2026 Nfl Mock Draft Afc East Biggest Needs For Jets Dolphins Bills

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 15, 2025, 4:49 AM

2026 nfl mock draft afc east biggest needs for jets dolphins bills

For the football obsessed, the expression "It’s the most wonderful time of the year," is not so much a reflection about the holidays as it is about mock drafts. They're like Thanksgiving meals — we seemingly can’t get enough of them. So, shortly after releasing a traditional first-round mock draft, we thought it would be worthwhile to identify each team's most glaring holes as well as strong prospect fits to fill them. With two clubs emerging as legitimate contenders for the No. 1 pick, the AFC East felt like the perfect starting point to kick off the series. Here are early projections for the entire division's selections on Days 1 and 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

First round, No. 3 overall pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Jets’ decision to trade cornerback Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams to load up on draft picks suggests that the club is willing to undergo a complete roster rebuild. Perhaps that will allow New York to package picks to trade for a veteran quarterback, with intriguing candidates such as Kyler Murray and divisional rival Tua Tagovailoa thought to be potentially available this offseason. Should Jets general manager Darren Mougey take the more conventional approach, Mendoza’s inspirational play at Indiana could make him the first quarterback off the board this year. His dual-threat ability would make him an intriguing fit in the offense that head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand have used with incumbent starter Justin Fields this season.

The 2026 NFL Mock Draft outlines the crucial roster needs for teams in the AFC East, focusing on the Jets, Dolphins, Bills, and Patriots. Key needs include a quarterback and running back for the Jets, offensive line and cornerback for the Dolphins, a versatile linebacker and defensive tackle for the Bills, and a dynamic edge rusher for the... Each team faces significant decisions influenced by trades, upcoming seasons, and the potential of their draft picks. As the AFC East positions itself for a competitive future, identifying these needs is paramount for targeted drafting strategies. While teams have pressing needs, the landscape of the draft may shift based on potential trades and free agency decisions, such as the futures of quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields. Additionally, some teams may prioritize stability over immediate upgrades, affecting which prospects are pursued.

The AFC East teams are likely to leverage their draft positions to address their needs aggressively. Expect trades and creative strategies as teams seek to fortify their rosters ahead of the 2026 season. This dynamic could see a reevaluation of draft boards as teams respond to pre-draft moves. The draft presents a pivotal opportunity for AFC East teams to address significant gaps in their rosters, impacting their competitiveness for the upcoming seasons. Focusing on targeted, strategic selections will be crucial for long-term success in a rapidly evolving division. The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI

The New York Jets tried to avoid engaging in a total rebuild by trusting Justin Fields to be their starting quarterback in 2025. It's hard to classify that as anything other than an unmitigated disaster, given the team's 2-7 start. The 2026 NFL Draft gives the Jets a chance to take their medicine and finally chart a new course for head coach Aaron Glenn. Quarterback is at the top of the team's shopping list, but it is not the only position of need New York must address in the early rounds of next year's draft. Any new signal-caller could do with a rookie wide receiver to grow alongside. The team's in-season trades also opened up big holes at defensive tackle and cornerback for Glenn's defense.

One draft will not be enough to change the Jets' fortunes, but it can give fans in New York some hope they don't enjoy at the moment. The good news is that New York has a pair of first-rounders and a pair of second-rounders to boost their roster talent. It's too early to know if the Jets have enough draft capital to land Fernando Mendoza without moving up in Round 1, but he's got the talent to revolutionize their offense. The Indiana signal-caller does not possess the elite athleticism some teams covet at quarterback, but the Jets can really benefit from his accuracy and anticipatory throwing ability in the pocket. Some scouts view Mendoza as the next Jared Goff. That would be a massive upgrade over what the Jets have trotted out at quarterback over the past several seasons.

Glenn might not be the perfect coach to get the most out of the Hoosiers star but he did get the chance to see Goff day-in and day-out during his time in Detroit. The 2025 NFL season has reached its quarter pole, giving fans a decent sample to work with as they look to the future. Naturally, some teams are already out of contention, keeping their eyes on the upcoming offseason and paying as much attention to Saturdays as Sundays. As such, it's way-too-early mock draft season, and as we try to predict the future, it's worth considering where these rosters might stand after the 17-game marathon is complete. We'll start with the AFC East, where teams have largely looked like their preseason expectations. The Buffalo Bills will challenge for the conference's top seed, the New York Jets are winless, and the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins are riding the roller coasters of their respective quarterbacks.

Worth considering: Interior offensive line, corner For as much discourse as Buffalo's receiving corps has generated in recent years, the offense has found a happy medium. Keon Coleman has taken some steps forward, and Khalil Shakir remains consistent. Josh Palmer, being a competent deep threat, has been enough. This is a unit that is happy to succeed with a dozen hands touching the ball, and while a lack of a Stefon Diggs-shaped receiver is a theoretical issue, Josh Allen's ability to be... This is a look at the first-round order for the 2026 NFL Draft heading into Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season, along with the top five needs for each team.

The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind -- teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play. If Tennessee decides to stick and pick at No. 1, adding a premier edge rusher would make sense -- especially after trading edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones to the Ravens at the deadline. Malik Nabers ' absence has exposed the Giants' lack of depth at receiver, which must be addressed during the first two days of the draft.

Tyler Shough took a step forward against the Panthers on Sunday, but still has work to do over the next eight weeks to dissuade the Saints from using their top pick on a new... Whether he keeps the job in 2026 or New Orleans looks elsewhere to fill the role, the team could use more talent at receiver. The Browns' needs on the offensive line were further highlighted on Sunday, with the Jets getting to QB Dillon Gabriel six times in their 27-20 win. After the Week 6 slate concludes on Monday night, we will officially be more than one-third of the way through the 2025 regular season. My Indianapolis Colts have been a more than pleasant surprise, but fans of other teams require a helping hand. That’s what I’m here for.

Forget about the disappointing start to your favorite team’s season and dream about the future possibilities in this 2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft. Using PFSN’s elite mock draft simulator for the order of the draft and our suite of Impact metrics to guide the analysis, here is how I would draft if I were the general manager... Even though it feels like the number one overall pick in this draft probably shouldn’t be a quarterback, it’s hard to deny that the New York Jets will go anywhere without their franchise guy. Through week 6, Justin Fields ranks 20th in our quarterback impact metric and is 16th in EPA (expected points added) per drop-back, according to TruMedia. Dante Moore is a smooth operator who looks calm, cool, and collected under pressure. He ranks 22nd in the FBS in EPA under pressure and has an unbelievable 3.1% pressure-to-sack rate, good for third in all of college football.

He also ranks fifth in completion percentage and has a live NFL arm. He has all the makings of a good quarterback, and I think the Jets are a relatively enticing first overall pick. Back in June, this was my pick, and I’m going to stay with it. LaNorris Sellers isn’t quite the same as the other over-hyped freak athletes at the position who get bumped up in terms of their elite natural ability and the ability to throw a ball over... He has shown palpable progress as a passer of the ball in all areas of the field. As we keep an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft, we're identifying each team's biggest holes and which Day 1 and 2 prospects could best fill them.

Here is the AFC East. Articles and images are copyright of blog/website indicated. Team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated.

2026 Nfl Mock Draft Afc East Biggest Needs For Jets Dolphins Bills

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