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The New England Patriots have just about everything you want on offense. They have an elite quarterback, two stud tight ends and a good collection of wide receivers, led by Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd.

But the one thing New England's offense lacks is a solid veteran presence at running back. That is why the reigning AFC champs are wise to kick the tires on free agent tailbacks Ryan Grant and Tim Hightower.

Grant is entering his sixth season, and Hightower is entering his fifth. Either choice would add experience to a young group that includes 2011 draft picks Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.

Grant, in particular, would be a solid signing if it's at a bargain rate. His best years were in 2008 and 2009, but the Patriots are not a run-heavy team, and only need a complementary rusher. Grant averages 4.3 yards for his career, and could do well in role like the one BenJarvus Green-Ellis filled for the Patriots. Ridley, Vereen and Danny Woodhead also would provide support. The Patriots can continue riding the hot hand out of this group, week to week in 2012.

What the Patriots do not need is another young running back. So don't expect New England to take one high in next week's NFL draft.

The New England Patriots lost their leading rusher for the past two years -- BenJarvus Green-Ellis -- to the Cincinnati Bengals. Green-Ellis agreed to a three-year contract with Cincinnati on Wednesday.

But the reigning AFC champions viewed Green-Ellis as expendable. The Patriots drafted a pair of running backs in Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen last year, and both have a lot of potential. New England also has change-of-pace tailback Danny Woodhead who can help on third down and passing situations.

The Patriots should be fine with this trio of rushers. Talent is not a concern, just inexperience. Ridley and Vereen both showed flashes, but Green-Ellis was so sure-handed that he was the tailback head coach Bill Belichick trusted most. New England used Green-Ellis and Woodhead almost exclusively in the playoffs, when the season was on the line.

New England has the option of signing an affordable free agent or adding another rookie to the pile in the draft. But it looks like Ridley, a 2011 third rounder, is the favorite to be the starter next season. Woodhead and Vereen may both play supporting roles for a team that probably will throw 60 percent of the time anyway.

Quarterback Tom Brady, receivers Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will be the stars of New England's offense. The young running backs just have to complement the passing game by making the most of their carries and not fumbling.

Fourth-year veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis leads the New England Patriots in rushing with 667 yards. Rookie tailback Stevan Ridley has the hot hand and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his past three games. Danny Woodhead also is waiting for his chance to produce.

So which running back will step up in the playoffs?

A lot of attention this week is on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. He will throw the ball a lot and is the biggest key for New England's success.

But Brady still needs some type of running game in the postseason. That is where New England's trio of Green-Ellis, Ridley and Woodhead come in. Each tailback has been successful at different times this season.

New England doesn't need any of these players to rush for 100 yards. But it's ball security and yards per carry that are most important to keeping Denver's defense honest. The Broncos are at their best defensively when they can pressure the quarterback with outside linebackers Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

"The defense is solid. They've been doing good things for them and that's what they really don't talk about that much," Ridley told reporters. "It's a lot about [quarterback Tim] Tebow, but not so much about their defense. But they're playing sound football all the way around and all three phases."

Ridley may have the best chance to shine in the playoffs. The 2011 third-round pick has fresh legs and is coming on strong late in the season. Ridley led the Patriots in rushing the past three games, which includes 65 yards on 11 carries (5.9-yard average) against Denver in Week 15.

But despite Ridley's production, can the Patriots fully trust a rookie running back in the playoffs? Ridley said the key will be keeping his composure in his postseason debut.

"It's going to be a playoff atmosphere," Ridley said. "It's going to be a big-time game and we're going to go out there and just play football and stay calm and go out there and try to play a sound game."

The New England Patriots will be idle for the first round of the playoffs. This will give New England a chance to rest and improve before its playoff debut Jan. 14.

In the meantime, here are some questions for the Patriots during the bye week:

1. Will the Patriots learn to start fast?

New England started a disturbing trend the past two weeks. The Patriots have fallen asleep in the first half before making a pair of furious comebacks. They overcame deficits of 17 and 21 points the past two weeks against the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.

Perhaps the Patriots were dealing with complacency during their eight-game winning streak. But New England must start fast in the playoffs. The Patriots won't face the Dolphins and Bills in the playoffs. New England needs to put together four good quarters or the team can be one-and-done. The Patriots learned that hard lesson their last two postseason appearances.

2. Can the defense step up?

The AFC is filled with tough defenses. Four of the NFL’s top seven defenses are in the AFC playoff bracket. New England will face one of those great defenses as early as next week. Can the Patriots’ leaky unit match the intensity?

The defenses of the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 1), Houston Texans (No. 2), Baltimore Ravens (No. 3) and Cincinnati Bengals (No. 7) are all capable of giving Tom Brady and New England’s offense some issues. If Brady only puts up 23 points in a playoff game, for example, can New England’s defense hold an opponent to 20 points?

That may be the big scenario that could determine if the Patriots make it to Indianapolis. Their defense needs to step up.

3. Who stars in the running game?

New England's running game has been on and off this season. There were stretches when it has been really good and stretches when it has disappeared from the offense.

This time of year is when playoff teams need to be able to run the ball. The Patriots obviously are a passing team. But they need enough balance to prevent opponents from dropping everyone back in coverage.

Patriots running backs Stevan Ridley, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead have all had their moments this year. But neither player has fully taken over the reigns at the No. 1 tailback.

Lately Ridley’s had the hot hand. He may be the answer going into the playoffs. But Ridley is a rookie and the Patriots need to make sure during this bye that he’s ready to perform and not make rookie mistakes in the high-stakes playoffs.

4. Who would New England rather face?

The AFC East blog did a poll earlier this week asking Patriots fans which team would they rather see at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 14. The overwhelming consensus was Tim Tebow and Denver.

I understand why New England fans would want Tebow. The Patriots pounded the Broncos earlier this season and Tebow is struggling down the stretch. But I think the safer scenario is for the Bengals to win and travel to Gillette Stadium. The chances of Denver beating the Steelers aren’t great. The Bengals winning wouldn’t leave anything to chance.

But I think everyone agrees the team the Patriots don’t want to face is the reigning AFC champion Steelers, who beat New England earlier this year. Yes, running back Rashard Mendenhall (knee) is out for the year and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a bum wheel. But the Steelers remain a tough out for anyone.

It also would mean New England has to beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore in back-to-back weeks to get to the Super Bowl. That’s the toughest road possible for the Patriots.

New York Jets (8-6)

Opponent: New York Giants

X factor: WR Santonio Holmes

Analysis: Holmes had his worst game as a Jet in last week's loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. He caught four passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. But it was his fumble that led to a defensive touchdown, a drop that led to an Eagles interception and an excessive celebration penalty that cost New York 15 yards. Those things added up to a frustrating day for Holmes. But he has a chance to make up for it with a big game against the cross-town rival Giants. Holmes is at his best in big games, and I expect him to step up. Holmes said this week that big plays can be had against the Giants.

New England Patriots (11-3)

Opponent: Miami Dolphins

X factor: RB Danny Woodhead

Analysis: The Dolphins haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 2. But the Patriots need to have some semblance of balance on Saturday, and running back Danny Woodhead might be the answer. Woodhead is part of New England's three-headed rushing attack, and lately he's making the most of his opportunities. Woodhead is averaging 5.4 yards per rush in his past two games. Woodhead also led New England in rushing with 69 yards in the Patriots' 38-24 win over the Dolphins in Week 1. Similar production against Miami would be effective.

Miami Dolphins (5-9)

Opponent: Patriots

X factor: WR Brandon Marshall

Analysis: It's no secret New England's secondary is the weakest link on the team. For the Dolphins to have a chance at the upset, they need a big game from their big players. Marshall is the type of receiver who gives the Patriots trouble. He had seven receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting against New England. Marshall has 70 receptions for 1,021 yards and five touchdowns this season. Those are pretty good numbers. But he can't afford some of the drops and inconsistencies he's had this year in order to beat the Patriots. Marshall has missed practice time this week. Miami needs him to play this weekend and play big.

Buffalo Bills (5-9)

Opponent: Denver Broncos

X factor: NT Marcell Dareus

Analysis: The Denver Broncos and quarterback Tim Tebow are going to run the football. Everyone knows it. Denver is the NFL's top rushing team, averaging a league-high 163.1 yards per game. That means Dareus will get a major test clogging up the middle. Buffalo's first-round pick has been one of the few bright spots defensively. The Bills are having trouble stopping opponents. But Dareus has 38 tackles and leads the team with 5.5 sacks, despite many double-teams. Expect Dareus to have some extra motivation for this game. The Broncos passed on him with the No. 2 overall pick to select linebacker Von Miller.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. New York Jets: There are reports of unhappiness and internal strife in the Jets' locker room. Three consecutive losses can do that to a team. New York's poor product on the field is driving Jets fans crazy. The offense is ranked 28th and the defense, although still talented, isn't what it used to be. There are no easy answers for the Jets. They can't seem to figure out their identity and put it all together. If New York can't get it right in time for its "Monday Night Football" game against the winless Miami Dolphins, it may be too late.

2. Buffalo Bills' defense: Watching Buffalo's defense can be exciting and maddening at the same time. The Bills fly to the football and often make heady interceptions and force fumbles. But Buffalo's defense also gives up way too many yards. The Bills have allowed 450 yards or more in four straight games. It's amazing that they are 3-1 in those contests. Buffalo constantly walks the edge and usually comes out on top. But if the defense doesn't improve, being in close games every week may eventually catch up to the Bills.

3. Jets' third-down offense: New York is 7 for 26 (21 percent) on third downs the past two games. That is a sure way to wear out your defense and lose games. The execution just hasn't been there most of the season.

RISING

1. New England Patriots running game: Few people know this, but the Patriots' offense is sixth in the NFL in rushing. Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots' high-powered passing attack get most of the credit for their 4-1 start. But New England also is running the ball very efficiently. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead have all contributed at different times. Balance on offense also has helped keep New England's struggling defense off the field in recent weeks.

2. Bills safety George Wilson: The sixth-year safety is having the best season of his career. Wilson probably had the best game of his career Sunday in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He recorded 11 tackles, three passes defended and an interception. Wilson's steady leadership is one of the reasons Buffalo is tied for the best record in the AFC.

3. Bills running back Fred Jackson: What more can we say about Jackson, who has been a regular in the "Rising" category of Stock Watch? Jackson had another great game, accounting for 196 total yards and one touchdown against Philadelphia. Jackson is having a career year and setting himself up well for a contract extension. He's rushed for 480 yards and five touchdowns in five games. Jackson is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

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

• Monique Walker of the Boston Globe shows some love to the New England Patriots' underrated running game.

Morning take: This is the quiet but efficient part of New England's offensive juggernaut. Quarterback Tom Brady always gets most of the credit. But tailbacks Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis also combine to make a solid tandem.

• The Buffalo Bills' offensive line is on a mission, writes Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

Morning take: Anytime an offense scores 41 points, the hogs up front did their jobs. Buffalo has a no-name group that played well against Kansas City. Can the offensive line maintain consistency?

• Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald explains why guarding tight ends is so difficult for the Dolphins and other teams.

Morning take: Many tight ends now are just as athletic as receivers -- but bigger. Many teams have at least one dynamic tight end to stretch the field. Some have two like New England's pair of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

• Brian Lewis of the New York Post was impressed by the Jets' rookie class, led by first-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson.

Morning take: Wilkerson won the job as starting defensive end this summer. That is impressive on a veteran team. He recorded just one tackle last week against Dallas but held his ground against the run.

TAMPA -- Rapid reaction after the Patriots throttled the Buccaneers, 31-14, in both teams' second preseason game:

Domination from top units. The Patriots looked sharp on both sides of the ball, opening a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. It was 28-0 at the half. Quarterback Tom Brady was on his game; outside of failing to execute in a two-minute situation at the end of the first half, he directed an offense that played at a regular-season type pace. Meanwhile, the defense had a nice mix of tight coverage and pressure, forcing two three-and-outs to open the game. It was 14-0 by that point as the Patriots' first-stringers smoked the Buccaneers' top players. The Patriots' top units look loaded.

Ochocinco takes big hit, responds. The first Tom Brady-to-Chad Ochocinco connection got off to a tough start, with Brady's first pass to No. 85 over the middle resulting in Ochocinco taking a big hit from linebacker Mason Foster that drew a personal-foul penalty. After another incompletion along the sideline, Ochocinco gathered in an 8-yard touchdown from Brady on a play-action fake out of a three-tight end set. Ochocinco left the football in the end zone, hardly celebrating. In all, Ochocinco was charted on the field for 24 snaps (including penalties). His stat line: 2 catches, 14 yards, 1 TD.

Starters play throughout first half. Playing time is often a big question in preseason games and Bill Belichick kept his top players in the game throughout the first half. Rookie left tackle Nate Solder, who started, played two series into the second half. The Patriots were short-handed in the secondary, so they had some top players still on the field in the second half.

Attacking defense, led by Carter and Mayo, shines. After a 2010 season in which the Patriots struggled to generate pressure on a consistent basis out of their base alignment, tonight they looked like a different unit. They were swarming, led by linebacker Jerod Mayo (two sacks) and defensive end Andre Carter, who was bringing it off the right edge. Impressive.

Running game gets it going. The offensive line/tight ends and running backs Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis get deserved praise, as the Patriots steamrolled the Buccaneers. First-half totals on the ground: 117 yards on 17 carries (6.9 avg.) and two touchdowns.

Health questions with Fletcher, Lockett and Woodhead. Areas to monitor on the health front in the days to come are with linebacker Dane Fletcher (thumb), safety Bret Lockett (thigh/groin) and Woodhead (shaken up on fourth-quarter punt coverage). Woodhead was smiling on the bench at the end of the game.

Mallett throws a pick-six. After an impressive performance in the preseason opener, rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett struggled, throwing a pick-six on his first drive which opened the second half. It was returned 69 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Elbert Mack, with Mallett getting crunched on the return. No. 2 quarterback Brian Hoyer, who played sparingly as he was inserted into the game mid-drive twice as a way to keep him sharp, also almost threw a pick-six. Not a great night for the backups after a strong showing in the preseason opener. Overall, the second half was sloppy for the Patriots' reserves.

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Readiness factor: The Patriots' organization might have the NFL's most established infrastructure. Players dutifully follow Bill Belichick's scripted, proven routines. Leadership from players such as Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Logan Mankins, Matt Light (if he returns) and Vince Wilfork will help the Patriots galvanize more speedily than most clubs.

Biggest challenge: The Patriots need to manufacture a pass rush. It will be interesting to see whether Belichick pursues assistance through free agency or sticks with the youngsters on his roster. The Patriots tied for 14th in sacks last season with 36. Starting outside linebackers Tully Banta-Cain, Rob Ninkovich and Jermaine Cunningham combined for just 10 sacks and 26 quarterback hits.

Backfield in motion: The Patriots had an entertaining tandem with BenJarvus Green-Ellis pounding out the carries (1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns) and Danny Woodhead electrifying fans as a combo runner-receiver (926 yards from scrimmage and six TDs) last season. But the rest of the backfield depth chart could be erased (see below), and the DanJarvus Green-Woodhead attack probably won't handle as much responsibility. The Patriots drafted running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley back-to-back in the second round.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Mankins' contract has expired, but the Patriots placed the franchise tag on him. Light, running backs Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor and safety Brandon McGowan are up in the air.

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players concludes here ...

About the choice: Tom Brady was the unanimous MVP and received every All-Pro vote after leading the New England Patriots to a 14-2 record and another AFC East crown. He had one of his finest seasons despite an overhaul of the offense. The Patriots traded No. 1 receiver Randy Moss, relied heavily on rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and found ways to help undrafted running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead thrive. Brady led the NFL with 36 touchdowns and threw just four interceptions. He threw an interception to New York Jets linebacker David Harris in the playoffs, but his NFL-record streak of 335 attempts without an interception technically remains intact heading into 2011. Also still intact is Brady's record of nine straight games with at least two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Brady became the sixth quarterback since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to throw a touchdown pass each game.

Key fact: Brady owns a 111-32 regular-season record, giving him the best winning percentage of any quarterback to begin his career in the Super Bowl era.

The complete rundown:

1. Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback
2. Darrelle Revis, Jets cornerback
3. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle
4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end

In an "NFL Live" segment, ESPN analysts Mark Schlereth and Marcellus Wiley discussed the most explosive offense.

Each spoke definitively about his choice. Wiley went with the Philadelphia Eagles because of team speed. Schlereth backed the Green Bay Packers.

Yoo-hoo! Fellas?

What about the New England Patriots? All they did last year was score the most points in the league, averaging 4.8 points per game more than the team than finished second, the San Diego Chargers.

The Patriots scored a league-leading 56 offensive touchdowns. They did so on 986 scrimmage plays, just 22nd in the league. To give a better idea of what kind of neighborhood the Patriots were in when it came to snaps: Of the 10 teams that had fewer plays than the Patriots, the Tennessee Titans scored the most offensive TDs with 37.

In other words, the Patriots scored most frequently and on much fewer plays than most other clubs. Isn't that the definition of explosiveness?

The Patriots also added six more touchdowns on defense and three in the return game, but those aren't germane to this conversation. The Patriots still had the most potent offense last year and should be at least as dangerous in 2011. The whole crew is back.

Granted, the Patriots won't have a bunch of players drafted in the first three rounds of your fantasy league like the Eagles and Packers probably will, but quarterback Tom Brady is the reigning MVP and spreads the ball to a contingent of reliable players such as Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Danny Woodhead.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis isn't a superstar, but he was the AFC East's only 1,000-yard rusher last season. The line consistently performs at a high level and allows the Patriots to remain a balanced -- and explosive -- offense.

I have a theory that Tom Brady is bald and that, taking cues from a young Andre Agassi or Bret Michaels, wears head gear with long hair attached to it.

In this photo from an informal New England Patriots workout this week at Boston College, it appears running back Danny Woodhead has discovered the ruse and rookie Stevan Ridley is trying not to stare.

Again, it's just a theory.

If you have better captions, I'd like to see them. Please submit your wiseacre ideas in the comments section below this post. Keep your captions clean and, above all, make them funny.

You know who aren't locked out? ESPN.com's fantasy football folks.

Undeterred by the fact we haven't had free agency or an official workout yet, our intrepid rotagonists have put together their initial top 200 player rankings for 2011.

AFC East fans will be disappointed to find one player among the top 47.

The first AFC East player on the list is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at No. 20. He's the fourth quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick and Drew Brees.

Sticking with quarterbacks, you'll need to scroll down to No. 122 to find Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, the 19th-best fantasy quarterback on the list. Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick comes in at No. 173, which makes him the 25th quarterback. Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne doesn't make the cut.

I'm not sure what's more surprising for the Dolphins: how many receivers are listed ahead of Brandon Marshall or how highly rated rookie running back Daniel Thomas is.

Marshall is the top Dolphins player at No. 60. That makes him the 23rd receiver on the chart. Thomas, without a single NFL snap to his credit, is just seven slots behind Marshall. Thomas is considered the 28th running back in the league from a fantasy standpoint.

Dolphins free-agent backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are 119th and 165th overall, respectively. What a falloff.

The New York Jets are well-represented in terms of volume, but their highest-rated player is free agent Santonio Holmes at No. 49. He's the 18th receiver. Braylon Edwards is No. 85 overall and the 33rd wideout.

The Jets' backfield features Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson at Nos. 62 and 102. That makes them the 26th and 42nd fantasy running backs.

Wide receiver Steve Johnson is the highest-rated Buffalo player at No. 52. Running back Fred Jackson is only six slots behind him. Sophomore running back C.J. Spiller is No. 92. Receiver Lee Evans is No. 191.

For the Patriots, BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the highest non-Brady at No. 48, making him the 28th running back. Danny Woodhead is No. 141, or the 48th running back. Patriots receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch are 55th and 112th. Tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are 134th and 195th.

The AFC East isn't a high-quality running back division.

That's not a new concept on this blog. When ESPN.com's Power Rankings panel voted on the NFL's best running backs in mid March, LaDainian Tomlinson was the lone AFC Easterner to get mentioned on a ballot -- at 10th, no less. Almost two months ago, we shared Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson's evaluations of AFC East backfields, where he apologized for putting the Buffalo Bills on top.

NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan took his turn at rating the best backs, breaking down the best 45 in five-man sets and giving them an up, down or even marker for 2011.

Kirwan couldn't name an AFC East player until Group D, listing New England Patriots battering ram BenJarvus Green-Ellis there and holding steady.

Buffalo running back Fred Jackson was in Group E and trending even. Kirwan ranked Jackson one group behind former mate Marshawn Lynch, now of the Seattle Seahawks. Tomlinson also was in Group E, but trending down.

Group F had Jets running back Shonn Greene, the only AFC East back to make the list and trend upward.

In Group G we find Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown, declining. Kirwan stated Brown is best suited for a team looking for a backup who can provide 10 carries a game.

And that was it. No C.J. Spiller. No Danny Woodhead. No Ricky Williams.

But the likes of Tim Hightower, Mike Tolbert and rookie Ryan Williams made the cut. The Saints had four running backs on the list, including rookie Mark Ingram.

What do you think?

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

The 2011 draft was short on sensationalism for the AFC East.

Even the sexiest pick was easy to rationalize. The New England Patriots took Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, but the decision didn't seem out of whack in the third round.

Clubs went by the book. They bolstered need positions, concentrating on the trenches early. Very few red flags were raised.

But that doesn't mean the draft was dull.

Here are some draft highlights from the AFC East:

BEST MOVE

The AFC East's best decision of the draft was for the worst team to not get cute.

The Buffalo Bills didn't have to think when they filled out their draft card and sent it up to the commissioner. After the Denver Broncos selected Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller, the Bills rejected any thoughts about targeting a quarterback and pounced on Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, perhaps the safest pick in the entire draft.

Dareus immediately improves Buffalo's pitiful run defense and will help their anemic pass rush, too.

In fact, all four AFC East teams made prudent first-round decisions by reinforcing the lines.

The Miami Dolphins also eschewed quarterbacks, tabbing Florida center Mike Pouncey. The Patriots went with Colorado tackle Nate Solder. The New York Jets added Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.

RISKIEST MOVE

Had Mallett been taken in the first round or by a team that needed him to play right away, he would've gone down as the riskiest decision. But in the middle of the third round, no expectations to play and a solid infrastructure mitigate the hazards.

The Jets waited a long time between their first and next picks. When they were back on the clock at No. 94, they took Hampton defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis, a player the Jets rated as one of the top two nose tackles in this year's class.

But Ellis was suspended at South Carolina and kicked off the team, reportedly for drug use. Ellis also is facing felony assault charges -- he allegedly broke a man's jaw and nose last April on Hampton's campus. He's scheduled to stand trial in July and could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

Again, some people would say Mallett was a surprise. I didn't think so in the third round. That's the kind of value selection the Patriots are prone to make -- similar to Texas Christian offensive lineman Marcus Cannon, who tumbled into the fifth round after a recent cancer diagnosis.

The biggest surprise to me was New England's decision not to address its need for pass rush help with the 33rd overall pick. With Pittsburgh's Jabaal Sheard and Arizona's Brooks Reed on the board, Bill Belichick took Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling instead.

The Patriots then drafted running backs with back-to-back picks. They went into the draft with backfield needs. They were old last year and had only two backs -- BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead -- under contract.

They drafted California's Shane Vereen in the second round and then Louisiana State's Stevan Ridley 17 picks later in the third round.

It's hard to imagine either Green-Ellis (the AFC East's only 1,000-yard rusher last year) or Woodhead (electrifying fan favorite) being on the outs. So how do the Patriots figure they'll use all these guys?

FILE IT AWAY

The two AFC East teams unsettled at quarterback didn't draft one. The Bills and Dolphins avoided that position.

Each of the two AFC East teams with clear-cut quarterback situations drafted another. The Patriots added Mallett, and the Jets took Alabama's Greg McElroy in the seventh round.

The Jets aren't starting a quarterback controversy. Mark Sanchez is the unquestioned starter, and veteran backup Mark Brunell has another year left on his contract.

But here's an interesting fact: McElroy wore No. 17 his first two college seasons. He switched to No. 12 because it was worn at Alabama by his father's hero, Joe Namath.