AFC East Notebook: Trust Issues in Buffalo, Growth Mindset in Miami, and a Reset in New England
The AFC East is never short on storylines, and as we turn the page to the 2026 offseason, all four teams are already laying the groundwork for what’s next. From Buffalo’s internal challenges with a young wideout to Miami’s edge rusher looking to bounce back, and a new era of accountability in New England, there’s plenty to unpack.
Buffalo Bills: A Work in Progress for Keon Coleman, Defensive Identity Shift Underway
The Bills are no strangers to high expectations, but one player who fell short of internal hopes in 2025 was wide receiver Keon Coleman. GM Brandon Beane didn’t sugarcoat things when discussing Coleman’s rocky season, pointing to maturity concerns and missed time that ultimately eroded trust between the player and the organization.
“He obviously got off the rails a little bit with the maturity stuff, the time factor, and that was disappointing,” Beane said. “You do it a couple times, you get suspended a game.
Now it’s like, how do you get him back in? Who do you put him back over?
And every game he’s missing, the trust and the camaraderie is kind of dropping for him. That’s just the truth.
And I don’t know that fully ever recovered.”
It’s a tough reality for a young player with talent, but the NFL doesn’t wait around. Trust is currency in a locker room, and once it’s lost, the road back is steep. Coleman’s offseason will be critical-not just for his development, but for his standing in Buffalo’s long-term plans.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side, the Bills are looking to retool their identity with the addition of Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator. Known for his aggressive philosophies, Leonhard is expected to transition the front from an odd-man base to an even front, with versatility and disruption at the core.
“We’re going to be an attacking defense up front and in the back end,” Leonhard said. “The biggest stat in football is turnovers, so we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to fly around. We’re going to cause issues for offenses, and we’re going to force them to react to us.”
That’s a clear philosophical pivot for Buffalo, and if Leonhard can get buy-in from the roster, the defense could take on a whole new edge in 2026.
Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson Eyes a Bounce-Back Year
For Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson, 2025 was a test of resilience more than anything else. After a promising rookie campaign, his second year was marred by injuries-including two concussions-that limited him to just four sacks.
“Up and down. I had to deal with a lot of injuries this season,” Robinson said.
“Having to deal with that was different. I was healthy my whole career.
I’m glad it happened. It was a learning experience.
I know what I’ve got to do: just get better this offseason.”
That kind of introspection is what you want to hear from a young pass rusher trying to find his footing. Robinson isn’t focused on outside noise or expectations-he’s locked in on proving something to himself.
“I’ve mainly got to prove it to myself,” he added. “I don’t really got to prove it to anybody but myself.”
Miami’s defense could use a leap from Robinson in 2026. With his athletic tools and now a deeper understanding of what it takes to get through an NFL season, he’s got the chance to turn the page in a big way.
New England Patriots: Vrabel Sets the Tone, Roster Questions Loom
In Foxborough, the Mike Vrabel era is officially underway, and the message is clear: nothing is guaranteed. Vrabel, never one to dance around hard truths, laid out the team’s approach to roster building in blunt terms.
“The team is looking for younger, better, cheaper players. And everybody’s job is not to let that happen,” Vrabel said.
“That’s the counterbalance. That’s why I watched every draft after the one that I was in, because I wanted to see who they were drafting to take my place.”
It’s a philosophy rooted in competition and accountability-two staples of Vrabel’s playing and coaching career. And it’s already being tested with several key players navigating uncertain futures.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, one of the team’s most promising young defenders, made it clear he wants to stay in New England but is leaving contract talks to his agents: “This is where I got drafted. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
On the offensive line, left tackle Will Campbell revealed he played through a torn ligament in his knee during the season-a factor that clearly impacted his performance, especially down the stretch. But Campbell isn’t looking for sympathy.
“It comes with the job,” he said. “When you don’t perform… I was (drafted) high, paid a lot.
So people expect a certain thing, and I expect more of myself. So whenever I don’t perform, I don’t expect everyone to be like, ‘It’s OK, buddy.’
Obviously, it sucks. But it doesn’t suck for anyone more than it sucks for me.”
That kind of accountability is what Vrabel will want across the board. And as for the staff, defensive coordinator Terrell Williams has been medically cleared to return, but Vrabel wasn’t ready to commit to whether Zak Kuhr would remain in the DC role for 2026.
“I’ll work through all those things here in the next couple of weeks, days, however long those decisions take,” he said.
Final Word
The AFC East is always a battleground, and as we head into the heart of the offseason, each team is facing its own version of a crossroads. The Bills are trying to rebuild trust and reshape their defense.
The Dolphins are hoping young talent like Chop Robinson can take the next step. And in New England, a new regime is demanding more from everyone-top to bottom.
The stakes are high, and the margins are thin. Just the way this division likes it.