With Tom Brady's suspension looming, the division is more wide open.
The New England Patriots won the AFC East last season for the seventh straight year, finishing with a 12-4 record and making it to the AFC Championship game. Now, though, the team is heading into training camp under the shadow of Tom Brady's impending four-game suspension. This creates opportunities for another team, perhaps the New York Jets, to make a run for the division title.
The Jets finally settled their quarterback controversy, bringing back Ryan Fitzpatrick on a one-year deal Wednesday. With their man back under center, they'll aim to improve on an 10-6 campaign. The Buffalo Bills are also hoping to make the playoffs after a 16-year drought, while the Miami Dolphins are counting on Ryan Tannehill and the offense to take a step forward this season.
Buffalo Bills
Location: St. John Fisher College, Pittsford, N.Y.
Starting date: July 30
Complete coverage: Buffalo Rumblings
At the start of almost every season, Bills head coach Rex Ryan guarantees that his team will make the playoffs. But this year, the typically boisterous Ryan is taking a more subdued approach heading into training camp.
Perhaps Ryan has an interest in tampering down expectations: Club ownership reportedly gave him a playoff ultimatum in January, though he denies this is a make-or-break season. The Bills failed to gain traction last year, finishing 8-8 and forcing Ryan to admit he set expectations too high.
But with a healthy LeSean McCoy in the backfield and the much-improved Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, the Bills' offense has a chance to be dynamic in 2016. Sammy Watkins finished up his sophomore campaign in impressive fashion, too, asserting himself as one of the best downfield threats in the game -- if he can stay healthy.
One of the biggest questions facing the Bills this summer was whether star cornerback Stephon Gilmore would hold out. The good news for the Bills is that Gilmore said earlier in the week that he would show up to training camp.
Miami Dolphins
Location: Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University, Miami, Fla.
Starting date: July 29
Complete coverage: The Phinsider
After a season littered with turmoil, all eyes in Dolphins training camp this month will be on new head coach Adam Gase. More specifically, if Gase can help take quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the next level.
Despite a tumultuous 2015 campaign, Miami's ownership reportedly still backs Tannehill, who received a $96 million contract extension last year. His performance will likely depend on the development of the Dolphins' young receiving corps, which appears to be a point of focus for the team.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Dolphins training camp without a number of new additions joining the fray. They brought in Mario Williams to help replace the departed Olivier Vernon on the defensive line and took fliers on Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Miami is still remaking its roster this month, signing veteran running back Arian Foster to a one-year deal in order to help a backfield that finished 23rd in the league in rushing.
New England Patriots
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
Starting date: July 28
Complete coverage: Pats Pulpit
For the first time in years, the Patriots' biggest question mark heading into training camp revolves around the quarterback position. With Tom Brady announcing he will no longer appeal his four-game DeflateGate suspension, Jimmy Garoppolo is slated to stand under center for the first quarter of the schedule.
It will be fascinating to see how the Patriots dole out reps between Brady and Garoppolo. Though conventional wisdom says Garoppolo, 24, should receive most of the practice time with the first unit, Brady will also have to get himself acclimated with newcomers Martellus Bennett and Chris Hogan. Given the complexity of the Patriots' offense -- and Brady's competitive nature -- he may demand equal time.
Though Garoppolo's performance will likely be the headline after every preseason game, the remade defensive line must prove it can withstand the losses of Chandler Jones and Dominique Easley, who were traded and released this offseason, respectively. Bill Belichick brought in veterans Chris Long and Terrance Knighton to help fill the void.
New York Jets
Location: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, N.J.
Starting date: July 28
Complete coverage: Gang Green Nation
It wouldn't be a Jets training camp without a suffocating controversy hovering over the team. But this year it was settled shortly, with Fitzpatrick re-signing Wednesday.
With the veteran Fitzpatrick back in the mix, the Jets can count on having a potent offense once again. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker combined for the most touchdown receptions among teammates in Jets history last year, and Matt Forte gives them an additional weapon (his 4802 receiving yards rank second among NFL running backs since 2008).
The Jets were also able to bring back Muhammad Wilkerson with an $86 million extension, which is the kind of deal you get when you record 12 sacks in a season. His presence will be crucial on a defensive line that must replace departed nose tackle Damon Harrison, who inked a $46.2 million deal with the New York Giants in free agency.
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