Biggest Team Needs – AFC East and North

The CFPs are set (GO BLUE), Bowl season is upon us and it’s been a great season! In this second part of my biggest team needs, I look to the AFC and talk East and North. 

Biggest Team Needs – AFC East 

Buffalo Bills

They have a few players to lock up before free agency, most notably Jordan Poyer and Tremaine Edmunds. When you look at how the team grades out on PFF, the offense could use some love come draft time. I’d lean toward offensive tackle, maybe a Broderick Jones or Paris Johnson. Both are big, physical players that I could see fitting the mold of a Buffalo o-lineman.

Another position that I wouldn’t be surprised if they drafted late in the first would be cornerback. Antonio Johnson from Texas A&M, and Cam Smith from South Carolina, the bigger, stronger corners would fit nicely.

Miami Dolphins

Another team that could use some offensive tackles, Armstead’s aging, and the rest have been underwhelming at best. Without having a first-round pick, Miami will be looking at the 2nd or 3rd tier of players at whatever position they wind up drafting in. 

Maybe they get lucky and an Anton Harrison-type tackle is around for their 1st pick, otherwise, they can take BPA in my mind. Outside of Wide Receiver, I’d have no issue if they added the best player at a position. If it’s an area that’s already strong, you can never have enough good pass rushers. They could stand to add a corner or safety as well.

New England Patriots

The AFC East seems to have a theme so far, offensive lines need some help. The Patriots have one o-lineman about an 80 grade, the rests are 70 and lower. This team is notorious for throwing a curveball and drafting someone WAY off the radar. 

Like, it wouldn’t surprise me if they took Darnell Wright, the massive powerful tackle from Tennessee. They could leave Brown and Wynn at the tackle spots and slide a guy like Wright inside. Strange has struggled but he will as a rookie, and Onwenu has been their best lineman. They could also leave him outside to compete at a tackle spot, or move on from a vet and let him start…who knows!

New York Jets

Do they need a QB? Maybe. I’m looking more at the secondary, specifically safety. Would love to see them target a Jordan Battle or JL Skinner for the back end. You have Sauce funneling the work inside and these guys can do it all at the safety position.

Biggest Team Needs – AFC North 

Baltimore Ravens

This offseason will tell us a lot, will they lock up Lamar long-term? This is a team that really can just take the best player when they get on the clock. They could use some help at linebacker, what they have has been ok at best. They could add some secondary help but they did that last year. Baltimore’s in a great spot to add on its strengths. 

Could they target a Demarvion Overshown? Jack Campbell? Zion Tupuola-Fetui? All would be fun adds to this defense, which should be around when they are on the clock. I could also see them targeting a skill position player, either wideout or another running back.

Cincinnati Bengals

This team needs help in the trenches on both sides. I know I’ve talked a ton about the offensive side, so I’ll look at interior defensive linemen here. Siaki Ika from Baylor, Tuli Tuipulotu from USC, Tyler Lacy from OK State, or Gervon Dexter Sr. from Florida make a ton of sense. All bring different things to the table, depending on how Cinci wants to attack the DT position. Ika profiles more as a nose tackle but all of these players have a good burst. 

Cleveland Browns

This team has been confusing this year, the one thing that isn’t is that they need defensive help. The edges and the secondary are fine but the interior defensive line and linebackers need some reinforcements. BJ Ojulari would be a fun get for Cleveland, they could stand him up and have him attack off the edges from the linebacker spot. 

If you want to look more pure linebacker, Andre Carter II from Army or Nolan Smith would fit as well. Both players bring a lot to the table and probably start on the edges like Ojulari. Carter’s a really interesting prospect because he’s such an amazing athlete and has a great story as well.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers could use some cornerback help, some offensive line help, and even a linebacker or two. Kelee Ringo or Joey Porter Jr. would be perfect fits, both bring the size/speed profile that Pittsburgh looks for. My bigger concern is if they both last till the mid to late teens, where Pittsburgh is potentially selecting. 

There is a lot of time between now and the draft, as well as free agency that can send this all in a tailspin. Any questions or just want to keep the conversation going, hit me up on Twitter Feel free to @ me or DM me and we can talk more about him and the rest of the 2023 NFL Draft, and don’t forget to check out our Mock Draft’s here on Draft Countdown!