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AFC East free agency roundup: How do rivals look?

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots hugs Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets after a game at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots hugs Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets after a game at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots after the game at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. New England defeats Buffalo 25-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots after the game at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. New England defeats Buffalo 25-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Final thoughts

There’s no question that the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills both got better this offseason in free agency. After both teams trotted out rookie signal-callers in 2018, it’s safe to assume that whichever QB makes a bigger second-year leap will determine which squad challenges the Patriots for control of the division at season’s end.

If Le’Veon Bell can make it through a full 16-game slate without getting injured and/or showing signs of rust from missing a year of football, then Sam Darnold and the Jets could be able to make some noise around the AFC. The defense is still a work in progress up front, but there are talented pieces in the secondary. On offense, the team must look to the draft for help at tight end and along the offensive line.

The Bills might stand the best chance of catching the Patriots in 2019 – provided Josh Allen rediscovers some of the cannon-armed throwing prowess he displayed regularly as a collegiate athlete. His rushing ability is impressive and handy in a pinch, but it’s not enough to help Buffalo get back in the playoffs. Continuing to surround the young 22-year-old with weapons on the field seems like the best course of action at this point.

And then there’s Miami. The woeful Dolphins are in full rebuild mode, and could legitimately finish with the worst record in the NFL. It’s not in Brian Flores’ DNA to tank or lose games intentionally – not after spending almost 15 years under Bill Belichick with the Patriots. But Flores just inherited one of the least-talented rosters from top-to-bottom in the league, and there’s not a whole lot to be excited about in 2019.

Next. Which Patriots had the biggest impact on 2018?. dark

Ultimately, this season projects to evolve in a similar fashion to most of the other NFL seasons from the past two decades. There are a lot of fresh faces in Buffalo, New York, and Miami, and a lot of old faces in New England. Until and unless that trend changes, the road to the AFC East championship still runs through Foxborough.

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