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MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-5 AFC East Champions Lost Wild Card to Indianapolis)-Miami was not too pleased with the overall efforts of its offensive line last season and set their minds to address the issue this off-season. They would draft two outstanding guards to help rectify the problems. Alabama rookie RG Tyler Booker (6'5' 352 Lbs 94 Str) is an impact interior lineman and should be able to match up with any opposing defensive tackle. Fellow rookie, LG Kendrick Norwood, does not bring along nearly as much of an eye-popping resume as Booker, but he is still seen as an upgrade. The 6'2" 311 Lbs Norwood hails from Fresno State and will need to learn quickly while on the job. Always seeking speed at the wide receiver positions, coach Mike Kleinknecht was able to steal local favorite Xavier Restrapo in the 5th round! Restrapo, from Miami, does not possess elite speed, but he is an excellent route runner and is a fearless catcher of the football and should be a solid option at slot wide. The club was said to be unhappy with the play of QB Tua Tagovailoa as well, mostly due to his lack of throwing power (87), but it is hoped an improved offensive line and the addition of Restrapo can help. The team tabbed another local talent in the form of TE Elijah Arroyo in the 7th round and the youngster could find his way into a starting role! He will likely be joined by fellow veteran TEs Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe
The defensive line looks like it could be vulnerable. DEs Zach Sieler and Jarran Reed do not instill fear. Another rookie, Michigan DT Kenneth Grant might be the best they have up front. The unsung interior lineman was often in the shadows of stud DT Mason Grahamwhile at Michigan, but he has the tools and size to be an extremely effective defensive tackle. 8-year veteran D.J. Jones will probably work alongside Grant. OLBs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips will almost certainly be asked to supply pass rush pressure and will often be inserted as rush defensive ends. The MLBs will be Jordyn Brooks, Kwon Alexander, and super speedy Channing Tindale. The Dolphins also enhanced their secondary by drafting Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison and Air Force CB Aries Graham. They supply diversity and depth to go along with DBs Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller. The FS will be Javon Holland. It is quite possible a camp battle at SS could be brewing between Ifeatu Meliwonfu and Caden Stearns.
Prediction: Miami had flaws last season that showed up more than once during the year. The front 7, especially on the D-line, remains a concern. The offense has been upgraded and QB Tagovailoa now has options and weapons around him. The Dolphins will score alot, but might be just a shade off on defense to truly challenge this season.
New England Patriots (5-12)-Head coach Gabe El Guapo is hoping to bring the same style of ball to New England that proved wildly successful last season for his New York Giants. The Pats drafted generational talent Boise State HB Ashton Jeanty early in the first round and then began building around him. Four, count 'em, offensive linemen were drafted. The haul included Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr., Georgia LG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia C Jared Wilson, and Florida RG Damieon George! The restructure did not stop there, however, as the Pats would also grab rugged Iowa FB Hayden Large and Auburn TE Andrew Thomas!!! Obviously, one can anticipate the Patriots trying to simply run over folks this year. QB Derek Maye should benefit form the running game and improved O-line. Still, New England would go out and snare Georgia Tech running QB Haynes King to come in from time to time and add even more running dynamics to the offense.
The defense could be ok, but the the edge rushing situation might need attention. DE Christian Barmore is more an undersized DT than a pass rushing DE. The team did draft speedy Chris Wade (West Virginia) to maybe give some pass rush but he lacks some of the tools, outside his pure speed, to be a true menace there. Opposite end Deatrich Wise is adequate but also has some flaws to his game. The interior of the Dline has some real issues. Davon Godchaux and Vanderbilt rookie Cameron Ash both lack size and strength. Ash can be explosive off the snap but is devoid of any agility. The weakness along the defensive front means the second line of defense must play well. OLB Jahlani Tavai is very good, but the rest of the unit could be problematic. The MLB tandem will amost certainly have to include speedy coverage backer Brandon Smith to play inside with either Ja'Whuan Bentley or Shaquill Leonard. The ROLB spot will probably feature Sione Takitaki. Takitaki can play zone well enough, but is a liabilty in any m2m scenarios. The secondary has two speedy solid man coverage corners, in Jonathan Jones and Christian Gonzalez, but drops off quickly from there. FS Jabril Peppers is a solid zone defender, but is more of an in-the-box thumper. Strong safeties Marte Mapu and Kyle Duggar could battle it out. Mapu, though, is more in the mold of Peppers and has good in-the-box skills.
Prediction: The Patriots finishing second might be a bridge too far, but time will tell. If the offense can grind it out and Maye can pick his spots, the unit could shorten games and keep the defense off the field. Much will depend upon the success or failure of the offense.
Buffalo Bills (9-8 Lost in Divisional Round to Baltimore)-Buffalo enjoyed a stellar season last year and Western New York was in a near frenzy. The team must feel secure with what they have on offense as they added only two players to the group. Oregon rookie slot wide receiver J Michael Sturdivant should be an instant star and a nice target for QB Josh Allen. The only other addition was at quarterback where the team took Syracuse Orangeman Kyle McCord.
The defense, though, should be much better especially up front. Monster Michigan grad Mason Graham is a difference maker at DT and should be a terrific compliment to DT Ed Oliver. Veteran Von Miller is on the end of the line, but he will be challenged by Tennessee rookie James Pierce. DE Greg Rousseau (21 sacks) should be near unstoppable as teams must contend with Graham inside. OLB Victor Dimukeje is a worry spot while oppo LBs Edefuan Ulofoshio and Matt Milano should slug it out to start. MLBs Joe Andreessen and Terrel Bernard are adequate but not dominant. Penn State rookie Kamryn Wooten joins a very crowded cornerback room. CB Taron Johnson looks like the only secure one out of the 10 in camp! FS Cole Bishop is the probable starter and should hold his spot until, or unless, South Alabama rookie Stephon Walford can step in. Veterans Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards could both see time at the SS position
Prediction: Buffalo was quite the story a season ago. They got great production out of HB James Cook and were a force when they could keep QB Josh Allen upright. The addition of Sturdivant could give Allen a safety valve and the improved defense should make an impact. Still, with games versus the AFC North and NFC South on tap, and tough customers in the form of the NY Giants and Houston Texans for good measure, the Bills might find themselves taking a small step back this season.
New York Jets (6-11)-The big question in Jet-Land has to be who is going to start at quarterback! Will it be 41-year-old hero of yesteryear Aaron Rodgers or Alabama rookie Jalen Milroe? The team did not address its lack of speed at the wide receiver position electing to draft Maryland possession target Tai Felton. He can catch the ball and is a good route runner but is, quite frankly, a clone of just about the entire receiving corps. The backfield of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen returns giving the Jets a thunder and lightening duo. Oregon rookie TE Terrance Ferguson lacks speed or acceleration which could limit his effectiveness. There were no improvements made along the offensive line either.
DEs Haason Reddick and Jermaine Johnson are pretty good, but Cam Sample on the other side is a concern. DT Quinnen Williams is excellent, but again, he has almost no help on the inside. The Jets did upgrade their linebacking unit by taking LSU LOLB Harold Perkins and Notre Dame MLB Jack Kiser into the fold. Perkins lacks size and can get engulfed if he is used as a sub-LB, but he has very good coverage skills and can tackle in space. Kiser is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife backer. He has lots of skills, but few are elite. ROLB Quincy Williams is built much in the same mold as Perkins. Lacking size, he can be bullied by offensive linemen. He has excellent open field tackling skills and can cover. Depending upon what coverage scheme the Jets deploy could determine how much playing time Ohio State rookie CB Denzel Burke and veteran D.J. Reed play. It is probable that one or the other will end up in the slot. The same can be said for Alabama rookie FS Keon Sabb and 10-year veteran Quandre Diggs. Yet another rookie, Penn State SS Kevin Winston, will find himself battling a vet, as well, for playing time. 8-year player Chuck Clark is coming off a 130 tackle, 8 deflections, 7 TFLs, and 1 interception campaign.
Prediction: The Jets are one of the slowest teams in the league at wide receiver and tight end. They do have a nice tandem of running backs, but that has not helped the passing game at all. If Milroe gets the nod, the Jets will be in a serious rebuilding mode. The defense lacks depth and there are glaring holes up front.
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