As the 2014 NFL Draft approaches and we are now more than halfway through the 2013 NFL season, we start to get a clear picture of areas of need for every NFL team. Every team has a few holes on their current roster or that will open up in the offseason and the draft is the time where teams look to fill those needs. I now take a look at the AFC East, a division that has been a bit of a disappointment this year for teams like the Dolphins but a surprising success for the New York Jets. Not only do all of these teams play in the same in common but they have more in common than you might think, many of their draft needs are similar and will make the draft even more entertaining.
New England Patriots:
Wide Receiver:
While the Patriots have been very successful in the past with the draft, they have found little success in terms of drafting wide receivers. Previous failures have come back to bite the Patriots this year as Tom Brady has struggled without Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd and had to play without Rob Gronkowski for several weeks. Danny Amendola has been very good when healthy but health is always the problem with him and he has become a near guarantee to miss at least four games every season.
Meanwhile Kenbrell Thompkins role has diminished and Julian Edelman will be the next Patriots wide receiver to test free agency. New England needs to spend it’s first round pick on a wide receiver and once again give Brady a go-to weapon when Gronkowski is facing double coverage and Amendola is on the inactive report.
Nose Tackle:
Vince Wilfork has anchored the middle of the Patriots’ defensive line for 10 years before he tore his Achilles early in the season.
As soon as Wilfork went down the middle of the line became a major leaking spot for New England’s defense and you saw teams just drive the ball up the middle and pick up yards easily.
Even if Wilfork can come back next season at 100 percent, he is still a 32-year-old nose tackle coming off a torn Achilles towards the end of his career.
The team traded for a temporary plug in Isaac Sopoaga but he can still get pushed around.
The Patriots need to find another young nose tackle who can step in and learn from Wilfork then take over as the anchor of the future on this defensive line.
Offensive Guard:
While Brady may not be as frustrated with his offensive line as he is his wide receivers, it’s time for the Patriots to bring in some more protection for the quarterback who has brought this team so much success. Dan Connolly has protected Brady for years and has done it very well, but now injuries and age are starting to catch up with him. The Patriots need to prepare for the future and it starts with the offensive line. If you can give Brady more time to throw, he will have more opportunities to look for the open wide receiver.
New York Jets:
Wide Receiver:
Remember when everyone was against Geno Smith, well he certainly looks to be the future of the Jets and it will be promising. He still has plenty of room to grow and has battled through some bumps this season, he has been working with terrible weapons. The Jets need to spend their first pick on a wide receiver and should even consider trading up to select Sammy Watkins. If you give Smith a top wide receiver it will open up the offense for him and allow him to take more of the risky throws that he knows his guy will come down with. The improvement in the passing game will also give a boost to the running attack and opening up more holes for Chris Ivory
Cornerback:
When the Jets traded away Darrelle Revis everyone assumed they were in rebuild mode and were prepared to tear everything down and build it right back up again.
They made the decision to save their money and trade him away and so far it has worked out for them. But his departure still leaves a hole at cornerback and it will remain a need for the Jets in the upcoming draft.
First-round pick Dee Milliner has struggled this season but still has a bright future. Meanwhile Kyle Wilson hasn’t worked out at corner, so cornerback should be a high priority for the front office in May.
Outside Linebacker:
The Jets’ breakout season has been a fun storyline to watch and most of the credit has to go to the defense. The team clearly doesn’t miss Revis and actually looks better without him. But they still need help and adding another outside linebacker to this group would make their front seven just scary. Quinton Coples made the switch to outside linebacker this past year and could stay there long-term but the team also has 33-year-old Calvin Pace and needs to find his eventual replacement.
Miami Dolphins:
Offensive Tackle:
Miami went out in the offseason and dumped truckloads of money to improve their defense and bring in wide receiver Mike Wallace, but it came at a price. The team lost Jake Long to free agency and this year we have seen the Dolphins offensive line just completely fall apart. Ryan Tannehill has the chance to be a great starting quarterback and if he actually had time to throw he could chuck the ball deep to Wallace. But instead Tannehill is getting killed behind the pocket and is closer and closer to that one big hit that could cause him to miss games. Miami needs to focus their draft class almost entirely on the offensive line and invest every draft pick possible into giving Tannehill some protection.
Offensive Guard:
Not only do the Dolphins need help at both tackle spots they also need to find some upgrade on the interior of their offensive line. This is the worst offensive line in football, they have given up 35 sacks this season and that doesn’t even account for the times Tannehill got rid of the football right before he was hit. While outside pressure is bad, if you are letting defensive tackles push right through the interior of your offensive line and bring pressure right up the middle on your quarterback. If you don’t let your quarterback step up into the pocket and into his throws, he just isn’t going to reach his maximum potential. If the Dolphins don’t spend their first three picks on the offensive line their draft should be considered a failure.
Tight End:
Once the Dolphins invest in a new offensive line they can turn their attention towards bringing in another weapon for Tannehill. Charles Clay is having a nice season but this team needs a big tight end who can make big plays like a wide receiver. They could look to go with a tight end in round two and look at someone like Jace Amaro or Austin-Seferian Jenkins. If they wait it out there are other options later in the draft including Fresno State’s Marcel Jensen. It would give Tannehill an option across the middle of the field to beat the defense who is focused on keeping Wallace from beating them deep.
Buffalo Bills:
Outside Linebacker:
Buffalo is really starting to put things together and plenty of the credit has to go to their 2013 draft class.
E.J. Manuel is the future of this franchise and rookie wide receivers Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin haven’t even shown their full potential yet.
But while things are looking up offensively this defense is in need of some pieces including someone to pair next to Kiko Alonso.
While there are plenty of options for the Bills there is no better match than Khalil Mack who wouldn’t even have to move.
Mack is a top-10 talent in this draft and does more than just rush the quarterback. He can drop back in coverage and play well and cover the sidelines. You plug him alongside Alonso and the Bills will be putting together one of the most exciting linebacker corps in the league.
Free Safety:
While the Bills may have a top free safety playing for them this season it remains doubtful that Jairus Byrd stays with this team in the future. He is playing under the franchise tag right now and has already declared his intention to hit the open market and become one of the highest paid defensive backs in the NFL. That loss would force Da’Norris Searcy into the starting role, which is something Buffalo would like to avoid. The Bills could take a look at Dion Bailey out of USC early in the third round or potentially take a look at Lamarcus Joyner. They will need to find a replacement for Byrd and I wouldn’t be surprised if they fill that void in the second or third round.
Offensive Guard:
As the Bills offense prepares for an exciting future with Manuel, Woods, Goodwin and C.J. Spiller they need to continue to address the offensive line. Improving at right guard will be important for the Bills future as Doug Legursky has been decent this season, but is still far from a long-term starter for a good team. He is just 27 but it’s clear his role should be as a backup interior lineman who can fill in at multiple spots. If the Bills can find an upgrade at guard early, it will open up more running lanes for Spiller and let Manuel step into the pocket and make sharp throws.