The Patriots Are Still The Class of the AFC East After Busy Offseason

With most free agent impact names already signed, it's time to re-evaluate where each team stands in the divisional pecking order heading into the draft. The AFC East stood pat in trying to catch the Patriots. Well, except Miami, which did what it usually does and pretended that all action is inherently good.

STOCK UP

New England

Returning: DB Nate Ebner, T LaAdrian Waddle

New Additions: DL Chris Long, TE Martellus Bennett, LB Shea McClellin, G Jonathan Cooper, RB Donald Brown, OLB Ramon Humber, DE Frank Kearse, second-round pick

Lost: DL Chandler Jones, DL Akiem Hicks, S Tavon Wilson, DL Sealver Siliga, LB Jerod Mayo (retired), fourth-round pick

I think there are ways the Pats come out of this offseason as losers, but they mostly involve being wrong about Long's ability to replace Jones as a pass rusher. Long has been injured most of the last two years and hasn't put up his standard numbers because of it. If he's healthy and able, the Pats will have crushed this offseason.

And if he's a mild downgrade, well, the Pats can win this offseason in any number of ways. Hitting on the second-round pick. Having one of their island of misfit toys (McClellin, Cooper) pan out. Bennett becoming an Aaron Hernandez replacement.

It's just hard to see much downside here.

Biggest remaining holes: defensive line, linebacker

Rob Ninkovich is getting up there, and the Pats don't have much in the way of depth behind Jabaal Sheard and Long outside. New England also may need a new linebacker depending on where they play McClellin. I think his best chance of success is at end.

The Pats have a lot of potential holes, but they've taken on gambles to fill each of them. It's hard to see the weaknesses on this roster before they're suddenly apparent to everybody.

STOCK STAGNANT

New York Jets

Returning: RB Bilal Powell, TE Kellen Davis, TE Zach Sudfeld, DE Muhammad Wilkerson (franchise tag)

New Additions: RB Matt Forte, DT Steve McLendon, RB Khiry Robinson, DL Jarvis Jenkins

Lost: DT Damon Harrison, RB Chris Ivory, ILB Demario Davis, CB Antonio Allen

Give the Jets the benefit of the doubt on trading Harrison and Ivory for Forte and McLendon, and you wind up thinking this is about the same team it was last year.

Forte is a better, healthier runner than Ivory has ever been. But at 30, how much of that can the Jets expect to see? I think Harrison is clearly better than McLendon, but why would you sink huge money into a nose tackle in a passing league?

You can understand the logic behind the moves, and I don't think they're worse for the exchanges. I just can't identify anywhere they've gotten better, either.

Biggest remaining holes: quarterback, tight end, linebackers

This is a bad draft to have a need at edge rusher, so the Jets are going to be counting on 2015 third-rounder Lorenzo Mauldin to play well. With only an aging David Harris at middle linebacker, I could see that area going poorly too.

And then there's the Ryan Fitzpatrick situation, which remains unresolved as I write this. One side has to budge sooner or later, because they both need each other at this point. Nobody better is coming along for the Jets barring a franchise quarterback draft plunge. Fitzpatrick could be a better fit in Denver or St. Louis, but they don't seem willing to pay him what the Jets are.

Buffalo

Returning: OL Richie Incognito, OL Cordy Glenn (franchise tag)

New Additions: TE Jim Dray, S Robert Blanton

Lost: LB Nigel Bradham, DB Ron Brooks, DT Stefan Charles, DB Leodis McKelvin, WR Chris Hogan

The Bills were capped out this offseason. They shed Mario Williams' contract, restructured tight end Charles Clay, and were able to bring back the most important members of the gang. For me, that's a win.

But in losing a lot of peripheral players to Philadelphia, the Bills are now in a situation where depth could be an issue. They haven't handed out rumored contract extensions to either corner Stephon Gilmore or quarterback Tyrod Taylor. And until they do, there's not much extra cash to splash. That becomes a problem when holes seem to be evident.

Biggest remaining holes: wideout, defensive end, middle linebacker

Williams leaves a huge hole at defensive end, where the Bills also have Alex Carrington still as a free agent. The most famous person on the depth chart besides Jerry Hughes might be IK Enemkpali, the guy who broke Geno Smith's jaw.

Preston Brown makes one middle linebacker. Who makes two?

Finally, Robert Woods hasn't shown much in the way of No. 2 receiver skills through three seasons. Hogan is gone. Percy Harvin may or may not be coming back. Buffalo could use a second threat to roll coverage away from Sammy Watkins this season.

STOCK DOWN

Miami

Returning: QB Matt Moore, OLB James-Michael Johnson

New Additions: DL Mario Williams, LB Kiko Alonso, DB Byron Maxwell, DL Andre Branch, LT Jermon Bushrod, LT Sam Young, OL Jacques McClendon, DB Isa Abdul-Quddus, OL Kraig Urbik, WR Griff Whalen

Lost: DL Olivier Vernon, RB Lamar Miller, WR Rishard Matthews, DL Quinton Coples, DL Derrick Shelby, five slots of draft position in the first round.

If you just look at the names, you'll see the Dolphins brought in some decent players. You'll see that losing Matthews doesn't hurt so much because they have a good receiver depth chart. Running backs don't have that much of an impact on the game these days, so letting Miller go is defensible.

It's just that every player they brought in has the potential to be damaged goods. Williams whined his way out of Buffalo and had a down season as a pass rusher. Alonso is perpetually hurt. Maxwell reportedly could barely do a push up at his physical. Bushrod isn't a tackle at this point. The only free agent they picked up who I think could be better in Miami than he was last year is Abdul-Quddus.

Oh, yeah, and they let their young star edge rusher get away for no real reason. Why not franchise him rather than spin all these wheels? What is this solving?

Biggest remaining holes: offensive line, cornerback, tight end

The Dolphins kept Jordan Cameron after he agreed to a paycut, but he looked lost here last season and Dion Sims isn't a pass-catcher either. The line will get Mike Pouncey back, but Ja'Waun James, Dallas Thomas, and Billy Turner are all on the train to Draft Bust town.

Miami's second corner is Jamar Taylor, who has done basically nothing to earn that title. There is no depth behind Maxwell at all. When they were at 8, the answer was as easy as dialing up Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves. Now what do they do?