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The AFC East looks as up in the air as any division.
The New England Patriots have a new potential franchise quarterback in No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, although it’s unclear if he’ll start right away or sit behind free-agent signee Jacoby Brissett. The Patriots brought back Mike Onwenu to bolster the front five, but they otherwise stayed relatively quiet in free agency. Beyond taking Maye, New England added more playmakers at wideout in Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk, both of whom should earn plenty of playing time this fall.
Cap casualties ripped through the Miami Dolphins, causing them to part ways with cornerback Xavien Howard, edge-rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker Jerome Baker and offensive lineman Robert Hunt. They also lost Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. They did sign linebackerJordyn Brooks, edge-rusher Shaq Barrett, cornerback Kendall Fuller and safety Jordan Poyer, but expectations should be tampered with so many new moving pieces on defense.
The Dolphins added more speed in the draft with running back Jaylen Wright, an underrated playmaker in wide receiver Malik Washington and a potential double-digit sacks threat in Chop Robinson, should the Penn State product continue to improve his hand placement and fundamental strength.
Although the Buffalo Bills remain a Super Bowl contender, they’re heading into a bit of a transition period. Gone is a large part of the core on defense, as are wideouts Stefon Diggs (Texans) and Gabriel Davis (Jaguars).
The Bills signed Curtis Samuel to be their de facto offensive chess piece, and they also drafted wide receiver Keon Coleman in the second round, who should rapidly evolve into Josh Allen’s top target on the outside. They added beef within the trenches with offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran and defensive lineman DeWayne Carter, along with a hybrid defensive secondary piece in Cole Bishop to mask the losses of Poyer and Micah Hyde in free agency.
The New York Jets were also busy, but that isn’t what earns them the spot here. It’s the roles that each player could fill in 2024, specifically linemen Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Both are projected to be one-year stopgaps at their respective positions and key pieces along a rebuilt Jets front five. Taking offensive tackle Olu Fashanu in the top 10 might not provide Aaron Rodgers with immediate help, but the opportunity for the uber-athletic tackle to learn behind a legend like Smith is a rare opportunity for young tackles.
The Jets didn’t break the bank on either Smith or Moses, nor did he potentially mortgage the future by taking a swing on veteran wide receiver Mike Williams, who should complement Garrett Wilson well. They also added a dynamic yards-after-the-catch threat in Malachi Corley on Day 2 and boosted their depth at quarterback by taking Jordan Travis in the fifth round.
Questions could be raised about them continuing to invest valuable resources in running backs—they drafted both Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis this year after selecting Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round last spring and Breece Hall in the second round the year prior. Then again, competition never hurts, especially at running back.
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The Commanders needed every bit of that win over Philadelphia. It was a stark reminder of all the good vibes this team created at the start of the season,