AFC East coaching camp primer: Recent faces give division new look

Forward of the beginning of coaching camp, The Publish’s AFC East primer:

New England Patriots 

Coach: Invoice Belichick (twenty fourth yr) 

Coaching camp web site: Foxborough, Mass. 

Key additions: After throwing for simply 208 yards per sport final season, the Patriots transformed their weaponry round TE Mike Gesicki and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster.

OTs Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson might battle for one beginning job.

Protection was a two-day focus of the draft, together with rookie CB Christian Gonzalez — one of many first-round steals. 

Key losses: Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels raided his former group for WR Jakobi Meyers and trusted backup QB Brian Hoyer.

Two disappointments — former first-round choose OT Isaiah Wynn and former free-agent splash TE Jonnu Smith — obtained wanted adjustments of surroundings.

Nelson Agholor was on the outgoing finish of the receiver carousel.

S Devin McCourty retired after a terrific 13-year profession. 

Coaching camp storylines to look at: Quarterback is Mac Jones’ job to lose.

Offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien returns as a white knight to show round final yr’s dysfunction.

O’Brien has a relationship with Jones by their non-overlapping Alabama ties.

There are battles at kicker and punter, after two draft picks had been spent on specialists.

The McCourty-less protection returns its different 10 starters to a unit that reached 30 takeaways and 50 sacks final season.

If free agent WR DeAndre Hopkins lands right here, it’s a game-changer. 

Buffalo Payments 

Coach: Sean McDermott (seventh yr) 

Coaching camp web site: Rochester 

Key additions: OLB Leonard Floyd (29 sacks up to now three seasons) adopted his former Tremendous Bowl-winning Rams teammate Von Miller throughout the nation. OG Connor McGovern is a projected starter.

RBs Damien Harris and Latavius Murray will attempt to take among the speeding load off of QB Josh Allen.

Rookie TE Dalton Kincaid may very well be prolific within the slot. 

Key losses: LB Tremaine Edmunds obtained one of many largest free-agent contracts of the offseason to hitch the Bears.

RB Devin Singletary — by no means a spotlight of the offense regardless of 56 profession begins — bolted for the Texans. WR Isaiah McKenzie (Colts) and S Jaquan Johnson (Raiders) made massive performs in bit roles over time. 

Coaching camp storylines to look at: S Damar Hamlin is again working towards after his near-death on-field expertise final season.

Every part else is much less important, however … is WR Stefon Diggs a powder keg ready to blow up?

Diggs’ sideline outburst aimed toward Allen in a playoff loss fueled offseason commerce hypothesis, which led to skipping the primary day of obligatory minicamp.

All is supposedly resolved.

McDermott is taking up defensive play-caller duties for the primary time as a head coach after ace coordinator Leslie Frazier’s shock depart of absence. 

New York Jets 

Coach: Robert Saleh (third yr) 

Coaching camp web site: Florham Park, N.J. 

Key additions: Name them “Packers East.”

Landing QB Aaron Rodgers is the most important transfer for the franchise since drafting Joe Namath.

WRs Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and OT Billy Turner are reunited with Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

Speedy WR Mecole Hardman slides into Braxton Berrios’ return position.

S Adrian Amos was signed as quickly as Chuck Clark suffered a season-ending harm. 

Key losses: The defensive position was weakened by shedding Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd.

Anticipating Seahawks exports Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods to choose up the slack is an enormous ask. Fan-favorite QB Mike White is now not insurance coverage off the bench.

WR Elijah Moore was traded to the Browns after a roller-coaster two seasons. 

Coaching camp storylines to look at: Begin with the brand new offense’s chemistry, Rodgers’ well being (fractured thumb final season) and his motivation to cement his legacy in a brand new place.

Even with Quinnen Williams’ contract dispute resolved by a new extension, there’s a lot extra: Within the left deal with battle between Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown, does the loser play proper deal with or is that Turner’s job?

Will RB Breece Corridor be again from a torn ACL earlier than Week 1?

All of it’ll unfold throughout an undesirable look on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” 

Miami Dolphins 

Coach: Mike McDaniel (second yr) 

Coaching camp web site: Miami Gardens, Fla. 

Key additions: One yr after buying and selling for WR Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins made one other splash by dealing for three-time First-Workforce All-Professional CB Jalen Ramsey.

5 ex-Jets — together with White, Berrios and WR Chosen Anderson — crossed rivalry strains.

Signing LB David Lengthy Jr. was a steal when taking a look at comparable free brokers. 

Key losses: Damage-plagued CB Byron Jones was lower for salary-cap financial savings.

Gesicki was de-emphasized final season however had been productive.

Three-year starter LB Elandon Roberts joined the Steelers.

QB Teddy Bridgewater’s keep lasted only one yr, as is his norm. 

Coaching camp storylines to look at: How lengthy can QB Tua Tagovailoa keep wholesome after his historical past of concussions marred an MVP-caliber begin to the season and led to consideration of retirement?

The Dolphins and Jets are the co-favorites to land free-agent RB Dalvin Cook dinner, however Miami wants him extra.

A minimum of 4 gamers are regarded as in search of new contracts.

Defensive guru Vic Fangio was employed after a yr off to show across the No. 24-ranked scoring protection by firming down blitzing and taking away massive performs allowed.