With training camp starting this week, let’s take a look at some important camp battles & notes for the AFC East. The division had a lot of turnover this off-season, most notably with the New York Jets reshaping their team & getting younger, the Miami Dolphins adding a good supporting cast around Tua, and the New England Patriots doing the complete opposite from years past. Spending.
Buffalo Bills:
The Buffalo Bills are coming an AFC Championship appearance and did a little bit of building on the defense. They added Greg Rousseau & Carlos Basham in the draft, signed LBs Tyrel Dodson & Marquel Lee, and retained Star Lotulelei back from his opt out. Buffalo had some underrated additions on offense as well. Signing Mitch Trubisky to backup Josh Allen will give Buffalo some flexibility, and Emmanuel Sanders will give Buffalo some added veteran presence at WR.
Camp battles:
TE1: Dawson Knox vs Jacob Hollister
Return job: Isaiah McKenzie vs Marquez Stevenson
CB2: Levi Wallace vs Dane Jackson
OG: Cody Ford, Ike Boettger, Forrest Lamp
New York Jets
The Jets completely reshaped their team this off-season. Adding HC Robert Saleh, WR Corey Davis, WR Elijah Moore, QB Zach Wilson, and trading QB Sam Darnold to name a few. They will look to compete for 3rd place in the division this year while maintaining hope for next year when they have a projected $80M in cap space & 13 picks (7 of which are in the first 4 rounds).
Camp battles:
RB1: Michael Carter vs Tevin Coleman
SWR: Jamison Crowder vs Elijah Moore
WLB: Blake Cashman, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Jamien Sherwood
New England Patriots
The Patriots had a wild off-season, spending more money than anybody ever expected from them, loading up on receivers, and even drafting a QB. They added QB Mac Jones, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Nelson Agholor, and TEs Jonnu Smith & Hunter Henry to name a few. One question mark heading into camp will be if former 1st round pick N’Keal Harry will be traded or if he starts camp on the roster.
Camp battles:
QB1: Cam Newton vs Mac Jones
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson vs Sony Michel
Safety: Adrian Phillips vs Kyle Dugger
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins did everything they could this off-season to make sure Tua Tagovailoa had enough talent around him. Adding WRs Jaylen Waddle & Will Fuller, OL Liam Eichenberg & Matt Skura, along with TE Hunter Long in the draft. On defense the Dolphins got better, adding Pass rusher Jaelan Phillips through the draft, S Jevon Holland, and acquiring Benardrick McKinney via Houston.
Camp battles:
OT: Liam Eichenberg vs DJ Fluker
Center: Matt Skura vs Michael Deiter
NCB: Justin Coleman vs Noah Igbinoghene
TE: Adam Shaheen vs Hunter Long
