AFC East Draft Breakdown

by Tom Nieradka

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Almost more than any other division so far, the AFC East has been very active this offseason, adding big-time free agents and instant impact draft picks. But, how is this all going to play out, and is anyone going to be able to topple the Patriots from the top of the division this year?

Let's take a look.

4. Buffalo Bills:

I was not a fan of the Bills draft style this season.

They used their first pick, nine overall, to go out and grab the best running back in the draft in CJ Spiller. No question this guy is a playmaker, but the problem here lies in the fact that the Bills already have two effective running backs. Fred Jackson ran for 1,000 yards last season, and Marshawn Lynch is only one year removed from doing the same thing. 

There was no reason for the Bills to grab this running back when they had such huge needs, primarily at quarterback and on the offensive line.

Their line allowed 46 sacks last season, good for 4^th worst in the NFL. And their quarterbacks, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards, are most certainly not the quarterbacks of the future. The Bills passed on multiple opportunities to grab Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, both of whom fell far below their expected draft positions.

And don’t forget they also lost Terrel Owens this offseason, and as crappy as he was in '09, he drew a lot of coverage and did help out what was a horrible offense. As for their other picks, they went out and grabbed a defensive end and a tackle, which is a boost to the rush defense but really not their biggest needs.

Ultimately the Bills ignored their biggest needs this offseason, and still possess far below average quarterbacks and a horrible offensive line. These needs, especially at the essential position of quarterback, will keep the Bills from moving out of last place in the near future.

3. Miami Dolphins:

The Fins had a good offseason, addressing their biggest needs on the defensive line and at wide receiver, well at the same time not hugely downgrading the system with the players that they did lose.

First thing’s first, the Dolphins went out and got Brandon Marshall from the Broncos. Anytime you add one of the best receivers in the game to your team, it would be tough for the team not to get better. QB Chad Henne looked good last season, and now with Marshall to throw to and one of the best running games in the league to back him up, this offense has to potential to be very good.

Looking at their draft picks, the Fins did rather well. With their first round pick (28), they went ahead and took defensive tackle Jared Odrick, and in the second round they took defensive end Koa Misi. These guys can both play well, and in the additions to the defensive line really help to make the losses of Jason Taylor and Joey Porter not so extreme. Not to mention the addition of Karlos Dansby, who should perform fat better than Porter ever did in a Dolphins uniform.

All in all, they replaced two aging sack guys with two young ones, and if these guys pan out the Fins defense might not be so bad, however at this point its likely to be on par with last season.

Better than last year? Probably a little bit, but I don’t think they’re going to get past the Pats or Jets yet.

2. New England Patriots:

The Pats had a good draft this offseason, however, one might also question the lack of free-agent acquisitions or trades, and wonder whether or not they have enough to beat out the Jets.

In the draft the Pats grabbed cornerback Devin McCourty early, then proceeded to take tight end Rob Gronkowski, DE Jermaine Cunningham, and LB Brandon Spikes.

Overall, very solid picks that make sense. McCourty is a good cover CB that helps them out opposite Shawn Springs, as well as in the return game.

The Patriots also really needed a tight end who could catch the football, as Ben Watson had plenty of issues with that - and Gronkowski fits that mold. Cunningham helps the pass rush, but it still remains an issue.

And finally, Brandon Spikes is a great pick. Yeah, he’s slow, but he also is very motivated and was a monster at Florida. He adds attitude to that defense that they lost when Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi left the team, and he just seems like a true Patriots player.

The only concerns here are the lack of acquisitions outside the draft. The Pats still have a very weak pass rush, as Tully Banta-Cain isn’t scaring anyone and Adalius Thomas is now gone.

They are also looking weak at wide receiver. Wes Welker is a question mark coming off the injury, Moss is getting old, and Julian Edelman shows promise but he’s not there yet. The way the Pats run their offense requires good solid receivers, and I don’t know if they have enough of them. Also, as in the past, they have no running game to speak of and don’t really give a damn.

The Pats look good like always, but there’s one team I think is better.

1. New York Jets:

The Jets have had the most active offseason in the AFC East, and maybe even of any team in the NFL.

They’ve added a ton to both the offense and defense, and made moves to shed some age and shake up the veterans.

To begin with the offense, they traded their fifth rounder for former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, a guy coming off a thousand yard season. They also got rid of Thomas Jones and added LaDanian Tomlinson, a wash in my book - it would be tough for any running back to be bad behind the Jet offensive line, even minus the aging Allen Fancea. 

And its difficult to forget the addition of cornerback Antonio Cromarite, a guy coming off a down year, but who has the potential to be among the best corners in the league (he showed it two years ago).

Looking at the draft, the Jets used their first round pick on cornerback Kyle Wilson, a guy who many had as the top CB on the board. Yes, the Jet secondary just got even scarier. Second round they took a bit of a project in Vladimir Ducasse to play as offensive guard, and eventually slide to tackle.

In the fourth round, the Jets selected running back Joe McKnight to act as their new scat back, now that Leon Washington is in Seattle, and in the fifth took fullback John Connor, who despite defeating the Terminator multiple times now, is also a high upside player to develop behind one of the best fullbacks in the NFL in Tony Richardson.

The Jets did a lot to shore up both the offense and defense, and look to be the team to beat in the AFC East this season.