AFC East Roundup: Rivals Revamp Offenses to Attack Revis-Less Patriots
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Keeping tabs on the rest of the AFC East, all three teams seem to be rebuilding their passing offenses. Whether the departures of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner from the Patriots have anything to do with that is hard to assess, but Miami, Buffalo, and New York have all made noteworthy additions to their aerial attacks in the opening week of free agency.
The Jets traded for Brandon Marshall and cut Percy Harvin. It looks like Gang Green will once again feature Jeremy Kerley as the primary slot receiver, with Marshall and Eric Decker outside. The Jets also added Ryan Fitzpatrick in a trade with Houston, so he and Geno Smith should compete for the starting quarterback job barring the Jets landing Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston in the draft. Fitzpatrick had the best stretch of his career with the Bills between 2010 and 2012. Current Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was the head coach in Buffalo during that stretch.
Harvin has followed former Jets coach Rex Ryan to Buffalo, where he’ll line up with Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods and catch passes from either E.J. Manuel or new addition Matt Cassell. The Bills are also said to be putting together a sizeable contract offer for Charles Clay, the Dolphins’ tight end who received the transition tag this offseason.
The Dolphins may be more inclined to let Clay go now that they’ve added Jordan Cameron. The former Browns tight end signed a two-year, $15 million deal on Thursday, and if healthy (he’s had concussion issues) he’s the second best tight end in the division behind you-know-who.
The Dolphins could certainly utilize both Cameron and Clay (a more versatile weapon), but the Clay situation presents a unique situation for Miami. Under the transition tag, Clay can sign with another team, and Miami has the ability to match the contract and keep him. If the team lets Clay go, they get no draft pick compensation. Perhaps the Fins will let Clay strike a deal with Buffalo and then try to work out a sign-and-trade with their divisional rivals?
The Patriots contributed to the divisional game of tight end musical chairs, signing ex-Bill Scott Chandler. Chandler can do a little bit of everything and could make either or both Michael Hoomanawanui and Tim Wright expendable. The Patriots are also reportedly taking a look at former Bills receiver Stevie Johnson.
The Dolphins made a few moves at receiver of their own, getting younger and cheaper by replacing Mike Wallace and his big contract with underutilized former Saint Kenny Stills. Stills can fill Wallace’s shoes as the deep threat at a fraction of the cost, and Miami was able to unload linebacker Dannell Ellerbe’s inflated contract in the trade that sent Stills to the Fins for a third round pick.
The story of the offseason will be how the Patriots rebound fom losing both starting cornerbacks from a year ago. Whether it be through the draft, via free agency, or in a trade (Keenan Lewis would be a nice acquisition), New England will need to add reinforcements to the secondary. That need has only been amplified by the offseason additions within the division.
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