Biggest Positional Needs For All 32 NFL Teams- AFC East

March 8, 2025

Joey looks at each NFL team in the AFC East and determines their biggest needs. Each team's top three positional needs are identified ahead of the NFL Draft and free agency.

Every team will enter the 2025 offseason with some positional needs. Some teams will have more needs than others, but every team will be looking to improve its roster in the coming months. In this article, we will look at all four AFC East teams (Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets) and determine their biggest needs.

Most of the teams in this division had a disappointing season and only the Bills made the playoffs from the AFC East. That means the Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets will head into the offseason needing more pieces to complete their teams.

So, what are the biggest needs for every AFC East team heading into the 2025 offseason? Let's dive in and find out.

Buffalo Bills

Season Review and Offseason Assets

The Bills came up short once again in the playoffs and couldn't defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. As a result, it was another disappointing season for this team. Buffalo has now lost in the Divisional Round or conference championship round in five straight years.

The Bills have not been able to get over the hump in recent seasons and will head to the offseason looking to improve their team. However, they won't have much money to spend in free agency. According to Over the Cap, Buffalo currently has a negative cap space ($-10.1 million). Therefore, most of its additions will likely come through the draft. 

Biggest Needs

1. Wide Receiver

Quarterback Josh Allen did just fine without a top wide receiver this past year. He won his first MVP behind a 3,731-yard, 28-touchdown passing season, and not having a true WR1 didn't seem to affect him at all. Although Buffalo added veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper at the trade deadline, he didn't make much of an impact across his eight games.

The #Bills need to find themselves a wide receiver that can take over a game like AJ Brown.

A few key moves this off-season can be the difference between getting over the hump.

— 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝘿𝙚𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙨 (@TheThomasDeLaus) February 10, 2025

However, the Bills need to add some playmakers on the outside for Allen in 2025. Cooper and Mack Hollins are both free agents, and Keon Coleman didn't show a whole lot in his rookie campaign. So, adding a top wide receiver is almost a must for this team in the offseason. Look for it to possibly take one in the draft.

2. Cornerback 

The Bills cornerback room did a solid job this past season, but the team will need to address this position group in 2025. The good news is that Taron Johnson and Christian Benford are still under contract. Having both still with the team next season is extremely important for this secondary. The bad news, though, is that Rasul Douglas is headed to free agency.

With Douglas possibly leaving and Kaiir Elam showing little improvement since being drafted in 2022, the Bills will almost certainly need to tackle this position this offseason. Elam only played 198 snaps this past season and was constantly targeted in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.

3. Edge-Rusher

Getting an edge-rusher this offseason isn't the biggest need for the Bills. However, they could definitely use some more depth at the position. With Von Miller a cut candidate, Buffalo might be looking to replace him through free agency or the draft. Even if the team doesn't cut Miller, look for it to still be in the market for an edge-rusher.

The Bills didn't do the best job at getting to the quarterback a season ago. Buffalo ranked tied for 18th in sacks (39) during the 2024-25 season, and Greg Rousseau led the team with only eight sacks. So, the team will likely do something to address this position in the upcoming draft.

Miami Dolphins

Season Review and Offseason Assets

The Dolphins did not have the best season this past year. They missed the playoffs and finished under .500 (8-9) for the first time since 2019. A large reason for that subpar record, though, had to do with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games. He missed four games earlier in the year due to a concussion and two games late in the season due to a hip injury.

Miami will now look to have a successful offseason to help get it back to the postseason. However, the team won't have much money to spend in free agency. According to Over the Cap, the Dolphins have just over $1.5 million to spend this offseason. Therefore, we can expect some potential cuts from them before free agency hits. 

Biggest Needs

1. Safety 

There's no doubt that the Dolphins will be in the market to upgrade their safety room before next season. Both of the team's starting safeties from this past year (Jordan Poyer and Jevon Holland) are headed to free agency. Even backup Elijah Campbell will enter free agency this offseason. That leaves just Patrick McMorris as the only safety in Miami currently.

🎥 Jevon Holland on potentially leaving the Miami Dolphins in free agency: "I've only known [the Dolphins and Oregon]... It's nerve-wracking. Am I going to choose the wrong [organization], but I just got to trust myself." (YT: Breakin' House Rules] #GoFins pic.twitter.com/XxTbGVRE3H

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) February 24, 2025

So, the Dolphins will almost certainly add two or three safeties this offseason through the draft and free agency. While there is a chance that Miami re-signs some of those safeties listed above, it might be tough for Holland to stay in Miami. The 24-year-old safety is expected to sign a big contract this offseason, and the team just doesn't have the cap space to likely re-sign him.

2. Offensive Line

For the most part, there aren't many needs that the Dolphins need to address on offense this offseason. However, they will likely need to upgrade their offensive line in the coming months. Both starting guards from last season (Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn) are set to hit free agency, and this offensive line ranked 26th on Pro Football Network's end-of-year rankings.

Not only are Jones and Wynn about to enter free agency, but tackle Terron Armstead could be retiring this offseason. Armstead has dealt with a bunch of injuries over his 12-year career and the team is operating as if Armstead will not be returning. As a result, Miami will need to add a couple of offensive linemen this offseason.

3. Edge-Rusher

The Dolphins did not get much pressure on the quarterback this past season. That resulted in them totaling just 35 sacks on the year. Although not having edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips (torn ACL) contributed to that low sack total, Zach Sieler (10 sacks) was the only Miami player to total more than six sacks in 2024.

So, this is definitely an area that the Dolphins will need to improve this offseason. With veteran Calais Campbell also set to become a free agent, look for Miami to select an edge-rusher early in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Other Positions of Need: Defensive Tackle

New England Patriots

Season Review and Offseason Assets

Even though the Patriots finished last in the AFC East with a 4-13 record, things are surely pointing up for them heading into the 2025 season. They have found their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and just hired one of the better head coaches in this year's coaching cycle in Mike Vrabel. So, New England is in a good spot right now.

In addition, the Patriots will have the most money to spend in free agency this offseason. According to Over the Cap, New England will have over $128 million to spend in 2025. That is $29 million more than any other team can spend in free agency. So, the future is definitely bright for this rebuilding organization.

Biggest Needs

1. Offensive Line

If the Patriots want their offense to improve this upcoming season, they have to address the offensive line immediately. Even though the team will not lose any starting offensive linemen in free agency this offseason, this position group was one of the worst in the NFL during the 2024-25 campaign.

This offensive line ranked 31st in pass-block win rate (51 percent) and 32nd in run-block win rate (67 percent) while allowing 52 sacks. Those 52 sacks were tied for the fifth most this past year. As a result, look for the Patriots to spend a lot of money on offensive linemen this offseason. With over $128 million to spend, we could see New England run out a totally different unit next season.

2. Wide Receiver

The best way to help your young quarterback develop is by surrounding him with talent. That certainly wasn't the case this past season, as Maye's top three wideouts on offense were Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas. Therefore, the wide receiver position is one of the team's biggest needs entering the offseason.

🚨PROJECTION: Wide receiver Chris Godwin is projected to sign a 3-year, $65 MILLION CONTRACT contract.

Godwin, 28, has had 4 seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards & is a Super Bowl Champion and All-Pro.#Steelers, #Commanders, #Raiders, & #Patriots are expected to be interested. pic.twitter.com/23cBD2lEPX

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 17, 2025

If the Patriots want Maye to take that next step, then signing a top wide receiver in free agency would go a long way. They could also choose to take one early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Either way, though, New England needs to add a few playmakers to this offense this offseason to help the second-year quarterback.

3. Edge-Rusher

The Patriots are yet another AFC East squad that needs more pass-rushers. After totaling just 28 sacks on the year and ranking dead last in sacks per game (1.6), New England desperately needs to add a difference-maker at this position. The team's leading sack-getter had just five sacks (Deatrich Wise Jr. and Keion White) in 2024.

With Wise entering free agency, the Patriots are now even more in the market for multiple edge-rushers. Luckily, they have the money to spend on some big players. New England could go out and sign a veteran like Haason Reddick or a player like Josh Sweat, who is fresh off a 2.5-sack performance in the Super Bowl.

Other Positions of Need: Cornerback

New York Jets

Season Review and Offseason Assets

The New York Jets are not in a great spot heading into the offseason. They are coming off a season in which they went 5-12 and don't really have a plan at quarterback right now. Aaron Rodgers is set to be released by the team in the coming weeks, leaving the Jets with just Tyrod Taylor and Jordan Travis on their roster.

The Jets also don't have the biggest supply of money to spend in free agency. According to Over the Cap, New York will have just over $23 million in cap space this offseason. Even with Rodgers getting cut, the team will only save $9.5 million with a post-June 1 cut date.

Biggest Needs

1. Quarterback 

The biggest need for the Jets this offseason will be the quarterback position. With Rodgers leaving, the team will need to replace him immediately. That could come in the 2025 NFL Draft or free agency. However, given that New York doesn't pick until seventh, chances are it will likely need to trade up to secure one of the top two quarterbacks in this draft class. 

So, signing one in free agency might be where the team goes to upgrade the quarterback room. The Jets could target a younger quarterback like Justin Fields and allow him to be their quarterback of the future or sign a veteran like Russell Wilson. One thing for certain, though, is New York needs to add a quarterback this offseason. 

2. Offensive Line

The Jets offensive line did not have the best season in 2024. While it didn't allow that many sacks, this group ranked 23rd in pass-block win rate (57 percent) and 29th in run-block win rate (68 percent). Now, both of the starting tackles from this past year (Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses) are set to hit free agency. 

Therefore, the Jets will likely be looking to add multiple offensive linemen this offseason. There is also a chance that New York will select one with the seventh overall pick. Securing a tackle like Josh Simmons out of Ohio State or Will Campbell out of LSU could really improve this offensive line next year. 

3. Secondary (Cornerback and Safety) 

The Jets are definitely going to need to add multiple players in the secondary this offseason. That's because most of the team's starters in the secondary will be heading to free agency. Chuck Clark (SS), Jalen Mills (FS), D.J. Reed (CB2), and Isaiah Oliver (nickel cornerback) could all be on new teams in 2025. 

That makes these position groups one of the team's bigger needs heading into the offseason. The Jets can't afford to lose most of those players in the secondary, but losing Reed would be huge. He has been a consistent defensive piece since arriving in New York, and his departure would be felt across the secondary this upcoming season. 

Other Positions of Need: Tight End 

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