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DAVIE, Fla. -- The AFC East blog spent a lot of time at Miami Dolphins headquarters this past week for the NFL draft. Now, it's time to see these rookies on the field for the first time.

The Dolphins will have their 2012 rookie mini-camp open to the media Friday afternoon. I'm particularly interested in seeing first-round quarterback Ryan Tannehill throw in his first NFL practice.

Tannehill is one of the biggest mysteries of this draft. He's a converted receiver who had limited experience at quarterback in college. There are questions if he's ready to play in the NFL in his first season.

We will have plenty on Tannehill’s debut with the Dolphins and the rest of Miami's rookie class later this afternoon in the AFC East blog. Be sure to check back for a full report.

How much has New England's defense improved?

It can't get much worse. The New England Patriots were 31st in total defense and 31st against the pass in 2011.

New England selected all defensive players until the seventh round of last week's NFL draft. It was a wise move to draft for defense, particularly in the first round, where the Patriots selected pass-rusher Chandler Jones and physical linebacker Dont'a Hightower.

Not everyone agrees with all of New England's selections. Second-round defensive back Tavon Wilson was a controversial pick. Wilson was not invited to the combine and certainly wasn't projected as a second-round pick. But you can't disagree with the Patriots adding six new defensive players to the roster.

The Patriots appear to be focused on their pass rush. Jones, Hightower and third-round defensive end Jake Bequette displayed the ability and athleticism to pressure the quarterback in college. Improvement in that area this season would be huge for the Patriots.

New England's offense already is elite. Quarterback Tom Brady and the offense carried a struggling defense all season during their Super Bowl run. The defense doesn't need to be top 10 in 2012. But if it can make immediate strides and get into the top 15 or top 20, that could be enough to make New England a strong title contender once again.

Did the Buffalo Bills fix holes on offense?

The Buffalo Bills, who finished 6-10 and last in the AFC East, get a solid "A" for their offseason acquisitions in free agency and their selections in the draft. General manager Buddy Nix made very aggressive moves to get the team in position to make a run in 2012.

But did the Bills, my sleeper pick for 2012, do enough to plug their holes on offense? Buffalo invested a majority of its free-agent dollars on defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. The team also used its first-round pick on cornerback Stephon Gilmore. But the Bills didn't start to address the offense until the second round.

Buffalo's biggest offseason holes on offense were at left tackle and wide receiver. The Bills used their second-round pick on offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and their third-round pick on receiver T.J. Graham. Buffalo hopes both rookies can fill these important positions in Week 1.

Glenn is a solid prospect, but there are questions whether he can handle playing left tackle in the NFL. He split time at guard and tackle at Georgia. That helps in terms of versatility, but the Bills hope Glenn can fill the open left tackle spot full time.

Graham has a chance to compete for the No. 2 receiver position opposite Steve Johnson. Graham does not have prototypical NFL size (5-foot-11), but he does have very good speed to blow the top off the defense. A deep threat is something Buffalo's offense lacks. Graham will have a chance to compete with David Nelson and Donald Jones to be the No. 2 receiver. Nelson is more suited to the slot, and Jones has durability questions. Can Graham, a third-round pick, beat out a pair of veterans?

Will starting quarterback Mark Sanchez rise to the occasion?

It's now or never for fourth-year quarterback Mark Sanchez. For the first time in his career, the New York Jets' former first-round pick is in danger of being benched if he doesn't perform up to expectations. This is a pressure-packed situation Sanchez must handle.

As much as the Jets try to dodge and deny the situation, the reality is Tim Tebow is the huge cloud hanging over Sanchez's head. Tebow is not Mark Brunell, who was Sanchez's harmless former backup the past two years. Tebow is capable of taking Sanchez's job and leading the Jets' offense if needed. Tebow helped lead the Denver Broncos to the divisional round of the playoffs and even holds a head-to-head victory over Sanchez and the Jets last season.

"We're just excited to be able to add another good football player to our team; that's what this is all about," Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano said of Tebow in a conference call this week. "At the end of this whole thing, it's about trying to find good football players. Mark Sanchez is one [good] player. I am so excited about the opportunity to coach with him, and Tim Tebow is a good football player, too."

The Jets have done a lot of good things for Sanchez this offseason. For starters, Sanchez received a three-year contract extension that showed confidence from the organization that he can be the long-term solution. Many were surprised by the move. Also, the Jets drafted a legitimate big-play receiver in Stephen Hill to complement weapons Santonio Holmes and tight end Dustin Keller. Even Tebow in the No. 2 role can help Sanchez if New York's Wildcat package is a success and can keep the chains moving.

There are no more excuses for Sanchez. Franchise quarterbacks rise to the occasion when pushed to be their best. The 2012 season is Sanchez's time to live up to "The Sanchise" nickname the Jets handed him prematurely.

Who will step up at wide receiver?

The Miami Dolphins have put themselves in a tough spot. They want to run an up-tempo West Coast offense this year, but wide receiver is probably the Dolphins' weakest position.

Dolphins rookie head coach Joe Philbin said several times that he doesn't believe in having a dominant No. 1 receiver. That was one of the primary reasons the Dolphins traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall. But that doesn't mean Philbin can get by without quality players at the position.

Philbin had talented receivers during his five years as offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers. Greg Jennings doesn't get as much press as others at his position, but he's very good. Jordy Nelson and Donald Driver are solid, productive veterans, and Jermichael Finley is one of the league's top receiving tight ends.

There is nothing to resemble that level of talent in Miami. Dolphins top receiver Brian Hartline is no Jennings. Davone Bess and Legedu Naanee do not fit Philbin's West Coast scheme like Nelson and Driver. Miami tight end Anthony Fasano cannot stretch the field like Finley.

Miami surprisingly ignored the receiver position until the sixth and seventh rounds of the draft last weekend. That's probably not going to fix this problem for QBs Matt Moore, David Garrard and rookie Ryan Tannehill.

The Buffalo Bills announced the release of veteran cornerback Drayton Florence Friday. The move paves the way for rookie first-round pick Stephon Gilmore to take over the position.

Here are several thoughts on the move:

Drayton Florence
#29 CB
Buffalo Bills
2011 STATS
• Tot50
• Solo41
• Ast9
• FF1
• Sack0.0
• Int3
• Cutting Florence shows a tremendous amount of confidence in Gilmore, who has yet to play a down in the NFL. Gilmore is viewed as one of the safest and most NFL-ready players in this draft. Buffalo is ready to put him to the test after investing the No. 10 overall pick. Gilmore is projected to be a Week 1 starter.

• Some might be surprised that Florence was cut after being one of the team's most productive corners. He recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions in 2011. However, Buffalo wants to get younger at the position and decided to cut ties with Florence, 31. Buffalo has a trio of young corners in Gilmore, Aaron Williams and Leodis McKelvin who it wants to get on the field. All were high draft picks, and the Bills are ready to see if some or all are ready for more playing time.

• This move puts some pressure on Bills safeties George Wilson and Jairus Byrd. The Bills need their veteran safeties to take command of the secondary. Buffalo will certainly be more athletic at corner next season but lost some experience and veteran presence in Florence.

The NFL Network is holding its second annual ranking of the top 100 players. One of the surprises is New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow came in at No. 95.

Is the polarizing Tebow one of the top 100 players in the NFL? Tebow was one of the few quarterbacks to win a playoff game last season with the Denver Broncos, and he is undoubtedly a good athlete. This was a survey voted on by fellow players. So it carries some weight.

Or is Tebow overrated? There are 53 players on each team and 1,696 total throughout the NFL. Putting Tebow in the top 100 makes him one of the league’s upper-echelon players. Is this more a product of the Tebow hype?

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on whether Tebow is the 95th best player in the league. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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

• New York Jets rookie second-round pick Stephen Hill agreed to a four-year, $5 million contract.

Morning take: Don't expect much posturing this offseason with the rookie wage scale. Rookies, for the most part, know what they will make. So there's no point in waiting around.

• Free-agent quarterback Vince Young worked out for the Buffalo Bills, but there's no contract in place.

Morning take: This tryout could be a feeling out process for Buffalo to see where Young is. Let's see where this goes from here.

• Why did the New England Patriots cut receiver Tiquan Underwood instead of Britt Davis?

Morning take: Davis' size was probably the difference. But I doubt it will matter much in the end. Davis is a long shot to make the Patriots' final roster, as well.

• Here is the good and the bad from the Miami Dolphins draft.

Morning take: Ultimately the success of this class will depend on first-round quarterback Ryan Tannehill. How well or poorly he plays will be what people remember most from this draft class.

You have questions. We have answers.

Here is a reminder to send all your questions, comments or complaints this week to our AFC East mailbag. We will address everything related to the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

There's plenty to discuss following the draft. So let's hear it.

New York Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano is getting a chance to work with newly acquired quarterback Tim Tebow. The Jets acquired Tebow in an offseason trade with the Denver Broncos.

Sparano had the luxury of playing against Tebow last year as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Sparano even coached Tebow two years ago at the Senior Bowl when the former University of Florida star entered the draft.

But Sparano said on a conference call Thursday that this is the best he's seen Tebow as a passer, which is one of Tebow's biggest critiques.

"I thought fundamentally Tim has gotten much better," Sparano said of Tebow's throwing. "You can see the amount of time he spent on it, and really this kid has put a lot of time in the offseason from a fundamental standpoint. He's completely different now than he was when he came out of college."

Tebow is expected to play a unique role in the offense, which should include plenty of work at quarterback in New York's Wildcat package. Sparano was coy about the team's plans with Tebow but said everything is on the table.

The Jets are hopeful to improve their 25th-ranked offense from a year ago under Sparano. They have some talented pieces, such as Tebow, tight end Dustin Keller, and receivers Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Kerley and Stephen Hill.

"A lot of guys have a lot of hands in this and done a great job," Sparano said. "I'm excited about the possibilities that we have."

Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots was the last person to coach future Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau. Belichick signed Seau at the tail end of his career and was Seau's coach for his final four seasons in the NFL.

Seau died Wednesday at the age of 43. Belichick released a statement on Seau Thursday:

"A day later, it is still hard to believe. Of all the players I have coached, nobody was more full of energy and vitality than Junior Seau. He respected and inspired every single person he came in contact with -- players, coaches and support staff. His defied the odds by playing two decades in the NFL at a level and with a youthful spirit rarely seen but appreciated by everyone. Junior will always be remembered as a intense Hall of Fame player from the old school. He was a charismatic icon. At the same time, as a human being he was as caring, warm and lovable as they come. That’s what I will miss most of all. It was a privilege to have coached Junior Seau. My condolences to his family."

The New England Patriots finally cut a wide receiver this offseason, instead of continuing to add to the position.

The agent Tiquan Underwood told ESPNBoston.com that Underwood was released on Thursday. This brings New England's crowded group of receivers down to 11. The AFC East blog examined the field earlier today.

I expect New England to keep seven receivers at the most this fall. Injuries can always play a factor between now and September. But a dozen players at one position was a bit much for the reigning AFC champs.

There are several similarities between the recent injuries to Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Shawne Merriman and Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs. Now, both are coming off Achilles injuries heading into next season.

Here are some thoughts on the two pass-rushers:

• 

  Merriman
  

  Suggs
  If Merriman's injury is an indication, Suggs should be concerned. Merriman used to be a dominant pass-rusher. But Merriman has clearly lost a step or two after his Achilles troubles, and a quick first step is vital for any pass-rusher. Merriman went from an explosive edge rusher with a burst to just an effort pass-rusher who was much easier to block. Suggs has a great burst with a variety of nimble moves, and he needs to rehab vigorously to maintain it.
• Merriman is two years younger than Suggs, which also can be a concern for the Baltimore star. Merriman, 27, has been unable to get back to form despite being in his prime years. Suggs, 29, suffered his Achilles injuries two years older, which is significant in football years. Suggs is a great player in his prime. He's also the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But Suggs will be 30 in October.
• One difference that is clear is Suggs will have his surgery right away. Merriman struggled with his Achilles and tried to play through it. The injury put Merriman on injured reserve in back-to-back seasons before he finally decided to have corrective surgery this year. Suggs wisely is getting his surgery immediately and can start a full rehab process. He hopes to return in the second half of the 2012 season at 100 percent.
• I covered Suggs for several years in the AFC North, and he is a flat out beast. He was one of the most dominant and all-around stout defensive players I've ever covered. It's hard to imagine a physical freak like Suggs not being a great player when he returns. But this is a worrisome injury for an elite pass-rusher, and one he needs to be careful not to rush.

The New England Patriots have the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL -- and it got a little easier on Thursday.

Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles tendon and will be out for a significant portion of this season. There are reports Suggs will miss the entire year, but Suggs says he will be back by late October or early December at the latest.

Either way, the Patriots won't have to face Suggs in Week 3 when they travel to Baltimore in a prime-time game on Sept. 23. This is the much-anticipated rematch of January's AFC Championship Game, in which a shanked field goal by Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff could have forced overtime. Instead, the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl and lost to the New York Giants.

Suggs is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a huge difference-maker for Baltimore. His absence should make the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady feel more at ease going into this rematch.

Any game involving New England and Baltimore is going to be a slugfest, no matter who is injured. But the Ravens are arguably the toughest opponent on an otherwise easy schedule for the Patriots. There's no denying Suggs' injury makes this game more winnable for New England.

Earlier Thursday we took a look at the dozen wide receivers the New England Patriots have on their roster following the signing of veteran Jabar Gaffney. We project the reigning AFC champs will carry seven receivers next season, and former Pro Bowler Chad Ochocinco will be among three players fighting for the final two spots.

Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith of ESPN's First Take weigh in on the discussion if Ochocinco's days in New England are numbered.