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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Buffalo Bills in 2012.

Dream scenario (11-5): It would be a dream for Bills fans to see their team back in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The last time we saw Buffalo make the postseason, the Bills were the victim of the “Music City Miracle” in 1999. It has been a long line of disappointments and underachieving since that historic play. (Many Bills fans still contend that was a forward pass, by the way.) This year’s team looks poised to break the streak. This is the best team, on paper, that Buffalo has had in a long time. The offense will be dangerous if quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick improves his consistency in the passing game and Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller and the running game stay consistent. Buffalo also made improvements to the defense, including drafting corner Stephon Gilmore in the first round and adding stud defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Chances are, everything won’t fall into place for Buffalo. But this is a sleeper team that does have a chance to make a jump and contend for the playoffs.

Nightmare scenario (5-11): Despite all the additions, there is no guarantee the Bills and their coaching staff can bring it all together in one year. What if Fitzpatrick continues to play like the second half of 2011 and is not the long-term solution? What if the defense struggles to make the transition to a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt? What if big injuries again decimate this team? A lot can go wrong for the Bills, especially in a division where the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots are expected to dominate. The Bills are trying to catch up and cannot afford to make many mistakes in the AFC East. They were 1-5 against division foes last year. Bills head coach Chan Gailey is only 10-22 in his first two years in Buffalo. He has more talent than he has ever had with the Bills. There are no excuses for Gailey this year. It’s still somewhat of a mystery whether Gailey can coach. But we will find out in 2012.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday morning in the AFC East:

• Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is off and running with quarterbacks coach David Lee.

Morning take: Mechanics have been the offseason focus. Fitzpatrick threw a lot of interceptions last year, and some of that was attributed to rushing and bad fundamentals.

• Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long checked in at No. 59 in the NFL top 100.

Morning take: Long is the first Dolphin to make the list. I can't imagine another Miami player ranked ahead of Long, because he is clearly the best player on the team.

• The New England Patriots brought in a trio of offensive linemen for tryouts.

Morning take: New England has seen some changes on the offensive line with left tackle Matt Light retiring. The Patriots are turning over every rock to add depth to the group.

• The New York Jets signed free-agent fullback Fui Vakapuna.

Morning take: The Jets have a good fullback in Jon Conner. Vakapuna is a long shot unless the Jets decide to keep two fullbacks, which most likely won't be the case.

On Wednesday ESPN put together an expert panel to determine which team will is poised to dominate in 2015. That is three years and four seasons from now.

Here is how things shaped up in the AFC East:

No 2: New England Patriots

Thoughts: Earlier Wednesday I wrote a column that New England will struggle when Tom Brady retires. Our panel thinks Brady will still be around in 2015 and gave New England a "nine" rating at quarterback. That's debatable. Brady will be 38 years old in 2015. Is Brady still playing football? And if so, is Brady still elite pushing 40? The article also ignores tight end Aaron Hernandez's contract situation. He's a free agent in two years, along with teammate Rob Gronkowski. Hernandez is probably not on New England's roster in 2015 unless the Patriots find a way to make "Gronk" and Hernandez two of the highest-paid players at the same position. That's not likely.

No. 16: New York Jets

Thoughts: The Jets are an interesting team. Like the Patriots, they are built to win now. It’s hard to say where New York will be in four seasons. ESPN's Trent Dilfer says he still loves the talent and potential of quarterback Mark Sanchez, but I disagree. Entering his fourth season, I think Sanchez pretty much is what he is. Of course, Sanchez can play better over the next few years and reduce turnovers. But he’s not a future perennial Pro Bowler in waiting. Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis will be 30 in 2015. Maybe he’s still the best cornerback in football at that time. Maybe not. New York’s drafts also can be hit or miss.

No. 22: Buffalo Bills

Thoughts: Things are looking up for Buffalo this season, but I think the Bills were a victim of circumstance in this case. The Bills haven’t made the postseason in 13 years. Therefore, I would assume it was very hard for our expert panel to put any stock in Buffalo’s future several years down the line. But there are some good, young players on the roster. Running back C.J. Spiller has potential. So does defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and rookie corner Stephon Gilmore. No. 1 receiver Steve Johnson also is still just 25. I still have questions about the long-term potential of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. But the Bills have potential to build something.

No. 28: Miami Dolphins

Thoughts: ESPN’s panel sees too many questions about the direction of Dolphins. Is rookie Ryan Tannehill the long-term solution quarterback? Is Joe Philbin a viable head coach? Is Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long staying in Miami beyond 2012? There are a lot of questions in Miami. The Dolphins aren’t ready to compete now, and they have to make a lot of the right moves in order to compete in the future. Only the Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns had lower rankings than the Dolphins in these future Power Rankings.

Earlier Wednesday, we wrote a column on the New England Patriots' likely future struggles without Tom Brady. The Hall of Fame quarterback is set to retire in a few years, which will bring the Patriots back to earth with the rest of the division.

In our latest AFC East poll, we want to know which quarterback has the best chance to be Brady's heir in the division. There are several players to choose from on the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and even the Patriots.

The Jets have two quarterbacks age 25 or under. Is Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow the next dominant quarterback in the AFC East? Both have won playoff games early in their career and are competing to lead the Jets to the next level.

How about rookie first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill? He's young and has all the tools to be a viable NFL quarterback. But the Dolphins must spend the next couple of years developing Tannehill and getting him ready for the pro game. Will he become the best quarterback in the AFC East after Brady retires?

Will it be Ryan Fitzpatrick? He's 29 and in the best years of his career. Fitzpatrick recently signed a $59 million contract extension with Buffalo, which means he will be the starter for at least the next two or three seasons.

Or is Brady’s heir also on New England's roster? Young but inexperienced quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer are both waiting and learning behind Brady. Does either player have what it takes to keep the Patriots in title contention when Brady retires?

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on the top quarterback of the future in the AFC East. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

In case you missed it, here is a recap of some of the many topics we covered in this week's AFC East chat.

Eric: Matt Moore is doomed either way. What's the point, if we're gonna suck anyway, of NOT starting Ryan Tannehill now? Let him face adversity. I'm tired of "rebuilding" every, single year.

James Walker: Because it's the job of the coaching staff to play the players who give the team the best chance to win. Despite what fans and media say, every team thinks it can compete for the playoffs at the start of the season. Tannehill doesn't give Miami the best chance to do that this year. Maybe in Year 2 or Year 3. Moore or [David] Garrard is the safe choice while Tannehill learns.

JonK13: Hey James, I've heard coach Philbin is coaching a very upbeat offense down there in South Beach. Do you think Miami will be in shape to start the season or will they be gassed the first 7 games like last year?

James Walker: If the Dolphins players aren't in shape, they better get there. Miami is running more up-tempo on offense, at least that's what it looks like in practice. Miami wants to put pressure on the defense. That can be good and bad. It could lead to quick points if you're moving the chains. Or it could lead to a lot of quick three-and-outs and expose your defense. It worked in Green Bay. So HC Joe Philbin is trying it in Miami.

Matt: As it stands right now, do you think the Buffalo Bills' receiving corps is talented enough to be competitive and score enough points this season? Specifically, do you think T.J. Graham is enough of a vertical threat upgrade?

James Walker: It would be nice if Buffalo found a proven No. 2 receiver to go with Steve Johnson. But the Bills can't plug every hole. I think they did a solid job of re-signing Johnson at a price they were comfortable with and drafting a left tackle on offense. Those were two big things the Bills needed this offseason. It's too early to project what Graham can do. The Bills are hoping for the best, but we have to wait and see.

Diddy: Never mind Chan Gailey, any chance Rex Ryan is on the hot seat if the NYJ fail to make the playoffs again this year? And are the owners starting to get tired of his big mouth?

James Walker: I don't get this one. Rex Ryan is not on the hot seat. He hasn't had a losing season yet in New York and went to back-to-back AFC title games. Say what you want about his brash and sometimes empty talk. I critique him all the time about that. But Ryan is a quality coach.

Emotionless negotiator: Doesn't this sort of behavior engender a lot of ill will from the players over time? New England is getting a rep for treating dedicated players horribly.

James Walker: It can and probably does. But the Patriots are consistent and always doing what's best for the team, not the player. I think as long as you're going to Super Bowls, it doesn't really matter. Do Patriot fans really care that Willie McGinest is still upset years later? Probably not.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday morning in the AFC East:

• After an extended wait, Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams chose No. 94 with his new team.

Morning take: Williams wanted No. 90, but veteran Chris Kelsay wouldn’t give it up. No. 94 will have to do for Williams in Buffalo.

• In light of concussions, the father of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said he would be hesitant to let his son play football.

Morning take: Fortunately for Patriots fans, it’s too late. Brady has had an amazing career in New England. We will have more on Brady later today.

• The New York Jets' three safeties have a history of struggles against the pass.

Morning take: LaRon Landry, Yeremiah Bell and Eric Smith are not cover safeties. They have other strengths, but opponents will test their pass coverage often.

• Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill says he has to get use to the speed of the game.

Morning take: No shocker there. That is the biggest adjustment from the colleges to the pros. Tannehill will be fine. It will take time to play faster.

Here are the most interesting stories in the AFC East:

• The New York Jets were without starting safety LaRon Landry for the start of organized team activities.

Morning take: This is no surprise as Landry continues to rehab his Achilles. The Jets are hopeful Landry can be close to 100 percent by training camp, because he will play an important role in the defense.

• The New England Patriots offense is changing the NFL.

Morning take: New England is ahead of the curve using two pass-catching tight ends. The size and speed matchup of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez is a nightmare for defenses.

• Who are the top-10 running backs in Miami Dolphins history?

Morning take: Larry Csonka at No. 1 is easy. He remains the team's all-time leading rusher. But choices 2-10 have some surprises.

• NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp likes the Buffalo Bills' defensive line.

Morning take: There's a lot to like about the group. The defensive tackles and ends should make for one of the league's best groups. But everyone must stay healthy and productive.

Here is the AFC East blog's ranking of defenses heading into 2012:

No. 1: New York Jets

Analysis: The perception was stronger than the reality for New York's defense last year. The common train of thought is the Jets' defense had a significant drop off from previous years. The reality was New York finished fifth in total defense in 2011. Some aspects weren't consistent, such as the Jets' pass rush and covering tight ends over the middle. But New York still has the best cornerback duo in football and talent at all three levels. The Jets also added first-round pick Quinton Coples and hard-hitting safeties LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell. Until the other division defenses rank in the top five, you have to give the Jets the edge in these rankings.

No. 2: Buffalo Bills

Analysis: The Bills were ranked No. 26th in total defense last year, but they are poised to make a big jump. Buffalo added a pass rush at defensive end with Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, and a starting cornerback in first-round pick Stephon Gilmore. Buffalo's defensive line with Williams, Anderson, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus should be one of the NFL's best. Nick Barnett is a talented linebacker. There's also talent in the secondary, particularly with safeties Jairus Byrd and George Wilson. Buffalo's defense has a lot of potential if it can come together quickly.

No. 3: Miami Dolphins

Analysis: This will surely upset Dolphins fans, many of whom feel their defense is elite. Well, as I've said before, Miami's defense is somewhat overrated. It's a good group and a tough group. But it's not elite. Miami was ranked No. 15 in total defense. Its pass defense was No. 25. The Dolphins are still looking for another pass-rusher opposite Cameron Wake, who had 8.5 sacks in 2011. They also lost their leading tackler in Bell and their leader in Jason Taylor, who retired. Miami will play more 4-3 concepts under first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.

No. 4: New England Patriots

Analysis: The Patriots were the second-worst defense in the league last year. But this is an offensive team that got away with it and nearly won the Super Bowl. New England's defense doesn't cover well and needs to get to the quarterback more. The Patriots added plenty of pass-rushers in free agency and the draft. Perhaps that will help the back end. But New England's offense is so good that it probably won't matter much. If the defense improves from No. 31 to the top 20, that's enough for the Patriots to remain one of the elite NFL teams.

Buffalo Bills
The team announced that its first two home games -- Sept. 16 against Kansas City and Sept. 30 against New England -- are sold out, the Buffalo News reports. The team plays seven games at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and one at Toronto's Rogers Centre -- Dec. 16 against Seattle.

Miami Dolphins
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says the team won't rush the development of Ryan Tannehill, the quarterback Miami drafted eighth overall. "We drafted Tannehill because we thought he’d be a great franchise quarterback," Ross told the Palm Beach Post. "He has all the intangibles, (he’s) a great athlete. The important thing is not to have great expectations up front, and bring him along."

New England Patriots
Former Patriots standout Willie McGinest told the Boston Herald he's made peace with Wes Welker after taking issue with how the receiver dealt with his contract status. "I'm cool with Wes. I never had a problem with him in the beginning," McGinest said. "I was just trying to give him the blueprint of how things go down (in Foxboro)."

New York Jets
The Jets aren't in fact out of the running for a return engagement on HBO's "Hard Knocks," the Sporting News reported. "(It) has not been offered to us," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said, "so right now we’re on the sidelines and we don’t know who’s going to be asked at the end of the day."

Buffalo Bills

The Bills signed second-round pick Cordy Glenn, an offensive tackle from Georgia; the move leaves only one of the team's nine draft picks -- third-round receiver T.J. Graham -- unsigned, Chris Brown reported.

Miami Dolphins

Lydon Murtha told the Sun-Sentinel that he's not ready to cede the starting right tackle job to second-round draft pick Jonathan Martin, the former Stanford left tackle whom the team aims to switch to the right side to challenge Murtha.

On the day he picked up the 2011 MVP from the Miami Dolphins Foundation, quarterback Matt Moore sang the praises of the West Coast offense new coordinator Mike Sherman is installing. And of comments that he's not starter material, Moore said Friday, "When I hear it over and over 100 times it gets a little annoying. I just try to win ballgames and do my best. They'll talk about me when they need to talk about me."

In his second turn as a guest host on her nationally syndicated talk show, running back Reggie Bush "mesmerized" Kelly Ripa on Friday. After Bush presented Ripa with a customized jersey -- his number, her name on the back -- during Friday's "LIVE! with Kelly" taping, Ripa gushed, "I will worship this jersey. I will wear this to bed every night ... think about our time together."

New England Patriots

The Patriots were just doing their due diligence in bringing tight end Dallas Clark, late of the Indianapolis Colts, in for a workout, writes Mike Reiss for ESPNBoston.com. The team already has three tight ends, one of whom -- Daniel Fells -- it signed in March, when Clark was on the market.

Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said the recent death of Junior Seau caused him to reflect on his own post-concussion struggles after his 2005 retirement. "If that can happen to him," Johnson told a conference on pediatric concussions, "I've got to be more diligent in how I live my life."

Boston.com columnist Tony Massarotti wonders whether the Patriots are trying to keep Wes Welker, or drive him away.

New York Jets

The Tebow Takeover -- Tim taking over the starting quarterback's job from Mark Sanchez, that is -- is happening, Jeff Darlington writes, with the ongoing Phase 2 a charm offensive that's winning over veteran Jets like Bart Scott and Darrell Revis.

The team made a pair of moves in its scouting department, ESPNNewYork.com reports, promoting Midwest scout Jeff Bauer to director of college scouting; he replaces Joey Clinkscales, who left for the Oakland Raiders. Kevin Kelly, meanwhile, was named an area scout.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Bills and why.

Things are looking up for the Buffalo Bills. A team that finished 6-10 and in last place in the AFC East in 2011 had arguably the league's best offseason. The Bills acquired defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency, drafted first-round cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and gave contract extensions to in-house stars Fred Jackson and Steve Johnson.

But each move adds more pressure to third-year Bills coach Chan Gailey, who is 10-22 in his first two seasons in Buffalo.

Is Gailey a good NFL head coach? It's hard to say. He was 18-14 in two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before he was abruptly fired. Gailey still carries that sting after being relieved of his position without ever posting a losing season in Dallas. He has struggled in Buffalo, but hasn't had nearly the same talent that he had with the Cowboys.

Talent is no longer a question this year in Buffalo. The Bills spent to the cap to nab top free agents, and many in-house players are coming into their own. Buffalo now has enough talent to make a playoff push. The question is, can Gailey and his staff put it all together?

This is a no-excuses year for Gailey. It's time to finally show what he can do in Buffalo with a bevy of talent at his disposal.

Buffalo Bills

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 10th overall pick in April's draft, is in the fold, the Buffalo News reported, after signing a four-year contract. Second-rounder Cordy Glenn and third-rounder T.J. Graham are now the only members of Buffalo's draft class yet to come to terms.

FoxSports.com's Adam Schein sizes up quarterback Vince Young, who could be getting his last shot in the NFL with the Bills. Schein: "There was a point where Young seemingly ruled the world. Today he is competing with Tyler Thigpen for the right to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick in Buffalo. What a sad, strange and wasted trip."

Miami Dolphins

Sixth-round pick B.J. Cunningham, a wide receiver from Michigan State, became the first draftee to sign with the Dolphins, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

The Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly compares the Dolphins' outgoing players with those brought in to replace them.

New England Patriots

Alfonzo Dennard, the Nebraska cornerback who fell to the Patriots in the seventh round of the draft after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, has agreed to a four-year contract, a league source tells Mike Reiss.

The team also signed Jeremy Ebert, a seventh-round wide receiver out of Northwestern.

ESPNBoston.com has a Q&A with fullback Spencer Larsen.

New York Jets

Quinton Coples, the North Carolina defensive star whom the Jets selected 16th overall, has signed with the team, the Jets' official site reports. The deal, sources told the New York Daily News, is for four years, with a team option for a fifth year; the contract is expected to be a little shy of the $9.3 million ($5.2 million guaranteed) 15th pick Bruce Irvin got from Seattle.

Safety Antonio Allen, a seventh-round pick from South Carolina, also signed with the team.

Defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis won't likely be deported to his native Jamaica but might have to serve additional jail time, Manish Mehta reports.

Former Jets punter Steve Weatherford lit into quarterback Mark Sanchez over a perceived lack of development during an NFL.com podcast: "As the years go on, I think you're expected to mature, skill-wise, and also mature as a leader, and to be honest with you, as much as I like the guy, I just haven't seen that."

Buffalo Bills

Bills general manager Buddy Nix assured Ryan Fitzpatrick that he would be the team's starter ahead of the signing of Vince Young, the quarterback told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday.

Fourth-round draft selection Nigel Bradham relishes his role on special teams.

Miami Dolphins

Ovie Mughelli, a two-time Pro Bowl fullback who was a salary-cap casualty in Atlanta this offseason, is in South Florida for a Thursday workout with the Dolphins. It might be a signal, Brian Biggane writes, that the team is worried about Jerome Messam, who underwent his second knee surgery in five months this week.

Former Dolphins running back Ricky Williams shared his views on concussions with ESPN's Dan Le Batard.

New England Patriots

The Patriots signed receiver Jeremy Ebert, their seventh-round draft pick from Northwestern.

According to a Forbes report, Bill Belichick is the highest-paid coach in sports.

New York Jets

Darrelle Revis led a chorus of Jets praising new addition Tim Tebow, the New York Daily News reports. "He's a born leader," Revis said. "... It's the passion within ... of him wanting to be a leader, wanting to win. You see it in him all the time... eating lunch. Walking down the hallway you see it. He's just one of those guys."

Offensive tackle Wayne Hunter, coming off a tough 2011, received praise from new offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo. "This guy is the starting right tackle," DeGuglielmo told ESPNNewYork.com. "Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle."

1. New England Patriots: To say New England now has abundance at this position would be a massive understatement. Wes Welker’s and newly signed Brandon Lloyd’s roles are pretty clearly defined, but the Patriots also have Deion Branch, Anthony Gonzalez, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, special-teams star Matthew Slater and seventh-round pick Jeremy Ebert all competing for roster spots and roles in this offense.

Welker turned 31 this month, but he has caught more than 100 passes in four of the past five seasons, including a whopping 122 last year. How much does the premier slot receiver of this generation have left? That is hard to guess, but Welker still creates all sorts of problems for every defense he faces and Tom Brady has extreme confidence in him.

With Lloyd in the picture, Welker’s catch total could decrease, as Lloyd is sure to find some favorable matchups now on the perimeter -- often deep downfield. He is an acrobatic receiver who has a ton of big-play ability. Lloyd’s downfield ability is a huge reason New England added him to an already extremely potent passing attack.

Branch will be 33 before the season starts and has appeared in all 16 games only one time in his 11 seasons. Branch is a Brady favorite, but Lloyd is going to cut into Branch’s production in a big way. Still a solid receiver, Branch isn’t someone who can consistently torture single coverage like Lloyd can.

Gaffney hasn’t missed a game in five years and quietly had a pretty good season for the Redskins last year, despite a questionable supporting cast. He is also over 30. I could see him sticking in New England, as the Patriots were very aggressive in pursuing him after his release in Washington.

Gonzalez didn’t play a snap last year and has appeared in only 39 games in his five-year career. Durability is clearly the biggest knock on Gonzalez, but at one point, he and Peyton Manning had a good thing going. This former first-round pick might surprise in a new uniform if he is able to stay healthy.

The 34-year-old Ochocinco was a great player in Cincinnati, but did next to nothing in his first year in New England. He lacks the discipline in his route running to be a regular contributor and is wildly inconsistent, with very few impressive showings. Ochocinco was not a good fit in New England from the start.

Stallworth is yet another over-30 wideout with a checkered history. He is also a former first-round selection and still has the speed to get deep, which is an element the Patriots look to infuse back into their passing attack. One interesting aspect of choosing which wideouts to keep from this huge group is that most of the veteran receivers discussed above offer little-to-nothing on special teams. But any way you cut it, the Pats are pretty loaded at wideout.

2. Buffalo Bills: Although the Bills locked up Steve Johnson, wide receiver is a spot where you can argue they are not noticeably improved from a year ago. Johnson is clearly the top option at wide receiver for Buffalo, but the Bills also will have Donald Jones, David Nelson, Marcus Easley and third round pick T.J. Graham competing for playing time in an offensive system that could feature a high percentage of three-wide receiver sets.

Johnson eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons and crossed the goal line 17 times over that stretch. He has had some ups and downs and isn’t a special talent when comparing him to other teams’ top wide receivers, but there is also a lot to like about what Johnson brings to the Bills’ offense. He has done some of his best work against the top corners in this league.

Jones played only eight games last year, catching just 23 passes with one touchdown. But he has good deep speed and flashes some big-play ability to go along with enough size to be a starter opposite Johnson. Nelson is a big-bodied slot receiver in the Marques Colston mold. He stepped up for the Bills last season and is the second-most reliable member of this group. I especially like what Nelson offers in the red zone.

Easley showed promise coming out of college but has no production yet in the NFL due to injuries. But he is big and fast. Keep an eye on him. I like his chances in this offense. Graham has a ton of work to do with his development as a wide receiver, but he has extreme speed and explosiveness. It might take time for him to be able to get on the field, but once he does, Graham could open up a lot of room for everyone in this offense.

He isn’t a wide receiver so I am not including him in my ranking process, but with Fred Jackson back to being healthy, I expect C.J. Spiller to line up more on the outside and run wide receiver routes.

3. New York Jets: I am still very much a believer in Santonio Holmes as a player, but outside of Holmes, the wide receiver cabinet is rather bare for New York. You can blame the quarterback play for sure, but there is no way around it -- Holmes had a dismal season for the Jets last year. A player who has shown up huge on the biggest of stages, Holmes was clearly frustrated with his situation last season en route to accumulating a measly 654 receiving yards. I can’t say I condone Holmes’ behavior last season, but his numbers likely would have been much better with more efficient quarterback play.

To bolster this position for the long term, the Jets used a second-round pick on Stephen Hill. Hill is the ultimate size/speed prospect and should immediately have an impact on deep routes to help keep the Jets’ opponents off the line of scrimmage to some degree. But Hill has a lot of work to do with the route tree before he can be considered a true complement to Holmes.

They also picked up the often-injured Chaz Schilens in free agency. Schilens appeared in 15 games last year for the Raiders but accumulated only 271 receiving yards. In the two seasons prior, Schilens missed 19 of a possible 32 games with injury. When healthy, Schilens has used his size, route running and strong hands to move the chains in this league. The Jets could really use that.

Jeremy Kerley could be poised to make an impact in his second season. He demonstrates a lot of quickness and could become the next big contributor out of the slot in the AFC East. Patrick Turner saw snaps last year and is still in the equation. He is a big-bodied receiver who doesn’t separate all that well or stretch the field. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if the Jets were to add another free-agent wide receiver to the mix before training camp.

4. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins could presently have the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline top Miami’s depth chart. That is frightening.

Bess is a prototypical slot receiver with excellent short-area quickness. He is good after the catch and can thrive with a strong supporting cast on the outside, but he is by no means a feature receiver. Bess is dependable, but not much of a factor near the goal line. Hartline can stretch the field, but he too doesn’t excel in the red zone. To me, Hartline is a borderline starter in any situation. He also will not be able to be the focal point of the passing attack. In what is sure to be a run-first offense in Miami, Bess and Hartline also offer very little as blockers.

The only other notable veteran here is Legedu Naanee, who was unspectacular for the Panthers in 2011. Naanee does have some ability and his blocking will endear him to this coaching staff in their run-first offense. Maybe this change of scenery and opportunity for playing time pays off for Naanee. Clyde Gates, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, will get ample opportunity to step up in his second season. Gates has rare long speed but caught only two passes in his rookie season. A full offseason could help quite a bit, but he has a long way to go in terms of learning the nuances of the position.

The Dolphins used late-round picks to add B.J. Cunningham and Rishard Matthews to this equation. In a deep receiver draft, the Dolphins made excellent value picks here, as both youngsters have intriguing size and movement skills. But counting on late-round rookies to kick start a passing game is far from a wise wager. The Dolphins need to improve at wide receiver in a big way, especially if they plan on maturing Ryan Tannehill as an NFL quarterback properly.

Buffalo Bills

The experience of head coach Chain Gailey and quarterbacks coach David Lee helped sell new addition Vince Young on the Bills, he told Chris Brown.

Leo Roth of the Democrat and Chronicle throws Bill Polian's name out there as a possibility as the Bills' next general manager.

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback David Garrard is a fan of the fast-paced offense Miami's new coaching staff is installing, he tells the team's official site. "We’re going to be snap that ball at 33 seconds every time," Garrard said. "It’s going to be non-stop, and defenses will be tired because they won’t even get to put their hand on the ground."

Omar Kelly answers some of the questions he posed earlier about how good the Dolphins could be in 2012.

New England Patriots

Julian Edelman was pleased to hear that fellow receiver Wes Welker had signed his franchise tender. "He’s one of our better players on our team and he’s only going to make us better," Edelman told ESPN Boston. "I think that's great." Defensive back Devin McCourty, meanwhile, expects business as usual from Matt Patricia following his elevation to defensive coordinator.

Back with the Patriots after serving jail time for manslaughter and on the heels of lackluster seasons in Baltimore and Washington, receiver Donte' Stallworth says he's a changed man. "I’m in a better place, mentally, physically," Stallworth told the Boston Herald.

New York Jets

Mark Sanchez definitely has the edge on Tim Tebow in the quarterbacking department, Joe Namath told ESPN New York. The legendary signal-caller also said he gets bad vibes whenever he crosses paths with Jets owner Woody Johnson.

A day after signing running back Terrance Ganaway, the Jets added one of Ganaway's former Baylor teammates, guard Robert Griffin. Griffin, who blocked for Ganaway and the "other" Robert Griffin, Heisman winner and first-round pick Robert Griffin III, was taken one pick after Ganaway in the sixth round of April's draft.