AFC East projected starters: Patriots deep; Sam Darnold to start?
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- By Gregg Rosenthal
- Around The NFL Editor
- Published: May 7, 2018 at 11:40 a.m.
- Updated: May 7, 2018 at 02:03 p.m.
- 0 Likes | 0 Comments
Gregg Rosenthal will project post-draft starting lineups for all 32 teams -- because that's his idea of fun.
Buffalo Bills
QB: AJ McCarron RB: LeSean McCoy WR: Kelvin Benjamin WR: Zay Jones WR: Jeremy Kerley TE: Charles Clay LT: Dion Dawkins LG: John Miller C: Russell Bodine RG: Vladimir Ducasse RT: Jordan Mills
DE: Jerry Hughes DT: Star Lotulelei DT: Kyle Williams DE: Trent Murphy OLB: Matt Milano MLB: Tremaine Edmunds OLB: Lorenzo Alexander CB: Tre'Davious White CB: Vontae Davis S: Micah Hyde S: Jordan Poyer
» McCarron has a strong chance to earn the Week 1 start, because Josh Allenwas the most undercooked quarterback prospect to get taken in the first round. It will be difficult for McCarron to keep the job, however, with that receiver group and an offensive line that lost two starters to surprise retirements.
» General manager Brandon Beane indicated after the draft that a veteran or two could be added to one of the least experienced receiver groups in football. Jones had a nightmarish rookie season, and Kerley is a journeyman. This is a squad that Dez Bryant would absolutely upgrade, although the signing would have a Terrell Owens getting a key from the city of Buffalo vibe to it.
» Shaq Lawson, the last first-round pick of the Rex Ryan era, figures to back up Murphy. The Billshanded the former Redskins player an aggressive contract, despite the fact that he's coming off a PED suspension and a torn ACL.
» Bills coach Sean McDermott spun magic in the secondary last year -- White, Poyer and Hyde all return after excellent seasons. Now, the team is counting on McDermott to turn Davis' career around. There isn't much depth at the slot corner position.
» It's hard to completely remake a defense in two offseasons, but Edmunds is the type of linebacker who can change Buffalo's entire profile on Sundays, like Luke Kuechly did for McDermott in Carolina.
Miami Dolphins
QB: Ryan Tannehill RB: Kenyan Drake WR: DeVante Parker WR: Kenny Stills WR: Danny Amendola TE: Mike Gesicki LT: Laremy Tunsil LG: Josh Sitton C: Daniel Kilgore RG: Ted Larsen RT: Ja'Wuan James
DE: Robert Quinn DT: Jordan Phillips DT: Davon Godchaux DE: Cameron Wake OLB: Kiko Alonso MLB: Raekwon McMillan CB: Xavien Howard CB: Cordrea Tankersley S: Reshad Jones S: Minkah Fitzpatrick S: T.J. McDonald
» I liked Miami's roster a lot more after completing this exercise. What the Dolphins lack in blue-chip talent, they make up for with improved depth. Super sub William Hayes, last year's first-round pick Charles Harris and Andre Branch aren't even listed with the starting pass rushers above. Albert Wilson, picked up from Kansas City, is incredibly talented for a No. 4 receiver. Frank Gore adds leadership as the team's backup running back. The secondary has strength in numbers.
» Then again, this is a team that needs contributions throughout the roster because it lacks top-shelf difference makers. Jones and Wake (now 36) are probably the best players on the entire roster. Drake, the running back of seven career starts, has the best chance to be a standout of any offensive player if he keeps up his pace from late last season.
» Gesicki's progress as a rookie will be key for the team's passing attack. Tannehill hasn't had a quality tight end throughout his tenure, and coach Adam Gase would love to line up two tight ends at a time. If Gesicki plays as well as he tested at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Dolphins could present a lot of matchup problems by spreading teams out with all their receivers.
» Amendola, Wilson and Gesicki can make up for losing Jarvis Landry. The bigger question is how much better Tannehill can play than Jay Cutler -- or even 2016 Ryan Tannehill.
» Fitzpatrick was compared to Malcolm Jenkins by the Dolphins. That's a sign he'll be used as the team's nickel back on passing downs, often lining up against the opposing tight end. I'd expect McDonald to often act as a third safety/linebacker with Fitzpatrick in town.
New England Patriots
QB: Tom Brady RB: Sony Michel WR: Julian Edelman WR: Chris Hogan WR: Malcolm Mitchell TE: Rob Gronkowski LT: Isaiah Wynn LG: Joe Thuney C: David Andrews RG: Shaq Mason RT: Marcus Cannon
DE: Adrian Clayborn DT: Danny Shelton DT: Malcom Brown DE: Trey Flowers LB: Dont'a Hightower LB: Kyle Van Noy CB: Stephon Gilmore CB: Jason McCourty S: Devin McCourty S: Patrick Chung S: Duron Harmon
» For all the hand-wringing over Brady's supporting cast, this starting group looks strong, with two new first-round picks added to the mix. Michel should lead a committee group at running back because he adds a more explosive element to the offense than James White, Rex Burkhead and Jeremy Hill.
» Wynn is lightly penciled in as Nate Solder's replacement. If the No. 23 overall pick starts, he'll be the shortest left tackle in football at 6-foot-2 3/4. The Patriots also have the option of moving him inside to left guard, with LaAdrian Waddle or trade acquisition Trent Brown as other options to protect Brady's blind side.
» The reserve-receiver battle here will be fierce. Not listed above: Jordan Matthews, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Kenny Britt, sixth-rounder Braxton Berrios and special teams captain Matthew Slater.
» The Patriots' defense was undermanned throughout last season -- and it showed in the Super Bowl. A look at the current roster reveals far better depth, with four starters who were elsewhere or unavailable in February. While the team still doesn't have great pass-rushing talent, the additions of Shelton and Clayborn -- as well as the return of last year's third-round pick, Derek Rivers -- provide more juice up front.
» Not listed above on defense: Second-round cornerback Duke Dawson and two Day 3 linebackers, Ja'Whaun Bentley and Christian Sam. Dawson could be the favorite for the team's nickel back role. Rookies forced to play too much last year -- like Adam Butler and Deatrich Wise -- can slide into reserve roles.
» Bill Belichick desperately needs to hit on some draft picks after a few dry years. It's an aging roster with many of the best younger players, most notably Flowers and Mason, nearing free agency.
New York Jets
QB: Sam Darnold RB: Isaiah Crowell WR: Robby Anderson WR: Jermaine Kearse WR: Quincy Enunwa TE: Chris Herndon LT: Kelvin Beachum LG: James Carpenter C: Spencer Long RG: Brian Winters RT: Brandon Shell
DE: Leonard Williams DT: Steve McLendon DE: Henry Anderson OLB: Jordan Jenkins ILB: Avery Williamson ILB: Darron Lee CB: Trumaine Johnson CB: Morris Claiborne CB: Buster Skrine S: Jamal Adams S: Marcus Maye
» There is already a report that the Jets believe Darnold can be the Week 1 starter over Josh McCown. The No. 3 overall pick will essentially be competing against himself all summer, because the Jets know exactly what McCown can do.
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» Terrelle Pryor isn't even listed above, which demonstrates the Jets' quietly stellar receiver depth. Pryor could wind up as the team's No. 1 wideout or as a situational big-play maker. It's possible the team could cut bait with Jermaine Kearse's contract, but Gang Green should be happy to have a surplus of wideouts, considering the injury risk and boom-or-bust potential throughout this group. Enunwa is coming off a scary neck injury, while Anderson could possibly face a league suspension.
» Darnold's bounty of pass catchers, including running back Bilal Powell, will have to make up for shortcomings elsewhere. The offensive line is below average, without a ton of upside to improve. The tight end position is perhaps the weakest in all of football, with Chris Herndon, Jordan Leggett and Clive Walford as options to start.
» It's worth wondering if Darnold will have to start over in a new offensive system a year from now, just like Mitchell Trubisky and Jared Goff did after their rookie seasons. While there are promising sections of this roster, the weaknesses (OL, pass rush, TE) are pronounced.
» The Jets have finished 28th and 29th in sacks the last two seasons. Their best outside pass rusher right now is ... Jordan Jenkins? Todd Bowles' defense will be led from back to front. While this is a terrific-looking secondary, counting on the back end to carry a defense is always a precarious way to win.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
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