The AFC East may have shifted around this offseason, but the Bills are still the team that looks built to set the tone in 2026.
Buffalo had one of the wildest offseasons in the league, yet the overall picture still comes back to hope. Free agency and the NFL Draft helped shape that feeling, and the preseason only added to it. The Bills went 3-0, finishing with two blowout wins and a comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There was plenty of movement across the organization, too. Buffalo promoted Joe Brady to head coach, added new coordinators in all three phases, and made a noticeable overhaul to the roster, especially on defense. Big change does not always scream “instant contender,” but the Bills are not being viewed that way heading into this season.
That confidence becomes even stronger when you look around the division.
Lou Scataglia of NFL Spin Zone recently broke down every NFL team in one word for the upcoming season, and his AFC East labels say a lot about where Buffalo stands. He tagged the Bills as “new,” while the Patriots were labeled “regression,” the Dolphins “talentless,” and the Jets “2027.”
Scataglia wrote: " The Buffalo Bills have a new head coach and new weapon on offense, as the team promoted Joe Brady to the head coach spot and also traded for DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears. These offensive-focused changes could finally be what the Bills were missing from getting over the hump and making the Super Bowl. After years of falling short, which has included nearly 10 total playoff wins in the Josh Allen era, the Bills needed to try something new this year."
The bigger point is simple: Buffalo has the clearest path back to the top of the AFC East. The Bills were still one of the league’s best teams last season, even if they ended up losing the division to the Patriots, with New England benefiting from one of the easiest schedules we have ever seen.
The rest of the division brings its own baggage. New England is coming off a successful season that ended badly in the Super Bowl, where the Patriots were embarrassed by the Seattle Seahawks.
The Jets moved backward instead of forward with Aaron Glenn last season. And the Dolphins have leaned into a real rebuild, outside of re-signing De'Von Achane.
So if Buffalo does not win the AFC East in 2026, that would raise plenty of questions. Around Buffalo and beyond, people would have a lot to say about what went wrong.
In Other News...
Bills Just Added A Familiar Name To Their Quarterback Room
The Bills wasted little time filling out their practice squad after trimming to 53, and one of the more interesting names in the group is Luke Buechele. The quarterback has been around the block a bit, with prior stops on both the Chiefs and Bills practice squads as well as time on active rosters, giving Buffalo another familiar depth option as it settles its back end.
Buechele also brings a little recent game experience after appearing in one game for Kansas City in 2025, and his college background at SMU and Texas gives him a sturdy football resume. For Buffalo, the move is less about headlines than continuity, but adding a quarterback who already knows the terrain can matter once the season starts asking for emergency answers. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Add A Former Top Pick With Everything To Prove
The Bills have settled their 53-man roster and filled out the practice squad, and the moves brought a little of everything: familiar names coming back, new depth at key spots and at least one addition that stands out because of his pedigree. Buffalo also lost cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. on waivers to the Browns, but the larger picture was the wave of signings that followed, including wide receiver Greg Dortch and offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr.
Wills is the most intriguing name in the group because the former top-10 pick arrives with something to prove after missing last season and failing to make the Bears final roster. For a Bills team that is always balancing development with immediate depth, the practice squad offers him a reset and Buffalo a low-risk look at whether there is still starter-level talent waiting to be unlocked. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Roster Choice Leaves One Position Looking Dangerously Thin
The Bills 53-man roster is in place for 2026, and Brandon Beane has made clear he believes the group has what it takes to chase a championship. Even so, the final build leaves some obvious pressure points, including a thinner-than-ideal cornerback room and a relatively lean collection of wideouts and tight ends. Christian Benford, D.J. Moore, Dalton Kincaid and Keleki Latu are among the players who made the cut as Buffalo settled on its opening-day shape.
One of the more notable choices was on offense, where the Bills chose not to carry a traditional fullback. Instead, they are planning to lean on tight end Jackson Hawes when that role is needed, a move that adds versatility but also trims away a layer of insurance. For a team talking about big-picture goals, it is the kind of roster decision that can look smart in August and a little more precarious once injuries and game plans start piling up. [Read more 🡒]