AFC East Roundup: Top Stories Heading into Training Camp

The start of the 2024 NFL season is fast approaching. The NFL Draft is over, as are the first waves of free agency. Now it’s time to focus on training camp, the last hurdle to clear before the preseason.

When it comes to the AFC East teams, there are plenty of storylines to consider, but let’s discuss a few key headlines fans should be paying attention to in the coming weeks.

Buffalo Bills

All eyes are on the new core of receivers, which should improve. After Buffalo traded disgruntled receiver Stefon Diggs, the offense is looking for a new WR1. Before Diggs left, receiver Gabe Davis landed in Jacksonville with the Jaguars during the early hours of free agency.

That leaves a lot of yards up for grabs on last year’s receivers. Will we see Khalil Shakir progress like he did late last season? Maybe new recruit Curtis Samuel will make an impact after signing with the team as a free agent? Of course, there’s also second-round pick Keon Coleman who has big expectations on his shoulders and is an early fan favorite. The good news is that the team can still count on tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid to help as well.

New York Jets

Everyone is eager to see quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as he has yet to play a full quarter, let alone a game, in a Jets uniform. Rodgers is also not getting any younger, so it will be interesting to see how he responds after his Achilles injury last season. If Rodgers can’t get the Jets excited enough to make them a legitimate contender, then people will definitely be sent packing in this building.

The Jets don’t need much from Rodgers, just good complementary play as the team fields one of the best defenses in the league. Management is willing to do anything to get Rodgers. If the former MVP can get back to form, the Jets will find themselves in the playoff race for the first time in forever.

New England Patriots

The biggest question for the Patriots is what the post-Bill Belichick era will look like. After the team got rid of the future Hall of Famer, management decided to hire Jerod Mayo, who played in New England for eight seasons.

Mayo wasted no time in choosing his future quarterback, selecting Drake Maye with the third overall pick in this year’s draft. Maye will rely on veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett – no stranger to the Patriots – to show him the ropes and how to become a professional.

The Miami Dolphins

The biggest question for the Dolphins is whether they can finally overcome this challenge. Head coach Mike McDaniels has had a pretty good run in Miami, but he hasn’t been able to get the job done when it matters most.

We know how the Dolphins fared against winning teams last season, and they were largely unimpressive against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Wild Card Weekend. Sure, their defense was a shadow of its former self due to injuries, but their offense was still pretty healthy overall.

The team has nearly all of its talented players back on offense, so now is the time for McDaniels to show he can lead the Dolphins through January…and maybe even February.