The AFC East looks set to be a three-horse race in 2024, but can the New England Patriots crash the party? With the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets looking to build a Super Bowl contender, the Patriots in full rebuild, and the Buffalo Bills re-tooling on the fly, this is one of the more fascinating divisions on and off the field.
In our 7-Round AFC East Mock Draft, we make all the 2025 NFL Draft selections for the four teams and break down the picks in the first three rounds.
7-Round 2025 AFC East Mock Draft | Round 1
The order of this 2025 NFL Mock Draft was determined using the latest Super Bowl odds for the 2024 NFL season.
4) New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Patriots are better than you think. And even if they end up picking this early, they’ll have a young core with momentum building heading into 2025.
There’s only a sense that they need a few more weapons and playmakers. On both sides of the ball, Travis Hunter can suffice.
If it were me, I’d try Hunter at WR first. Alongside a movement-Z like Ja’Lynn Polk, Hunter could be a stellar central force with his rare separation ability, RAC dynamism, and ball skills at the catch point. But he’d be a menace opposite Christian Gonzalez at CB, too.
10) New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Trade: Jets receive No. 10 overall pick; Buccaneers receive No. 22 overall pick, No. 54 overall pick, 2026 first-round pick.
The second trade of our 7-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft involves the New York Jets, who trade up from No. 22 to add Aaron Rodgers’ successor: Shedeur Sanders. If the Jets make the playoffs, Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas might be safe. But they must stay on the gas.
Sanders will have questions to answer about his leadership style, but there’s no questioning his ability to command an offense on the field and distribute the football. He’s a strong-armed signal-caller with stellar accuracy and precision, made potent by discretion.
21) Miami Dolphins: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
The Dolphins managed to keep Zach Sieler around for the long haul, and they also added Teair Tart and Benito Jones as short-term fixes. But the losses of Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis will sting long-term. Sooner or later, they’ll need to re-invest at DT.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, few investments at DT could be more fruitful than Deone Walker. At 6’6″, 348 pounds, Walker needs to drastically improve his pad level. But he’s a logic-defying athlete with universal alignment versatility and three-down disruptive potential.
27) Buffalo Bills: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
There’s a lot of pressure on Keon Coleman. He’s a second-round pick who was essentially a first-round pick and will be relied upon right out of the gate as a premier weapon for Josh Allen. Coleman might need a complementary WR like Emeka Egbuka to relieve some of that pressure.
At 6’1″, 205 pounds, Egbuka is the quintessential movement-Z receiver, whose alignment versatility is matched by his sharp route-running nuance, instinctive catching skills, and grating RAC ability. As long as he can stay healthy, he can be an asset at all three levels.
2025 AFC East Mock Draft | Round 2
36) New England Patriots: Patrick Payton, EDGE, Florida State
As evidenced by his 7.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 10 pass deflections in 2023, few edge rushers have the sheer disruptive range that Patrick Payton has at 6’5″, 254 pounds.
With long levers for arms and size-defying bend, he’s an undeniable riser candidate.
53) Miami Dolphins: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
With both Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe on expiring contracts after 2025, TE could soon be a need. Terrance Ferguson is a top-50 prospect as a two-phase, three-down security blanket with utility as a route runner, clutch-down catcher, RAC threat, and blocker.
59) Buffalo Bills: Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
At around 6’3″, 270 pounds, Ashton Gillotte provides a fun mix of what the Bills like on the edge. He has the compact power element to compress the pocket from wider alignments, but he also has the bend and natural leverage to get low on speed rushes.
2025 AFC East Mock Draft | Round 3
68) New England Patriots: Andrew Mukuba, DB, Texas
Andrew Mukuba projects best as a nickel defender with his short-area twitch and malleability, but he can play field safety as well.
86) New York Jets: Jared Brown, WR, South Carolina
At South Carolina, Jared Brown will get to showcase his electric athleticism, slippery RAC ability, and alignment versatility — traits that could endear him to teams like New York.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
91) Buffalo Bills: Jaylin Lucas, RB, Florida State
This pick may seem a little off the wall, but Jaylin Lucas is an elite kick returner and a two-phase big-play threat on offense, with blistering 4.29 speed and enviable bend on cuts.
93) New York Jets: Francisco Mauigoa, LB, Miami (FL)
This is a pick for the future, as both Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley have expiring contracts in 2025. Francisco Mauigoa is an explosive and tenacious tackling machine.
2025 AFC East Mock Draft | Rounds 4-7
4.101) New England Patriots
Kaimon Rucker, EDGE, North Carolina
4.115) Buffalo Bills
Earnest Greene III, OL, Georgia
4.118) Miami Dolphins
Aamir Hall, CB, Michigan
4.119) New York Jets
Jager Burton, OG, Kentucky
4.124) Buffalo Bills
Gus Hartwig, OC, Purdue
5.133) New England Patriots
Shemar Turner, DL, Texas A&M
5.135) Miami Dolphins
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
5.138) Buffalo Bills
Tim Smith, DT, Alabama
5.150) Miami Dolphins
Hudson Clark, S, Arkansas
5.151) New York Jets
Benjamin Yurosek, TE, Georgia
6.163) Buffalo Bills
Reuben Fatheree II, OT, Texas A&M
6.183) New York Jets
Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame
6.193) New York Jets
Jasheen Davis, EDGE, Wake Forest
7.196) New England Patriots
Joseph Evans, DT, UTSA
7.197) New England Patriots
RJ Maryland, TE, SMU
7.209) New England Patriots
Dane Key, WR, Kentucky
7.211) Miami Dolphins
Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia
7.214) Miami Dolphins
Omari Thomas, DT, Tennessee
