It’s been an offseason of change in the AFC East. Save for the reigning division and conference champion New England Patriots, the entire division is in transition.
Half of the division is led by a new, first-time head coach. Meanwhile, the New York Jets essentially have a brand-new coaching staff outside of their head coach.
The AFC East’s wave of transition continued on Tuesday with a blockbuster trade out of South Florida.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Miami Dolphins are trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for a 2026 first-round pick (30th overall), a 2026 third-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Waddle’s exit from Miami raises the question: Are the New York Jets no longer the worst team in the AFC East?
The Jets were the divisional bottom-feeders by a longshot in 2025. Their 3-14 record left them four games behind the third-place Dolphins, while their -203 point differential was a whopping 126 points behind Miami (-77).
When going head-to-head against their divisional opponents, the Jets looked like they didn’t belong in the same league. Not only did New York go 0-6 in the division, but they lost those games by a combined 122 points (-20.3 average).
However, the start of a full-on rebuild in Miami could open the door for New York to climb the AFC East ladder as they enter the second year of their own rebuild process.
The Waddle trade punctuates an exodus of talent in Miami over the past few weeks. In addition to the star receiver, the Dolphins parted ways with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro safety, was dealt to New York in a rare trade between the AFC East rivals. He is one of many quality veterans added this offseason by the Jets, who have been looking to stockpile talent while the Dolphins continue offloading it.
The Dolphins, led by rookie head coach Jeff Hafley, are prepared to rely on free agent pickup Malik Willis at quarterback. Willis, who has only started six games in four NFL seasons, is a high-risk option under center. His outlook has only become murkier after losing his top weapon.
Miami’s wide receiver unit is now headlined by Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Malik Washington. The Jets will be thrilled to no longer see Waddle twice per year; the Alabama product averaged 70 receiving yards per game across nine duels with the Jets, contributing to Miami’s 7-2 record.
New York is still considered a longshot to compete for an AFC wild card spot in 2026, let alone the AFC East title. At the very least, though, the Jets might not be the worst team in their division anymore.
It’s a start, right?
