Best of the AFC East: QB, draft pick, fans and more

The season is creeping closer. Before we know it, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (Aug. 3) will be here. As we speed toward the start of the 2023 season, let's examine the best of the AFC East. 

BEST QB | Josh Allen, Bills: In an all-time ranking, Jets QB Aaron Rodgers would undoubtedly be the pick here, but when it comes to selecting the best quarterback for this season, Allen's the obvious choice. Since 2020, Allen is responsible for the most touchdowns among quarterbacks (130) and is a distant second to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes in total yards (15,192) and wins (37). 

Despite Allen's lack of a Super Bowl title, he's the only AFC East QB with a playoff victory dating to the 2021 season. With Buffalo having -245 odds to return to the postseason, per OddsChecker, perhaps 2023 will finally be Allen's moment to take home the Lombardi Trophy. 

BEST COACH | Bill Belichick, Patriots: Were you expecting second-year HC Mike McDaniel or Robert Saleh and his 11-23 career record? Although Buffalo's Sean McDermott will likely win his fourth straight division crown this season, ignoring Belichick as the best coach in the AFC East would be unjust. 

The only knock on Belichick is his lackluster record without Tom Brady (79-87), but it's worth noting he won 10 games and made the playoffs with a rookie quarterback in 2021. Even so, unless Chiefs HC Andy Reid is walking into an AFC East team's building, the eight-time champion has no real competition to dethrone him as the division's best coach. 

BEST 2023 FREE-AGENT SIGNING | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots: Although AFC East teams were heavily involved in the trade market, with the Jets adding Rodgers and Miami landing cornerback Jalen Ramsey, there weren't many high-profile free-agent acquisitions throughout the division. Considering the Patriots lost their leading receiver from last season, Jakobi Meyers, in free agency, Smith-Schuster's signing is the easy choice here. 

The Patriots receiving corps was dismal in 2022, with no wideout topping 850 yards and the unit collectively recording the 12th-fewest yards by a team (3,815). As QB Mac Jones prepares for a career-defining season, Smith-Schuster — who racked up 933 yards receiving a year ago with Kansas City — is poised to be the top option in New England's passing game. 

BEST 2023 DRAFT PICK | Christian Gonzalez, Patriots: Any time a team can draft a prospect like Gonzalez, considered a top-10 talent by most analysts, at pick 17, it's hard to argue another selection being a better value. The pick is especially commendable because the Patriots traded back and still got their guy, which in turn caused the Jets to lose out on selecting offensive tackle Broderick Jones. (The Steelers drafted him.)

Gonzalez joins a defense that picked off 19 passes last season — the third-most in the league — and is anchored by dark-horse Defensive Player of the Year candidate Matthew Judon. With receivers the likes of Tyreek Hill (Miami), Stefon Diggs (Buffalo), Jaylen Waddle (Miami) and Garrett Wilson (NY Jets) in the division, adding Gonzalez to an already-strong secondary was necessary. 

BEST FANS | Buffalo Bills: Patriots fans have reveled in success during the Belichick era, and Jets fans' loyalty to one of the most frustrating franchises to support is admirable. However, it's impossible to pick a fan base in the NFL, let alone the AFC East, more devoted to their team than Bills Mafia.

Aside from jumping through tables, using bowling balls as shot glasses and showering themselves with condiments, what other fan base would plow their offensive tackle's driveway after a snowstorm to ensure he doesn't miss the team flight? If Allen ever manages to lead the Bills to their first Super Bowl victory, it'll be exciting to witness what outrageous celebrations the Buffalonians break out next.