With the NFL Draft and free agency quickly approaching, the offseason is in full swing and teams are fine-tuning their roster-building strategies for the year ahead. Every front office is looking to plug holes for another playoff run or identify the pieces needed to accelerate a rebuild, so we’re going division by division to break down the biggest needs.
We kick things off in the AFC East, where the Patriots will look to fix the issues that cost them a Super Bowl, the Bills aim to retool under new head coach Joe Brady, and the Jets and Dolphins search for answers after ugly 2025 seasons. Here are the top three needs for each AFC East contender.
New England Patriots
Safety: The biggest need for the Pats is clearly at safety. Jaylinn Hawkins is a free agent and Craig Woodson is, at best, a replacement-level option. The defense was excellent in 2025, but several key contributors are up for new deals, and Hawkins is a priority.
EDGE: K’Lavon Chaisson, the team’s most consistent edge rusher, is a free agent, and Harold Landry III is only getting older. The pass rush lacks depth, so re-signing Chaisson or bringing in multiple new pieces will be a priority.
Offensive Line: The entire left side of the line was handled by rookies in 2025, and it showed in the Super Bowl. Campbell gets some leeway after playing through a torn MCL, but that does not excuse how poor the group looked. The Pats should add competition at left guard and take a hard look at every spot outside of Morgan Moses.
Buffalo Bills
Wide Receiver: The offense took a step back in 2025, and the wide receiver room was a major reason why. Khalil Shakir is a solid player but not a true WR1, and Keon Coleman is trending toward bust territory. The Bills cannot keep relying on stopgap veterans and need to invest real capital here.
EDGE: Greg Rousseau is a quality pass rusher, but he cannot carry the entire unit. Ed Oliver’s return should stabilize the interior, but Joey Bosa and AJ Epenesa are free agents. Unless a young rusher like Landon Jackson makes a major jump, Buffalo needs to add talent.
Linebacker: Matt Milano is both a free agent and frequently on IR, and Terrel Bernard has also dealt with injuries. The linebacker group was a major weakness in 2025 and a big reason Sean McDermott lost his job. Expect significant changes in the middle of this defense.
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami is in serious doubt, whether he is technically still on the roster or not. Injuries and turnovers have derailed his trajectory. The Dolphins need to bring in competition, even if Quinn Ewers ends up as the short-term option. Finding the next answer at QB is the franchise’s biggest decision.
Cornerback: The outside corner group was basically Jack Jones and a rotation of fill-ins in 2025, and Jones is now a free agent coming off a rough year. This unit needs a full reset, and first-round options like Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy make sense.
Receiver/Tight End: Tyreek Hill has been released, Jaylen Waddle still carries injury risk, and Darren Waller may look to join a contender if he continues his career. As it stands, the group is Waddle, Malik Washington, and Jaylin Conyers. That is not enough for whoever lines up at quarterback.
New York Jets
Quarterback: The Jets currently have Justin Fields and Brady Cook under contract, with Tyrod Taylor and Hendon Hooker hitting free agency. Cook does not project as a long-term answer, and Fields had a turbulent year. Reports link the Jets heavily to Alabama QB Ty Simpson, so a rookie starter in 2026 is very much on the table.
Defensive Tackle: The Jets could use help at every level defensively, but it starts up front. Two of their top three interior linemen are free agents, and Harrison Phillips is not a dominant anchor. After moving on from Quinnen Williams, Aaron Glenn needs a major improvement up the middle.
EDGE: The pass rush was ineffective last season, making the entire defensive line nonfunctional. The secondary still has talent, but it will not matter if the team cannot generate pressure. Expect the Jets to aggressively pursue pass-rush help in free agency.
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