[2023] Division Preview: AFC East

[Piercewise1]

Welcome to part 3 of our series! Today we look at the division that was decided on the very last game of 2022 - the AFC East!

AFC EAST
 

Team: New England Patriots
Last Year: 10-7 (division champion)

Additions:

N/A

Departures:

N/A

Key Progressions:

OG Roosevelt Penn +6 (74, 4)
OLB Lawrence Carnes +5 (70, 4)
CB Huey Ashe +4 (82, 5)
FS Bruce Puello +5 (61, 2)
QB Gary Freitag -3 (78, 11)

Rookie to Watch:

DT Miguel Peterson

Overview:

Gary Freitag practically dragged this team to a division title last year, and he’ll be faced with a similar task this year. The 33-year-old will benefit from the scrambler buff, but time isn’t on his side as we can see from his OVR score. Having said that, the offensive trio of Freitag, RB David Taylor (78) and WR Rodrigo Gonzalaz (78) should not be overlooked.

Strengths:

Offensive skill (RB/WR/TE)
Defensive end

Weaknesses:

Defensive tackle
Inside Linebacker

Outlook:

New England has the second-oldest roster in the league, with an average experience of 6.0 years. They’ve got some standout players on both sides of the ball, but there’s a big vacuum in the interior of the defense that worries me. If Freitag can maintain his 2022 form the team should compete, but the playoff window might already be closing for the team in its current form.

 

Team: Buffalo Bills
Last Year: 9-8 (2^nd in division)

Additions:

WR Brian Adams (77, 8 )
OT Ron Cubbage (77, 8 )
TE Jan Summers (73, 5)

Departures:

OG Ernest Arellano (79, 10)

Key Progressions:

QB Yusei Asencio +5 (61, 2)
OT Marquez Allen +6 (61, 2)
WR Donald Kelly +5 (76, 5)
OG Daniel Astudillo +5 (73, 4)
CB Alvin Annan +5 (71, 3)

Rookie to Watch:

ILB Ola Cunningham

Overview:

In contrast to the Patriots, the Bills have a young QB in 2^nd-year man Yusei Asencio and have done everything they can to surround him with weapons. They added WR Brian Adams via trade and TE Jan Summers in free agency, and WR Donald Kelly has taken a huge leap forward this offseason as well. The defense still has some holes but boasts a great d-line and a pair of top-tier safeties. And if Andrew Bascue isn’t the best ILB in the sim, he’s at least in the conversation.  

Strengths:

Offensive skill (RB/WR/TE)
Defensive line

Weaknesses:

Cornerback
Special teams

Outlook:

After a big leap in the offseason and a vote of confidence from the front office, it’s time for Asencio to show the Bills Mafia that he’s the future of the franchise. He doesn’t need to lead the team to a playoff appearance this year to prove the point, but the expectations are growing after the team finished one game short in 2022. But now that weather’s been added to the sim, he might not want to wait until December; it is Buffalo, after all. 

 

Team: Miami Dolphins
Last Year: 8-9 (3^rd in division)

Additions:

N/A

Departures:

OLB Ricardo Szura (77, 8 )
WR Brian Adams (77, 8 )
CB Ramon Newton (63, 2)

Key Progressions:

RB Gregory Sellers +4 (70, 4)
WR Kenny White +4 (76, 5)
OT Javier Barber +5, (73, 4)
DE Damon Lucas +5 (82, 5)
CB Ernest McCoy +7 (75, 4)

Rookie to Watch:

WR J’Mon McCoy

Overview:

The Dolphins made big waves this offseason, trading away two established starters as well as last year’s first-round pick (Newton) and their 2023 1^st. They followed that by trading back up for J’Mon McCoy, who looks poised to compete with a bevy of B-listers for playing time opposite the new WR1, Kenny White. He’ll have the benefit of playing with one of the best QBs in the conference, so keep your eyes on him in preseason.

Strengths:

Quarterback
Offensive line

Weaknesses:

Tight end
Outside linebacker

Outlook:

On paper the Dolphins have the most talented roster in the East, though we could have another logjam at the top of the division if the best three teams beat up on each other in head-to-head play. But Miami is also sitting on five draft picks in the first two rounds next year, including the 1^st rounder of a team who went 2-15 last season. That should keep fans happy even if they don’t get the on-field results they expect this year.

 

Team: New York Jets
Last Year: 3-14 (4^th in division)

Additions:

N/A

Departures:

N/A

Key Progressions:

DE Aaron Stokes +6 (74, 4)
DT Russell Garban +6 (73, 4)
FB Danny Kipnis +5 (65, 2)
TE Raymond Sanchez +6 (63, 4)

Rookie to Watch:

DT Tony Macura

Overview:

Do you like running the ball and defense? Do you think the forward pass was a mistake? Then you’ll love the Jets! With a great scrambling QB and a young, powerful fullback, this team is ready to ground & pound. And their amazing d-line just got even better with the addition of Tony Macura, one of the top DTs in a draft rich at the position. Grab your tickets and go back 100 years, it’s time for Jets football!

Strengths:

Fullback
Defensive line

Weaknesses:

Offensive line
Outside linebacker
Cornerback

Outlook:

That the Jets currently don’t have a kicker on their roster should tell you everything you need to know about the state of their franchise. But that clock-killing run offense flummoxed more than a few teams last year, so don’t go counting your victories before you’ve earned them on the field. Still, it’s hard to see them moving up much with the roster in its current state and the competition they’re facing in this division.

[Kirby]

Great breakdown @Piercewise1. Looks to be a very competitive division again this year. I'm banking on us not under performing again this year, mainly in part to us finally having some more stability in the franchise and a new head coach.

Looking forward to it!