Four AFC East players who will make the biggest leap in 2023

The AFC East continues to attract star veterans to an already crowded division, but several of its homegrown talents are on their way to becoming household names. Here are four players—one for each team—who have the opportunity to take a significant step forward this season:

Buffalo Bills 

Gregory Rousseau, DE: Last season, Rousseau began to make significant strides, but Buffalo's defensive woes down the stretch and his poor results in the playoffs overshadowed his progress. Rousseau battled a mid-season ankle injury and still finished with eight sacks, tied for the team lead and double his total from his rookie season. 

According to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia, star OLB Von Miller could begin 2023 on the PUP list due to last season's ACL injury. Even though the 6-foot-6, 267-pound pass-rusher struggled once Miller went down, Rousseau started his first two seasons on the right foot. In the first four games of 2022, he racked up four sacks.

Buffalo needs its former first-rounder to have another hot start and maintain his production in case Miller doesn't return to form.

Miami Dolphins

Jaelan Phillips, OLB: The former No. 2-ranked high school recruit had a turbulent collegiate career, suffering multiple injuries that forced him to retire briefly before a transfer from UCLA to Miami. Yet, despite all his challenges, he has shown flashes of being the player he has the potential to be.

The Dolphins drafted Phillips 15th overall in 2021 after playing one season for the Miami Hurricanes, and he made an immediate impact in his rookie season, recording 8.5 sacks. While his sack total dipped to seven in 2022, Phillips was more consistent and improved against the run.

Per Pro Football Focus, Phillips' run-defense grade jumped from 44.8 to 74.8 from his first to his second season. In addition, his pass-rushing grade went from 61.3 to 90.1, and his overall defense grade climbed from 53.7 to 88.8, the sixth highest among edge rushers. 

With a full season alongside Bradley Chubb and having recent acquisition Jalen Ramsey roaming the secondary, Phillips could be on track to deliver Pro Bowl-caliber production in 2023.

New England Patriots

Tyquan Thornton, WR: After a dreadful year for the New England offense, the Patriots brought back former Texans HC Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator and QBs coach. New England also added more playmakers, including former Chiefs wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, though he isn't a No. 1 option, which could present Thornton with the opportunity for a major role. 

Thornton, the 50th pick in last year's draft, missed the first month of his rookie season with a fractured clavicle and didn't contribute much when he returned to the lineup. He caught 22 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns last season but showed glimpses of promise, notably in a 60-yard effort during New England's Week 17 win over Miami. 

With O'Brien calling plays, newly retired safety Devin McCourty believes Thornton could be a catalyst for the revamped offense. 

"With [Thornton's] speed and his ability to get down the field horizontally and vertically, I think he definitely has a chance [to be a mismatch for defenders]," McCourty told NBC Sports Boston's Tom E. Curran. 

New York Jets

Garrett Wilson, WR: Considering the former Buckeye's output when he shared the field with Zach Wilson last season, his achievement as Offensive Rookie of the Year is all the more impressive.

Wilson posted 49 receptions for 656 yards and four touchdowns in eight games without the BYU product throwing to him. It's a stark contrast to the 447 yards on 34 catches he amassed in nine games with Wilson, a flop for the Jets.

Heading into 2023, Wilson faces a far better situation than last year's lackluster revolving door of signal-callers as the Jets pulled off the offseason's biggest trade to land Aaron Rodgers.

Although Rodgers has yet to invite Wilson to come along to any sporting events, he'll quickly establish himself as the 39-year-old's favorite receiver. When Rodgers develops an affinity for a particular receiver, he tends to give him a high volume of targets, putting Wilson in a prime position to surpass last season's totals.