Another NFL season has come and gone and now we are just left to count down the days until training camp starts in July. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to make NFL history next season as they will strive for their third straight Super Bowl championship. Each team will take a long, hard look at their roster over the next few months as they try to improve their standing and land a big-time free agent or strike it rich in the draft. Here are the 2024 AFC East Team Needs. All Cap Space amounts are per Over the Cap as of February 2024.
New York Jets
- Biggest Needs: OT, WR, S
- Cap Space: $1.6 million
The window is closing for the New York Jets as they likely have Aaron Rodgers for just 1-2 more seasons. Their biggest issue is their lack of cap space, near the bottom third of the league at just over $1.6 million so they will need to get creative with how they delve out their money. Getting another premier wide receiver should be a major priority for them as well as protecting Rodgers at tackle. I would expect the Jets to go with an offensive tackle at number 10 in the draft and upgrade at wide receiver in free agency with one of the deepest classes in recent memory. A guy like Calvin Ridley, if he becomes available, would be great for Rodgers.
Buffalo Bills
- Biggest Needs: WR, EDGE, S
- Cap Space: -$51 million
Woof. The Bills are in major trouble with far too many big contracts bleeding on the budget sheet entering 2024. There will be some cap casualties entering the new year and they will have some very tough decisions to make including at wide receiver where it may make financial sense to part ways with Stefon Diggs. The Bills need to shore up their defense with another legit pass rusher on the outside while improving the secondary where they will be losing key pieces to retirement. The draft will have to be where they build since they have little free agent money to spend.
New England Patriots
- Biggest Needs: QB, WR, EDGE, TE
- Cap Space: $66 million
It’s a new era in New England and this team has some money to burn. The Pats have the fourth highest cap space in the league, and they have made it clear they will be spending. The Pats have the third pick in the draft, and it will be interesting to see how that works out with a QB. It appears that Caleb Williams will be off the board, but Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye would be available with the 3rd pick. If the Pats choose to stay with Mac Jones behind center, they should spend money in free agency on a guy like WR Tee Higgins to give him a legit number one wide receiver. That’s assuming of course that the Bengals don’t franchise tag Higgins.
Miami Dolphins
- Biggest Needs: C, G, EDGE, TE
- Cap Space: -$51 million
I am putting the QB talk to rest. Tua is the guy moving forward for the Dolphins, he has earned that. They are set with two stud receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, so there are no holes there. The offensive line is their biggest need with some older pieces and guys set to hit free agency. With the 21st pick in the draft, they will most definitely address that. Any other big moves will have to come via trade with their financial situation in dire straits. The Fins window is certainly closing with money being a major issue and Hill not getting any younger.