The AFC East was somewhat of a welcome surprise in 2025.
For starters, nobody saw the New England Patriots going 14-3 and snagging the division crown away from the Buffalo Bills, but that’s what happened.
Now, how did these AFC east offensive linemen figure into the equation when it came to deciding the division last year, and how will they figure in when it comes to the 2026 season?
For the New York Jets, can they continue to rebuild this young offensive line into something resembling decency?
Can the Miami Dolphins rebuild begin with some protection for star running Devon Achane and recently signed quarterback Malik Willis?
And lastly, for the Patriots and Bills, can their offensive lines continue to improve so that they can build on playoff seasons in 2025?
With that said, here is a look at the top five AFC East offensive linemen for 2026.
The Best AFC East Offensive Linemen for 2026
5. Connor McGovern, C/G, Buffalo Bills
First up is the versatile Bills staple, Conner McGovern, who is certainly one of the Best AFC East Offensive Linemen.
McGovern has been with the Bills since 2023 and in that time has become a huge part of protecting superstar quarterback Josh Allen.
Despite a bit of a down year in 2025 after a Pro Bowl appearance in 2024, the 28-year-old former third round pick still earned a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 69.1 which was 15th out of the 40 qualified centers in the NFL.
Even more impressively, his 73.4 pass blocking grade was sixth among centers as he allowed zero sacks on the season and helped keep Josh Allen upright.
He has also missed just two games in the last three seasons making him someone who the Bills can count on for his durability.
McGovern will enter 2026 in year one of a new four-year, $52,000,000 contract he signed this offseason and while the Bills hope he can return to Pro Bowl form, just having his consistency around will help this offensive line be well above average again in 2026.
4. Joe Tippmann, G, New York Jets
The now 25-year-old Tippmann was one of the lone bright spots in 2025 for the 3-14 Jets in year one under head coach Aaron Glenn.
After playing his entire year three at age 24, Tippmann earned a PFF grade of 66 which was good for 33rd among the 81 qualified guards.
But what was more encouraging was the consistency as both a run blocker and pass blocker.
Tippmann’s pass blocking grade of 69 was 23rd among guards while his run blocking grade of 66.7 was good for 28th.
That consistency as a 24-year-old is precisely why Tippmann makes this list and has room for growth on it moving forward.
The former second round pick hasn’t missed a game in the last two seasons and now will hopefully get some reinforcements in around him as the Jets try and move in a better direction as a franchise.
Tippmann signed a new four-year, $62,000,000 extension this offseason which will kick in for the 2027 season and keep him in New York through 2029.
The Jets are hoping Tippmann continues to grow even more as a player during that time.
3. Dion Dawkins, T, Buffalo Bills
And now for the oldest player on the list: 32-year-old Dion Dawkins of the Bills.
Dawkins is as reliable as they come playing in at least 16 games in all nine of his NFL seasons since he was a second-round pick of the Bills in 2017 and beyond just being reliable, he’s been pretty great on the field as well.
Dawkins has now made the Pro Bowl five years in a row and has been the biggest key in protecting Josh Allen from opposing edge rushers.
PFF gave him a pass blocking grade of 81.8 which was good for seventh among the 89 qualified tackles in 2025 and while Dawkins’ overall PFF grade was just a 74.1 (26th among tackles), his main role is to protect Allen, and he does it exceptionally well.
He also allowed just six sacks on Allen despite playing 957 snaps on the season.
Dawkins is under contract through 2027 on a three-year, $60,060,000 extension he signed in 2024 and nobody is happier to see him still around than Allen and the Bills.
2. Aaron Brewer, C, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins might be rebuilding but Aaron Brewer is an absolute star of an offensive lineman and a phenomenal story as well.
The 28-year-old has gone from being undrafted out of Texas State in 2020 and starting just six games in his first two seasons combined for the Titans to now being one of the best centers in the entire NFL.
Brewer made his first All Pro team in 2025 as a second team member and he also earned a PFF grade of 87.4 which was second in the entire NFL among the 40 qualified centers.
His run blocking grade of 91.5 was first among centers as he created holes for running back De’Von Achane to run through and his pass blocking of 71.2 was still good for 10th among centers.
Brewer also signed a new extension with the Dolphins which will be worth $52,500,000 through 2029.
For a former undrafted rookie, Brewer’s ascendence is nothing short of incredible and while the Dolphins aren’t likely to impress anyone this season, Brewer is likely to continue to be one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL.
1. Michael Onwenu, G, New England Patriots
The race for the top spot on this list was truthfully as close as it could possibly get, but in at number one is Patriots guard Michael Onwenu.
Despite never being named to a Pro Bowl or being an All Pro, Onwenu is widely regarded as one of the better offensive linemen in the league by just about everyone.
The former sixth-round pick has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Patriots and in that time has become one of the most consistent guards in the league.
In 2025, PFF gave him top ten grades as both a run blocker and pass blocker. His 74.2 run blocking grade was good for 10th among guards while his 78.2 pass blocking grade was fifth. He also allowed just two sacks on the entire season.
His overall grade of 78.2 was also top ten among guards putting him at seventh.
Onwenu is probably overdue to make a Pro Bowl or be an All Pro, and maybe he will as he enters his age 28 season, but, even if that doesn’t come to fruition, he just continues to be one of the best in his role year after year.
Unless he comes to an extension with the Patriots, Onwenu will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027 and plenty of teams will be lining up to sign him.
If the Patriots want to build on last year’s Super Bowl appearance and 14-3 season their first course of action should be continuing to protect quarterback Drake Maye.
Keeping this star offensive linemen in town would be a good step in that direction.
Main Image: Isabella Frias-Imagn Images
