New England Patriots (Last Year: 12-4).
Season Summary:
Who would have thought that Peyton Manning would lead a game-winning drive, and that Tom Brady would throw the decisive interception on his last possession?
Unrestricted Free Agents:
QB Vinny Testaverde, RB Patrick Pass, FB Heath Evans, WR Troy Brown, TE Daniel Graham, C Gene Mruczkowski, OLB Tully Banta-Cain, ILB Junior Seau, ILB Larry Izzo, ILB Don Davis, ILB Barry Gardner, CB Asante Samuel, CB Ray Mickens, P Ken Walter, P Todd Sauerbrun.
Restricted Free Agents:
G Billy Yates, CB Randall Gay, S Rashad Baker.
Potential Cap Casualties:
RB Corey Dillon, WR Reche Caldwell.
Cap Status (as of 2/16): $26.9 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Re-Sign Asante Samuel: This is imperative. New England cannot allow Asante Samuel to walk. It's time for the team to start using some of its cap room. Franchised Samuel; signed Tory James; drafted Mike Richardson.
- Two Wide Receivers: You've gotta be kidding me with Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney. Troy Brown is starting at age 92! Bill Belichick, what are you doing? Why didn't you just re-sign Deion Branch? I expect him to draft a wide out in the first round. The second one should come via free agency. Signed Donte' Stallworth and Kelley Washington; traded for Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
- Safety: Rodney Harrison, 34, keeps getting hurt every year. The Patriots either need to bring in solid depth or find a replacement for the veteran. Drafted Brandon Meriweather.
- Outside Linebacker: Acquiring someone who's retired just to play linebacker is a sign that you need one. Obtaining an outside linebacker would allow Mike Vrabel to move back inside. The Patriots have the money to sign Adalius Thomas, who has experience in the 3-4. Signed Adalius Thomas; drafted Justin Rogers.
- Inside Linebacker: Excluding Tedy Bruschi, every single inside linebacker New England has is an unrestricted free agent. Drafted Oscar Lua; re-signed Junior Seau.
- Running Back: Corey Dillon was released on March 2, so Laurence Maroney needs a quality backup. Signed Sammy Morris; drafted Justise Hairston.
Analysis: New England's future success depends on what Belichick decides to do this offseason. If he spends money, the Patriots will make another run at a Lombardi Trophy. But if Belichick sticks to his bargain-basement tactics, they could forfeit their stronghold in the AFC East.
New York Jets (Last Year: 10-6).
Season Summary:
Entering the 2006 offseason, the Jets had tons of holes on their roster, an injured quarterback and the second-worst cap situation in the NFL. So, how in the world did Eric Mangini lead them into the postseason? That's why he was this site's Coach of the Year.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
FB B.J. Askew, FB James Hodgins, OT Anthony Clement, G Wade Smith, CB Hank Poteat.
Restricted Free Agents:
TE Sean Ryan, DE Dave Ball, DT Rashad Moore, OLB Cody Spencer.
Potential Cap Casualties:
QB Patrick Ramsey, RB Curtis Martin (retirement), RB Derrick Blaylock, RB Kevan Barlow, WR Justin McCareins, CB David Barrett.
Cap Status (as of 2/16): $20.8 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Defensive Tackle: New York had trouble against the run, and consequently needs assistance at defensive tackle. Kris Jenkins will be available if Carolina cuts him.
- Running Back: Leon Washington is a quick, exciting player, but the Jets need a power runner to complement him. Tony Hunt and Michael Bush are both solid options who will be available in the second round of April's draft. Trading for Michael Turner is another route New York could take. Traded for Thomas Jones.
- Offensive Tackle: New York needs to find a bookend tackle for D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Mediocre right tackle Anthony Clement is a free agent, but that doesn't really matter. Marc Colombo is one option. Drafted Jacob Bender.
- Cornerback: Hank Poteat should not be starting. A cheap alternative would be signing Rod Hood, an underrated corner who played for the Eagles the past few seasons. Drafted Darrelle Revis.
- Tight End: The Jets had problems scoring in the red zone because they have no talent at the tight end position. They should go after Daniel Graham.
- Outside Linebacker: It's time for New York to find a third linebacker to join Jonathan Vilma and Victor Hobson; Eric Barton's best days are behind him.
- Defensive End: Bryan Thomas led all Jets with 8½ sacks. New York needs to be able to put more pressure on opposing signal callers. Signed Kenyon Coleman and David Bowens.
- Wide Receiver: New York could use a better No. 3 option than Justin McCareins and Tim Dwight. Bobby Engram would be a great fit. Drafted Chansi Stuckey.
Analysis: There's no reason to think that the Jets will stop improving under Eric Mangini. The question is, will they do enough this offseason to eclipse New England?
Buffalo Bills (Last Year: 7-9).
Season Summary:
The Bills were 7-9, but the most important thing is that J.P. Losman improved on a weekly basis. Losman needs to continue to make strides, however, if Buffalo is to supplant the Jets as the No. 2 team in the AFC East.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
RB Anthony Thomas, FB Daimon Shelton, WR Andre' Davis, G Mike Gandy, DE Chris Kelsay, MLB London Fletcher, CB Nate Clements, CB Kiwaukee Thomas.
Restricted Free Agents:
RB Shaud Williams, DE Anthony Hargrove, DT Tim Anderson, CB Jabari Green.
Potential Cap Casualties:
QB Kelly Holcomb, WR Peerless Price, G Chris Villarrial.
Cap Status (as of 2/16): $33 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Running Back: Willis McGahee is now a Raven, leaving Shaud Williams as the starter. That's not good. Drafted Marshawn Lynch and Dwayne Wright; re-signed Anthony Thoams.
- Cornerback: Unlike the Patriots, Buffalo lost its top cornerback. There's no one out there who's better than Nate Clements. Signed Jason Webster.
- Two Guards: The Bills should replace Mike Gandy and Chris Villarrial with free-agent Eric Steinbach and whomever they draft in the second or third rounds. Signed Derrick Dockery.
- Tight End: Robert Royal's not cutting it. Buffalo should go after Daniel Graham; it'll give Losman a better target, while taking away a strong weapon from a hated rival. Drafted Derek Schouman.
- Wide Receiver: It's become apparent that the real Peerless Price was abducted by aliens after the 2002 season, and replaced with a less-talented clone. The Bills need a No. 2. Likely candidates are Drew Bennett and Kevin Curtis.
- Defensive Tackle: I expect Buffalo to use one of its top two selections on a defensive tackle who can help out against the run. Signed Darwin Walker.
- Middle Linebacker: Assuming London Fletcher signs with another team, the Bills will be searching for a new middle linebacker. Patrick Willis, a first-round prospect from Ole Miss, fits the scheme perfectly. Buffalo should draft him.
- Defensive End: Excluding Aaron Schobel, no Bill had more than six sacks last year. The team needs someone talented to play across from Schobel, who generated 14 sacks. Drafted C.J. Ah You.
- Outside Linebacker: Takeo Spikes is gone. I'm not sure why. Drafted Paul Posluszny.
- Quarterback: The Bills don't really have anyone behind J.P. Losman. Drafted Trent Edwards.
Analysis: With $33 million in cap space, Buffalo needs to become a major player in free agency. If they fill most of their needs, the Bills could be playing in January for the first time in years.
Miami Dolphins (Last Year: 6-10).
Season Summary:
I wonder if Nick Saban is thinking about taking the Alabama job... I'd ask him, but he'd probably blow my head off with a shotgun. I guess that means he's not going there.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
QB Shane Matthews, RB Sammy Morris, RB Travis Minor, OT Damion McIntosh, G Kendyl Jacox, G Toniu Fonoti, DE David Bowens, DT Keith Traylor, DT Vonnie Holliday, DT Jeff Zgonina, OLB Donnie Spragan, MLB Keith Adams, CB Michael Lehan, S Travares Tillman.
Restricted Free Agents:
QB Cleo Lemon, WR Wes Welker, CB Eddie Jackson, S Yeremiah Bell.
Potential Cap Casualties:
QB Joey Harrington, WR Marty Booker, OT L.J. Shelton, C Seth McKinney, CB Will Allen.
Cap Status (as of 2/16): $13.1 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Offensive Tackle: Damion McIntosh is a free agent, but it really doesn't matter, does it? McIntosh is a mediocre offensive tackle who should not be protecting anyone's blind side. It looks as though Miami may take Levi Brown at No. 9. Signed Mike Rosenthal.
- Quarterback: It's a shame the Dolphins aren't going to give up on Daunte Culpepper. There is no doubt in my mind that he's due for another horrendous season. They could benefit from signing Jeff Garcia or Damon Huard, but that's not going to happen. Drafted John Beck.
- Wide Receiver: Miami needs speed at wide receiver. Going after Donte' Stallworth wouldn't be a bad idea. If it can't get him, the team should try one of the quick wide outs slated to go in the second round of April's draft. Drafted Ted Ginn.
- Cornerback: Neither Will Allen nor Andre Goodman should be starting. And frankly, the Dolphins just don't have the resources to find capable replacements for both of them. Maybe Travis Daniels or Will Poole will emerge as reliable starters. Re-signed Michael Lehan.
- Outside Linebacker: Donnie Spragan exposed himself as one of the worst starting outside linebackers in the NFL last year. Unfortunately, Miami had no other alternative. Signed Joey Porter; re-signed Donnie Spragan.
- Tight End: The Dolphins dumped Randy McMichael which undoubtedly raised some eyebrows across the league. Signed David Martin.
- Safety: Yeremiah Bell? Travares Tillman? Excuse me while I heave. A cheap upgrade could be Michael Lewis, who played for the Eagles the past few years.
- Defensive Tackle: Miami's top three defensive tackles are all free agents. The team should re-sign Vonnie Holliday and use a top draft choice on another. Re-signed Holliday; drafted Paul Soliai.
- Defensive End: Youth is needed. Both Jason Taylor and Kevin Carter are over the age of 32, so look for the Dolphins to spend a third- or a fourth-round pick on a young end. Drafted Abraham Wright.
- Center: Rex Hadnot should not start next year. See what I did there? Very creative. Drafted Samson Satele and Drew Mormino.
- Guard: Another upgrade for the offensive front.
Analysis: There are way too many needs for the Dolphins to compete for a playoff spot next year. They'll need a miraculous comeback from Daunte Culpepper to even come close.
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