The New York Jets might be the center of attention once again. Let's make bold predictions for them and the rest of the AFC East for 2024. Already, the Jets seem to be the center of attention, as Rodgers is apparently going to miss minicamp, so the speculation has started.
Beyond the Jets, the Miami Dolphins have loaded up this offseason, and the Buffalo Bills have had to undergo a bit of roster change to help out their cap situation. The AFC East could end up being a legitimate three-horse race in the 2024 NFL Season.
The distant fourth-place team is the New England Patriots, who are set to endure an insanely tough season. Let's try to hash out some bold predictions for this division in 2024.
3 bold predictions for New York Jets, AFC East in the 2024 NFL Season
Patriots finish with another top-3 pick for 2025 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots are going to be a disaster in 2024, and it'll lead them to another top-3 pick for the 2025 NFL Draft. They held the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and took Drake Maye. Maye was the right pick, but the Patriots roster is still quite bad overall, and I am firmly out on them replacing Bill Belichick with Jerod Mayo.
In what is a clearly a rebuilding year, the Patriots may end up benefitting in the long-term from another high pick, which could be used for a franchise left tackle, wide receiver, or pass rusher.
All hope is not lost with another high draft pick, but this is uncharted territory for the Patriots for sure.
Miami Dolphins scrape out an AFC East title
Personally, I like the Miami Dolphins in 2024 to steal an AFC East title from the Buffalo Bills, who have had to embrace a bit of a re-tooling this year to free up some cap space. Buffalo had to part with a slew of veteran players and have had to essentially restart at wide receiver.
Right now, you cannot tell me with a straight, serious face that the Bills have a better roster than the Dolphins on paper. While Miami does struggle in cold weather, I think a bounce here and a bounce there will end up benefitting the Dolphins in 2024, as they end up winning the AFC East by just one game, which would guarantee them a top-4 seed in the playoffs and a home playoff game.
Aaron Rodgers and New York Jets miss the NFL playoffs
Is this a surprise? Is it bold? Maybe not, but on paper, the New York Jets do have quite the roster, so GM Joe Douglas does deserve a good bit of credit for that. Nonetheless, the Jets will miss the playoffs, which could lead to some people within the organization losing their jobs.
Douglas could be out of a job, and so could head coach Robert Saleh with some of his staff. The 2023 season was supposed to be a big year for the team, but Rodgers' Achilles had other plans. Now in 2024, the Jets brought in some reinforcements along the offensive line, signing Tyron Smith, John Simpson, and trading for Morgan Moses.
The Jets also added two WRs in Mike Williams and Malachi Corley. Overall, there isn't a lot to like about the Jets roster, but the biggest factor is Aaron Rodgers and perhaps the below-average coaching staff. Ultimately, the Jets won't be able to get it done.