Pending assignments for AFC East teams

Rosters have been beefed up through the draft and free agency, but they still have time to iron out the final details.

After the bulk of the free agency and the Draft 2022the teams of the NFL They have defined, to a large extent, their templates for the following season. However, there is still time to polish the last details.

Template gaps, deep questions, and extra-sports issues are among the pending tasks for most teams in the leaguewhile work began on the off-season programs.

Starting with the AFC Eastwe began a journey through the eight divisions of the NFL to know what the pending tasks are for each franchise.

Define the distribution of carries for the offensive backfield

It is a luxury for buffalo have as top priority the distribution of the ball among its runners. The Bills they finished the regular season as the unit that allowed the lowest Total QBR to their opponents in the entire league, and bolstered the cornerback position via first-round draft pick with Kaiir Elam after their playoff collapse that way. The return of Jordan Phillips and the addition of Tim Settle will help shore up the interior of the defensive line, along with Ed Oliver. What remains is figuring out how second-round rookie James Cook will fit into a rotation led by Devin Singletary, which also had Duke Johnson and Zack Moss for specific situations. From the outset, it looks like Singletary would stay as the starter and carry the most carries, but teams don’t pay for a second-round pick at this position if there’s no starting potential. Johnson and Moss will have to fight not to be left out of buffalo in the final cuts.

End the legal conflict with Brian Flores

At first glance, the template of the dolphins He appears to be locked into the vast majority of starting spots, even at the expense of recent starters who now seem destined for backup positions, including first-round picks Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene and running back Myles Gaskin. Miami has yet to define the future of tight end Mike Gesicki with a long-term extension, and of course there are still questions about whether Tua Tagovailoa is the solution the team needs at quarterback, but nothing is more urgent than settling the lawsuit. filed by his former head coach. The NFL is conducting an investigation into allegations of a slogan to lose games in order to improve draft positioning, and in the worst case scenario, Stephen Ross could be forced to sell the franchise, though that would be an unlikely resolution. The truth is that what is contained in Flores’ lawsuit, in addition to the very serious accusations of systemic racism in the league’s hiring processes, is quite serious, and should not be taken lightly.

Extend the passing game for Mac Jones

The quarterback had an efficient year as a rookie to New England in 2021, but the reality is that he led an attack based largely on short routes, without putting much pressure on the deepest part of the opposing defenses. The patriots traded for DeVante Parker in hopes of stretching the field vertically after a season in which none of their wide receivers reached 900 receiving yards and only 12 touchdown passes all year for the position. Basically, the patriots they hope Parker will become what N’Keal Harry — who may have his days on the roster numbered — never was: a big perimeter target who manages to keep contested balls deep down the field, opening up space below for other receivers.

Strengthen the group of linebackers

The jets they did a remarkable job during the draft, taking care of acquiring talent in obvious need positions. However, the work is not finished. The group of linebackers in New York he still looks vulnerable behind middle linebacker CJ Mosley. On the right side, Quincy Williams could take the job, but on the weak side, Hamsah Nasirildeen does not offer the best of guarantees. Marcell Harris could be an option. Among the free agents still available, however, is Anthony Barr, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who, in 2019, had accepted an offer from the jets to sign as a free agent before backing down and returning to the Minnesota Vikings. Three years later, crystallizing the union could help the jets to get where they want to go faster. If not going for Barr, familiar AFC East names like Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower, or veterans like KJ Wright, Kwon Alexander or Anthony Hitchens, at the right price, could help.