The AFC was highly-contested throughout the 2025 NFL season, but the playoffs showed that the NFC was clearly the more talented conference. The 16 franchises will look to retake the Lombardi in 2026, and a big stepping stone toward that is the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
With plenty of glaring needs on each team going into the 2026 NFL season, the draft should have plenty of variety in the 1st round and beyond.
NFL Mocks explores top prospects in the first round who fit the needs of the Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, Bills, Bengals, Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Texans, Titans, Jaguars, Colts, Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders based on expected needs this offseason.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Supreme talent lands in the AFC East
New York Jets (3-14) – Last in AFC East
Round 1, No. 2: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles took NFL Draft media by storm with his historic performance in the 2026 NFL Combine, and he's found himself squarely in the conversation to be picked as high as No. 2 overall. The Buckeye is everything an NFL team could want in a linebacker, and has the athletic profile to revitalize a New York defense that was among the worst in creating turnovers last season.
Round 1, No. 16 (via IND): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Jets already have a top offensive weapon in wide receiver Garrett Wilson, but it certainly couldn't hurt to add another playmaker on the outside for their next quarterback (Kyler Murray, perhaps?) to throw to. Tyson would immediately raise the offense's overall ceiling and could form a WR duo that would make their always-stagnant offense a legitimate threat in the passing game.
Miami Dolphins (7-10) – 3rd in AFC East
Round 1, No. 11: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The first big splash on the list, with the Dolphins handing the keys over to Simpson as their signal caller of the future. With Tua Tagovailoa's departure an inevitability this offseason, Miami will need to reform its QB room moving forward. While waiting until the 2027 class may be their eventual decision, they could take a swing at the Alabama product and bet on their ability to develop him into their next franchise QB.
Buffalo Bills (12-5) – 2nd in AFC East
Round 1, No. 26: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Buffalo needs receiver help badly. The Bills were victims of another early playoff exit, and the always-rowdy fanbase has become increasingly frustrated with General Manager Brandon Beane's shortcomings in surrounding superstar QB Josh Allen with top-end talent. Their last early-round WR draft pick, former Florida State wideout Keon Coleman, hasn't exactly panned out so far. This would have them going in a different direction than the physical Coleman, taking the Tennessee speedster to become their true deep threat moving forward.
New England Patriots (14-3) – 1st in AFC East
Round 1, No. 31: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Super Bowl proved one thing for certain, and it's that the reigning AFC champs remain in desperate need of reinforcements on the offensive line. Rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were entirely outmatched by an aggressive Seattle defensive front, and the team will almost certainly look to add to its OL this offseason. Ioane would allow for Wilson to move to center, a position that was seen as the cleanest fit for the former Georgia Bulldog, and give the Patriots a pass protection specialist who could help keep MVP candidate Drake Maye clean.