-year extension, leaving the only change along the line at left guard. -- Getzenberg Dolphins The Dolphins are rebuilding under new coach Jeff Hafley and new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, but they're doing so around Willis, who is the lone free agent to sign a multiyear contract with the team this offseason.
Free agent wideout signings Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell have previous NFL experience with the Cowboys and Rams, respectively, while rookies Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell will provide upside once they acclimate to the pro game. Miami also invested in its offensive line, spending a first-round pick on former Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor and extending All-Pro center Aaron Brewer .
Despite the investment, this is a team that could likely challenge for the top pick in 2027 -- a draft expected to be quarterback rich. Willis' deal will not prevent the Dolphins from taking one of the top quarterbacks available if Sullivan decides to move in a different direction next April.
-- Louis-Jacques Jets The Jets added potential firepower to their offense by drafting tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr . in the first round.
They also extended running back Breece Hall -- an important move. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson is back from a knee injury, so, yes, they have playmakers.
These moves should help Smith, but they probably will be a greater benefit to the next quarterback. It's no secret that the Jets are targeting the 2027 draft (three first-round picks) for their QB of the future.
Basically, Smith could be a one-year stopgap. -- Cimini Patriots The Patriots believe they've put Drake Maye in the best possible position to succeed with the additions of receivers A.J.
Brown and Romeo Doubs , which might be their best one-two combination since Randy Moss and Wes Welker in 2007. Not to be overlooked is the toughness the team targeted in the running game with free agent fullback Reggie Gilliam and more reinforcements at the line of scrimmage with free agent guard Alijah Vera-Tucker .
If Maye raises his MVP-caliber level of play in his second year playing in coordinator Josh McDaniels' system -- with coaches saying they hope to "weaponize" the quarterback's mind -- the possibilities could be Super (Bowl). -- Reiss What is the biggest concern for your team?
Bills A first-time head coach. The pressure is on Joe Brady, and the expectations for the Bills couldn't be higher.
As Allen enters his ninth season, winning a Super Bowl remains the lone unaccomplished goal. Thi