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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Sam Neumann

AFC East offseason recap: What have Jets’ rivals done in free agency?

With Tom Brady no longer quarterbacking the New England Patriots, the window of opportunity is now wide open in the AFC East.

The Patriots, who are strapped for cap space, haven’t exactly done enough to ensure that they’ll be back in the playoffs in 2020. On the other side of the equation, the Bills, Dolphins and Jets have all upgraded their rosters.

While the Jets can’t erase years of bad drafting and contracts in one offseason, Joe Douglas is attempting to turn things around. Buffalo and Miami have improved as well, though. Josh Allen and the Bills are set for another playoff run, while the next rookie quarterback that comes to South Beach will be on a competitive roster that is well-coached.

With that said, let’s take a look at the AFC East and recap what the four teams have done through the first wave of free agency.

New York Jets

Joe Douglas has made savvy deals based on value in order to set the Jets up for success in 2020 and beyond. While the Jets have missed out on high-end free agents and even allowed their No. 1 WR, Robby Anderson, to walk in free agency, they still have made moves to improve the roster.

Still, Sam Darnold is not set up for more success than he was in 2019 and that needs to change between now and when the Jets officially take the field. Whether it’s trading for Trent Williams and adding a first-round wide receiver or finding the rest of Darnold’s help in the draft, there’s more work to do. New York has made strides to cut the gap in the AFC East, but Gang Green needs to do a better job of setting up its young quarterback for success like Buffalo and Miami.

Re-Signed

CB Brian Poole (1-year deal)
CB Arthur Maulet (1-year deal)
OG Alex Lewis (3-year deal)
LB Neville Hewitt (1-year deal)
LB James Burgess (1-year deal)
LB Jordan Jenkins (1-year deal)
S Bennett Jackson (1-year deal)

Key Departures

WR Robby Anderson: Signed by Carolina Panthers (2-year deal)
OT Brandon Shell: Signed by Seattle Seahawks (2-year deal)
OG Tom Compton: Signed by San Francisco 49ers (1-year deal)
OL Brent Qvale: Signed by Houston Texans (1-year deal)
LB Brandon Copeland: Signed by New England Patriots (1-year deal)
CB Maurice Canady: Signed by Dallas Cowboys (1-year deal)
CB Darryl Roberts: Released
CB Trumaine Johnson: Released

Key Additions

OT George Fant (3-year deal)
OG Greg Van Roten (3-year deal)
OC Connor McGovern (3-year deal)
OG Josh Andrews (1-year deal)
WR Breshad Perriman (1-year deal)
CB Pierre Desir (1-year deal)
LB Patrick Onuwasor (1-year deal)

New England Patriots

For the first time in a long-time, the Patriots’ direction is unclear. Tom Brady departed for Tampa Bay in free agency and New England added veteran Brian Hoyer to the quarterback room. Aside from that, the Patriots haven’t done much besides re-signing their own players.

While New England still has a good roster, Bill Belichick hasn’t had the foresight to free up enough cap room to make the Patriots the favorites in the AFC. If anything, the Patriots are ready to pass the baton to the Buffalo Bills.

Re-Signed

FS Devin McCourty (2-year deal)
WR Matthew Slater (2-year deal)
OL Joe Thuney (Franchise Tagged)
CB Jason McCourty (Contract Exercised)
DE/OLB Shilique Calhoun (Retained)

Key Departures

QB Tom Brady: Signed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-year deal)
LB Jamie Collins Sr: Signed by Detroit Lions (3-year deal)
SS Nate Ebner: Signed by New York Giants (1-year deal)
OC Ted Karras: Signed by Miami Dolphins (1-year deal)
LB/FB Elandon Roberts: Signed by Miami Dolphins (1-year deal)
DT Danny Shelton: Signed by Detroit Lions (2-year deal)
LB Kyle Van Noy: Signed by Miami Dolphins (4-year deal)
WR Phillip Dorsett: Signed by Seattle Seahawks (1-year deal)
FS Duron Harmon: Traded to Detroit Lions
K Stephen Gostkowski: Released

Key Additions

WR Damiere Byrd (1-year deal)
DT Beau Allen (2-year deal)
SS Adrian Phillips (2-year deal)
FB Danny Vitale (1-year deal)
QB Brian Hoyer (1-year deal)
LB Brandon Copeland (1-year deal)
S Cody Davis (1-year deal)

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are doing everything in their power to build a contender around Josh Allen.

After re-building the offensive line, Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott went out and got Allen his No. 1 wide receiver in former Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs. The Bills seem like a team poised to take over the AFC East and while Super Bowls aren’t won in March, they are certainly building a team that can contend for one.

Re-Signed

OL Quinton Spain (3-year deal)
S Dean Marlowe (1-year deal)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (1-year deal)
WR Robert Foster (1-year deal)
TE Jason Croom (1-year deal)
CB Levi Wallace (1-year deal)

Key Departures

DE Shaq Lawson: Signed by Miami Dolphins (3-year deal)
DT Jordan Phillips: Signed by Arizona Cardinal (3-year deal)
CB Kevin Johnson: Signed by Cleveland Browns (1-year deal)
LB Lorenzo Alexander (Retired)

Key Additions

WR Stefon Diggs (Acquired via trade with Minnesota)
CB Josh Norman (1-year deal)
DE Mario Addison (3-year deal)
LB A.J. Klein (3-year deal)
LB Tyler Matakevich (2-year deal)
DL Quinton Jefferson (2-year deal)
DT Vernon Butler (2-year deal)
RB Taiwan Jones (1-year deal)
CB E.J. Gaines (1-year deal)
OL Daryl Williams (1-year deal)

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins rebuilt their team in an untraditional way. While stripping its roster down to its bare bones, Miami found its identity under head coach Brian Flores. With that, the Dolphins had plenty of money to spend this offseason and are loaded with draft picks.

Miami did what it could in free agency to build a competitive roster before the draft fills out the rest of the needs, specifically a franchise quarterback. Still, the Dolphins were able to snag the best cornerback on the market and added more than capable players on both sides of the football.