What Each AFC East Team Needs To Do for the 2010 Season

The beauty of sports is that it works in cycles.

That’s a scary thought for New England fans who just witnessed a first-round exit for the first time under their fearless leader Bill Belichick.

With the Jets looking a lot like the ’68 team that stole the Super Bowl from the Baltimore Colts, the Patriots are shaking in their boots at the thought of 15 or more years of futility.

The good news for Pats fans is that none of the AFC East teams look ready to break away from the pack just yet. It’s clear that each AFC East team needs something to improve, but what is the secret ingredient for each team?

Here are my thoughts:

New England : A Pass Rusher

Duh.

I can’t think of any team that has become more synonymous with their position of need than the Patriots have with their need at DE/OLB.

Will they finally use a draft pick to go get a top-flight pass rusher, or will Bill Belichick take a dip in the free agent pool to try to fill the void?

Luckily, linebacker looks to be a position with great depth in both the draft and free agency.

Names like Sergio Kindle and Brandon Graham have been the talk of the town for draft heads in New England, but many more options may await in free agency. Big names like Karlos Dansby and Shawne Merriman have expiring contracts and could hit the market.

Julius Peppers was the talk of the town last offseason, but I seriously doubt he'll be wearing anything but Carolina blue next year; especially now that the Panthers put a long-term deal on the table.

Miami : A No. 1 Wide Receiver

Every analyst and their brother came out of the woodwork this season, overstating the sentiment that something feels gimmicky about Miami’s Wildcat offense.

When given a chance, though, Chad Henne proved that he could be a formidable threat at quarterback. The Dolphins have to like that some of his best performances came at the end of the season, with the team’s playoff hopes hanging in the balance. He completed over 63-percent of his passes in each of the season’s last four games.

The main reason the Dolphins have been hesitant to completely back away from the Wildcat is that it gives their offense a dimension that other teams don’t have. The main problem with that is that they don’t have a dimension that other teams do have: a potent vertical passing attack.

A good threat at wide receiver would go a long way in giving the Dolphins’ offense a non-Wildcat identity, as well as balancing out the run with a little more passing.

New York : A No. 2 Cornerback

The Jets defense was ruthlessly exposed by Peyton Manning in the AFC Championship game.

In that game, the now-household name Darrelle Revis held Colts star receiver Reggie Wayne to three catches for 55 yards. Meanwhile, the other Jets’ corners got blown up to the tune of Austin Collie’s 7 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, and Pierre Garcon’s game-leading statline of 11-151-1.

Of course, that was against Peyton Manning and the Colts, but it remains to be seen whether other teams will be able to attack the Jets’ Achilles’ heel with that same ferocity.

It's become increasingly clear that Lito Sheppard isn't the long-term answer for New York. The free agent pool for cornerbacks looks to be pretty barren. What few contracts are expiring (Leigh Bodden, Dunta Robinson, Richard Marshall) will probably be re-signed.

As for the draft?

Kareem Jackson and Kyle Wilson figure to still be on the board when the Jets pick at No. 29, but if they're feeling as feisty as last year, they can move up and get the prized Joe Haden from Florida to create one of the youngest, most dynamic cornerback duos in the league today.

Buffalo : A Quarterback

It's easier said than done.

The Bills have been trying to replace franchise great Jim Kelly ever since he left the Bills back in 1996. Unsuccessful attempts have left the Bills scratching their heads over guys like Doug Flutie, Drew Bledsoe, JP Losman, and Trent Edwards.

All had a lot of promise, but none lived up to potential.

The Bills have a high enough pick that they could trade up and get someone like Sam Bradford or Jimmy Claussen. Personally, I don’t think either is the answer.

They might have better luck going after a veteran in free agency.

Who comes to mind, though?

Chad Pennington, Jason Campbell, and Tarvaris Jackson are the biggest quarterbacks set to hit the free agent market in 2010. And with the collective bargaining agreement still in the works, the price for these players could be low if no other teams are willing to make them an offer.