TEAM BY TEAM NEEDS FOR APRIL'S DRAFT (Buffalo & Miami)
I will analyze each team's free agent gains & losses, recap their 2008 draft & discuss their overall needs.
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills took this year's biggest free agency risk, they signed WR Terrell Owens. Owens can be disruptive, divisive & selfish, plus he drops more than his share of passes. So what's the attraction? At 35, he stays in top condition, he works hard in practice & he's always made his share of big plays on Sunday. It should be noted that in his first year with a new team, he is normally on his best behavior, at least that was the case in year one in both Philly & Dallas. They also signed ex-Bengal, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, to be the primary backup to starter Trent Edwards. A major off season need was a quality center. They signed ex-Panther, Geoff Hangartner in hopes of filling this need. He was a backup in Carolina, but he played a lot because of injuries. They released tight end Robert Royal & guard Derrick Dockery in salary cap moves & both are starters that will need to be replaced.
Buffalo first round pick was CB/KR Leodis McKelvin & he made quite an impact in both jobs. He was among the league leaders as a kick returner & as a starting cornerback, it was easy to see why he was picked where is was. Second rounder, WR James Hardy, only caught 9 passes, blew out his knee & then had his #81 taken from him to give to T.O. Cornerback Reggie Corner, perfect name, got some playing time & should be the main nickel back this season. Fourth round TE, Derek Fine, didn't catch many passes but did show himself to be an able blocker. The second of their three seventh round picks, WR Steve Johnson, showed some promise & with the long rehab of Hardy, he should get some good playing time, even with the arrival of T.O.
The Bills have real issues right now. They signed bad boy Owens, left tackle Jason Peters held out last year because he's very unhappy with his contract and RB Marshawn Lynch will most likely be suspended for a few games because of a gun possession charge. A pass catching TE is needed as well as the replacement at guard I spoke of before. An edge pass rusher is also a priority, whether it's a lineman or an outside linebacker. Their sack total of 24 isn't going to cut it again. I see the Bills picking one of the Brian Orapko/Aaron Maybin/Everette Brown trio with the 11th overall pick. Second round help could be TE Jared Cook from South Carolina & in the 3rd round, Wisconsin guard, Kraig Urbik, would be a good choice.
Miami Dolphins:
The 'Phins resigned three valuable starters in ROT Vernon Carey, ILB Channing Crowder & S Yeremiah Bell. Unfortunately, they should have signed a fourth, CB Andre Goodman, who played at a Pro Bowl level & will be missed. The acquisition of ex-Cardinal cornerback, Eric Green isn't the answer, it's not even close. They signed Gibril Wilson, a good strong safety, formerly of the Raiders & Patriots. Jake Grove, an ex-Raider center, was signed & then they traded their former starting center, Samson Satele. I'm still scratching my head over that move.
Miami had the #1 overall pick thanks to their 1-15 record in '07. They made the most of the pick selecting LOT Jake Long. He started from day one & will be a fixture at tackle for many years. Second rounder, DE Phillip Merling fit right into the rotation early on & should take over Vonnie Holliday's old right end spot. Quarterback Chad Henne, also a 2nd rounder, didn't play but I think he could very well be the man in 2010. Third round selection, Kendall Langford, was a starter at left defensive end from the second week & he has a future. Injuries knocked out a couple of their draft picks that have some potential, offensive guards, Shawn Murphy, a 4th rounder & Donald Thomas, a 6th round selection.
From worst to first, that was the '08 Dolphins, winning the AFC East with an 11-5 record. They won't sneak up on anyone this year, their Wildcat formation won't be the shocker it was last season & I doubt QB Chad Pennington can come anywhere near his personal best in completions & yardage. That said, they do have a solid 1 - 2 punch with RB's Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams and decent TE play. They need a solid possession receiver opposite speedster Ted Ginn Jr. NT Jason Ferguson is entering his 14th season & there's not much behind him. A cornerback is a must as the depth is questionable. Linebacking depth is another need. Considering where Miami picks, #25 overall, I think they'll go CB or OLB. I think USC's Clay Mathews might still be around then or maybe Northern Illinois' Larry English. If they go corner, UConn's Darius Butler would be a fine pick. In the 2nd round I could see them picking another Buckeye WR, Brian Robiskie, a very polished route runner with size & excellent hands. A CB or OLB, whichever they didn't take in round one would be a smart pick with their other 2nd round pick like Oregon State's Keenan Lewis, a CB or OLB Tyrone McKenzie from South Florida.
Next up: the New England Patriots & New York Jets
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills took this year's biggest free agency risk, they signed WR Terrell Owens. Owens can be disruptive, divisive & selfish, plus he drops more than his share of passes. So what's the attraction? At 35, he stays in top condition, he works hard in practice & he's always made his share of big plays on Sunday. It should be noted that in his first year with a new team, he is normally on his best behavior, at least that was the case in year one in both Philly & Dallas. They also signed ex-Bengal, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, to be the primary backup to starter Trent Edwards. A major off season need was a quality center. They signed ex-Panther, Geoff Hangartner in hopes of filling this need. He was a backup in Carolina, but he played a lot because of injuries. They released tight end Robert Royal & guard Derrick Dockery in salary cap moves & both are starters that will need to be replaced.
Buffalo first round pick was CB/KR Leodis McKelvin & he made quite an impact in both jobs. He was among the league leaders as a kick returner & as a starting cornerback, it was easy to see why he was picked where is was. Second rounder, WR James Hardy, only caught 9 passes, blew out his knee & then had his #81 taken from him to give to T.O. Cornerback Reggie Corner, perfect name, got some playing time & should be the main nickel back this season. Fourth round TE, Derek Fine, didn't catch many passes but did show himself to be an able blocker. The second of their three seventh round picks, WR Steve Johnson, showed some promise & with the long rehab of Hardy, he should get some good playing time, even with the arrival of T.O.
The Bills have real issues right now. They signed bad boy Owens, left tackle Jason Peters held out last year because he's very unhappy with his contract and RB Marshawn Lynch will most likely be suspended for a few games because of a gun possession charge. A pass catching TE is needed as well as the replacement at guard I spoke of before. An edge pass rusher is also a priority, whether it's a lineman or an outside linebacker. Their sack total of 24 isn't going to cut it again. I see the Bills picking one of the Brian Orapko/Aaron Maybin/Everette Brown trio with the 11th overall pick. Second round help could be TE Jared Cook from South Carolina & in the 3rd round, Wisconsin guard, Kraig Urbik, would be a good choice.
Miami Dolphins:
The 'Phins resigned three valuable starters in ROT Vernon Carey, ILB Channing Crowder & S Yeremiah Bell. Unfortunately, they should have signed a fourth, CB Andre Goodman, who played at a Pro Bowl level & will be missed. The acquisition of ex-Cardinal cornerback, Eric Green isn't the answer, it's not even close. They signed Gibril Wilson, a good strong safety, formerly of the Raiders & Patriots. Jake Grove, an ex-Raider center, was signed & then they traded their former starting center, Samson Satele. I'm still scratching my head over that move.
Miami had the #1 overall pick thanks to their 1-15 record in '07. They made the most of the pick selecting LOT Jake Long. He started from day one & will be a fixture at tackle for many years. Second rounder, DE Phillip Merling fit right into the rotation early on & should take over Vonnie Holliday's old right end spot. Quarterback Chad Henne, also a 2nd rounder, didn't play but I think he could very well be the man in 2010. Third round selection, Kendall Langford, was a starter at left defensive end from the second week & he has a future. Injuries knocked out a couple of their draft picks that have some potential, offensive guards, Shawn Murphy, a 4th rounder & Donald Thomas, a 6th round selection.
From worst to first, that was the '08 Dolphins, winning the AFC East with an 11-5 record. They won't sneak up on anyone this year, their Wildcat formation won't be the shocker it was last season & I doubt QB Chad Pennington can come anywhere near his personal best in completions & yardage. That said, they do have a solid 1 - 2 punch with RB's Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams and decent TE play. They need a solid possession receiver opposite speedster Ted Ginn Jr. NT Jason Ferguson is entering his 14th season & there's not much behind him. A cornerback is a must as the depth is questionable. Linebacking depth is another need. Considering where Miami picks, #25 overall, I think they'll go CB or OLB. I think USC's Clay Mathews might still be around then or maybe Northern Illinois' Larry English. If they go corner, UConn's Darius Butler would be a fine pick. In the 2nd round I could see them picking another Buckeye WR, Brian Robiskie, a very polished route runner with size & excellent hands. A CB or OLB, whichever they didn't take in round one would be a smart pick with their other 2nd round pick like Oregon State's Keenan Lewis, a CB or OLB Tyrone McKenzie from South Florida.
Next up: the New England Patriots & New York Jets
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