The Buffalo Bills once again enter the 2026 NFL season with Super Bowl-or-bust expectations after hiring new head coach Joe Brady back in January. Their window is still very wide open as long as their superstar quarterback stays healthy for the entire regular season.
As for understanding what some of the other AFC East teams may bring this season, the New England Patriots made a splash by trading for a premier wide receiver to help further grow their young quarterback in the passing game.
Thus, the Miami Dolphins revamped their starting quarterback position, along with the return of a newly signed star running back and an underused wideout who will look to play a bigger role after losing one of their receivers this past free agency.
Let's take a look at where the best players in the AFC East fit in 2026 and how they will help their team succeed.
Where do the best players in the AFC East rank in 2026?
New England Patriots
1.) QB Drake Maye
The New England Patriots are trying to prove that winning the AFC East last year wasn't a fluke. And on paper, they appear to have made adjustments to do just so.
The Patriots' ongoing search for their next franchise quarterback since the 20-year dynasty led by Tom Brady signifies the team's obligation to a winning future. The buck starts and stops for young Drake Maye entering his second season as the full-time starter.
Maye had a strong 2025 campaign, finishing with a 77.0 completion percentage while throwing for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns. The young quarterback also did a great job of taking care of the ball, throwing only eight interceptions throughout the season.
If he can avoid the Dan Marino curse and consistently make it back to the Super Bowl after his second season, Pats fans will surely be excited for him and the team.
2.) RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Even though Trevyeon Henderson looks like their running back of the future, Rhamondre Stevenson will still earn looks in his offense if he can manage his struggles with fumbling the rock.
When he's mindful about ball security, Stevenson is a consistent back who will give you tough 5-10 yards every carry and move the chains, while Henderson still gives this team that home run, change of pace type of runner.
Stevenson has been seasons removed from his last 1,000+ yard rushing season, when he had 1,040 in 2022. Still, his average yards per carry remains constant as he has averaged 4.4 yards per carry in his last five seasons in New England.
If he can continue to cut down on his fumbles, he will still be a much-valued running back to this team.
3.) WR A.J. Brown
The Patriots may have made a genius pick here, as they acquired a top-tier receiver in A.J. Brown. Brown has had success with his third team in his career. He has clipped 1,000 yards receiving in all but one year of his career when he amassed 869 yards in 2021.
Brown tends to wear out his welcome mat after a few seasons on a team, but when he's on that team, he's still performing. Look for Brown and Maye to develop chemistry right away, proving that the dynamic receiver still has what it takes to deliver a high-flying performance on any team he plays on.
Buffalo Bills
1.) QB Josh Allen
Josh Allen is, without a doubt, the most reliable and exciting quarterback on the Bills and also in the NFL itself. The 2024 MVP has proven that he can still be elite over the last two seasons without having a 1,000-yard+ receiver to throw to. There is no doubt he is an electric player who can change the dynamic of a game and make ridiculous off-platform throws.
But this year, with Joe Brady as head coach, he and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. will try to unleash Allen to a whole new level that Sean McDermott's staff couldn't tap into before.
2.) RB James Cook
James Cook cemented his status in 2025 as one of the best running backs in the NFL, and for good reason. He won the NFL rushing title, amassing 1,621 yards running on a career high 309 carries.
He already possesses amazing speed once he reaches the second level, and he also has rare power at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. It also helps that he's been aided by a consistent offensive line that's built on a culture of experience and continuity.
This year, his rushing yards may decrease, but the positive is that the Bills may finally get to showcase Cook's speed on screen plays in the passing game, and still earn enough carries to clip 1000+ yards rushing again.
3.) WR D.J. Moore
At last, the Bills decided to address their true No. 1 receiving need by trading for D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears. The Bills haven't had a receiver catch for over 1,000 yards since Stefon Diggs in 2023.
Moore can provide other skills beyond his reliable hands and quick acceleration: he comes through in the clutch when games and even seasons are on the line, and he is someone the Bills have not really had in the Brandon Beane era.
Moore already knows Joe Brady from their days with the Carolina Panthers, and he posted 1,000-yard receiving seasons there.
4.) TE Dalton Kincaid
When the Bills selected Dalton Kincaid in the 2023 NFL Draft, they were looking for their own version of a Travis Kelce-type, an impactful and dangerous threat with the ball in his hands.
He showed at the University of Utah that he could rake up catches and yards in a spread system that traditionally didn't evolve traditional heavy sets.
Now on the Bills, this year could be the year where he finally reaches 1,000 yards receiving while complementing that with his improved strength in blocking in 12 and 13 personal packages.
Miami Dolphins
1.) WR Malik Washington
WIth a new culture being built under head coach Jeff Hafley, Malik Washington will be taking on an expanded role as the team's new go to guy now that Tyreek Hill is out in Miami. Washington was underused in the Mike McDaniel era, as he never really showed what he could be under this new regime.
2.) QB Malik Willis
Malik Willis will be the player in Miami who replaces Tua Tagovailoa, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons. After the Dolphins watched him play as a backup in Green Bay, they decided to bring him over to help kickstart this new era of Dolphins football.
In the games where starter Jordan Love went down with an injury, Willis came in and managed the offense well, leading to wins.
3.) RB De'Von Achane
This Dolphins offense will rely on his significance and speed in today's pass-happy NFL. While the Phins haven't won many games in over two decades, De'Von Achane has been the one bright spot, posting his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025, making him key to the team's success.
The Dolphins are going to struggle this season, but Achane is the one bright spot that can hopefully get the team over its hump.
New York Jets
1.) RB Breece Hall
Breece Hall, much like Achane, will be carrying the Jets' entire offense. Hall earned his payday after finally staying healthy last year when he became the first Jet running back since Curtis Martin to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in another Jet-like 3-14 season.
2.) WR Garrett Wilson
Besides Hall, who is a focal point of this offense, Garrett Wilson has been the playmaker at wide receiver since the Jets drafted him in 2022. He's had to be great even with the constant turnover at the quarterback position, which the Jets have always had long before Wilson was even born.
After three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons in all 17 games played, Wilson only managed 395 yards in seven games as he missed all of the second half of the season due to a knee injury. This year is a make-or-break year for Wilson.
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