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Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: biggest team needs.

Buffalo Bills

Where would you like to start?

Offense? How about left tackle, right tackle, tight end and -- if there's a great one still on the draft board -- quarterback?

Defense? How about the line, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety?

Special teams? OK, the Bills are fine there.

But kicker, punter and running back are about the only positions the Bills can draft third overall and not help themselves.

The most pressing needs, however, are tackle and outside linebacker. The Bills haven't drafted an offensive tackle earlier than the fifth round since taking Mike Williams in the first round in 2002, and their line play shows that. They have tried to coach up late draft picks (Demetrius Bell, Ed Wang) and rummaged through free agency (Cornell Green, Mansfield Wrotto, Jonathan Scott, Jamon Meredith) rather than acquire that prized blindside protector.

The Bills were so desperate at outside linebacker they plucked the injury-ravaged Shawne Merriman off waivers last year and then, even though he got hurt again minutes into his first workout, gave him a contract extension.

They can't bank on Merriman to anchor their pass rush. Yet even if he can contribute, they'll need more help. The Bills recorded 27 sacks last year. Only three teams had fewer.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins probably will need a running back. They could stand to upgrade at quarterback if they can.

But they definitely need interior offensive linemen.

They recently re-signed left guard Richie Incognito to an extension, but they still have problems at center and right guard. Although they have two solid book-end tackles in Pro perennial Bowl left tackle Jake Long and veteran Vernon Carey, they've been a mess in between for the past three years.

The Dolphins need to upgrade their power running game. Despite having a capable and healthy backfield tandem in Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams last season, the Dolphins ranked 21st in rushing yards, 29th in yards per carry and 29th in rushing touchdowns.

A stud running back certainly can help, and the Dolphins might have little choice but to take one with their 15th selection. Brown's and Williams' contracts are up. That's why so many draft analysts project the Dolphins will take Alabama running back Mark Ingram and then address the O-line later.

New England Patriots

Funny how things work for the Patriots when it comes to draft picks. The reigning AFC East champs might have the fewest needs but have the most draft picks at their disposal.

The Patriots went 14-2 last season and own two draft choices in each of the first three rounds. So the Patriots have the flexibility to go any number of directions.

The most obvious need is outside linebacker. The Patriots' entire outside linebacking corps mustered 13.5 sacks last year. Dolphins outside linebacker Cameron Wake generated 14 sacks all by himself.

Offensive line is another concern because there are so many question marks. Right guard Stephen Neal retired. Left guard Logan Mankins is upset. Left tackle Matt Light isn't signed. Nick Kaczur is coming off serious back surgery. The timing is right to bring in some fresh O-line blood.

The Patriots had one of the NFL's most entertaining backfields last year, with BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing for over 1,000 yards and Danny Woodhead making the Jets look foolish for cutting him. But each running back has his limitations, and the Patriots could be on the lookout for an all-purpose back adept at catching a pass and converting a third-and-short.

New York Jets

The Jets are in a weird spot. They finished the season as a team with talent at virtually every position.

But they have a crowded group of free agents and couldn't bring themselves to sign any (aside from giving inside linebacker David Harris the franchise tag) until a new collective bargaining agreement was in place. The Jets want to know what the new salary cap is before moving forward.

That leaves a lot of loose ends for the Jets heading into the draft. Will they need a receiver to replace Santonio Holmes or Braylon Edwards? A cornerback to replace Antonio Cromartie?

The needs we can bank on are outside linebacker and safety.

The Jets must generate a better pass rush and still need to recover from the Vernon Gholston pick that set them back. Outside linebacker Bryan Thomas is competent, but no star. He led the Jets with just six sacks. Calvin Pace had 5.5 sacks. The recently released Jason Taylor added five.

Safety is an area of emphasis because they could have stood to upgrade even before Brodney Pool, Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo became free agents. Jim Leonhard is a Rex Ryan favorite but recovering from a broken shin.

The NFL scouting combine was conceived as an event to prepare for the upcoming draft.

As Februarys came and went, the scene in Indianapolis became a football personnel free-for-all. Free agency, potential trades and contract extensions are discussed as much as Johnny Touchdown's 40-yard dash time.

Agents scamper about to vend their pending free agents and get as much face time with NFL executives as possible. General managers convene over rib eyes at the St. Elmo Steak House or even steal a few words while waiting in line at the hotel coffee shop.

The scene should be decidedly different when personnel evaluators, agents and prospects gather this week. The combine opens Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium and runs through Tuesday.

Rather than a big bazaar for all a team's roster needs, the combine will be a little bizarre.

The collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players will expire at the end of business next Wednesday. If a new CBA can't be brokered by then, most NFL personnel operations will be suspended. No player trades. No free agency.

The only way for teams to make adjustments would be at the draft in April.

"I've never been to Indy so close to the expiration of a labor agreement," New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said of what lies ahead. He spoke while driving, his GPS system fittingly announcing in the background she was "recalculating route."

"But our mindset is to carry on and be prepared and go from there," Tannenbaum continued. "There's uncertainty, but the only thing we can control is preparation, and we feel good that we'll be ready."

For all intents and purposes, the NFL offseason begins the second the confetti falls at the Super Bowl. But the way-offseason likely will begin in a week.

"This is going to be a combine that's focused on the draft and the new CBA," former Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers executive Vinny Cerrato said. "You don't have to focus on free agency. You can concentrate on the draft because that's all you got."

Heightened importance on the draft plus the anticipation of a rookie wage scale in the next CBA might create added interest for moving up in this year's draft. With the inability to sign or trade players, draft picks are the only available currency, and teams could be compelled to convert multiple selections into a premium pick.

In recent years, teams at the front of the draft have tried to trade out of seemingly plum positions because they didn't want to pay the exorbitant contracts that go along with the honor.

Oakland Raiders bust JaMarcus Russell is the poster child for such wasteful draft spending. Even the No. 1 picks who work out, for instance Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long, immediately become the highest-paid players at their positions before playing a single NFL snap.

But with a rookie wage scale, teams would be able to limit financial risk. The New England Patriots are in terrific position to try this philosophy if willing. The Patriots own two draft choices in each of the first three rounds.

The Buffalo Bills own the AFC East's most valuable pick at No. 3. It should be easier to trade it this year if they were of a mind to do so.

"I would expect to see more trading in this draft and people wanting to trade up higher because there's definitely going to be a salary structure for rookies," Cerrato said. "You can trade up and it won't kill you."

The Jets are in a personnel holding pattern. They have 17 free agents, by far the most in the AFC East. The big names include receivers Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith, and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Teams can re-sign players up until the CBA expires, but the Jets are almost certain to decline because they don't know what the new rules will be.

How many years of experience will a player need to be an unrestricted free agent? A restricted free agent? How high will the salary cap ceiling be?

The only move the Jets expected to make was placing the franchise tag on inside linebacker David Harris, and even that maneuver will be in dispute. The NFL believes franchise tags are permissible. The NFL Players Association disagrees. It's possible a court will agree with the union and render Harris a free agent despite the franchise tag.

The longer there's no CBA -- Cerrato predicted there won't be a new one until August at the earliest -- the more handcuffed teams will be when it comes to addressing roster needs.

By the time the draft transpires, teams are supposed to have sifted through the free agency pool for nearly two months. Valuable veterans get their contracts extended. Trades go down.

In the AFC East last year, the Dolphins traded for receiver Brandon Marshall, the Jets traded for Holmes and Cromartie, the Jets signed running back LaDainian Tomlinson and pass-rusher Jason Taylor, the Patriots re-signed five important veterans, including nose tackle Vince Wilfork, and the Bills signed tackle Cornell Green, defensive end Dwan Edwards and Andra Davis -- all in the two months before the draft.

Such moves are unlikely to occur this year until after the draft, adding emphasis to a "best available player" approach when it's time for any team to pick.

For a wheeler-dealer such as Tannenbaum, this offseason might feel like walking up to the first tee box with only three clubs in his bag.

"If you've ever seen me play golf," Tannenbaum said, "I don't really need a lot of clubs to embarrass myself."

No free agency also means the Jets will have to wait to see how attractive they are as a destination for incoming free agents. Polls popped up during the season that showed Rex Ryan was the head coach players around the league most wanted to play for if given the opportunity.

Even so, the Jets can't afford to go into the draft assuming they'll be able to address their wants and needs in a free-agency scramble. Free agency probably will be the latest option to mold a roster this year.

Tannenbaum sounded like someone intent on avoiding stress over circumstances outside his control. After all, the Jets successfully coped with a handicap last offseason as a team constrained by the "final eight" plan, which prevented them from making particular free-agent acquisitions in the uncapped year.

"However the draft falls in line with anything else, we'll be prepared," Tannenbaum said. "We always look at the offseason as a big continuum to improve the team, from the first day of the league year through the last game -- trades, practice-squad signings, whatever it may be."

Cerrato stressed teams must be ready for a variety of developments, including the unexpected: a new CBA before next Wednesday's expiration.

"You have to assume March 3 is still the day because you can't get caught not having done your work and they get a CBA deal done," Cerrato said. "I would think most teams have their free-agency stuff done. If there is no deal, then they're at least ready for when a deal gets done. If that's after the draft, you go back and reevaluate your priorities because your needs are going to change."

Cerrato surmised every NFL team will need to compose provisional draft and free-agency boards for various possible scenarios.

Clubs would rank free agents based on interest level, and when they determine which positions are particularly deep for them (albeit with no guarantees), their scouts could skew their draft needs elsewhere.

It's a strange time, but personnel executives have no choice but to deal with it.

"We're excited," Tannenbaum said. "It's the first opportunity to put the Pittsburgh loss in the rearview mirror and say 'It's 2011. It's a fresh start. Let's go put the best Jets team together we can.' We fell short, but we have a lot of tangible reasons to be excited. We have more wood to chop, and when they say 'Go,' we'll be ready."

"We always look at the draft as an opportunity to improve the team. It's a fun time of year and an important piece to lay the foundation."

Even if the foundation has shifted.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton shares his thoughts on the Miami Dolphins' disappointing performance with Tyler Thigpen at quarterback, the surging New England Patriots, the impact of New York Jets right tackle Damien Woody's knee injury and the Buffalo Bills gaining momentum with consecutive wins.

Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Aaron Maybin might already be nearing the end of the line.

The 11th overall pick of last year's draft has struggled to get on the field for one of the NFL's worst defenses. Maybin's playing time has dwindled over the past few weeks, and on Sunday he was deactivated against the Baltimore Ravens in M&T Bank Stadium.

The move not only is symbolic of his failure to develop as an NFL pass-rusher, but also must be extra difficult for Maybin to take. Maybin is from Ellicott City, Md., and considers Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis one of his mentors.

Here are the rest of Buffalo's scratches:

• Quarterback Levi Brown
• Offensive lineman Ed Wang
• Offensive lineman Cornell Green
• Defensive end Alex Carrington
• Defensive end John McCargo
• Linebacker Keith Ellison
• Cornerback Terrence McGee

ESPN.com's John Clayton breaks down the AFC East huddle for Week 7. Clayton has an interesting statistic about how much Randy Moss hurts the New England Patriots and shares his thoughts on Bill Parcells' influence with the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills' potential reversion to a 4-3 defense and the New York Jets at the bye week.

On the day the New Orleans Saints held their Super Bowl parade, long before the free-agency period opened and the draft took place, Scouts Inc. analyst Gary Horton examined the top three needs of every NFL team heading into the offseason.

Now that we've gone through offseason workouts, minicamps, training camps and three preseason games, let's take a look at each AFC East need and determine whether it was addressed.

Buffalo Bills

1. Outside linebacker: At the time of Horton's analysis, he didn't know Aaron Schobel would retire. Schobel would have been Buffalo's best pass-rusher in its new 3-4 defense. The Bills signed free agent Reggie Torbor and are hoping a group that also includes Chris Kelsay, Chris Ellis and Aaron Maybin will suffice. Need addressed? No.

2. Left tackle: The Bills chose to stick with Demetrius Bell. The Bills still haven't drafted a tackle earlier than the fifth round since 2002. Of the two they did draft, fifth-rounder Ed Wang is hurt and seventh-rounder Kyle Calloway already has been released. The Bills did sign Oakland Raiders free agent Cornell Green to play right tackle. Need addressed? No.

3. Quarterback: The Bills did next to nothing at quarterback, drafting long-term project Levi Brown in the seventh round and letting Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm shoot it out. Edwards won a not-so-open competition. Need addressed? No.

Miami Dolphins

1. Wide receiver: Did the Dolphins address this need? Hmmm ... Let's see ... Oh, wait. That's right. They traded for Brandon Marshall, who has recorded triple-digit receptions in three straight seasons. Marshall was one of the most enormous transactions of the offseason. Need addressed? Yes.

2. Free safety: The Dolphins drafted Reshad Jones in the fifth round, but sophomore Chris Clemons has held down the position admirably. It won't be tough to outplay last year's starter, Gibril Wilson. Need addressed? Yes.

3. Nose tackle: The situation actually got worse and worse after Horton formed his analysis. Jason Ferguson was suspended eight games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The Dolphins re-signed Ferguson, but then he retired. The Dolphins didn't draft a nose tackle, choosing to convert defensive end Randy Starks instead. Starks is undersized for a traditional 3-4 nose tackle, but Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has claimed Starks' speed has upgraded the position. Need addressed? Yes.

New England Patriots

1. Outside linebacker: Horton wrote "This defense must generate pass-rush pressure from its outside linebackers, but the Pats are devoid of playmakers and have virtually no depth at this position." They've gotten shallower with the release of Adalius Thomas, who started their playoff game. Tully Banta-Cain and Derrick Burgess are back and penciled in as the starters. The Patriots drafted pass-rusher Jermaine Cunningham 53rd overall, but he has been too hurt to get on the practice field. Need addressed? No.

2. Wide receiver: Wes Welker was looking at a potentially long rehab at the time Horton wrote his offseason preview. Randy Moss' age also was a concern. But Welker's recovery has been quick. Moss has looked phenomenal. Emerging youngsters Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate and third-round draft pick Taylor Price should be more than enough. Need addressed? Yes.

3. Defensive end: Little did Horton know how badly the Patriots would need help here. Left end Ty Warren is done for the year because of a hip injury. Right end Jarvis Green split for the Denver Broncos. The Patriots signed free agent Gerard Warren and have moved last year's super reserve, Mike Wright, into the starting lineup. Need addressed? No.

New York Jets

1. Defensive end: Horton's concern was with the age of incumbents Shaun Ellis and Marques Douglas. Ellis is back. Douglas was a free agent who departed for the Dolphins. The Jets didn't draft any defensive linemen and didn't sign any notable free agents there. They did move Vernon Gholston from outside linebacker to defensive end. Need addressed? No.

2. Safety: Compared to the Jets' banner acquisitions, Brodney Pool was a blip. The Cleveland Browns gave up on him because of recurring concussions, but the Jets' medical staff found his problem was related to migraine headaches. He's a multifaceted safety with a nose for the ball, interception four passes in 10 games last year. Need addressed? Yes.

3. Wide receiver: The Jets practically stole Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth-round draft choice. Holmes was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII and was coming off a 1,248-yard season. But character issues, underscored by a four-game suspension to start the season, made him a bargain. Need addressed? Yes.

TORONTO -- A gorgeous day is about to be blocked out by the retractable roof here at the Rogers Centre, but whenever a football game is about to be played, you can't complain.

I just arrived at my seat in the press box for Thursday night's exhibition between the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills. It's a "home" date for the Bills, their fourth in an eight-game package they sold to Toronto promoters for $78 million.

What I'll be watching from a Bills perspective is how the quarterbacks perform. Trent Edwards will start. Brian Brohm will run the second-string offense for his first action of the preseason.

We should get a long look at rookie running back C.J. Spiller. He played in last week's preseason opener, but injuries to Fred Jackson (broken hand) and Marshawn Lynch (sprained ankle) should give Spiller more chances to make plays.

The Bills' offensive line is supposed to be intact for the first time, with left tackle Demetrius Bell, right guard Eric Wood and right tackle Cornell Green starting after missing the opener.

The Bills' new 3-4 defense will face another top quarterback. Facing Peyton Manning could provide some insightful moments in the first quarter for last year's second-ranked pass defense.

Inside linebacker Paul Posluszny is expected to make his preseason debut. He has been limited in training camp while recovering from minor groin surgery.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 31

PITTSFORD. N.Y. -- Of any preseason prediction I can make, the one I'm most confident in is that the Buffalo Bills will finish fourth in the AFC East.

That slot would be neither general manager Buddy Nix's nor head coach Chan Gailey's fault. The problems they inherited have set the course for 2010.

But they are setting a tone for the long-term future the players can respect.

Gailey is trying to establish a new culture with his first training camp. He wants people to use two adjectives that haven't been associated with the Bills for a long time: tough and disciplined.

"He's very particular about things and how he wants them done," Bills receiver Lee Evans said. "We haven't really had that for a while here, with the head man running the show. You understand what he's trying to get done."

Gailey has kept his players in full pads at St. John Fisher College. Previous coach Dick Jauron rarely had his players in complete gear at camp.

Gailey believes players should be in pads and tested both physically and mentally. He's in a discovery phase not only about what he'll be able to work with on Sunday afternoons, but also keepers who will help him build a long-term foundation.

"When you actually have those shoulder pads on, mouthpiece in, chinstrap buckled up and you have to get off a block to make a play," safety George Wilson said, "that really shows the true testament of a real football player.

"That's what our coaching staff needs, a new staff that's coming in to evaluate this entire team and be able to put the best 53 men together for this 2010 season. I like what we’re doing. It's going to make us a lot more physical, a lot tougher, a lot more mentally prepared, and I have a positive outlook about it."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can quarterback Trent Edwards capitalize on another opportunity? Bills fans seemed to be pulling for Brian Brohm to emerge as the favorite to win the starting quarterback job. A major reason is they haven't seen him truly fail yet -- unlike Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Yet, after several months working with his quarterbacks, Gailey liked Edwards best and installed him as the No. 1 quarterback to begin training camp. The battle remains open, but with Fitzpatrick and Brohm sharing reps with the backups and surrendering a few here and there to rookie Levi Brown, it's Edwards' job to lose. Based on Edwards' medical chart (combined with Hot Issue No. 2 below), there are no guarantees.

But Edwards has yet to get a fair shot to prove what he can do. He has experienced plenty of chaos since the Bills drafted him in the third round in 2007. Gailey is the first offensive-minded head coach Edwards has played under. Last year, offensive coordinator Turk Schonert got fired 10 days before the season, the Bills jettisoned both starting tackles (two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters and the most experienced member of the offensive line, Langston Walker) from the season before and endured a futile no-huddle experiment.

Gailey has run successful offenses everywhere he has been. This finally could be a legitimate chance for Edwards to show what he can do.

2. How will the Bills survive without proven offensive tackles? The Bills aren't known for their pass rush, but it was apparent in the early days of practice their offensive tackles were overmatched in pass protection. For their safety, quarterbacks wear red jerseys to remind oncoming defenders not to hit them. Good thing, or else the Bills might have needed to sign some replacements already.

While some front offices believe guards are fungible and tackles vital, the Bills have operated contradictorily in recent years. They've drafted guards within the first two rounds (Eric Wood and Andy Levitre) and paid big bucks for a free agent (Derrick Dockery) while declining to draft a tackle earlier than the fifth round since 2002.

Left tackle Demetrius Bell has been limited in 11-on-11 drills because he's recovering from knee surgery. He received his first snaps Sunday. His replacement, Jamon Meredith, has been overwhelmed at times. The other tackles likely to make the 53-man roster -- Cornell Green, Kirk Chambers and rookie Ed Wang -- have looked ordinary at best.

3. What will happen with vacillating pass-rusher Aaron Schobel? He spent the entire offseason at his home in Texas, perhaps playing possum. He didn’t return to the Bills' facility to collect his roster bonus or participate in offseason workouts. He told some media outlets he was all but retired.

Then, on the verge of camp, the two-time Pro Bowler with a $6 million base salary expressed a change of heart. Schobel might want to play after all. Or maybe he's posturing for a trade, threatening to show up a month before the regular season despite failing to attend so much as a chalk-board session on the team's transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4.

On Monday morning, the Bills provided a nebulous answer: In a news release, Nix announced the team is moving forward with plans that do not include Schobel.

Nix said: “Aaron has been contemplating retirement for the past seven months, but we are at the point where we are moving forward and have informed his agent of our plans.”

Schobel can improve the defense with his talents, but the team is rebuilding and going through a defensive transformation he has demurred from. If they cut him, then they forfeit an asset. A trade appears to be the best option to me.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Wide receiver Steve Johnson was an afterthought when the Bills drafted him in the seventh round three years ago. But the front office was quietly confident he would be a player someday. After getting buried on a depth chart that no longer includes Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, Johnson might be ready to emerge. Johnson opened camp as the starting No. 2 receiver opposite Evans. That puts James Hardy on the spot. The Bills took him in the second round the same year they drafted Johnson.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Rookie running back C.J. Spiller, the ninth overall draft choice, still hasn't been signed. Reports indicate it might be a while before he's under contract. The players around him in the draft order have come to terms, but Spiller was the first running back off the board and was considered the most electric playmaker in the draft. His agent, Gary Wichard, certainly is hammering home that point every time he speaks to the Bills. While it's true running backs can afford to miss practice more than other positions because their role is so reactionary, Spiller is more than that. The Bills also consider him a receiver, and that makes practice time more precious for learning the nuances of Gailey's offense.

OBSERVATION DECK

• The atmosphere at St. John Fisher College has been lifeless. It hasn't mattered whether it's morning, afternoon, night, weekday or weekend. The few fans who have shown up are silent.
• Fitzpatrick has been plagued by interceptions through the first few days of camp. Bills defenders seem to have developed a strong read on where he's going to throw.
• Gailey has mandated knee braces at practice for the offensive linemen, whether they've had injuries or not. He has been doing that since he began working with O-line coach Joe D'Alessandris at Georgia Tech in 2002. The players can opt out of the knee braces for games if they don't like how they feel.
• The Bills' defensive backs have sensational hands. In every drill I watched, it was rare to see a ball hit the ground.
• Left cornerback Leodis McKelvin has demonstrated lapses in concentration. He seemed lost in a passing drill Saturday, getting beaten by Hardy for an easy touchdown. Secondary coach George Catavolos had trouble getting McKelvin's attention afterward for some instruction. Soon after, McKelvin was dropping punts in a return drill.
• Inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell told me the unit relies on free-agent acquisition Andra Davis' insight when it comes to 3-4 questions. That also goes for inside linebackers coach DeMontie Cross, who hasn't coached an NFL 3-4 before.
• Mitchell on the 3-4: "It gives you more freedom. It allows you to showcase your ability a lot more. It's going to be a lot more fun."
• Brian Moorman and Rian Lindell are one of the NFL's best punter-kicker combos. The Bills didn't bother to bring in any additional legs.
• Wood is a head knocker. His quick return from a shattered left leg and no-nonsense demeanor on the field will make him popular in Buffalo.
• After obstructed media views on the opening day, the Bills did a fine job of reorganizing their access areas to allow better viewing of 11-on-11 drills.
• Outside linebacker Aaron Maybin has a body shape that stands out the moment you see him. Maybin looks like a Wii character, with a tiny waist that flares upward toward his shoulder pads. He told me his waist is 36 inches, but in pads it seems like a 28.
• I focused on the tight ends at the blocking sled Friday morning. I saw why sophomore Shawn Nelson is viewed as more receiver than blocker. He looked considerably less powerful than the rest. While Derek Schouman, Jonathan Stupar and Michael Matthews jacked the sled, Nelson merely budged it. Nelson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. Only Matthews is larger at 6-4 and 270.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- There was little surprise regarding the Buffalo Bills' quarterback pecking order that head coach Chan Gailey declined to reveal until the start of training camp Thursday afternoon.

Trent Edwards took the first snaps of camp behind a starting line of left tackle Demetrius Bell, left guard Andy Levitre, center Geoff Hangartner, right guard Eric Wood and right tackle Cornell Green. Fred Jackson was the running back.

About 10 minutes into the workout at St. John Fisher College, Ryan Fitzpatrick quarterbacked the second unit, leaving Brian Brohm with the third string.

I will report more after hearing what Gailey has to say after practice.

EA Sports has given ESPN.com exclusive rights to reveal complete "Madden NFL 11" player ratings, from agility to trucking to run blocking to pursuit. The numbers started rolling out Monday, two teams at a time.

Lucky for us, the AFC East was first up. That allows us to see how all of the scores within the division compare.

Team scores came out a few weeks ago, but individual scores are the ones the players will be bragging about and talking trash over.

The game will be released in August, but for those who can't wait to see what the game will look like -- and to catch a glimpse at some notable players such as Karlos Dansby and Santonio Holmes in their new uniforms -- EA Sports has provided a photo gallery of AFC East images to sort through.

Here are some highlights from the division.

Buffalo Bills

Top five overall scores: Punter Brian Moorman (90), S Jairus Byrd (87), ILB Paul Posluszny (86), WR Lee Evans (84), RB Fred Jackson (83), CB Terrence McGee (83), S Donte Whitner (83).

Quick take: No wonder Marshawn Lynch wants to play the game as the Jets when it comes out. The Bills' top player is their punter, and they have a dearth of skill players in the 80s. But rookie running back C.J. Spiller is joystick-friendly with 95 speed, 97 acceleration and 95 agility.

Quarterback analysis: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick each scored a 70, while Brian Brohm is a lowly 65, just two points higher than seventh-round draft pick Levi Brown. Edwards has a 62 in the swagger category, whereas Brohm and Brown are 70s.

Surprise score: Unproven left tackle Demetrius Bell scored a 74, the same number as veteran center Geoff Hangartner and one point higher than veteran tackle Cornell Green.

No respect: As ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi noted recently on "NFL Live," a Madden awareness rating of 65 or lower was the source of ridicule in the Patriots' locker room. Bills tackle Jamon Meredith received a miniscule 35.

Miami Dolphins

Top five overall scores: T Jake Long (96), WR Brandon Marshall (96), FB Lousaka Polite (91), ILB Karlos Dansby (90), RB Ronnie Brown (89), NT Randy Starks (89).

Quick take: If you love to run the ball when you play "Madden," then Miami is the team for you. In addition to Brown and Ricky Williams, it might be fun to mix in Kory Sheets, who has a 93 speed and a 95 acceleration. The average run-blocking score of their top five offensive linemen is 89.4.

Quarterback analysis: Chad Henne's overall rating of 79 is only a point higher than Chad Pennington, but Henne's throwing power is a 94 compared to Pennington's 69. But Pennington's accuracy is a 90, and his awareness is 88. Henne's 79 accuracy beats out only Brohm's 77 and Kellen Clemens' 75 among the eight AFC East quarterbacks who started a game last year.

Stud alert: When you need a big play, just hang the ball up to Marshall. His 99 score for catching in traffic is the game's highest. Maybe using Pennington to throw intermediate routes to Marshall is the way to go when you need a decent gain.

No respect: Miami's defensive backs are the lowest-rated in the division. Cornerback Vontae Davis and safety Yeremiah Bell lead the way with 82s.

New England Patriots

Top five overall scores: QB Tom Brady (95), G Logan Mankins (95), WR Randy Moss (95), NT Vince Wilfork (95), K Stephen Gostkowski (91), WR Wes Welker (91).

Quick take: The Patriots have a lot of star power at the skill positions. But their starting lineup, especially on defense, is littered with players rated in the 70s.

Quarterback analysis: Brady has the third-best overall score of any quarterback in the game. His 96 swagger rating is second. There's a big drop-off if Brady gets hurt. Backup Brian Hoyer has a 63 overall rating.

Stud alert: Moss tied for the game's top score in several categories -- 97 awareness, 99 jumping, 99 spectacular catch, 95 swagger.

No respect: The backfield is led by ... Sammy Morris? His 80 is the highest overall score among New England's running backs. Laurence Maroney is a 78.

New York Jets

Top five overall scores: CB Darrelle Revis (99), C Nick Mangold (97), NT Kris Jenkins (94), FB Tony Richardson (94), ILB David Harris (91), T D'Brickashaw Ferguson (91).

Quick take: For context, an 83 ranks among the Bills' top scores at any position. The Jets have four offensive linemen, three receivers and eight players on their defense with that score or higher.

Quarterback analysis: Mark Sanchez has an overall score of 82. His awareness came in at 74, but you otherwise won't find numbers that indicate he throws too many interceptions. His throwing accuracy is an 83.

Surprise score: Running back Shonn Greene didn't do enough in the playoffs to impress "Madden" evaluators. He has an overall score of 80, three points lower than his supposed backup, LaDainian Tomlinson, who plummeted from a 94 last year.

Stud alert: Don't test Revis. He's the best cornerback in the game, is tied for first with a 98 in man coverage and has a 97 swagger. But his toughness rating is 65, fifth-worst on the team.

Buffalo Bills

The shift from defensive end to linebacker this offseason has made Chris Kelsay feel like a rookie all over again.

Bills right tackle Cornell Green says quarterback Trent Edwards is “ready to go” right now.

Miami Dolphins

Wide receiver Davone Bess cut short a radio interview Tuesday morning when he witnessed a one-car accident.

Chad Henne is listening closely to the advice he's receiving from Bill Parcells and Dan Marino in an effort to become a better quarterback.

New England Patriots

Wide receiver Randy Moss has his sights set on another Super Bowl run with the Patriots.

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich will play Friday in Tom Brady's flag football game at Harvard Stadium.

New York Jets

Jim Leonhard is serving the role of mentor to rookie free agent Donovan Warren.

Don't try to tell David Clowney that football has an offseason. The Jets wide receiver remains busy year-round.

Two weeks ago, ESPN.com's John Clayton appraised the NFL's best offseasons. AFC East clubs took the first three slots.

Clayton rated the New England Patriots first, followed by the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.

The Buffalo Bills didn't make that list, but here they are, atop Clayton's followup analysis. He claims the Bills had the league's worst offseason.

Writes Clayton:

1. Buffalo Bills: No team had a greener offensive line last season than the Bills. ... All the Bills did to help the line was sign 33-year-old tackle Cornell Green.

The Bills averaged a horrible 16.1 points a game on offense and did nothing to upgrade a quarterback corps filled by Trent Edward sand Ryan Fitzpatrick. The receiving corps lost 82 catches by not re-signing Terrell Owens and Josh Reed. The only replacement was fourth-round choice Marcus Easley, leaving Lee Evans with little around him.

Owner Ralph Wilson was willing to pay a high salary for his new coach, and ended up with nice guy Chan Gailey, hardly a headliner. To make things even more challenging, the Bills switched to a 3-4 defense even though they didn't have a legitimate 3-4 outside linebacker or a nose tackle. They drafted nose tackle Torell Troup in the second round and hope that Broncos castoff Andra Davis and seldom-used Aaron Maybin can handle the tough outside linebacking jobs.

Making matters worse, the Bills' three division rivals -- the Patriots, Jets and Dolphins -- had three of the best five offseasons. With those odds against them, the Bills won't need luck to be in position to draft either Jake Locker or Andrew Luck next year.

Page 2 columnist Greg Easterbrook shared plenty of thoughts on the draft in his "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" column.

Here are the AFC East highlights from his review:

Buffalo Bills

In April 2009, the Bills entered the draft with an emergency situation at left tackle, and chose no left tackle, but did use their first selection on a nickel linebacker who, even if all went well, would play only on passing downs. The Bills' 2009 offense proceeded to be awful as Buffalo started five different players at left tackle. This April, the Bills entered the draft with an emergency situation at left tackle, and did not choose an offensive lineman until the fifth round.

For a decade, Buffalo has failed to reach the playoffs -- the worst such streak in the AFC -- and in that period drafted horribly, making repeated luxury picks (three first-round running backs in a single decade, for instance) rather than fixing its offensive line. Offensive tackles on the Buffalo roster: Demetrius Bell, eight career starts, coming off an ACL tear; Jamon Meredith, four career starts; Edward Wang, fifth-round draft selection; Kirk Chambers, waived four times by the Bills over the last three seasons; Cornell Green, who will be 34 years old on opening day; Nick Hennessey, no career starts, though he surely got a great education at Phillips Andover Academy and then Colgate; Andre Ramsey and Jason Watkins, no career starts. Presumably, the quarterback-needy Bills passed on multiple chances to select Jimmy Clausen or Colt McCoy because they know the blocking is so bad, anyone under center for Buffalo next season will just get killed anyway. It's the year 2010. How can a professional football team totally ignore the need to be solid at offensive tackle?

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins traded down from 12th to 28th to recover one of the second-round choices given in the Brandon Marshall trade, then were able to obtain a decent defensive tackle, their leading need, at 28. Factor in the addition of Marshall, and Miami had a solid draft. Hmm ... this is a straightforward sports comment; what's it doing in TMQ?

New England Patriots

Bill Belichick loves him some tight ends. Since becoming the Patriots' coach, Belichick has invested 11 choices in tight ends, including two last week. And Belichick loves draft-day trades, this year making six, involving a total of 18 choices at various points. Example: Through a sequence of transactions New England swapped the 47th choice, midway through the second round, for a late-second-round choice, a fifth-round pick and Carolina's second selection in 2011. This is skilled trading -- but when is New England actually going to use all its banked choices?

In 2009, New England banked a lot of choices via trades, going into 2010 holding three second-round picks. Since 2010 was viewed as a strong draft, it seemed Belichick's strategy would be to transfer picks into a strong year. Now the strong year has arrived and rather than fire all his ammo, Belichick traded down several times then concluded the draft having banked two first-round and two second-round choices for 2011. Even the squirrel who hides nuts for the winter eventually digs them up and eats them. When is Belichick going to use all these extra picks? Is he exhibiting some hoarding syndrome that should get him on Oprah?

New York Jets

The Jets spent their second-round choice on Vladimir Ducasse -- you don't run into a lot of NFL players named Vladimir. Though, this does seem an ideal name for the Rex Ryan mindset. I find it easy to imagine Ryan meeting Vladimir in some ancient castle to discuss plans for world domination.

The Jets also signed Jason Taylor. All his recent team-switching -- Miami, then Washington, then back to Miami, now Jersey/B -- makes Taylor seem mercenary. Of course the NFL is fundamentally a business; the owners always think first about the business angle. But TMQ fears Taylor's changing teams three times in three seasons will torpedo any chance he had to don that garish yellow jacket in Canton. Hall of Fame electors favor players who spent their entire careers in one place, toughing out the down years, because the Hall of Fame is, in part, about sustaining the romantic belief that NFL players are motivated by sportsmanship and loyalty. Taylor has made it clear he is motivated by his stats and his payday. That's very current, but Tuesday Morning Quarterback thinks it will keep him out of Canton.

That speck in the AFC East's rearview mirror is the Buffalo Bills.

And, no, objects are not closer than they appear.

Given the circumstances within the division and looming labor uncertainty, it's possible the Bills will have to wait until 2012 to have a reasonable shot at the playoffs.

The Bills went into the 2010 offseason a distant fourth to their three divisional opponents. The New England Patriots are defending champs. The New York Jets reached the AFC Championship game. The Miami Dolphins won the division in 2008.

Those were the facts before offseason maneuverings commenced. After the various signings and trades, Buffalo is lagging even more.

The Bills clearly are rebuilding, and that's OK. They should have embraced that concept years ago. Instead, they treaded below mediocrity, failing to reach the playoffs 10 straight seasons.

As it shapes up now, the Bills would be a miracle playoff team. They not only would need to drastically improve, they'd also have to pray at least two proven AFC East teams crash.

Then there's the serious possibility of a lockout in 2011. Some predict the labor battle could wipe out the season.

The Bills have made some prudent decisions in revamping their front office. They promoted Buddy Nix to general manager and brought in Pittsburgh Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley to be assistant GM. Nix hired Chan Gailey as head coach, perhaps not an inspirational choice, but a solid one.

Nix stated from the outset his approach to improving the team would be through the draft. That's the plan he has followed. Their biggest free-agent signings were defensive lineman Dwan Edwards and offensive tackle Cornell Green. They've made no trades. Buffalo is the only AFC East team that does not know who its quarterback will be.

Other AFC East teams have done the opposite, acquiring star veterans that make them better immediately and widening the gap between them and Buffalo enough to make it a three-team division in April.

The Jets have improved on both defense and offense: adding back LaDainian Tomlinson, receiver Santonio Holmes, cornerback Antonio Cromartie and perhaps outside linebacker Jason Taylor.

Miami traded for receiver Brandon Marshall and signed inside linebacker Karlos Dansby.

New England has done little more than re-sign its own players, who happen to be pretty good: nose tackle Vince Wilfork, running back Kevin Faulk and right guard Stephen Neal among them.

Buffalo fans should be optimistic about the new leadership. Nix and Gailey have done nothing yet that contradicts their master plan. They've given no reason to be disheartened about their long-range vision.

But the rest of the AFC East sure has made it tough to expect any Bills thrills for a while.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- At 12:01 a.m. on the opening day of free agency, the Miami Dolphins were arranging to meet with linebacker Karlos Dansby, the New York Jets were burning the phone lines and the New England Patriots were finalizing a deal to bring back a franchise nose tackle.

I asked Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix what he was doing at that moment.

"Sleep," he said Monday while taking a break from the NFL owners meetings at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. "They asked me if I was going to be there, I said 'Hell, no. I ain't going to be there. I'm going to bed.'"

Bills fans probably won't like the sound of that strategy. While the rest of the division's personnel men were getting their heads around the free-agency market, Nix was getting his head around his pillow.

That wasn't laziness on his part. He merely was following the Bills' master plan of building through the draft and cautiously proceeding in free agency.

"I still think you build through the draft," Nix said, "but you can't fill every hole, especially if you haven't been very good.

"We don't get excited about the first week or being up there at midnight and 12:01, signing somebody. We let it play itself out and make sure that the guys we get fit what we need and fill a need."

The Bills have brought in three free agents: right tackle Cornell Green from the Oakland Raiders, inside linebacker Andra Davis from the Denver Broncos and defensive end Dwan Edwards from the Baltimore Ravens.

Nix said those types of acquisitions not only improve a roster, but also help a team draft more efficiently.

"If you do that, then you're going to get in trouble," Nix said. "It kills you two ways. You take a guy that [maybe can't] play, and then you're stuck with him and it keeps you from having a guy you can develop that can help you.

"Every time we sign a free agent, it frees a spot in the draft. You don't have to take that position. You can at least have choices and take the best player, and that's what usually helps you."

The rest of the AFC East has made splashy moves.

The Jets traded for cornerback Antonio Cromartie, dealt safety Kerry Rhodes and signed running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The Dolphins signed Dansby and guard Richie Incognito and made a push for safety Ryan Clark. The Patriots concentrated on re-signing their own players.

"Everybody else in the division has been proactive and aggressive, trying to improve themselves," Nix said, "and I think most of them have in the offseason."

But he said he wasn't concerned with losing ground in the AFC East.

"We're looking to build something solid so we can win consistently," Nix said. "We're not just trying to do it this year and then start over every year. Winning consistently is our goal."