2024 AFC East Division Preview

Major changes are coming to the AFC East. Will former NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers return to his MVP form for the New York Jets? How will the Patriots look without arguably the greatest coach of all time, Bill Belichick? Will Buffalo be able to replace Stefon Diggs and his production? Has Miami added enough pieces to be able to overtake Buffalo as the AFC East Champion? There are so many questions for each of these teams. Whoever takes the division will be the one who wants it the most.

Buffalo Bills

2023 Team Record: 11-6

Key Additions:

• WR – Curtis Samuel
• WR – Keon Coleman*

Key Departures:

• WR – Stefon Diggs
• S – Jordan Poyer
• C – Mitch Morse

Buffalo’s offense will be quite different without WR Stefon Diggs. Diggs has been the top option in Buffalo and a top WR in the league for the past few years. Who will step up and take his spot in Buffalo? Will Keon Coleman be able to step in and start as a rookie? The Bills also lost a big piece of their defense in Safety Jordan Poyer. I think the Bills have lost too many key contributors on offense and defense and will take a step back this year.

Miami Dolphins

2023 Team Record: 11-6

Key Additions:

• LB – Shaq Barrett
• S – Jordan Poyer

Key Departures:

• S – DeShon Elliott
• DT – Christian Wilkins

The Dolphins were great last year, and they added some awesome veterans in LB Shaq Barrett and Safety Jordan Poyer. Their offense was one of the best in the league, and the Dolphins are loaded on offense again this upcoming season. Will Tua be able to stay healthy this season? Have the other teams in the NFL found a way to stop the dynamic duo of Tyreke Hill and Jaylen Waddle? Who will be starting at RB in Miami? They have multiple running backs who can start and give valuable production in that offense. Overall, I believe these additions to the defense and the returning offensive power will help improve the Dolphins and push them over the hump.

New York Jets

2023 Team Record: 7-10

Key Additions:

• DE – Haason Reddick
• WR – Mike Williams
• T – Tyron Smith

Key Departures:

• QB – Zach Wilson
• TE – C.J. Uzomah
• RB – Dalvin Cook

If I had to guess, I would assume the New York Jets will get more than 1 series out of former MVP Aaron Rodgers. This Jets team is loaded with talent on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Jets defense will probably be top 5 in the NFL. The offense added Mike Williams to give Rodgers another solid WR to pair with Garret Wilson. Will the Jets continue to be the Jets and drop the ball and miss out on becoming AFC East Champions? Or will they finally get back to prominence and show that going all in on Aaron Rodgers was a good investment? I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets win the division this year, and quite honestly, I would like to see them do it.

New England Patriots

2023 Team Record: 4-13

Key Additions:

• QB – Jacoby Brissett
• WR – K.J. Osborne
• QB – Drake Maye*

Key Departures:

• QB – Mac Jones
• WR – DeVante Parker

I am curious to see how Foxborough will look without Bill Belichick on the sideline. He has been head coach of the Patriots for the past two decades. Now there is a new coach Jerod Mayo leading the team, and a new starting quarterback, which I believe will be rookie Drake Maye. Will Maye sit on the bench and learn from veteran QB Jacoby Brissett for a while? Multiple changes are happening with New England, and there is no way that they compete for the AFC East Division title. I like the additions they brought in, and the future is bright. But it will take some time to get back to being contenders.

2024 AFC East Prediction

1. Miami Dolphins
2. New York Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. New England Patriots

*Drafted Player from 2024 NFL Draft