NFL Draft Review: AFC East

Patriots re-load as they attempt to take back the east.

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AFC EAST 2025 NFL DRAFT RECAP

Our 2025 NFL Draft Recap Series rolls on with a look at the AFC East, a division that has been won by the Buffalo Bills the past five consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, Buffalo has not been able to win the big game. With an offense designed to post points on the scoreboard at will, the Bills turned to the defensive side of the ball to help solidify their shortcomings. In fact, they went defensive with their first five selections, including nearly one half ton of beef on the defensive line. They also addressed the depth of the secondary, by taking three cornerbacks. While the top-end of the roster didn’t improve much, the bottom-of-the-roster will be better.

Prior to the Bills recent dominance, the New England Patriots had won the division 16 out-of 17 seasons during the Bill Belichick era. While the ship temporarily veered into an unexpected storm, the franchise is back on track under the guidance of Mike Vrabel and promising development of young gun Drake Maye. New England took an exact opposite draft approach than Buffalo, by going all offensive with their first four picks, including LSU stud offensive tackle Will Campbell. This is a clear attempt to strengthen the supporting cast around Maye, after investing heavily on the defensive side of the ball during free agency. The Patriots seem primed to vie for a playoff spot.

The Miami Dolphins endured their first losing season since 2019 and have gained a reputation for being a fast, finesse team. With the first three picks of the draft, Miami opted to rebuild the trenches and add some nasty. Plugging in bruising running back Ollie Gordon II will provide a different dynamic to the offense to pair with the dangerous De'Von Achane. Still, the Dolphins hopes hinge on the health of Tua Tagovailoa. The team went 2-4 without him last year, which cost them a spot in the postseason. It was a wise move to snag Texas gunslinger Quinn Ewers during the late portion of the draft.

It has been a dormant decade for the New York Jets who have compiled nine consecutive seasons with a losing record. The new regime has their work cut out for them and it’s not expected to be a quick turnaround. First, they must undergo the Justin Fields experiment. New York did everything they possibly could to add more protection and new weapons to target on offense. There are certainly a lot of new moving parts that will need to be meshed but there is a sense of optimism surrounding the team under the leadership of first-time head coach Aaron Glenn.

The Bills are one of the favorites to emerge from the AFC once again, hence they are considered to be heavy favorites to win the division for the sixth consecutive year. If Sean McDermott is unable to put them over the top, Buffalo could seek an outsider such as Jon Gruden to get them to the promise-land.

OVERALL IMPACT SCALE:

5 = Major Impact || 4 = High Impact || 3 = Average Impact || 2 = Low Impact || 1 = No Impact

BUFFALO BILLS

ROUND | PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL

Rd.1 No.30. Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky — The Bills have placed an emphasis on solidifying the secondary and Hairston enables Buffalo to match up with the high-octane offenses in the AFC.

Rd.2 No.41. TJ Sanders, DT, South Carolina — Inserting the agile, powerful Sanders next to Ed Oliver, enables Buffalo to mix-and-match up front along the defensive line.

Rd.3 No.72. Landon Jackson, ER, Arkanas — A lengthy, high-motor edge player, Jackson is able to set the edge against the run and can also get after the quarterback.

Rd.4 No.109. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky — With a massive frame, Walker is a pure space-eater who absorbs double teams and should specialize as an early down stuffer.

Rd.5 No.170. Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State — Added depth at cornerback was needed, as Hancock brings extensive experience and top-notch athleticism at the slot.