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Armchair GM: AFC East


NFL Free Agency officially beings March 13th and the NFL Draft will be held a month and a half later in Nashville, Tennessee. The landscape of many teams will undergo drastic changes in the next couple months in hopes of putting together a unit to put them in the position to compete for a Super Bowl.

Here are five moves every AFC East team should pursue during the 2019 off-season:

Buffalo Bills (2018 Record: 6 - 10)

1. Sign OT Daryl Williams

According to NFL NextGen Stats, Josh Allen topped the league in 'time to throw' with 3.22 seconds, due in large part of the inability of the Bills' receivers to create seperation. With a reasonable expectation that the Bills will not be able to perform a 180 at the WR position in one offseason, investing in the offensive line to allow Josh Allen a split second of extra time could allow the passing game to take the next step in 2019. HC Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beene are familiar with OT Daryl Williams during their tenure with the Panthers making a potential signing between them a strong possibility. Daryl's market value could put him in line to receive a 5 year contract worth $60 million despite coming off season-ending knee injury.

2. Sign TE Jesse James

The Bills released TE Charles Clay earlier this week and as a result only have one tight end left on the roster. Jesse James is a young tight end that could provide Josh Allen with a reliable and hard-to-miss target, standing at 6'7". Jesse James could be in line to receive a 4 year deal worth $20 million.

3. Sign OG Quinton Spain

The Bills need to upgrade the interior of their offensive line. Signing Spencer Long was a step in the right direction but will alone not be enough. Quinton Spain will provide an upgrade to the interior that could put the Bills back on track to become on of the premier rushing offenses in the league. The Bills may need to overpay if they want to ensure that Spain plays in Buffalo in 2019. Quinton Spain's market value would put him in the range of receiving a 5 year contract worth $35 million.

4. Sign RB Le'Veon Bell

LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory will both be 31 during the 2019 season. Le'Veon Bell just turned 27 on Feb. 18th and sat out the entire 2018 season. Buffalo needs running backs that can play in nasty weather. Le'Veon Bell had 298 total yards in the snow against Buffalo in 2016. Le'Veon wants a record-breaking contract. The Bills have $79.18 in cap space and $133 million in 2020. Bell would fit perfectly in Brian Daboll's balanced system of using running backs in muliple roles. Le'Veon Bell could call Orchard Park home with a 4 year deal worth $64 million.

5. Trade Down 9th Overall Pick

In 2017, the Bills traded their 10th overall pick to Kansas City for their 27th pick, their 3rd round pick, and their 2018 first round pick. The Bills could look to receive a similar deal loading up with an abundance of draft capital heading into 2020.

Miami Dolphins (2018 Record: 7 - 9)

1. Release Kiko Alonso

The Dolphins will presumably transition to a 3-4 defense with the hiring of HC Brian Flores. With a pair of young, up-and-coming linebackers, Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan, the Dolphins could save $4.7 million by releasing Kiko Alonso. The Dolphins would eat $3.5 million in dead money but with only $10 million in cap space and a new HC, the Dolphins will be looking to clear up as much space as possible.

2. Release WR DeVante Parker

Cutting DeVante Parker would clear up a much-needed $9.387 million. There is really no justification to keep DeVante Parker on the books heading forward into the 2019 Season.

3. Release EDGE Robert Quinn

Transitioning to a 3-4 under new HC Brian Flores indicates that pass-rusher Robert Quinn will likely be playing for a new team in 2019. Parting ways with Robert Quinn will free up $12.9 million in cap space.

4. Sign DL Malcom Brown

Malcom Brown played under Brian Flores with the Patriots and with the Dolphins ranking near the bottom in rushing defense in 2018, it makes a great deal of sense for Brown suiting up as a Dolphin in 2019. Brown's market value puts him in the range of a 5 year deal worth $50 million.

5. Resign EDGE Cameron Wake

The Dolphins will be in the market for a pass rusher with William Hayes departing for free agency and assuming they release Robert Quinn. New HC Brian Flores will be relying on veteran leadership in the locker room and resigning Cameron Wake will provide positive externalities for the team. Cameron Wake could be looking at a one-year deal worth $8 million.

New England Patriots (2018 Record: 11 - 5) (2019 Super Bowl Champions)

1. Release TE Dwayne Allen

The Defending Super Bowl Champions have $15.59 million in cap space with key positions that need to be filled. With that being said, the Patriots should move on from TE Dwayne Allen to free up an additional $7.3 million.

2. Restructure QB Tom Brady's Contract

The Patriots could restructure Tom Brady's contract to free up some current cap space while extending Brady throughout 2020.

3. Sign TE Jared Cook

Jared Cook signed a $5.3 million contract with Raiders in 2018 and should expect to receive a similar if not larger contract in 2019. The Patriots could sign him to a one-year, $7 million contract which would represent an upgrade at TE while saving $300 thousand (assuming they release Dwayne Allen).

4. Sign WR Adam Humphries

The Patriots love to stack up on slot receivers and with Julian Edelman nearing retirement and Chris Hogan now a free agent, the stars are aligning for Adam Humphries to land in Foxboro. Humphries' market value would put him in the range of receiving a 3 year contract worth $21 million.

5. Sign CB Ronald Darby

The Patriots need to find a CB to play opposite of Stephon Gilmore and why not continue the trend of signing former Buffalo Bills and winning Super Bowls. Ronald Darby could be looking at a 4 year

New York Jets (2018 Record: 4 - 12)

1. Sign CB Brent Grimes

The Jets need to upgrade their cornerback position. The Jets signed Trumaine Johnson to a massive $72.5 million contract in 2018 so they will be looking for a short-term veteran while looking for a long-term option in the draft. Brent Grimes could be line for a one year deal worth $9 million.

2. Sign LB K.J. Wright

The Jets will presumably me transitioning to a 4-3 and will be looking for linebacker. K.J. Wright will bring championship experience to a young team all the while upgrading a Jets' defense that ranked near the bottom in most defensive categories in 2018. K.J. Wright could be looking at a 3 year dear worth $25 million.

3. Sign EDGE William Hayes

The Jets are in desperate need of pass-rushers and with new HC Adam Gase a reunion with William Hayes makes perfect sense. Williams Hayes' 2018 season ended early in the season when he tore his ACL while making a move to avoid the new "body-weight" sack penalty. Hayes could be looking at a 2 year deal worth $9 million.

4. Sign C Matt Paradis

The Jets need to upgrade the interior of their offensive line in free-agency. The Jets have $102.45 million in cap space and signing former Broncos' Center, Matt Paradis, will not only help establish a non-existed Jets' rushing attack in 2018, but will also provide protection for 2018 first round pick, Sam Darnold. Matt Paradis market value will put him in the range of earning a massive $50 million over 5 years.

5. Sign WR Randall Cobb

The Jets need to provide QB Sam Darnold some weapons if they want to accelerate his growth. Randall Cobb is a veteran wide receiver that can play out of the slot, a position the Jets desperately need to fill. Randall Cobb would be looking at a 3 year contract worth $27 million.

Source(s): overthecap.com; nfl.com ; turnoversports.com

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