2010 NFL Team Needs: AFC East

Buffalo Bills: OT, WR, QB, DT, OLB, OL depth

The Bills are getting gashed up the middle on the ground and it’s no surprise why. They’ve shown effort in attempts to upgrade their defensive line in the past, but nothing has really paid dividends yet. Marcus Stroud is aging and Kyle Williams is a serviceable rotational guy. Behind them is a trio of average linebackers. If Paul Posluszny can stay healthy, he could be a nice middle linebacker for them. On the outside, the Bills have a trio of undersized linebackers playing opposite Kawika Mitchell. One of them could step up this year, but the unit would be pretty light. On offense, the Bills need to first determine whether Trent Edwards can be their franchise quarterback. At the very worst, they should look for a mid-round prospect to continue to push him. The offensive line needs some upgrades. They’ve done okay in the run game, but Demetrius Bell isn’t ready to play LT in the NFL. With a number of good ones in the draft, they could pick one up in round one or two. The rest of the offensive line could also use some depth and hope to maybe even get another starter somewhere this offseason. At receiver, Terrell Owens really isn’t working out and is almost guaranteed to sign elsewhere in the offseason, if there are any takers. Lee Evans is a nice number two, but the team needs a legitimate number one to open up the offense.

Miami Dolphins: NT, OLB, S, ILB, OG, TE

As the defense ages, the Tuna may definitely try and upgrade it before it turns to shambles. No position needs youth revitalization more than NT where 34 year old Jason Ferguson currently resides. Behind him, the OLBs, Jason Taylor and Joey Porter are aging and will need to be replaced fairly soon. This is usually a position that Parcells focuses on upgrading at the start of his tenure everywhere, so it could become a position that’s addressed more this offseason than some may think. The Dolphins could also use a little more help inside, especially if Channing Crowder slumps after getting a new contract. In the secondary, the team may have found two imposing future starters at corner in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, but the safeties may need an improvement. On offense the Dolphins need to get better production out of their receivers. They have a good cast of slot receivers, but no true starting wideouts. At some point they’re going to have to use more than pure possession guys and pure speed guys and go out and get a couple playmakers to open up the offense. Of course they could also look to add an athletic tight end to complement Anthony Fasano. The offensive line also needs to play better than they are through the early part of the 2009 season. Offensive guard or center may be positions they address in the offseason.

New England Patriots: DE, RB, OLB, ILB, OG, WR depth

It’s pretty obvious that the Patriots’ biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball and Bill Belichick has focused on this in the past two drafts. Still, there’s more work to be done. The biggest void on that side of the ball is at ILB next to Jerod Mayo. With Mayo forced to the sideline for a couple weeks due to injury, the Patriots made a phone call to a familiar face, 40 year old Junior Seau. It shows how depleted the depth is and they needed another starter there to begin with, though Gary Guyton has stepped up well through the early parts of the season. They also made a trade to acquire Derrick Burgess at OLB, another position which they’ll need to continue to address this offseason. Adalius Thomas is getting up there in age and the other side is occupied by just “guys.” After trading Richard Seymour, the Patriots should spend this offseason trying to find his replacement either through FA or the draft. On offense, the Patriots must find a balance between run and pass because they won’t be able to find the astounding protection the offensive line provided in the historical 2008 season to constantly air it out. To do that, they’ll need to acquire a running back. They have a trio of guys over 30, a former first round bust, and a former undrafted free agent. Starting offensive guards Logan Mankins and Stephen Neal are free agents after the season and may be too expensive for the Patriots to retain. WR depth is also a legitimate question after Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

New York Jets: DE, OG, RT, WR/TE depth, LB depth, S Depth

After acquiring Braylon Edwards and Lito Sheppard, the Jets could be left with very few picks in the draft, but also few holes. If Braylon Edwards continues to play without discipline and shows little off the field, wide receiver could become a huge priority because he’ll become a free agent. Regardless of whether he stays in New York, the Jets should improve their depth at receiver, where they did a nice job finding Chansi Stuckey in the past. Their focus this offseason should be rebuilding their aging lines on both sides of the ball so they don’t hit a wall once some of their players up front do. Alan Faneca was a nice stopgap for the Jets, but it’s time to start moving forward. He’s now a one-dimensional guard that has maybe one or two more serviceable years left in him. On the right side, Damien Woody will be 32 in November and the Jets have had only modest success running behind him. He should hold up for another season or two, but the offense could get even better on that side without someone else. Defensively, look for GM Mike Tannenbaum to make a move to replace Marques Douglas. He typically does what he needs to fill the weaknesses on the roster and DE appears to be their biggest right now, possibly on both sides. Opposite Douglas is Shaun Ellis, 32, who has started his decline and will become a free agent in 2011. Behind David Harris and Bart Scott at ILB, there is very little depth to speak of.

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