2023 NFL Draft: Reviewing team needs in the AFC East

While several teams are jostling for playoff position, others are getting dangerously close to their offseason. While some fanbases may disagree with this notion, your favorite franchise generally doesn’t enjoy drafting in the top five, year in and year out. The offseason offers teams an opportunity to alter their course. Suitably held in spring, the NFL Draft similarly affords the chance to start anew.

There are a few different approaches to roster-building, based on the timeline of a team’s cornerstone players. For the most part, though, it’s widely accepted that the best way to build a perennial contender is through drafting and developing your own.

While mock draft season is already beginning in some circles, I am going to kick off with a series on draft needs before progressing into player spotlights and mock drafts. We will start with the AFC East.

2023 NFL Draft: New York Jets

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Jets couldn’t have done much better. After selecting Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, and Jermaine Johnson II in the first round, analysts raved about the Jets’ draft class. The 2022 season has only made analysts and the Jets fanbase more giddy about the future.

Sauce Gardner has lived up to every expectation and then some. He has immediately cemented himself among the league’s elite cornerbacks and will likely be awarded with DROY honors as a result. On the other side of the ball, Garrett Wilson has had an outstanding rookie season in spite of a challenging quarterback carousel. He will likely finish in the top two for the OROY award, fairly neck-and-neck with Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. Meanwhile, prior to tearing his ACL in Week 7, the Jets’ second-round back Breece Hall was the favorite to bring home the OROY hardware.

The Jets have also gotten contributions from Johnson II, Max Mitchell, Micheal Clemons, and even undrafted back Zonovan Knight. Topping their 2022 rookie class will be a challenge, no question. This is a team on the rise, but certainly not a team without needs.

Top Draft Needs: OT, IOL, LB

The obvious question mark is at quarterback. Simply put, Zach Wilson has not looked like the answer and I can’t see this team hitching their wagon to Mike White as the long-term solution either. However, this team is ready to compete next year, and I believe QB will be addressed via free agency. I can’t see the Jets drafting another quarterback early and starting them immediately, especially after Mike LaFleur acknowledged recently that Wilson would have benefitted from serving as a backup initially.

The Jets desperately need help across their offensive line. Fans are hopeful that Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker can return from injury and play to their potential, but George Fant is expected to walk in free agency. With young talent at key skill positions, the Jets need high-level play from their offensive line. This season, they’ve routinely graded as one of the worst units.

Linebacker should also be addressed. Both Kwon Alexander and Quincy Williams could potentially hit free agency. While a tackling machine, C.J. Mosley remains a liability in the pass game. In a pass-heavy AFC where the Jets hope to compete ASAP, I believe the Jets will prioritize the linebacker position.

2023 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills possess one of the most well-rounded rosters in the NFL, which is certainly reflected in their success in the last four seasons. Quarterback Josh Allen had a dicey rookie season in 2018, but the Bills have steadily ascended since and are now among the league’s elite.

The Bills have done a nice job of drafting, developing, and retaining their homegrown talent, while still being open to splash trades. The Stefon Diggs acquisition is viewed league-wide as a masterclass in pairing your young quarterback with a top-tier wideout. Meanwhile, free agent acquisitions Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have formed one of the top safety tandems in the league in recent years.

As a result, while some teams face the challenge of unearthing a franchise-changing gem in the draft, Buffalo has the luxury of addressing their few voids strategically — likely employing a best-player-available approach. That said, a few positions are likely to be addressed sooner than others.

Top Draft Needs: SAF, LB, IOL

Jordan Poyer is scheduled to hit the market in the offseason and Micah Hyde has been out since Week 2 with a neck injury. Hyde does hope to be healthy for the 2023 season but it’s unclear whether the Bills have made any traction on a new deal with Poyer. We also just recently witnessed the horrifying on-field injury of second-year safety Damar Hamlin. Above all else, the global football community is grateful Hamlin is still alive with us today, and it’s far too early to speculate on any potential football future.

In addition to Poyer, the Bills also have a decision to make on linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds will likely command a healthy new deal, and it’s possible that Buffalo lets him walk and seeks to fill the void through the NFL Draft. The interior offensive line is also another position group that could use an upgrade.

2023 NFL Draft: New England Patriots

Quietly, The New England Patriots have had three consecutive solid draft classes. In the 2020 NFL Draft, they added Kyle Dugger, Michael Onwenu, and Josh Uche. In 2021, they nabbed Mac Jones, Christian Barmore, and Rhamondre Stevenson. This past year, the Pats added Cole Strange, Tyquan Thornton, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones, Bailey Zappe, Pierre Strong Jr., and Kevin Harris.

While the Patriots roster mostly lacks name recognition, they have built a foundation of young, impact players who have contributed early in their careers. That said, the Patriots still need to fill several holes as they continue to navigate their place in the league, following their two-decade run of success with Tom Brady under center.

Top Draft Needs: OT, WR, CB

The Patriots have a real problem at offensive tackle. Isaiah Wynn, a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has battled injury and inconsistent play in his first four years in the league. Some believed that Wynn always projected better inside than he did at tackle, and he is due to hit free agency this offseason. It appears probable that the Patriots are ready to move on from the Wynn experiment. 

Trent Brown is under contract for next season but the Patriots could potentially move on. His performance has been noticeably uneven and critics have speculated that he has seemed disengaged. He is currently tied for the league lead in penalties, with 13 on the year. 

The Patriots must also look to upgrade their receiver room, with Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers scheduled for free agency in the offseason. Tyquan Thornton, a second round selection in last year’s draft, has shown flashes of high-end potential but has yet to develop a consistency the Patriots can feel comfortable with. 

DeVante Parker, signed last season, has a mere 25 receptions and one touchdown on the season. The Patriots have historically been terrible at drafting receivers, but they may have no other choice but to take another swing at it. Cornerback and safety are two other positions to keep an eye on, as Devin McCourty could retire in the offseason, and Jonathan Jones is set to be a free agent.

2023 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins boast an electric mix of talent on the offensive side of the ball, impact players on the defensive side of the ball, and one of the most enticing up-and-coming coaches in the league. I find it really hard to believe those silly rumors of Mike McDaniel being on the hot seat.

The Dolphins started the season strong, looking like one of the few teams to beat in the AFC. Injuries at quarterback have unraveled that early-season success. After starting 8-5, the Dolphins have now lost five straight games and head into Week 18 needing a win over the New York Jets (plus some help) for a playoff berth. This team likely doesn’t have enough to get over the hump this season, but with a solid draft in 2023, they have a shot to compete with anyone.

Last year, the Dolphins had their smallest draft class in franchise history, making only four selections. Heading into this year’s draft, the Fins will also be short-handed. Earlier this season, the Dolphins traded one first round pick to the Broncos for Bradley Chubb. Meanwhile, they forfeited their other first round selection after an NFL investigation into tampering. Another roster looking to win now, the Dolphins must make the most of their selections to fill their holes.

Top Draft Needs: RB, OL, CB

The Miami Dolphins need a running back. The hallmarks of a Mike McDaniel offense are the wide zone running game and West Coast passing game. There was hope in Miami that Raheem Mostert or Jeff Wilson Jr. could be a fit, given their familiarity with McDaniel’s scheme in San Francisco, but they have been largely ineffective this season. Miami is one of only seven teams to average less than 100 yards rushing per game (95.3). On top of that, the Dolphins do not have a single running back under contract beyond this year.

The offensive line should be addressed as well. The Dolphins could use help on both the interior and at tackle. Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be an effective quarterback when given time to throw; the Dolphins should do everything they can to ensure Tua stays upright. Cornerback should also be prioritized, as it appears Byron Jones is done in Miami. The passing defense ranks 27th, allowing 240.2 passing yards per game; frankly, the Dolphins may look for safety help as well.