The 2024 NFL Draft is this week, and that means every team has its annual chance to inject its roster with an influx of cheap, young talent.
The draft is where champions are made and rebuilding teams are taken to the next level, and some of the teams in the AFC East are certainly looking to make jumps this year.
The Bills, Jets, and Dolphins are picking to build around their quarterbacks, while the Patriots are possibly getting ready to add their own shot at a franchise guy.
Here's what all four of these teams need to achieve at the draft this week.
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2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): Buffalo Bills
Team Needs: WR, DL, LB
It's been an offseason full of change in Buffalo after another brutal playoff exit at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stefon Diggs is out the door, and it feels like this off-season will mark the turn from one Josh Allen supporting cast to the next. It's a foregone conclusion that the Bills will use their first pick in this draft on a receiver, with Allen sorely in need of weapons with Diggs and Gabe Davis out of the picture.
Beyond that, Buffalo could really stand to make some youthful additions to their defensive unit, where injuries and aging plagued them for a significant stretch of last season.
Offensive line is always a consideration as well to ensure that Allen stays upright and healthy.
2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): Miami Dolphins
Team Needs: OL, LB, DB
The Dolphins are in an interesting spot, still yet to win a playoff game in the Tua Tagovailoa era and having his contract extension coming up very soon.
It seems like Miami will ultimately pay him what he wants, and given their lack of draft capital, that makes sense due to the difficult task it would be to replace him.
That means defensive depth and the offensive line are priorities for the Dolphins, as there's no shortage of weapons available on offense, and injuries on defense and a weak offensive line have killed this team in recent years.
Look for some athletic playmakers on defense and some solid blocking to be added on offense this week.
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2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): New England Patriots
Team Needs: QB, WR, OL
The Patriots own the third overall pick, and there is a lot of intrigue as to what they will do with the selection. They could possibly trade out, select a quarterback, or take wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Whatever the decision ends up being, the rest of the draft behind it will be about setting up new head coach Jerod Mayo to lead this franchise into what it hopes will be another chapter of greatness.
The team needs help in all areas, but the offense should be the priority throughout the draft weekend, as the defensive personnel is pretty solid.
Both the wide receiver room and offensive line are in serious need of some bolstering. either to make a rookie quarterback's life easier or better set up for one in the coming years.
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2024 NFL Draft Needs (AFC East): New York Jets
Team Needs: OL, WR, QB
Aaron Rodgers is coming back after his torn achilles cost him and the Jets their season in 2023, and his ability to bounce back from that injury will almost entirely decide this Jets season.
New York and GM Joe Douglas have done a good job of improving the offensive line through free agency, but there's more work to be done in the draft.
The Jets also need to add a wide receiver beyond Garrett Wilson, as Allen Lazard was out of place as a number two option last year, and the team and Rodgers both need someone else to help shoulder the load for Wilson.
Of course, the Jets would also be wise to use a pick on a quarterback at some point to give themselves a dart throw at a possible replacement for Rodgers should he be done playing after this season.
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