Team Needs: AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo came out of the gates strong, and looked like they might be a playoff contender after the first six games. But then out came the typical Bills, and into mediocrity they fell. Say what you will about what Marv Levy did running this team over the past few years, but I’m one of the few people who thinks that Marv actually drafted well. Marshawn Lynch is a top notch running back that you can build around, Trent Edwards is a suitable starting QB for a West Coast style offense, Lee Evans is evolving to a very good #1 WR (and will only get better as James Hardy improves as the #2), and Jason Peters is still a Pro Bowl LT even though he was a bit sub par this year. The defense is really where this team needs to focus. Their lack of a pass rush really hurt this team, and I think they are almost forced to address this with the 11th pick overall. Brian Orakpo or Everette Brown should be there for them to take, and I think either one would be a major improvement from what they currently have on their roster. But it also wouldn’t be a major surprise if Buffalo decided to pull the trigger on Rey Maualuga if he is still sitting there. Their linebacking core lacks that physical presence, and Maualuga could be the tone setter they desperately need. If the Bills do go DE, then LB needs to be in the card between rounds two and four. Tight end is another major weakness for this team. Don’t believe the hype in some mock drafts that have Brandon Pettigrew going this high. While I like Pettigrew’s complete blocking and pass catching game, he’s not the kind of offensive threat that is worth a pick this high. The Bills would do very well to look to the second or third round for one of the elite pass catching TE’s, who would be very good values at that point. OC is another very big hole for this team, so much so that I think TE might wait until the third so that a top center prospect like Max Unger of Oregon, Eric Wood of Louisville, or Antoine Caldwell of Alabama can be taken in the second stanza. Depth along the remainder of the OL is also needed, but can be had through the later rounds of day two. Buffalo has some talent, and if Dicky J can’t turn it around this year, I think he’s as good as gone. That’s a tough task to undertake though as this is another conference loaded with very good teams form top to bottom.

New York Jets

I might be the only one who wonders why the Jets got rid of Mangini. I thought he deserved at least another year or two, but that’s why I’m not a GM or an owner of an NFL franchise. In comes Rex Ryan, who I think will make a big impact on this team. He’s the kind of intense coach that the NY media will absolutely love and hate, so it’s a perfect fit. Plus this defense has massively under performed considering how many first round picks are there (off the top of my head: Calvin Pace, Vernon Gholston, Bryan Thomas, Shaun Ellis, and Derrelle Revis). I think Ryan is the guy that will get the most out of these players, and I think the defense is in good shape with the players it has. Another CB and another ILB would definitely help this defense, and I might even venture to say CB is one of the top three biggest needs for this team. Having said this though, I really do think that the horses are in place to make a run for top 10 defensive status without any first day pick upgrades. The big rumor is Ray Lewis may follow his former D-Coordinator to New York, but I don’t buy that. Baltimore won’t let him go that easily. What may be the single biggest question mark for this team is the QB position. Brett Favre is pulling his usual prima donna stunt of not telling the team what he will do. And even if he does, who’s to trust that’s his final decision based on history. I obviously don’t like the guy since I have hated the Packers since birth, but even if you are a fan of Favre’s you have to be sick of this same tired song and dance. I have never thought that Kellen Clemens was an NFL starter, so the Jets really have to think hard about who will be leading this team on offense in 2009. There is a very realistic possibility that one of the top two QB’s (Stafford and Sanchez) could slip to the 17th overall pick, and I think the Jets have to make the move and take one of them. At the middle of the first round, the value against the risk on these top two guys becomes much more tolerable to me. I think Sanchez is the most likely option, and he’d be a very good pick. He’s got that SoCal movie star quality that will fit very well in this market and he will make a lot of money from endorsements. He might not be ready to start right away, but I think Ryan saw what a rookie QB that people don’t trust 100% can do while in Baltimore this year. So I could definitely see them pulling the trigger. Thomas Jones had a monster season, but he’s hitting that 30 plateau where it seems all NFL RB’s fall completely off the map. Leon Washington is a nice change of pace back, but he’s not an every down guy. So taking that into consideration, one of the top two RB’s (Beanie Wells or Knowshon Moreno) might be the pick if Sanchez and Stafford are gone. The Jets could definitely use some help at WR, but I just think the other positions mentioned prior t this are more important. One other spot is RT, as I think Damian Woody has no business playing out on the edge.

New England Patriots

Those of you that know me are aware that I am not a fan of the Patriots. I just don’t like the CIA style secrecy of everything. Or the fact that they will basically list their entire team on the injury report every week just because they don’t want teams to know who is and who isn’t playing. So now that I have panned this team and organization, I will compliment them on one thing: They are the best team in the league in knowing what type of player they are looking for. Their scouting department does a great job of finding the players that aren’t necessarily what others would consider the right value, but what the right value for this team is. They aren’t afraid to reach a little for a player who is a better fit for their team that may not be available when their next pick comes around. I like that as it takes guts. You are telling the world, and other teams, ‘we saw something you didn’t, and you’ll be sorry for saying we reached for this player’. Now don’t go saying Matt Cassel is the perfect example!! He’s an extreme case where they took a flier on a guy that they assumed would always continue to be a career back up. He performed very well this season, and will get rewarded for it by some team, but I’m still not sold on him as a franchise caliber QB. Those players surrounding him in New England helped make him look awfully good. As for their needs, the Patriots really just need to continue to get younger on defense. Last year’s DROY Jerod Mayo proved he’s the truth, so he now needs some partners in crime in the LB core. Another rush OLB and an instinctive coverage ILB would be ideal fits. The rush OLB could be had in the first with a guy like Michael Johnson of Georgia Tech, NIU’s Larry English, or Clay Matthews Jr of USC. The ILB spot could also be filled with a guy like James Lauranitis if he’s to slip. But CB may technically be a bigger need for this team than LB. Plus, this team is pretty well known for finding LB’s that fit their system through the later rounds. Someone like Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest or D.J. Moore of Vanderbilt would be excellent values if they are still around at pick #23. With two picks in the second round, the Pats can grab whatever piece was not take in the first. Plus, there is always the possibility that they trade Cassel to a team like the Vikings for their first rounder. Then New England can take their pick at any one of these positions. Another spot that I think the Patriots need to address at some point is their LT of the future Matt Light isn’t getting younger, and he’s never been a guy who you think of right away with the best LT’s in the league. So upgrading this spot would be ideal, but I’m just not sure the value is there when they will be picking.

Miami Dolphins

I still can’t believe the Dolphins made the playoffs. From 1-15 to the AFC East crown and a shot at a Super Bowl berth. You hear that Lions fans? There may be hope after all. This turnaround was courtesy of one of the best talent evaluators of all time, Bill Parcells. I was never a fan of him as a coach, but he always had a great eye for talent when it came to the draft. I’d love to see him stay on for a few more years, but with the recent change in ownership and his hand picked staff in place, I see him leaving after this year is over. Miami is in good shape to make another push this year as they built this team the right way in the draft last year. I’m a strict believer that you need to draft inside-out, so you must start with your OL/DL and move outward from there. Jake Long was the right pick at #1 overall last year, and he proved this with a Pro Bowl year. I want to see all of those experts like Mike Mayock who said he’d never be a good LT in the league speak up now! I felt he was the safest pick in last year’s draft, and he’ll be a cornerstone for this franchise for years to come. They also drafted my favorite offensive lineman last year, Donald Thomas of UConn. Thomas was slated to start at OG, but suffered a season ending injury right before the season started , so he spent the year on IR. I expect him to be at full strength this year and will be a starter. If you read other mock drafts or media outlets, many people will say OG is a weakness for this team. I think those words will come back to haunt when Thomas returns and plays to the level I expect he will. Chad Pennington had a fantastic come back year, and this is the perfect situation for him. He can bridge the gap while Miami decides if Chad Henne is their QB of the future, and he’s a smart game manager who will not lose games for them. The running game looks to be in good shape with a healthy Ronnie Brown and a weed-less Ricky Williams. But the one glaring hole on this offense is at WR. Ted Ginn Jr showed some flashes of big play ability, but he is still very raw and should not be considered more than a deep threat to keep defenses honest. To me, a veteran at this position is the best idea, but I do think the Dolphins will need to draft a WR within the first three rounds. The defensive side of the ball is where I expect the bulk of Miami’s 2009 draft to be spent. Jerry Porter had an unreal season, but I just don’t see that continuing for much longer. Plus there isn’t much on the other side of Porter, so they would really use at least one rush OLB, if not two. The ILB position also needs an influx of youth and talent. Channing Crowder is a solid player at one of the two spots, but he has a very spotty injury history. So once again, this is a position that needs at least one (preferably two) player drafted fairly early. Nose tackle is another spot I’d like to see Miami draft, as Jason Ferguson could use someone to rotate with at this position. The only issue is that 3-4 NT’s are hard to find, and since they are the key to making the run D work in this scheme, they go fast. A guy like Ron Brace of Boston College would be a very solid pick in the second round. Safety and corner are also concerns, but I think this can be addressed a bit later. Especially if the Dolphins go with pass rushers early, as a good pass rush will help cover up a second tier defensive backfield.