AFC East check-in: Most, least improved position groups post-draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, meaning teams have mostly completed their most significant roster moves for the season. With that in mind, here's a look at the most and least upgraded position groups for each AFC East team. 

Buffalo Bills

Most improved position group: Wide receiver

Some may be surprised wide receiver wasn't listed as the Bills' least improved position group because Stefon Diggs (traded to Texans) and Gabe Davis (signed with Jaguars in free agency) are not back. However, since Diggs averaged 45 yards per game after Buffalo switched to OC Joe Brady's scheme last season and Davis has a 9.8% career drop rate, this could be a case of addition by subtraction. 

Furthermore, having a quarterback with the talent and leadership Josh Allen has should elevate Buffalo's new-look receiving corps, regardless of how it looks on paper.

Buffalo added former Commanders wideout Curtis Samuel in free agency and drafted Keon Coleman in the second round for its pass-catching corps, which features potential breakout stars in WR Khalil Shakir and TE Dalton Kincaid. 

Coleman should fill Davis' former role as a deep threat and Samuel will be a versatile playmaker. His 715 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns are the second most among wideouts since he was drafted in 2017. 

Least improved position group: Edge-rusher

It's tempting to put the secondary here after the cash-strapped Bills made former All-Pros Tre'Davious White and Jordan Poyer cap casualties and haven't re-signed Micah Hyde. Even so, the secondary needed to get younger, and the team accomplished that goal by signing safety Mike Edwards and drafting safety Cole Bishop and cornerback Daequan Hardy.

Edge-rusher, on the other hand, wasn't adequately addressed during free agency or the draft after last season's sack leader, Leonard Floyd (10.5), signed with the 49ers. Buffalo brought in former Commanders seventh-round pick Casey Toohill on a one-year deal and drafted Javon Solomon, a productive but undersized defensive end, in the fifth round. 

With Von Miller (three tackles in 12 games last season) penciled in as a starter, Buffalo desperately needs to find another diamond-in-the-rough edge-rusher as it did with Floyd last offseason. 

Miami Dolphins

Most improved position group: Edge-rusher

Since edge-rushers Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) could miss the start of the season — and will likely be on snap counts once they return — Miami added high-upside depth to the unit. In free agency, the Dolphins picked up a needed veteran presence in 2019 NFL sack leader Shaquil Barrett before picking up Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara in the draft.

Robinson, a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season at Penn State, has rare explosiveness for a player with a 6-foot-3, 254-pound frame and an underrated arsenal of pass-rushing moves. Meanwhile, Kamara, who had the fifth-highest pass-rush win rate among incoming rookie edges (19.2%), was the 2023 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year at Colorado State. He could emerge as one of the biggest steals of the draft.

Least improved position group: Interior offensive line

Despite losing RG Robert Hunt in free agency and not re-signing center Connor Williams, the Dolphins didn't address the interior offensive line with any of their seven 2024 draft picks. Therefore, the performance of Isaiah Wynn, Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg and free-agent signing Aaron Brewer will greatly impact Miami's ceiling.

Wynn, a former first-round pick, should hold his own, provided he stays healthy. However, Jones, Eichenberg and Brewer have their fair share of issues, particularly regarding pass protection, as they combined to surrender 12 sacks last season. QB Tua Tagovailoa needs a clean pocket to be effective due to his lack of mobility, so the current interior offensive line configuration could prove to be problematic. 

New York Jets 

Most improved position group: Offensive line

The Jets are one of the most improved teams in the NFL this offseason, but overhauling their ever-changing offensive line stands out as the team's most impactful renovation. Due to injuries, New York had 14 different starting offensive linemen and used 13 different combinations of players on its O-line last season, which led to the unit allowing the fourth-most sacks in the league (64). 

Accordingly, Jets GM Joe Douglas signed LT Tyron Smith and guard John Simpson in free agency and traded for RT Morgan Moses. All should start. The trio allowed a combined seven sacks last season, five by Moses, making them substantial upgrades, although they also have some injury concerns. Nonetheless, New York spent its first-round pick on Olu Fashanu (zero sacks allowed at Penn State), who should serve as an insurance policy if someone gets injured.

Least improved position group: Safety

Safety was undoubtedly the weakest link of New York's formidable defense last season, and the unit suffered a blow this offseason as former starter Jordan Whitehead signed with Tampa Bay. As things stand, the Jets will likely rotate Tony Adams, Chuck Clark and Ashtyn Davis at safety, which is less than ideal.

Adams and Davis combined for six interceptions and 13 pass breakups last season, but they aren't proven commodities. It's also worth noting that Clark missed last season with a torn ACL. There are still a few quality safeties on the market, so perhaps New York will add unsigned two-time Pro Bowler Justin Simmons or someone else to put its defense over the top. 

New England Patriots 

Most improved position group: Quarterback

New England overhauled its quarterback room this offseason after watching its QBs combine to throw for the fourth-fewest passing yards (3,392) and sixth-fewest touchdowns (16) among teams last season. After bringing back veteran Jacoby Brissett on a one-year deal, the Patriots shipped former first-round pick Mac Jones, who was benched four times last season, to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Brissett could be the team's Week 1 starter, but New England also secured its quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the draft. The Patriots also spent the sixth-round pick they acquired in Jones deal on Joe Milton II, whose addition "likely" makes Bailey Zappe a trade candidate, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. 

Least improved position group: Offensive line

The Patriots did little to bolster their offensive line, which ranked 27th in pass-blocking efficiency last season (79.8), and lost LT Trent Brown in free agency. After signing former Steeler Chukwuma Okorafor in April, New England didn't capitalize on a strong class of rookie offensive linemen. Instead, it drafted projects Caeden Wallace and Layden Robinson 68th and 103rd overall, respectively.

According to Sharp Football Analysis' Warren Sharp, the rookie linemen were significant reaches based on draft capital over expectation, resulting in New England ranking 29th among teams in total draft value. Per Sharp, Wallace was drafted 118 slots over expectation, while Robinson was selected 72 picks above his consensus ranking.

De facto GM Eliot Wolf must continue to bolster the unit to ensure the team doesn't ruin another young quarterback's career.