Can someone catch a Buffalo bill? What gets better in the next few months is how you do it.
In New England, the Patriots have the right coach quarterback combination for Mike Vrabel and Drake May. They also have the league’s most cap space and top five picks, giving New England plenty of ammunition to make the move. However, few teams need to add as much talent as Patriots before they can become competitive.
Meanwhile, Dolphins are about to return to the playoffs after missing out on the first time in three years. Miami only has one year’s receiver Tyreek Hill and wants to get a healthy season from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. But even if you have these two in the building, you still need more dolphins.
Then there will be a new coach and general manager in January and the New York Jets who received a sea change. Aaron Glenn has to remake his culture at Flowham Park and starts under the centre.
Take a look at each of the four AFC East teams and discuss the biggest needs you’ll want to go in the offseason.
One move they should make: Find a pass rusher that can win the playoff game
Three years ago, Bills general manager Brandon Bean tried to put the final touches on the championship contender. After losing a now 13-second game to the Kansas City Chiefs, Bean surprised the league by signing a six-year, $120 million deal to the future Hall of Fame Edge Rushphone Miller.
Unfortunately, neither of the contracts was expected for Miller and the Invoice. Miller tore the ACL in his first campaign, but it hasn’t been the same since. The mirror fits 36 times with a buffalo and notched in 14 bags. More importantly, he has zero sacks in five postseason games.
The invoice is pretty strict with cap space and options to create more, but you need to find the right value. Buffalo could see people like Herson Reddick having a miserable year with the Jets, but his name also has four-figure sack season.
One move they should make: Start diversifying offensive weapons
For years, dolphins have been hit by the fastest attacks in football. Around him are Hill and Jaylen Waddle. In the backfield, Raheem Mostert and De’von Achane.
It’s time for Miami to add physical punches to units that have longer speeds but shorter power. With Hill likely entering the final season with Finn, Miami should consider getting a body or two for Tagovailoa. Whether in free agency or draft, dolphins have the ability for catchers to acquire big catchers and jump balls, and they will need to manipulate a different skill set on Tagovailoa.
In the backfield, speed can continue to dominate the day, but it would be wise to get someone who can get tough yards between tackles. For manager Mike McDaniel, he needs a variety of ways to beat the best teams in the AFC.
One move they should make: Add Drake May’s Elite Playmaker
The Patriots struggled to finish in the final spot in the Division in 2024, but they have reason to believe that both the immediate and long-term future is bright.
New England has a new coach on his old face and is hiring Vrabel to replace Jerrod Mayo. Vrabel will take over the team with the league’s most cap space (approximately $128 million) and a fourth pick. There are also second-year quarterback Drake May. Drake May appears to be the top priority of sports in New England.
This offseason, general manager Elliot Wolf has to find the true talent surrounding May. The attack line requires an upgrade, but it could also be extensive enough to challenge the second on the other side. There is an option to explore, but the tags applied to Startee Higgins in the Cincinnati Bengals take the largest name from the board. Still, between free agency and draft, New England has a way to explore.
One move they should make: Understand short-term plans at a quarterback
With the Jets moving out of Aaron Rodgers, the new brass has to figure out the subsequent steps of replacing him. It’s not easy.
Rodgers was inactive and injured during two seasons at Gotham, but the next step is difficult. The Jets can have some interesting options for free agency, but most of them are veteran stop-gups from Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson to Justin Fields and Sam Darnold. Of course, Darnold is the only potential long-term answer, but will he really return to New York after struggling there through the rookie deal?
If the Jets try to backfill Rodgers’ spots through the draft, they’re almost certainly looking at a developmental outlook unless they trade up to Chedure Sanders or Come Ward’s top five (and possibly top two). Masu. To do this, they must mortgage their future. A dangerous proposition at best.
