The NFL offseason has been a fun one so far, with lots of money being thrown around.
That especially applies to the AFC East, with the Bills making Josh Allen the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, and the Patriots throwing money at every defender with a pulse.
The Dolphins and Jets have been a bit quieter, with their biggest money signings being guard James Daniels and quarterback Justin Fields respectively.
The AFC East was once a Patriots-dominated division with the other teams struggling to catch up. The current state of the division may be a similar one but with a different team on top.
Here is a way too early prediction for the AFC East standings in 2025.
1. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have won the AFC East for five consecutive years and should make it six unless something drastic happens.
They paid Josh Allen, some of their top defenders, and added Joey Bosa and Josh Palmer to the mix. The team definitely didn’t get worse and still has one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
Even if the other three teams make multiple significant moves in the rest of free agency and the draft, it is hard to imagine any of them surpassing the Bills next season. This may be the clearest division winner prediction of all the divisions.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins may not make the playoffs but they should at least be in the running for a wild card spot for most of the season.
They finished last year 8-9, but that may have actually been a positive considering the injuries they had. The team finished 11-6 two years ago, and still have the same core pieces, so they may fall somewhere in between those two records.
Tua Tagovailoa is still a solid starting quarterback when healthy. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVon Achane are elite weapons with electric speed. The defense was underratedly good last year, finishing fourth in yards allowed.
If the Dolphins can address the offensive line in the draft and better protect Tua, they should have a winning season in 2025.
More news: Top Trade Destinations for Patriots Quarterback Joe Milton
3. New England Patriots
The Patriots, after a busy offseason, are in prime position to also compete for a wild card spot. However, they are very unproven, led by young quarterback Drake Maye and new head coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel has done a great job of maximizing rosters in the past, leading the Titans to an AFC championship with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback.
While it’s hard to imagine that kind of success, a winning record is definitely a possibility.
With a lot of offseason left to go, especially with the fourth overall pick being added to the roster in the future, the Patriots for now sit third in the division but could be fighting the Dolphins for second by the end of the 2025 season.
4. New York Jets
The Jets are a bit of a mess heading into the 2025 season. Before firing Robert Saleh, their defense looked good, especially the secondary.
However, the battle between Saleh and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was won by Rodgers, which in hindsight was a bad move considering they are moving on from Rodgers anyway.
With new head coach Aaron Glenn coming in from the Lions and Justin Fields taking over at quarterback, the team could be better than their 5-12 record, but compared to the Patriots improvements, the Jets are falling behind.
It’s possible the team approaches a winning record as the defense is still good, finishing third in the NFL in yards allowed, but the offense is a bit of a mess.
Entering their first season of a rebuild in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, the Jets seem like the clear fourth-best team in the division.
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