Looking into the NFL crystal ball to five years in the future and predicting who will be the best player on each AFC team at that time.
It’s the first edition of my “Future Week” at NFL Spin Zone! All week long, I’m peering into my crystal ball and breaking down the NFL landscape five years from now.
Today, we start by picking one player on each AFC team who has the best shot at being his team’s best player in 2026. Of course, teams will probably find their guy in the coming years. I also have to factor in whether a player will be with that team by then. It’s a bit of a pain, but predicting the future usually is — as you’ll soon find out.
Stay tuned for the NFC tomorrow — but now, the AFC is at hand.
NFL Predictions: Best AFC East Players in 5 Years
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
This seems fairly obvious. Unless Josh Allen has a colossal fall from grace, he’ll be starting in Buffalo for years to come. His stock has risen higher than almost any quarterback as of late. Not only did he make a massive leap in year three of his career, but he finished last season as a legit MVP candidate. Leading the Bills to the AFC Championship doesn’t hurt, either.
Besides, good quarterbacks usually stay good, barring a Carson Wentz-level decline. Outside of Allen, Tre’Davious White would be an easy choice here.
Miami Dolphins: Raekwon Davis
What a plot twist! Davis was not the Dolphins’ best player in 2020; that distinction went to Defensive Player of the Year candidate Xavien Howard. So why am I leaving Howard, who could very well be a top cornerback in five years, off this list?
It’s more to do with his future in Miami as rumors always swirl about a possible trade involving the All-Pro cornerback. I’m not sure the Dolphins will want to eventually fork over a hefty contract to an aging star, especially after drafting Noah Igbinoghene in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Instead, I’ll opt for the 23-year-old defensive tackle.
Davis quietly had a phenomenal rookie season for Miami. But was he good enough to also keep Tua Tagovailoa off this list? Listen, I’m a big fan of Tagovailoa and I think he’ll have a huge second season. I just find it a bit tougher to bet on a player’s success when I’ve seen more from another player like Davis. In reality, both can easily be great cornerstone pieces for the Dolphins in five years.
New York Jets: Mekhi Becton
With a couple of exceptions, I find it tough to pick a rookie for this exercise. In all likelihood, a handful of players from the 2021 NFL Draft class will be their team’s best player, respectively. If Zach Wilson reaches superstar level which the Jets believe he can, then he’ll likely be New York’s best player. For now, though, Becton is a clear choice.
Not only was Becton a force to be reckoned with in his rookie season, but this team is mostly devoid of young talent. The shelf life of good left tackles tends to be longer than most positions, so Becton makes a ton of sense here. You’ll notice this theme with a few other teams and their young stud offensive linemen.
New England Patriots: J.C. Jackson
If you’re a Patriots fan, then “roster turnover” should be a well-known phrase. Bill Belichick has typically loved to churn through players each season, making the Patriots a tough team to predict. In all likelihood, the team’s best player in five years is probably not on their roster right now. With that said, I’m tempted to take an offensive lineman like Michael Onwenu.
The 23-year-old impressed in his rookie season. However, New England’s defense relies on strong cornerback play, so I’ll say Jackson. The 25-year-old signed with the Patriots after going undrafted in 2018. Since then, Jackson’s only gotten better. Last season, he was second in interceptions with nine while starting just 11 games. If you were unaware of Jackson before, you better know his name.