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

• The New York Jets reportedly will not trade star cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers unless it is for the No. 13 overall pick.

Morning take: This is a fair stance for New York to take. Revis, if healthy, is a special player. New York could use Tampa's first-round pick now and immediately build for the future.

• The New England Patriots signed former Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly.

Morning take: New England needs depth in the middle to help out Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork. Kelly had a down year in 2012 but could bounce back with the Patriots.

• Former Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Morning take: Buffalo decided to move on without Nelson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last year. But Nelson still has some decent football left in him once he gets back to 100 percent.

• The Miami Dolphins are reportedly enamored with Oklahoma left tackle Lane Johnson.

Morning take: So are a lot of teams. I’m not sure Johnson makes it to No. 12. But the Dolphins need a replacement for Jake Long and Johnson can fill that need.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at whether each AFC East team has been a winner or a loser in free agency.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills have been losers in free agency mostly due to inactivity. Buffalo made just one signing: linebacker Manny Lawson. With a new head coach and new schemes on offense and defense, the Bills need a lot more than one linebacker to be competitive next season. Most important, they need to find a quarterback after cutting former starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Buffalo also lost starting guard Andy Levitre, linebacker Nick Barnett, veteran safety George Wilson and receivers Donald Jones and David Nelson. The team has yet to fill those holes. Interestingly, the Bills were major players in free agency a year ago. They signed defensive end Mario Williams to a $100 million contract and made several other signings. However, Buffalo finished 6-10 in 2012 and decided to take a much quieter approach in 2013.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are big winners in free agency. They landed the best wide receiver on the market (Mike Wallace) and the top linebacker (Dannell Ellerbe). Miami also signed a pass-catching tight end (Dustin Keller) and an additional, athletic linebacker (Philip Wheeler). Miami’s roster looks much stronger and more dynamic than it did heading into the 2012 season, when the team went 7-9. Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said it was his goal to close the gap with the New England Patriots. Ireland deserves a lot of credit for a solid game plan and executing it well. The Dolphins still have holes to fill at cornerback, left tackle and at pass-rusher. But Miami still has cap room to spend and 11 total draft picks next month. The Dolphins are not finished adding talent.

New England Patriots: The Patriots have had mixed results in free agency. But overall I would just barely put them in the winners' category. I do not like what they've done on offense, where they lost two starting receivers: Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd. The pair accounted for 192 receptions, 2,265 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. That's a lot of lost production that Danny Amendola and Donald Jones -- New England's two free-agent signings at receiver – will not be able to match. The Patriots also haven't re-signed starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who remains a free agent. New England must patch these two holes offensively. On the other hand, I like what New England has done defensively. The Patriots solidified their secondary by signing former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and re-signing No. 1 cornerback Aqib Talib. They also re-signed backup corners Kyle Arrington and Marquice Cole and added exciting kick returner Leon Washington on special teams.

New York Jets: The Jets are huge losers so far in free agency. They lost talented players much faster than they can replace them. Former New York starters Shonn Greene, Keller, LaRon Landry, Yeremiah Bell, Sione Pouha, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace were either recently released or signed with other teams. The Jets are hamstrung by a tight salary cap. Therefore, first-year Jets general manager John Idzik has been forced to bargain shop. New York made several low-cost signings, such as tailback Mike Goodson and guard Willie Colon. But overall, the Jets have more holes than they can fill in one offseason.

Buffalo Bills

Hadley Engelhard, the agent for cornerback Leodis McKelvin, told The Associated Press that negotiations with the Bills are ongoing, and the two sides are scheduled to talk again Friday.

Wide receiver David Nelson thinks the Bills cut him because of the season-ending torn knee ligament he suffered last season, reports Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. “I feel if I was able to play last year, things would be different 100 percent," Nelson said. "For me that’s the reason why; they’re not sure if I’ll be the same player I’ve been.”

Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com squares up the free-agent guard market and looks at possible replacements for Andy Levitre, who's next expected back in Buffalo.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins kept wide receiver Brian Hartline off the free-agent market, agreeing to a five-year, $30.775 million deal, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Quarterback Matt Moore has also reached a deal to stay in Miami, reports NFL.com's Jeff Darlington.

The Dolphins stadium bill moving through the Florida Senate could put the team at loggerheads with Miami's banks, reports the Miami Herald's Douglas Shanks.

Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel plays Dolphins GM for a day and lays out his plan for free agency, which would include a five-year-$60 million offer to free agent receiver Mike Wallace.

New England Patriots

With the start of free agency looming and Sebastian Vollmer still without a contract extension, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald looks at potential replacements.

The Patriots are prepared to let Wes Welker test the free-agent waters; do they understand Welker's value? From Ron Borges of the Boston Herald: "Regardless of what metric you use, Welker has been the definition of a value pick. He’s been the epitome of durability. He has been the essence of reliability."

Bill Belichick was in Coral Gables, Fla., Thursday to check out the Miami Hurricanes' pro day, reports ESPNBoston.com's Mike Rodak.

New York Jets

Darrelle Revis, five months removed from major knee surgery, began running on a treadmill this week, writes ESPNNewYork.com's Rick Cimini. "None of the trade talks matter if I'm not healthy and back to All-Pro form," Revis said.

How would Felix Jones look in green and white? Cimini identifies some potential free-agent targets for the Jets.

With Moore off the quarterback market, Conor Orr of the (Newark) Star-Ledger looks at potential free agents the Jets could consider under center.

The Buffalo Bills are continuing their makeover in the image of new head coach Doug Marrone.

First, the Bills cut defensive veterans like safety George Wilson,a linebacker Nick Barnett and cornerback Terrence McGee. Now, Buffalo turned its attention to its offense. The Bills will not tender restricted free agent David Nelson a contract this offseason, making Nelson an unrestricted free agent.

Nelson joins Donald Jones as two significant receivers Buffalo will not bring back. When completely healthy, Jones and Nelson were the No. 2 and No. 3 receivers in Buffalo, respectively. But both were fits in former head coach Chan Gailey's offense. It also didn’t help that both receivers have been injured.

Marrone is coming to Buffalo with a different offensive system, and after watching the film of last year, it's clear he wants different receivers to play with Steve Johnson. The Bills have struggled in recent seasons to find someone consistent enough to take the pressure of Johnson, who's had three straight 1,000-yard seasons.

Buffalo, which holds the No. 8 overall pick, has plenty of options in the draft to improve at wide receiver. The group is not top heavy, but there is value for the Bills in the first three rounds. Free agency also is an option.

In other Bills news, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith confirmed on the NFL Network that he’s met with Buffalo at the combine. The Bills have been scouting Smith during the college football season and could be a target if they take a first-round quarterback.

The Buffalo Bills were throttled by the New York Jets in a 48-28 loss in Week 1. The Bills will try to bounce back and get to .500 with Sunday's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here is a reason to be hopeful and a reason to be concerned about Buffalo in Week 2:

Reason for hope: RB C.J. Spiller

Spiller was like a rainbow shining for Buffalo in midst of a dreary day. Spiller is currently the NFL's rushing leader after gaining 169 yards and a touchdown against a tough New York defense. He looks ready to turn it up in his third year and will get that opportunity with Fred Jackson (knee) out at least a month. With injuries to Jackson and receiver David Nelson, the Bills should let Spiller do his thing early and often this week. He is a home-run hitter who can take it the distance at any time.

Reason for concern: Defense

New York's offense, which couldn't score a touchdown in the preseason, pretty much did what it wanted against Buffalo's defense. The $100 million acquisition of Mario Williams registered just one tackle. The secondary couldn’t cover anyone and the young corners were exposed. Maybe it was just a bad week. The Bills will do everything they can to fix things defensively in practice. But the Jets' offense was by no means a juggernaut. The Chiefs can present more problems on paper with running back Jamaal Charles, receiver Dwayne Bowe and others. Buffalo's defense needs to be more detailed and feed off the energy at home.

There is bad news and good news for the Buffalo Bills on Monday.

The bad news is Buffalo lost two starters for an extended period. Receiver David Nelson is out for the season with a torn ACL, and tailback Fred Jackson will miss at least a month with a knee sprain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

But the good news is backup tailback and former first-round pick C.J. Spiller is more than ready to be a focal point of Buffalo's offense. He was the biggest positive in the Bills' 48-28 blowout loss to the New York Jets this past Sunday. Spiller exploded for 169 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries when Jackson went down.

Spiller is entering his third season, and this is his time to take over the offense. He's always had the talent but not the opportunity. That changed last season when Jackson went down with a knee injury and Spiller did a nice job to prove he's ready for a starting role.

Jackson is one of the leaders on offense. But Spiller is a bigger home run threat who is more athletic and dynamic. Even if Jackson didn't get injured, many would make the case that Buffalo would be doing a disservice by not giving Spiller a lion's share of the carries after his Week 1 performance.

Spiller has the potential to take over Buffalo's starting tailback job for good. Jackson has surpassed the infamous age of 30 for running backs, and now he's injury prone. Spiller is in his prime.

Jackson is still good enough to add something to the Bills when he returns in a month or so. But it's time to pass the torch.

This is Spiller's time to shine in Buffalo.

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 1 in the AFC East:

• There was an “I told you so” attitude with the New York Jets after their 48-28 blowout of the Buffalo Bills Sunday. Not only did the Jets (1-0) prove a lot of skeptics wrong in Week 1, but they did it against a Buffalo (0-1) team that received a lot of good press and offseason hype. It’s only one game, but the big question now is, “How good is New York?” The Jets were picked by many to be a third-place team in the AFC East and to finish around .500 this year. But they look dangerous when playing complementary football. It was a complete performance by the Jets Sunday where the offense fed off the defense, which also fed off special teams. If this is the type of Jets team we will see consistently, then perhaps the Jets are better than most thought. We could have a better indication of where New York stands next week when the Jets travel to play the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1).
• Also, the Jets’ receiving corps deserves a lot of credit for its production. Santonio Holmes, rookie Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley consistently schooled Buffalo’s young cornerbacks. The Jets had receivers running free regularly on Sunday, even during incompletions. New York quarterback Mark Sanchez did a good job taking care of the football and taking chances deep at the right time. Holmes, Hill and Kerley all had at least four receptions. “It was a great performance by us,” Holmes said. “The game plan went really smooth this week. Guys were paying attention to details. Everything just felt great and we put on a show.”
• [+] Enlarge
  Kellen Micah/ICON SMIMario Williams, right, took issue with the way Austin Howard pass blocked on Sunday.
  How did Jets' unknown offensive tackle Austin Howard keep Bills Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams at bay? According to Williams, Howard cheated. “Pass blocking doesn’t consist of using your hands to the face on every play,” Williams said afterwards. Howard, with some help, pitched a shutout against Williams, who was held to just one tackle with zero sacks and one quarterback pressure. Williams made a point to say Howard illegally and consistently used hands to the face as his primary method. According to Williams, he told the replacement officials on several occasions. “You don’t listen or even call it one time out of the 20 that were there?” a frustrated Williams said. “That’s really disheartening for everyone.” Jets head coach Rex Ryan had a different take. “Austin Howard played a tremendous game,” Ryan said. “Maybe he made a name for himself today.”
• The look on Bills receiver David Nelson’s face said it all in the locker room. I wouldn’t be shocked if Nelson is done for an extended period. Nelson was carted off in the fourth quarter. It was a tough way to go out for Buffalo’s second-leading receiver, who is the best slot option the team has. This probably means rookie receiver T.J. Graham has to step up in Nelson’s place. Graham was inactive Sunday against the Jets.
• Bills head coach Chan Gailey said starting running Fred Jackson’s knee injury wasn’t as serious as Nelson’s. But Jackson didn’t finish the game and his status is in doubt for a big Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs (0-1). Jets safety LaRon Landry went low on Jackson, whose leg got caught in the turf. Jackson walked on the sideline after the game but didn’t return. Backup C.J. Spiller looks more than ready for the increased responsibility. Spiller rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown in relief against a tough Jets defense.
• There may be more good news for the New England Patriots' defense. After pounding young Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker in a season-opening win, Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback John Skelton also was sidelined in Week 1 with a possible high-ankle sprain. That type of injury can keep players out for about a month. But Skelton will most certainly miss next week’s game against the Patriots (1-0) at Gillette Stadium. That paves the way for enigmatic backup Kevin Kolb, who filled in decently on Sunday but has been a bust since signing a big contract with Arizona (1-0).
• Finally, you have to wonder how much Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long's knee is bothering him. He was beat on several plays and looked unusually shaky at times Sunday against the Houston Texans. I’m not worried about Long’s play as much as the injuries piling up. Seventy percent of Long is still better than many left tackles. But it seems the past couple of years Long is playing hurt too often. It’s the second season in a row Long is starting the year banged up. It’s a long season and the Dolphins’ best player already is managing injuries. This is a contract year for Long, and Miami (0-1) has to decide whether it can make Long the highest-paid lineman in the league next season when he’s starting to develop the “injury-prone” label.

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

• The New Orleans Saints, who had plenty of offseason trouble, say they hold the New England Patriots as the model franchise.

Morning take: Both franchises are stable and have won championships. New Orleans' bounty controversy will probably set the team back this year. But this is still a talented group.

• Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson (knee) continues to improve.

Morning take: Nelson will miss this week’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins. But he’s getting better every day. The Bills will need him to work in the slot, which is an important role in their offense.

• The amount of media coverage has been surprising to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.

Morning take: I’m surprised that Johnson didn’t see this coming. He surely knew what happened with Tim Tebow last year and has to be aware of the New York media market. What else did Johnson expect?

• Miami Dolphins receiver Legedu Naanee is making plays in training camp.

Morning take: Naanee began camp on the first team and wants it to stay that way. Naanee and Johnson are Miami’s two starters at the moment, and there will be a lot of pressure for both veterans to produce in Miami’s West Coast offense.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The hot question this summer in Buffalo Bills' training camp is, who is the No. 2 receiver opposite Steve Johnson?

The Bills don't have a clear answer just yet. But Bills head coach Chan Gailey.

"I don’t worry about No. 2," Gailey explained. "We’re so much of a three- and four-wide receiver team that it’s hard to get bent out of shape about who’s No. 2. We need a great group of receivers, and we need our guys to compliment Steve [Johnson].

"That's what we’re hunting for: Who are the best guys for our football team. I’m not worried about No. 2 or No. 3 or No. 4 or No. 5."

Buffalo has a group of mostly unproven receivers behind Johnson, who's had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and just signed a contract extension. Receivers such as Donald Jones, Marcus Easley, David Nelson, Derek Hagan and rookie T.J. Graham are all competing this summer to find roles.

The Bills run a spread offense and like to air it out. Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had a career-high 569 pass attempts last season. But Johnson can't catch all of Fitzpatrick's throws. Other receivers must emerge.

"We know where Stevie is," Gailey said. "Now who are the other guys who are going to be able to step up and make plays? So when they double and triple [Johnson], they can go get open."

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

• Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin says the team recently worked out former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards.

Morning take: The Dolphins continue to prove they are not satisfied with their receivers. Miami signed 34-year-old Chad Ochocinco recently and now have worked out Edwards. This should be a sign that Miami's receivers need to step it up.

• Jets safety LaRon Landry says he's healthy.

Morning take: Landry never had corrective Achilles surgery. That kept him out until this point. But it looks like Landry will be ready when it matters in September.

• Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson will miss four or five days of training camp with a strained leg tendon.

Morning take: This is good news for Nelson, who received the first injury scare of Bills camp. Nelson should be back before the first preseason game.

• New England Patriots rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower continues to impress.

Morning take: Hightower brings much-needed toughness to New England's defense. The Patriots will have to find a way to put Hightower on the field with the way he's developing.

Steve Johnson knows a good cornerback when he sees one. He plays twice a year against the best corner in football: Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets.

So when Johnson talks up Buffalo rookie corner Stephon Gilmore, it’s not something to take lightly. In fact, it should be a warning shot to Buffalo's opponents this upcoming season.

"I don't know how to say it, but he's up there with some of the DBs in the league who've been playing for a couple of years, and he hasn't even played one play," Johnson told the Associated Press this weekend. "Really, I don't want to speak too highly, but it's hard to not speak highly of somebody that can play as well as he has from rookie minicamp all the way up until now."

Many people, including the AFC East blog, nodded in agreement when Buffalo took Gilmore with the No. 10 overall pick in April. It was a solid selection that made plenty of sense. The Bills boosted their defensive line in free agency by signing defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Drafting Gilmore improved the back end.

Gilmore was projected as one of the most NFL-ready players in this year's draft. He's proving it in practice with the Bills and is expected to be a Week 1 starter.

"He's earned our respect already," Bills receiver David Nelson said. "Every time you go against him, you've got to be ready. You know you're going to get everything he has, and it's going to be that way when the ball's snapped until the whistle."

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

• New York Jets coach Rex Ryan says he is disappointed in the progress of second-year receiver Jeremy Kerley.

Morning take: Is a sophomore slump looming? Kerley has to pick up his second offensive system in two years. The Jets need all their receivers to play well.

• New England Patriots receiver Brandon Lloyd says he is a work in progress with quarterback Tom Brady.

Morning take: This should be a good combo. But it’s always tough the first year working together. Lloyd brings much-needed deep speed to New England's offense -- so I'm sure they will be fine.

• Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson hurt his knee in practice Saturday.

Morning take: Nelson received a scare, but it’s only being called a bruise. Nelson is Buffalo's best option in the slot. The Bills need all their receivers to stay healthy and support top threat Steve Johnson.

• Miami Dolphins defensive leaders Karlos Dansby and Cameron Wake are adjusting to new roles.

Morning take: These are the top players on Miami’s defense, and both will have a lot of responsibility in Miami’s 4-3 scheme. But I don’t have many concerns about Miami’s front seven. I’m more concerned about the secondary.

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.

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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Did the Buffalo Bills fix holes on offense?

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

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

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

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

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