The NFL Draft is a crapshoot of epic proportions. Analysts spend months trying to determine who will be drafted when and to which teams. Then, through the spring, they try to figure out which rookies will actually see game action for their new squads.
But now, late in the summer, with the season just weeks away, everyone wants to know what impact their rookies will have. Will all the consternation for the last eight months lead to wins or losses this fall? Or will we not see the fruits of that labor until 2027 or beyond?
Here are the AFC East rookies with the best chance to make a significant impact during the 2026 NFL season.
Which AFC East rookies are positioned to make the biggest impact?
8. New York Jets CB: D'Angelo Ponds
The New York Jets made significant changes to their defensive back room after being the first team in the history of interceptions as a statistic to not record one during an NFL season.
One change they made was drafting D'Angelo Ponds out of Indiana in the second round.
Ponds was a strong cover corner on the outside in college, but size limitations (under 5-foot-9, and 182 pounds) will likely force him into the slot.
Ponds represents fellow Jets rookies Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. here, who just missed this list. All three rookies have had slow starts to their careers in training camp. Sadiq has missed nearly all of the offseason work this spring and summer with an injury, and Cooper Jr. has had a quiet camp.
Ponds has also dealt with an injury in camp that will likely push him down the depth chart to start the season. But for a team needing a makeover in the secondary that drafted him so high, Ponds will likely see significant action in the back half of the season.
7. Miami Dolphins LB: Jacob Rodriguez
The Miami Dolphins selected Jacob Rodriguez in the second round of the NFL Draft. Rodriguez was a solid prospect coming out of Texas Tech with plus athleticism and playmaking ability.
Rodriguez is trending toward starting role next to Jordyn Brooks for Miami's defense as a rookie. I see a lot of parallels to Edgerrin Cooper in Green Bay, who played for now Miami Head Coach Jeff Hafley in his first two seasons.
Cooper got to play next to Quay Walker, the bigger and more veteran linebacker who wore the green dot, allowing Cooper to run around and make plays. Rodriguez has that same opportunity if he wins the job in Miami this year.
While Miami likely won't win many games this season, the defense under Hafley, with the investments made in the front seven, could show promise for the future. Giving Rodriguez plenty to play for as a rookie.
6. Miami Dolphins CB: Chris Johnson
One of Miami's first-round picks comes next on this list. Chris Johnson is a cornerback out of San Diego State who was a big riser in the draft process.
I mentioned Miami's investment in the defensive front in the section above, which means the secondary has had to take a back seat. But on the plus side, this gives Johnson gives Johnson every opportunity to earn significant snaps early.
Miami's initial plan for Johnson is to start him as their nickel cornerback. But roster construction and injuries could lead to him playing on the outside as well.
Johnson's mentality and ability will make him a cornerstone of the Miami secondary as they rebuild the unit. His flexibility and the team's need for him to play all over will give him the chance to make an impact as a rookie.
5. New England Patriots EDGE: Gabe Jacas
The New England Patriots were an average pass-rush team in 2025. They finished 20th in sack rate and 16th in pressure rate.
With Harold Landy III and free-agent signee Dre'Mont Jones listed as the starting edge rushers, New England needed another investment at the position.
The Patriots selected Gabe Jacas in the second round of the draft. Jacas had 19 sacks in his last two years of college and will look to help the Patriots in that area.
Jacas had a slow start to training camp, being one of the last rookies to get his contract signed. But at a premium position of need, for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Jacas will have every opportunity to impact the 2026 NFL season.
4. Buffalo Bills EDGE: TJ Parker
The Buffalo Bills and TJ Parker are in a very similar situation to the Patriots as Jacas. A team with Super Bowl aspirations, needing a jump from their defense invest in their edge rusher room via the second round of the draft.
TJ Parker, out of Clemson, is a big edge rusher with good strength and athleticism. He had a down year in 2025, but he recorded 11 sacks in 2024 and was a prospect on the rise.
Buffalo has been looking for an impactful edge rusher to play across from Greg Rousseau for years. AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Joey Bosa, and now Bradley Chubb have all been given a chance.
Parker has had a quiet training camp, so he won't be making a huge splash right away in Week 1. But as the season progresses and his role potentially grows, a pass-rusher on a Super Bowl-contending team can have a big impact on the season.
3. New York Jets EDGE: David Bailey
This tier was interesting in terms of the edge rushers. Jacas and Parker are the second-round picks with quiet summers, who will look to have impactful winters on Super Bowl contenders.
But second-overall pick David Bailey will try to have a hot start for the New York Jets en route to a Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
All reports out of camp are that Bailey is the standout, making plays against the first-team offense. And in an Aaron Glenn defense that made a lot of veteran investments up front, there could be plenty of room for Bailey to rush the passer.
While it won't lead to many wins in 2026, if Bailey reaches double-digit sacks and help make New York's defense respectable, it will certainly be one of the stories of the 2026 NFL season.
2. Miami Dolphins OG: Kadyn Proctor
There may be two other Dolphins on this list, but no rookie in Miami could have a bigger impact than Kadyn Proctor.
Miami selected Proctor in the first round of the draft, 15 picks before selecting Johnson. They hope he will be the final piece to the puzzle on an offensive line that took a huge step last year after several years of being one of the worst lines in the league.
Proctor was a tackle at Alabama in college, but moves inside to guard for his first season in the pros. This move should show off all of his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses.
Proctor is very strong, and when he's balanced on the move is an excellent blocker in space. But in pass protection, he gets beaten laterally and loses his balance. At guard, he'll be able to pull and block in the run game, while having support on both sides in pass protection.
Miami will lean on star running back Devon Achane this season, and Proctor will be an asset in the run game. Good blocking up front will also allow Miami to see what they have in quarterback Malik Willis. Like Spencer Fano in Cleveland, Proctor has a big role to play as a rookie to assess his team's offensive foundation as they build for 2027.
1. Buffalo Bills LB: Kaleb Elarms-Orr
I didn't expect this result when I started this post, but the rookie who could have the biggest impact from the AFC East is Buffalo Bills' fourth-round pick Kaleb Elarms-Orr.
Elarms-Orr has been a standout from Bills training camp this summer. While Terrel Bernard dealt with an injury at the start of camp, Elarms-Orr saw the field early. In that time, he earned the chance to compete for a starting spot on the defense.
Buffalo is going through a major defensive shakeup this year, with Sean McDermott being fired and Jim Leonard being brought in as defensive coordinator.
Elarms-Orr has an opportunity to see a lot of action for a team competing for a Super Bowl and a defense looking for a new identity. That creates a lot of opportunity to make an impact this year as a rookie.
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