AFC East: Each team's Biggest need Heading INto the NFL Draft

By Matt Singfield

With the NFL Draft less than a week away, we take a look at the biggest need for each franchise – next up is the AFC East:

Buffalo Bills: EDGE

Despite acquiring pass rusher Bradley Chubb in the offseason, the Buffalo Bills still need help on the edge of the defensive line. He will be 30 next season and should be considered a short-term solution. Buffalo ranked 19th in sacks over the last two years, so a speedy pass rusher to complement the power of Greg Rousseau would give opposing quarterbacks a lot to think about when facing the Bills in 2026.

A wide receiver could also be the play here for Buffalo, as star man Josh Allen can never have too many weapons. However, the Bills have essentially used their second-round pick this year to get DJ Moore from Chicago, so that somewhat lowers the need. I also would not be surprised to see an inside linebacker selected by the Bills, but General Manager Brandon Beane has commented on the depth of that position in this year’s class. It may be that inside linebacker is addressed on days two and three.

New York Jets: Quarterback

Armed with an arsenal of draft capital, the New York Jets have lots of flexibility in this year’s draft. As with pretty much every draft in recent memory, the Jets go into it needing help at the quarterback position. Geno Smith is currently pencilled in as the starter, but he’s 35 and coming off a difficult season, and their backups have more career interceptions than touchdowns.

With two picks in the first round this year, including the 2nd overall pick, the New York Jets will be looking to stockpile as much talent as possible. Fernando Mendoza is all but a Las Vegas Raider, and the experts believe it’s a relatively weak quarterback class after that. As a result, the Jets may look to 2027 for their franchise passer and opt to go for wide receiver or pass rusher help instead. Regardless of their approach, there is no denying that finding quarterback talent is at the top of the New York Jets’ to-do list in the very near future.

New England Patriots: Edge

The biggest position of weakness heading into this year’s draft for the Patriots is a disruptive pass rusher. K’Lavon Chaisson left New England for the Commanders during the offseason and took his 7.5 sacks with him, and Harold Landry III has some uncertainty around his injury. Similar to Buffalo, the Patriots could use some speed on the edge, someone whose sole aim is to get to the opposing quarterback.

Offensive tackle could also be considered a need for New England, especially after the O-line’s performance in the postseason, but they would likely be drafting a backup to Campbell or Moses. A first-round pass rusher would be expected to contribute from day one and would make the most sense as the team’s priority.

Miami Dolphins: Best Player Available

The Dolphins enter this year’s draft in full rebuild mode. Seven picks in the top 100 is a good starting point for a rebuilding franchise, and it’s really about stacking the roster with as much cheap talent as possible.

Every position, bar quarterback and running back, should be a priority in Miami. Malik Willis signed a multi-year deal in free agency and seems to be a bridge player while the front office gets the rest of the team in order. The backfield has a good mix of speed and power, so it could probably be left alone for another season. Offensive and defensive line, defensive back and wide receiver should be the four priorities at the top of the draft, especially as Miami has two first-round picks.

MATT SINGFIELD

NFL/College Football Analyst

Matt is a sports journalist based in London who covers the NFL and college football. He has contributed to Gridiron magazine, as well as a host of online publications. With a background in Sport Science and Sport Psychology, Matt brings a different angle to the traditional sports media outlook.