Will Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills continue their reign over the AFC East or will one of the other teams rise and challenge for the throne.
With the 2025 NFL Draft just a week away, big questions surround the other teams in the division. What will Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots do with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. Will they surround Drake Maye with the offensive support he needs to be a big factor in the AFC East?
What will the New York Jets do to solidify their team on both sides of the football as the Aaron Rodgers chapter has ended?
Lastly, will the Miami Dolphins find the right players to help improve their offensive line and also replace stars in the secondary?
Those questions and more surround the AFC East ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Those questions are addressed in this two-round NFL Mock Draft.
2025 NFL Draft Round 1: Patriots land a generational talent
The Patriots will have an opportunity to select a player who will wreak havoc on the AFC East for years to come. It will come down to Abdul Carter vs Will Campbell at No. 4 and Mike Vrabel leans towards one of the only blue-chip players in the draft despite character concerns. With the Patriots, Carter would add raw athleticism and explosiveness off the edge which would make New England an instant top 10 defense based on all the other moves they have already made in the offseason.
The Jets go with Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. There will be rumblings around selecting Tyler Warren, but McMillan is the choice to help bolster the offense and give Justin Fields a big target to get the ball to. Although there isn’t much hype surrounding the former Arizona star, his blend of size and speed gives off elements of Mike Evans. If Garrett Wilson finds his happy space with the Jets, this could be in interesting duo at wide receiver in the AFC East.
The Dolphins replace Jevon Holland with the selection of Malaki Starks at safety. A versatile defender in the backfield, Starks has a high football IQ and the athleticism to be a multi-faceted player in the Dolphins defense. With rumors swirling that the team will part ways with Jalen Ramsey, the Dolphins will be pressed to select a corner here, but Starks will be the best player available here who secures one of their top needs.
The Bills tap care of their top need at corner with the selection of Trey Amos. Although not the fastest corner in the 2025 NFL Draft, Amos is elite at press man coverage. Not only that, he is also a physical tackler who gets after receivers and attacks the ball. His length and explosiveness make up for his speed as he uses both to track down defenders when he is beaten. Overall, a great pick for the Bills at No. 30.
2025 NFL Draft Round 2: Dolphins get their new No. 1 corner
The Patriots have two third round picks which they could use to move back into the second round to grab a tackle or they can double-dip taking offensive lineman with those two picks. The idea here is the Patriots use the second-round pick on Jayden Higgins of Iowa State.
With Stefon Diggs looking healthy, the Patriots add another wide receiver to the mix in Higgins, who stands at 6-foot-4, 217 pounds. His impressive catch radius makes him another big target for Drake Maye. His understanding of defensive coverage will make him a better selection than recent second-round picks at wide receiver like Tyquan Thornton and Ja’Lynn Polk.
The Jets stick with offense and select Miami’s Elijah Arroyo with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Arroyo, who has seen his draft stock rise, had 35 catches for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns in his final season at Miami. Standing at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, this talented pass-catching tight end has deceptive speed and gives the Jets a tight end who can stretch the field vertically and is a great route runner. Another great target for Fields.
The Dolphins continue to address their secondary with the selection of Maxwell Hairston out of Kentucky. With Ramsey on the move, the Dolphins are forced to address the cornerback position, which they may have been prepared to do prior to the trade rumors. In Hairston, the Dolphins get a first-round talent who wow’d at the NFL Combine with a 4.28 40-time. In all, a corner with great footwork with the ability to read quarterbacks and jump routes. A great day 2 pickup for the Dolphins.
The Bills have a temporary fix at edge in Joey Bosa but take care of depth at the position with a player in Oluwafemi Oladejo who could be the future at the position. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, this UCLA product had 4.5 sacks in his final season with the Bruins. That number doesn’t stick out as spectacular, but what does stand out is his relentless motor and explosive acceleration off the edge.
With two second round picks, the Bills deep back into the secondary talent pool and select Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison. This is a steal for the Bills at this spot as Morrison has first-round talent when he is healthy. Brining him in with less pressure on him, should help him grow into a starting role with the Bills, especially in zone coverage.