Early predictions for the 2026 NFL season don't favor the Patriots' chances of replicating last year's success, with most analysts already awarding the Bills the AFC East title.
Although New England is still projected to hold second place, they're not expected to win too many games during what is already considered a very tough schedule, so if this prediction becomes a reality, they'll need all the help they can get to regain the divisional crown in 2027.
One sure way they could accomplish that is by the continued irrelevance of the Dolphins and Jets, neither of whom is expected to do much winning any time soon. With new quarterbacks under center and a new coaching staff in Miami, both teams appear to be in better situations than they have been, but that doesn't mean much.
It certainly won't for the Jets if their best wide receiver, Garrett Wilson, eventually demands a trade after enduring another disastrous season in New York.
The 25-year-old has been a solid weapon for any and all quarterbacks the Jets have thrown out there, recording three 1,000+ receiving-yard seasons before missing most of last year. Because of his rise to stardom, it wouldn't be shocking if he soon wants off the dysfunctional team.
Although that might not have a direct correlation to the Patriots at first glance, seeing another superstar receiver leave the division certainly helps.
The Jets' constant losing could prompt their superstar playmaker to demand a trade sooner rather than later
While predicting the next wave of NFL players to demand a trade after a wild offseason filled with blockbuster moves, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport lists Wilson as one of the top-6 candidates to do so.
Because he's been part of the Jets through some of their most chaotic times in recent memory, and there isn't a light at the end of the tunnel just yet, Davenport predicts that Wilson's frustrations could come to a head and he could demand a trade as soon as this fall, if not next offseason.
"Garrett Wilson is entering his fifth season with the team and second after signing a four-year, $130 million contract extension. Over that four-year span, the Jets have posted a 22-46 record and finished no higher than third in the AFC East."
Given that the AFC East is about to take on a gauntlet of teams in 2026, there's a good chance the Jets don't see much improvement this fall, and that could lead to massive changes from top to bottom, including another new head coach.
It's clear that Geno Smith is not the long-term answer at quarterback, and it's unclear whether the Jets feel they have a rightful replacement for the veteran. And because of that, Wilson could grow frustrated, as Davenport suggests, and want off the team.
That's a huge win for a team like the Patriots, as seeing another playmaker that their defense has to account for twice a season would make things even easier when the Jets are on the schedule.
In the big scheme of things, it might not be a massive win for them, considering the Jets don't appear to be any closer to being legitimately competitve enough to give the Patriots a hard time on game day, but it would presumably be a big deal for an offense that has relied on Wilson for the last four years, and that's always a win for their rivals.
Add us as a preferred source on Google