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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.

Chad Ochocinco is known to be different. When everyone goes right, Ochocinco usually goes far to the left.

That is why it's no surprise that Ochocinco showed his sincere and heartfelt support for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday. The New England Patriots receiver is one of the few players -- at least publicly -- who backs Goodell 100 percent after a rough year that included a lengthy lockout, increased fines, the bounty scandal and high-profile deaths that may be linked to football-related injuries.

The NFL is booming. But this is an unprecedented time of dissension between current and former players and the league office. The league is facing various lawsuits. Goodell also is tweaking the game -- some believe too much -- in the name of safety. Many players disagree with his methods or motives, or both.

Ochocinco addresses many of those issues in his letter to Goodell, whom Ochocinco refers to as a father figure.

"You are in one big [expletive] catch-22 and quite frankly, I am not sure there is any solution," Ochocinco wrote. "One thing I think can help is killing the NFL PR machine."

Goodell is stern, corporate and to the point. Ochocinco is boisterous and playful. Yet the two always got along, despite several fines Ochocinco has received over the years.

Do not expect many players to follow Ochocinco and write emotional letters in support of Goodell. Right or wrong, Ochocinco is on an island when it comes to player support of Goodell.

Perhaps the end of Ochocinco's letter was most pertinent for Patriots fans. According to Ochocinco, he will have a bounce-back year and plans to do a lot of touchdown celebrations in 2012. Ochocinco scored just one touchdown all last year.

In the wake of Junior Seau's suicide, the debate over football safety has reached a fever pitch. New England Patriots wideout Chad Ochocinco joined the fray Friday, pledging his support to Roger Goodell in a letter posted on his website and addressed to the NFL's commissioner.

"I know it has been a rough week, so I wanted to reach out. Players dying, players suing and on top of that my peers are just going off on you in the media," Ochocinco wrote in the letter posted on OCNNReport.com.

To read the full story, click here.

Let's see what's in the weekend mailbag.

Akhilesh from Massachusetts writes: Why do you think the Patriots drafted Tavon Wilson, a low-ranked safety, in the second round? Is it just that Bill Belichick knows something others don't or was it poor drafting?

James Walker: Wilson was a player Belichick really liked -- apparently more than anyone else. Drafting Wilson that high is certainly a risk. The Patriots might have been able to wait another round or two. This puts some pressure on Wilson to perform. If he turns out to be a solid starter, no one will care where he was drafted.

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Jorge Garcia from Mexico City writes: Which Patriots veteran do you see being released when all the final roster cuts are in?

Walker: You have to look at the deep group at receivers. There's no way the Patriots will keep all 11. I think players like Chad Ochocinco, Anthony Gonzalez, Donte' Stallworth and Julian Edelman will all have to fight hard for roster spots.

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Jim from Toms River, N.J., writes: What's the possibility Donald Driver lands in Miami and what would that mean for the Dolphins?

Walker: If Driver is cut by the Green Bay Packers, which looks like a possibility, Miami will be high on his radar. For one, a starting job is waiting for Driver in Miami, and that won't be the case in most places. Second, former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is now the head coach in Miami. There's a comfort level there. But none of this is possible unless Driver is released.

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Shaggy Lewis from Shreveport, La., writes: What are the chances Terrell Owens signs with Miami?

Walker: Zero. Miami is rebuilding and does not want players with character questions in its locker room. Owens would not be a good fit.

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Ben from Buffalo writes: It seems to me that the No. 2 receiver spot on the Bills is completely up for grabs. Given the lack of production from the guys they put out there last season, do you think T.J. Graham is the front-runner?

Walker: It’s too early to pick a front-runner. But Graham would make it very easy on the Bills if he was ready right away. That was the hope when the Bills drafted Graham in the third round. But that could be asking a lot. David Nelson is better in the slot, and if Graham and Donald Jones can step in, Buffalo's passing offense could be solid.

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John from Germany writes: If you were C.J. Spiller, would you be a little upset that you're not the starter? If you are, would you leave the Bills at the end of your rookie contract?

Walker: Spiller has a gripe. But the reality is that he's not a better running back than Fred Jackson at this stage of their careers. Spiller has three more seasons on his rookie contract. By then, Jackson most likely will be ready to step aside. So it's not a certainty that Spiller walks down the road.

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Chris from MA writes: I feel like I am beating my head against the wall. But could it make any more sense for the Jets to bring in Vernon Carey?

Walker: I'm surprised Carey hasn't gotten more interest. He's probably going to be one of those veterans who signs after there is a camp injury. The Jets won't sign him because they are pretty tight on salary-cap space.

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Ben from Baltimore writes: Do you think Mark Sanchez still has the potential, with the right weapons and players stepping up, to have a comeback year?

Walker: I didn't like what I saw from Sanchez last year. It was my first year in the AFC East, so that was the most I've watched him on a week-to-week basis. Sanchez is in his fourth season, and I don't think his ceiling is much higher than what we've seen. But that doesn't mean Sanchez isn’t capable of playing better, or being a better decision-maker, or lowering his fumble and interception totals. These are things the Jets hope he cleans up in 2012. I doubt Sanchez will ever become an elite quarterback, but if he can make those aforementioned improvements, the Jets can win with him.

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AFC East Homer of the Week

This week's homer is a BIG Chad Henne supporter.

Enjoy.

Rick from Miami writes: James, I don't think you are dumb but please look at the facts before you write something stupid. Henne had played the equivalent of two seasons and has improved each season. He carried a team with no run game or pass defense in 2010 to seven wins and would had more if he had any run support of the defense. Look at the stats. Miami was top 16 in passing ypg with Henne and dropped to 23rd with Matt Moore. That shows Miami only won six games because of their D and run game. Stop bad-mouthing players before you read he facts. Henne is better than Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez and a whole bunch of current starters. Maybe you should read the facts instead of going with idiotic public opinion. Dan Marino thinks Henne can start in this league. Do you know more than Marino about QBs? I think not. Henne will take the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs before Miami wins six games in a season.

Walker: I'm always shocked by the number of Chad Henne supporters still out there in Miami. Henne had four years with the Dolphins to show what he could do and finished with more career interceptions (37) than touchdowns (31). In fact, Henne has never had a season in which he threw more touchdowns than interceptions. Henne was robotic, a below-average decision-maker and didn't have natural leadership ability. Four years is enough time to see that. But there's still a section of people, like Rick, who defend Henne and think he should have been the long-term solution in Miami. But, Rick, it’s the last statement that makes you our AFC East Homer of the Week. Henne will not lead the Jaguars to the playoffs this year. He might not even be the starter, because the team is invested in Blaine Gabbert. Congrats on being our Homer of the Week.

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

• The Buffalo Bills new-look 4-3 defense will be on the attack.

Morning take: The key to a successful 4-3 is the defensive line, and that's the strength of the Bills. Mario Williams, Mark Anderson, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus are as formidable a group as you will find.

• A closer look at Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake's contract shows it's really a two-year extension that will pay $17 million.

Morning take: Wake is a good player, but this is more in line with Wake's true value. Many Dolphins fans were upset when I said the original report of four years at $49 million was too much. The Dolphins would agree.

• New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski will be on a reality television dating show this offseason.

Morning take: I don't think anyone is surprised. It's another example of "Gronk being Gronk."

• New York Jets defensive end Mike Devito says he was fine with a pay cut this season.

Morning take: Devito was hurt last season and the team drafted Quinton Coples in the first round as his replacement. Devito will be the first defensive end off the bench.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady spent time with teammate Wes Welker last weekend at the Kentucky Derby. Between the schmoozing and excitement of horse racing, Brady should have given his top receiver a subtle message and said, "Buddy, it's time to get back to work."

There is one thing for certain about the Patriots: You do not fight the machine.

Welker is facing an uphill battle he cannot win. Many have tried before him and failed. Welker is not the exception.

Welker has yet to sign his franchise tender and hasn't decided how long he's going to protest New England's one-year, $9.5 million offer. The potential distraction has been held to a minimum thus far, but it would only grow stronger if Welker continued to skip New England's offseason program.

The Patriots' mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 12. The best advice is for Welker to have his mind made up by that time. Missing New England's current voluntary program is not a big thing. But if Welker also chooses to skip the Patriots' three-day veteran minicamp, that is when he's hurting the team in the eyes of the coaching staff.

At that point the gloves may come off -- and Welker doesn't want that.

New England is emotionless and shrewd in negotiations. Just ask three-time Super Bowl winner Willie McGinest, who apparently still carries some level of bitterness about how he was handled by the Patriots at the end of his career. McGinest recently got into a Twitter spat with Welker about his contract situation and delivered this stern message.

"We're all expendable at Patriot Place," McGinest tweeted to Welker.

McGinest is right. NFL players in general are expendable, but even more so in New England.

Welker needs to be more mindful of how the Patriots often treat players like replaceable and interchangeable parts. It happened to McGinest, who spent the final three years of his career with the struggling Cleveland Browns. It happened to Richard Seymour, who was great for eight seasons with the Patriots and suddenly shipped to the Oakland Raiders for a first-round draft pick. The Patriots also traded future Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings when Moss grew unhappy about his contract.

Welker should know better. No one player is above the team in New England. That is the Patriot Way.

This is not to say Welker hasn't worked hard and doesn't have a point about long-term security. This is more about wisely navigating the cruel business side of the NFL. It's all about leverage. Welker has little. New England has plenty. Sometimes it's best to accept your fate and move forward.

Welker remains steadfast in shedding the franchise tag for a long-term contract.

"Through my body of work, through the past five years, I think what I've done I've earned a long-term deal,” Welker recently told ESPN Boston Radio. "It's what I am looking for and what I want. Hopefully that's the case and hopefully we come to something where we can make that happen."

Do not think for one second that New England is not prepared for the worst. All the Patriots have done this offseason is sign wide receivers.

New England signed receivers Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Gonzalez and Donte’ Stallworth in free agency. All are productive veterans who have a chance to add something to the offense. The Patriots also re-signed veteran Deion Branch, backup Matthew Slater, and drafted rookie receiver Jeremy Ebert. Chad Ochocinco and Julian Edelman also remain on the roster.

New England will have an elite passing game next season with or without Welker.

If Welker decides to stage a lengthy holdout, Lloyd and Gaffney would be the starters, while Branch, Gonzalez, Stallworth and Ochocinco compete in training camp for backup roles. New England also runs a lot of two tight-end sets with Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. This is still a very deep and talented group of targets for Brady, who also has a knack for making everyone around him a couple of notches better.

Despite 122 receptions and 1,569 yards last year, the Patriots have found a way to make Welker replaceable. But that's only if Welker chooses to be and doesn't sign his franchise tender.

The next move should be the best move by Welker. He should sign the franchise tag, take the $9.5 million and see if anything changes over the next several months at Patriot Place.

Because there's always a chance the Patriots could have a change of heart between now and August. New England has the salary-cap room to extend the 31-year-old Welker and give him the long-term security he's seeking. But it's going to be on the Patriots' terms, not Welker's.

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.

The receiver position is quickly becoming a battle royal for the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots. A dozen men will enter, but only six or seven will leave with roster spots this fall.

New England added Jabar Gaffney to the mix this week. He is one of quarterback Tom Brady's favorite receivers and is coming off a good year with the Washington Redskins, catching 68 receptions for 947 yards and five touchdowns.

The signing immediately moves Gaffney near the top of the depth chart. But where does that leave the other Patriots receivers trying to make the team? Here are the 12 players:

• Gaffney
• Wes Welker
• Brandon Lloyd
• Julian Edelman
• Chad Ochocinco
• Deion Branch
• Donte’ Stallworth
• Anthony Gonzalez
• Matthew Slater
• Tiquan Underwood
• Britt Davis
• Jeremy Ebert

In April, I did a post on who's in and who's out in New England. That needs to be readjusted with the addition of Gaffney.

Analysis: Welker, Lloyd and Gaffney are locks. That leaves four roster spots, at most, for receivers. Branch is in because he's a solid veteran who knows the offense well. I think you also keep Slater as the No. 7 receiver, mostly due to the fact he's a Pro Bowler on special teams and a team captain. The final two spots are really up in the air. I think Ochocinco, Gonzalez and Stallworth all have a realistic chance. Edelman looks like the definite odd man out following the Gaffney signing.

The New England Patriots will not have a shortage of wide receivers this season. In fact, the reigning AFC champs have overstocked the position so much that interesting cuts need to be made this summer.

Following a series of free-agent signings this offseason, here is a look at New England's wide receivers:

• Wes Welker
• Brandon Lloyd
• Deion Branch
• Julian Edelman
• Chad Ochocinco
• Donte' Stallworth
• Anthony Gonzalez
• Matthew Slater
• Tiquan Underwood
• Britt Davis

That is 10 receivers and not nearly enough roster spots to accommodate everyone. So who's in and who's out?

Training camp will decide a lot on the field. But for the sake of projection, let's take an early look at the upcoming roster battles.

I'm projecting New England carries six healthy receivers and probably four or five on game day, considering its frequent use of multiple tight-end sets. Welker and Lloyd are the only 100-percent locks out of the 10 receivers. That leaves four spots for eight players.

I think you can take Underwood and Davis out of the running. Underwood showed promise and even earned some playing time last season. But stuck among a group full of veterans, Underwood's best chance is to put some good plays on tape in the preseason and latch on with another team.

Slater is a Pro Bowler on special teams, and Edelman is extremely versatile. Patriots coach Bill Belichick values both qualities and probably doesn't want to give that up. Consider both receivers in.

By my projection, that leaves Branch, Ochocinco, Stallworth and Gonzalez battling for two roster spots. I think Branch is in for one more year due to his knowledge and leadership. The remaining trio is virtually a toss-up, perhaps with Ochocinco entering with a slight edge due to a one-year head start in New England.

Here is the AFC East blog's final prediction: Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater and the Ochocinco-Stallworth-Gonzalez winner, which will be determined in training camp.

Agree or disagree? Predict who's in and who's out in New England in the comment section below.

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

• Is Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby elite?

Morning take: Dansby believes he's the best linebacker in the NFL. I wouldn't go that far, but he is very good. Miami needs another healthy and productive year out of Dansby in what should be a solid defense.

• Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey says former teammate Tim Tebow will be a starting quarterback with the New York Jets at some point.

Morning take: Whether injury or performance, Tebow-mania will put a lot of pressure on quarterback Mark Sanchez. Maybe that's for the best. Sanchez hasn't been challenged by a backup his entire NFL career.

• Former Buffalo Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Morning take: Parrish had some good moments in Buffalo, but he was too injured to sustain any success. Perhaps a change of scenery will help.

• New England Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco looked good in an offseason workout.

Morning take: Patriots coach Bill Belichick wants to give Ochocinco one more chance in his system. He's had one of the most productive careers for a receiver in recent memory but never seemed to fit in New England.

NFL.com has the updated AFC East salary cap numbers as of late Friday. A lot has happened through two weeks of free agency.

Let's take a look of where the division teams currently stand.

Buffalo Bills

Cap room: $9,715,709

Analysis: Buffalo entered the offseason with a ton of cap room and spent it primarily on its pass-rush. Defensive end Mario Williams became the highest-paid player in Bills history with $100 million contract and fellow defensive end Mark Anderson also reportedly got $27.5 million. Bills general manager Buddy Nix says the team will spend to the cap this offseason. They still have room to make more signings. But all of the top free agents are gone.

Miami Dolphins

Cap room: $6,470,157

Analysis: I'm still scratching my head how Miami arguably has the least amount of star power on its roster, yet remains the most cap-strapped team in the division. Jake Long and Karlos Dansby are big names. But other than that, where is all the money going? The Dolphins traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall and cut leading tackler Yeremiah Bell to save cap room. They're also not paying for a franchise quarterback. Miami could use free agency to help fill the right side of the offensive line. But there's not much cash left to make any significant signings.

New England Patriots

Cap room: $9,944,664

Analysis: The Patriots are quietly bargain hunting in free agency, and many of their moves makes sense. Signings like receiver Brandon Lloyd, and defensive ends Trevor Scott and Jonathan Fanene were very affordable. Chad Ochocinco and Tom Brady's restructures gave the Patriots even more flexibility. I thought the franchise tag of about $9.4 million to Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker could hurt New England this offseason. But the Patriots have plenty of room to be fine with that number if Welker and the team do not work out an extension.

New York Jets

Cap room: $7,692,283

Analysis: Several restructures and quarterback Mark Sanchez's contract extension has put the Jets back on decent footing this offseason. Safety LaRon Landry and backup quarterback Tim Tebow were New York's big acquisitions. It also appears the team will retain veteran starting linebacker Bart Scott. The Jets are one of those teams where you're not sure if the arrow is pointing up or down in 2012. This is a club just one year removed from the AFC Championship Game. But last year's 8-8 season may be a sign of where this group currently stands.

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

• Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey said a contract extension is in the works for starting running back Fred Jackson.

Morning take: Buffalo said it would work it out and still has the cap room to do it. Jackson was one of the NFL’s biggest bargains in 2011 before suffering a season-ending leg injury.

• The Cleveland Browns reportedly will host Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill for a visit.

Morning take: Why is this important to the AFC East? Because the Miami Dolphins have their eye on Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. Would Cleveland reach for Tannehill at No. 4?

• New England Patriots receiver Deion Branch says competition will be good in training camp.

Morning take: The Patriots have a lot of names and someone isn’t going to make it. Names like Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Anthony Gonzalez all will vie for roster spots.

• The New York Jets and Tebowmania have ruled the NFL meetings.

Morning take: Many coaches were asked about Tim Tebow at Tuesday’s breakfast. Will the impact on the field match the hype?

The New England Patriots only had one weakness on offense last year: They couldn't get vertical and behind the defense.

Consider that problem solved Saturday, after the Patriots agreed to terms with veteran big-play receiver Brandon Lloyd. The move was expected for weeks, as Lloyd reunites with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The pair were very successful during their stint together with the Denver Broncos.

Lloyd joins a dangerous cast of receivers and tight ends that include Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker, Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski and up-and-coming tight end Aaron Hernandez. Lloyd averages 15.4 yards per reception for his career and gives future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady the deep threat he's been missing since Randy Moss. The Patriots' offense will be a matchup nightmare for opponents next season.

New England also has depth behind the starters with former Pro Bowler Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman and newly-signed receiver Anthony Gonzalez. There may be a small question with the experience of New England's stable of running backs. But look for New England to air it out anyway to set up the run.

Lloyd is a typical Patriots free-agent signing. He was not the biggest name on the market, but Lloyd should be very productive.

New England no longer has to worry about any facet of its high-powered offense for 2012. Now, the Patriots can use the rest of their resources in free agency and the draft to focus on their 31st-ranked defense.

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

• Could former Houston Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston, who was released Monday, be a candidate for the Miami Dolphins?

Morning take: Winston did attend the University of Miami and the Dolphins have a big need at right tackle. Sounds like a match to me. But money always is an issue.

• New York Jets receiver Santonio Holmes congratulates quarterback Mark Sanchez on his recent contract extension via Twitter.

Morning take: It sounds like things are getting better between these two, which is a good sign for the Jets. Both players need to get on the same page for New York's offense to have any chance of turning things around.

• New England Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco will film a reality show this offseason chronicling his wedding.

Morning take: Ochocinco is no stranger to reality shows. People will tune in, because Ochocinco has a fun personality they want to watch.

• The Buffalo Bills tendered offers to offensive linemen Craig Urbik and Chad Rinehart.

Morning take: Both were restricted free agents and aren’t going anywhere. Buffalo needs as many offensive linemen as they can get.

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

• The New England Patriots reportedly asked receiver Chad Ochocinco to restructure his contract?

Morning take: Ochocinco is scheduled to make $6 million over the next two years, according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal. The Patriots may want to keep Ochocinco on the cheap for another year or move on.

• The Miami Dolphins reportedly are leery of the cost of the No. 2 overall pick.

Morning take: Getting Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III seems unlikely at this point. The interest is too high, which means the St. Louis Rams will get some rich offers.

• Will the Buffalo Bills be interested in the "other" quarterbacks in the NFL draft?

Morning take: Buffalo is not in the market for a first- or second-round quarterback. But the team could try to find a mid-round quarterback to groom behind veterans Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyler Thigpen.

• The New York Jets will look at quarterbacks carefully and wouldn't rule out Peyton Manning.

Morning take: It's curious how the Jets are going about this. They're saying Mark Sanchez is the guy but not ruling out Manning and others. New York should be more forthright about its approach.