2025 Passer Preview, Part 5: AFC East Quarterbacks
As the NFL landscape shifts toward a new era of quarterback play, the 2025 season promises a fascinating mix of established elites, rising stars, aging legends, and system-driven wildcards. This eight-part series breaks down each division’s projected starting quarterbacks, blending statistical output from 2024 with contextual analysis and forward-looking insight.
As a part of this series, each passer will be evaluated based on situation, skill, and projections for what they bring to the table in 2025 for their team. In addition, every QB will be placed in one of the following 5 Tiers:
1. The Big 4
2. Elite
3. Above Replacement
4. Risers/Bridge Guys/Rookies
5. Cellar Dwellers
Up next it’s the AFC East, home to the reigning league MVP, an exciting sophomore, and a couple of redemption arcs.
Previous articles in this series:
AFC North
NFC North
AFC South
NFC South
JOSH ALLEN — BUFFALO BILLS 
2024 STATS:
Age: 29 Exp: 7 GP: 17 CMP: 307 ATT: 483 YDS: 3,731 TD: 28 INT: 6 RTG: 101.4 Rush Yds: 531 Rush TDs: 12
QB Tier 1: The Big 4
2025 Projection: MVP Candidate
Allen has nothing left to prove as an elite talent at the QB position. He’s been arguably the most consistent and most dynamic QB in football the last 2 seasons alongside Lamar Jackson while Patrick Mahomes had settled into more of a game-manager role for the Chiefs. The only questions left to answer for Allen: can he get over the “Mahomes Mountain” in January, and can he sustain elite-level play longterm with his more punishing playstyle? Expect him to be in the conversation for the League MVP award again in 2025.
TUA TAGOVAILOA — MIAMI DOLPHINS 
2024 STATS:
Age: 26 Exp: 5 GP: 11 CMP: 291 ATT: 399 YDS: 2,867 TD: 19 INT: 7 RTG: 101.4 Rush Yds: 49 Rush TDs: 0
QB Tier 3: Above Replacement
2025 Projection: High-end system passer within structure
For Tua, the questions are a little more complex, as they revolve mostly around his health and ability to play at his best when the lights are brightest. When healthy, Tua leads the most dynamic passing offense in the league by EPA/play and success rate the last 2 seasons. His quick release, field vision, and accuracy are the assets that make him most dangerous in this Mike McDaniel offense. With a lot on the line for both players in 2025, a healthy season is a must. If he can play the whole year, Miami’s offense should be playoff-level.
DRAKE MAYE — NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
2024 STATS:
Age: 23 Exp: 1 GP: 13 CMP: 225 ATT: 338 YDS: 2,276 TD: 15 INT: 10 RTG: 88.1 Rush Yds: 421 Rush TDs: 2
QB Tier 4: Riser
2025 Projection: 2nd-year leap into Top 12 QB conversation
This is the QB I’m most excited about in 2025. Forced into action as a Rookie last season after Jacoby Brisset got hurt, the 2024 3rd overall pick showed all the signs of why he was such a highly rated prospect, and my QB1 in the class last offseason. This year, Maye looks to improve his efficiency, ranking outside the top 20 in EPA/play last season, but placing as a Top 10 passer in Completion % Over Expected (CPOE), showcasing his ability to make the big throws all over the field.
JUSTIN FIELDS — NEW YORK JETS 
2024 STATS:
Age: 26 Exp: 4 GP: 6 CMP: 106 ATT: 161 YDS: 1,106 TD: 5 INT: 1 RTG: 93.3 Rush Yds: 289 Rush TDs: 5
QB Tier 4: Riser/Bridge Guy
2025 Projection: Elite rusher, Low-end passer
Fields only got 6 games in Pittsburgh last season, but he scored a total of 10 TDs, including 5 rushing scores, and he protected the ball, something he was unable to do in Chicago. If the rushing success and limited mistakes translate over to his play in New York, and he can improve slightly as a multi-level passer, you might just be able to build something around the ultra-talented player. I project Fields will have a highly-successful campaign as a rusher, but whether it is enough to overcome his limitations as a passer, well, that remains to be seen.
For more NFL analysis from Jeremy Betz, click HERE.