2020 Offseason Team Needs: AFC East

Bills

Projected Cap Space: $82,186,963

Draft Picks: 9

• 1st (No. 22)
• 2nd (No. 54)
• 3rd (No. 86)
• 4th (No. 118)
• 5th (No. 138, from CLE)
• 5th (No. 150)
• 6th (No. 169, from CLE)
• 6th (No. 182)
• 6th (No. 188, from BAL)

Notable Free Agents:

• DT Jordan Phillips, DE Shaq Lawson, CB Kevin Johnson, G Quinton Spain, RB Frank Gore, DE Corey Liuget, S Dean Marlowe, OT LaAdrian Waddle, WR Isaiah McKenzie (RFA), LB Julian Stanford, LB Maurice Alexander, S Kurt Coleman, RB Senorise Perry.

Team Needs:

1. Wide Receiver

As the Bills look to take the next step toward sustained success, the progress of QB Josh Allen will be instrumental to how high they can climb. To that end, Buffalo can help their young passer develop by surrounding him with more weapons at wide receiver, similar to other young, star AFC quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. 

1. Defensive End

Given the importance of pressuring the quarterback, the Bills could stand to find another pass rusher across from DE Jerry Hughes. Former first-round DE Shaq Lawson had the best year of his career in 2019 with 6.5 sacks, but is set to be a free agent after Buffalo declined his fifth-year option last offseason. There’s been speculation that Bills DE Trent Murphy is also in danger of becoming a cap cut. The Bills have the cap space to make a major play for an edge rusher if one becomes available in free agency. 

1. Offensive Line

The exact position will depend on where the Bills see 2019 second-round pick Cody Ford best fitting. If it’s at right tackle, Buffalo will need to find another starting guard, as Quinton Spain may have parlayed his one-year, prove-it deal into a bigger contract elsewhere than what the Bills are willing to pay. If the Bills decide Ford’s brute strength and limited quickness are better suited to a fulltime move to guard, then finding a long-term starting option at right tackle becomes a need. 

Dolphins

Projected Cap Space: $89,390,424

Draft Picks: 13, including two compensatory picks per Over the Cap’s projections.

• 1st (No. 5)
• 1st (No. 18, from PIT)
• 1st (No. 26, from HOU)
• 2nd (No. 39)
• 2nd (No. 56, from NO)
• 3rd (No. 70)
• 4th (Comp)
• 5th (No. 145, from PIT)
• 5th (No. 148, from LAR)
• 6th (No. 166)
• 6th (No. 178, from DAL)
• 7th (No. 224, from KC)
• 7th (Comp)

Notable Free Agents:

• CB Aqib Talib, C Evan Boehm, S Walt Aikens, OT J’Marcus Webb, DL John Jenkins, S Adrian Colbert (RFA), LB Vince Biegel (RFA).

Team Needs:

1. Quarterback

It would be easier to list the positions that aren’t a need for the Dolphins following their tank that refused to call a tank in 2019. But at the top of their rebuilding shopping list is the most important position in the sport — quarterback. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, who was a preseason favorite for the No. 1 overall pick before he dislocated his hip, could still be in Miami’s sights, and the Dolphins have the draft capital to move up from No. 5 if they need to do so to go get him. In the meantime, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick can hold down the fort for another year while Tagovailoa or another rookie prepares. 

1. Offensive Line

It’s a good thing Fitzpatrick is under contract still, as the Dolphins might have second thoughts about putting a rookie, particularly one with an injury history like Tagovailoa, out behind their current offensive line. It’s conceivable the Dolphins go into 2020 with five new starters along the line. Tackle, guard, center, it doesn’t matter, the Dolphins need upgrades everywhere. 

1. Pass Rusher

Dolphins HC Brian Flores has talked about how the style of defense he’s looking to bring to Miami from New England doesn’t necessarily require a dominant pass rusher but instead focuses on finding undervalued schematic fits and rushing from a number of places. For instance, the Patriots traded away DE Chandler Jones, who’s had a staggering 60 sacks with the Cardinals in the four years following, and still had a historic season defensively in 2019 with LBs Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy leading the team with seven and 6.5 sacks each. However, Miami’s 23 sacks ranked last in the NFL and far below New England’s 47, so Miami needs to find better pass rushers than what it trotted out last year. 

Jets

Projected Cap Space: $49,693,190

Draft Picks: 8

• 1st (No. 11)
• 2nd (No. 48)
• 3rd (No. 68, from NYG)
• 3rd (No. 79)
• 4th (No. 110)
• 5th (No. 141)
• 6th (No. 172)
• 6th (No. 192)

Notable Free Agents:

• WR Robby Anderson, C Ryan Kalil, OT Kelvin Beachum, OT Brandon Shell, G Alex Lewis, CB Brian Poole, LB Jordan Jenkins, LB Neville Hewitt, CB Maurice Canady, WR Demaryius Thomas, LB Brandon Copeland, S Rontez Miles, QB Trevor Siemian, RB Bilal Powell, RB Ty Montgomery, G Tom Compton, OT Brent Qvale, LB Albert McClellan, LB Paul Worrilow, QB David Fales, P Lachlan Edwards, CB Arthur Maulet (RFA).

Team Needs:

1. Offensive Line

Like their division rivals in Miami, the Jets find themselves needing to radically reshape their offensive line this offseason after it fell apart in 2019. Unlike the Dolphins, though, the cupboard isn’t as bare in New York. Third-round rookie Chuma Edoga showed some promising traits, Jonotthan Harrison is an adequate stopgap at center and the Jets could look to re-sign G Alex Lewis. If the Jets find a cornerstone left tackle in the draft and land a premium guard like Joe Thuney from the Patriots, that would form a solid foundation for the rest of the offense. 

1. Cornerback

While the Jets improved toward the end of the year as they played younger options, they likely won’t risk being burned on a small sample size. Adding more starting options is a big need with Trumaine Johnson, New York’s last big free-agent foray at the position oddly enough, likely to be cut and starting nickel corner Brian Poole slated for free agency. 

3. Wide Receiver

The Jets have talked about wanting to re-sign WR Robby Anderson, but it’s not clear that they’ll be willing to top what Anderson can get on a receiver-starved open market. If he leaves, that would leave Jamison Crowder as the only legitimate wide receiver for QB Sam Darnold. 

Patriots

Projected Cap Space: $41,628,339

Draft Picks: 11, including four compensatory picks according to Over The Cap’s projections.

• 1st (No. 23)
• 3rd (No. 87)
• 3rd (Comp)
• 3rd (Comp)
• 4th (No. 115, from CHI)
• 6th (No. 176, from DEN)
• 6th (No. 185, from HOU)
• 6th (Comp)
• 6th (Comp)
• 7th (No. 208, from ATL)
• 7th (No. 213, from PHI)

Notable Free Agents:

• QB Tom Brady, G Joe Thuney, S Devin McCourty, LB Kyle Van Noy, LB Jamie Collins, LB Elandon Roberts, C Ted Karras, ST Matthew Slater, WR Phillip Dorsett, DT Danny Shelton, OT Marshall Newhouse, DT Adam Butler (RFA), S Nate Ebner, K Nick Folk, G James Ferentz. 

Team Needs:

1. Tight End

Replacing a future Hall of Fame player like former Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is never easy. But New England never came close to filling the gaping chasm Gronkowski’s retirement left in its offensive lineup. Not only did Gronkowski’s absence affect Patriots QB Tom Brady, it compounded the issues New England had running the football in 2019. A dramatic retooling of the position is needed, not just to give Brady enough weapons to try and sell him on staying with New England, but also in bolstering a Patriots rushing attack that will be more important no matter who is at quarterback. 

1. Wide Receiver

The Patriots fell apart after an 8-0 start last year because all Brady had to throw to at wide receiver down the stretch was a hobbled Julian Edelman. New England didn’t ignore the wide receiver position, but first-round WR N’Keal Harry spent half the season on injured reserve and Mohamed Sanu battled injuries and learning the offense after the Patriots sent a second-round pick to the Falcons for him. And Antonio Brown was, well, Antonio Brown. The Patriots still need to make moves to stock the cupboards here. 

1. Guard

The Patriots aren’t without question marks on defense. But there’s enough depth on that side of the ball to better absorb some of the losses that unit is expected to endure in free agency. The same can’t necessarily be said about the offensive line. Not only was Patriots G Joe Thuney a stalwart at left guard, he backed up multiple other positions, including left tackle. He’s expected to find a financial reward for his work elsewhere, leaving the Patriots with a hole at starting guard and a general need for OL depth.