AFC East Team Needs for 2009 NFL Draft

NFL DRAFT NEEDS

AFC-East
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Buffalo.gif" border="0" alt="Bills" hspace="12" width="175" height="175" align="left" />Buffalo Bills

The Bills started off the season on fire, but that fire was quickly put out as they stumbled down the stretch.

The Bills have a lot of needs that they have to address in this draft. The offense needs a guard to take the spot of Jason Whittle and also a tight end to give Trent Edwards some help.

The defense is looking for a linebacker with two out of the three starters being free agents this offseason. Defensive end is another area they could address in the first round with Brian Orakpo (if he falls), Everette Brown, or Michael Johnson from Georgia Tech.

I can see the Bills taking a linebacker or a defensive end in the first round, followed by an offensive guard in the second round.




Dolphins.gif" border="0" alt="Dolphins" hspace="12" align="left" style="width: 175px; height: 204px;" />Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins had one of the greatest turnaround seasons in NFL history. They surprised everyone by turning a one-win team into a playoff team in just one season.

The Dolphins' biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball. The Dolphins have three places they could choose to use their first round pick on.

1. They could pick a linebacker to replace Channing Crowder, who they might lose to free agency.

2. They could draft an outside rush line backer to take over for out of place Matt Roth.

3. They could upgrade the secondary with a solid corner opposite of Will Allen, or a stud free safety like William Moore from Missouri (if he falls).

They cannot go wrong with any of these positions in the first round. With their late pick in the first round they could get a top two corner in the draft. The Dolphins will have to find a receiver to draft in the second or third round if one isn’t acquired in free agency.




Patriots.gif" border="0" alt="Patroits" hspace="12" align="left" style="width: 175px; height: 185px;" />New England Patriots

The Patriots were expecting a lot more this season, but they suffered a devastating loss with Tom Brady’s injury and could not recover in time to make the playoffs.

New England doesn’t have very many holes to fill, but the biggest two are the middle/outside linebacker spots to compliment last year’s first round pick Jerod Mayo. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel are getting too old and slow to be every down backers in the NFL.

They also need to draft a starting corner, which they were looking for all of last season. They will look to get either Clint Sintim to play inside or outside backer or a corner like Vontae Davis in the first round.

On offense they will need to pick up an offensive tackle and a wide receiver in the middle rounds to add depth to those positions.




Jets.gif" border="0" alt="Jets" hspace="12" width="175" height="175" align="left" />

New York Jets

The Jets started the season off 8-3 and looked like the best team after they beat the Titans in week 12. But the season went straight downhill after that.

The draft will be big for the Jets so they can fill some of the holes on the defensive side of the ball. Their biggest need is at middle linebacker. They should address this with their first round pick with either James Laurinaitis or Rey Maualuga. Both of these players will fill the void next to David Harris.

After that they need to find value later in the draft. They will draft a backup quarterback for Kellen Clemens, draft offensive linemen late to add depth to an aging line, and look for a quick playmaking receiver in the middle to late rounds.