For most of the past three decades, the New England Patriots have dominated the AFC East with little to no opposition. The Buffalo Bills threatened their supremacy with five consecutive divisional titles, but the Pats reclaimed the top spot last season.
Besides their strong play, the Pats have also been blessed with a dysfunctional division. The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have rarely, if ever, been a legitimate threat, and that won't be any different in 2026.
Both teams are in quarterback purgatory right now, especially the Jets. That's why Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox believes they could be interested in Baker Mayfield. That might sound like a problem for the rest of the division, but it could actually be a blessing in disguise.
Baker Mayfield on the Jets would actually be good for the Patriots
"While the Jets currently have a veteran bridge QB in Geno Smith, Mayfield is younger and possesses much more upside," wrote Knox. "Adding Mayfield and then using those three first-rounders to further bolster his supporting cast could be a very intriguing option—especially with a solid offensive core already in place."
The Jets have three first-round picks in an NFL Draft class that seems to be absolutely stacked at quarterback. As such, having them waste a year or two with an inconsistent signal-caller like Mayfield would certainly be the lesser of two evils for the Pats.
Mayfield is unlikely to take a one-year deal. He'll have options, so the Jets will have to give him two or three years at least if they want to get him. They could have him run point while whoever they get in the draft sits and learns for a year or two, or they could simply roll with him and use their first-rounders to address other issues.
Of course, going after Mayfield with all the draft capital they have would be terrible asset management and hard to justify. Then again, it's the New York Jets we're talking about; that's exactly what they do.
Then, Mayfield would be just good enough for them to keep them hovering around .500, and not much more. He'll play like a superstar for half the season only to play like a bottom-five quarterback for the remainder of the year.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Granted, Mayfield can be a problem now and then. He may even win some divisional games for the Jets and look poised to leap a former No. 1 pick finally. But when has that ever been sustainable? He's always a prime candidate for regression; the ultimate Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
For the first time in forever, the Jets actually have a clear path to getting back on their feet. They will have their shot at any prospect they want, and they have a promising core of young players to build around.
But if there's a team that can find a way to mess things up and shoot itself in the foot, that's definitely the good-old Jets. Going after Mayfield might seem like a step forward, but it would actually do more harm than good in the long run. That's why they might actually pull it off.
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