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Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Dolphins and why.

Some starting NFL quarterbacks have one challenger breathing down their neck waiting to take their job. But very few incumbents have two quarterbacks gunning for them. That is the situation Matt Moore of the Miami Dolphins is in.

Moore is coming off a career year, going 6-3 in his last nine starts for Miami in 2011. He was the second most consistent quarterback in the AFC East after Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. However, that wasn't nearly enough for Moore to enter this season as Miami's unquestioned starter. He has to compete with veteran David Garrard in training camp.

Even if Moore fends off Garrard in the short term, he would still have to fight off Dolphins first-round pick Ryan Tannehill in the long term. Tannehill is clearly the quarterback of the future in Miami. How quickly Tannehill will take over depends on the rookie's learning curve and Moore's ability to win games.

It's a high-pressure situation for Moore, as it appears nothing will be good enough in Miami. Moore is entering the final year of his contract, and even if he puts up big numbers, Tannehill is expected to take his job for good in 2013.

Moore proved last season that he can handle pressure. He pulled the 0-7 Dolphins out of the gutter by infusing new energy. Miami played solid football in the second half of the season.

But this is a situation Moore won't survive with the Dolphins. The best he can hope for is to beat out Garrard and get enough playing time this year to show another team he can be a long-term starter.

The first-round pick was obvious. Everyone knew the Miami Dolphins loved former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick, which went according to form.

But after that, I was curious when Miami was going to take a wide receiver in the draft. It didn’t happen in the second round. It didn’t happen in the third, fourth or fifth rounds.

Miami finally drafted a pair of receivers in the sixth and seventh rounds. The Dolphins selected B.J. Cunningham of Michigan State and Rishard Matthews of Nevada.

"I think we drafted a couple good players that we think could ascend," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said. "But we weren’t going to reach. That’s not my philosophy."

Does Miami have enough to be effective at wide receiver next season? Here is a look at the players currently on the roster.

According to rookie head coach Joe Philbin, the West Coast offense doesn’t need a star, No. 1 target. But projected starters Brian Hartline and Devone Bess and possibly Legadu Naanee could be put in roles bigger than what they are used to.

Miami traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears in the offseason. The Dolphins expect to throw the ball a lot with a new West Coast offense, probably more than last year, despite a group with a lot to prove.

"The more guys you can get into different spots to create mismatches for the defense, the better you’re going to be,” Philbin said. "I don’t think we lock in."

With the draft complete and free agency all but done, this is probably the receiver group Miami rolls with next season. Is this group good enough to produce in 2012?

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


The AFC East struggled mightily last year. Only the New England Patriots finished with a winning record. The New York Jets (8-8), Miami Dolphins (6-10) and Buffalo Bills (6-10) are all playing catch up this season.

The draft is the best way for the Jets, Dolphins and Bills to close the gap with the reigning AFC champs. It's also an opportunity for New England to get better, particularly on defense, in order to make another Super Bowl run.

Here are the highlights of the AFC East draft:

BEST MOVE

The best move was actually a series of moves by the Patriots. It was clear New England needed defensive help. The Patriots' defense was ranked 31st overall, and it was an issue on the final drive of the Super Bowl.

New England drafted six straight defensive players. Defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower, both first-rounder, have a chance to make an immediate impact. New England moved up twice in the first round to pick Jones and Hightower.

"I felt like we got good value for them," coach Bill Belichick said. "[We] took Dont'a and Chandler, probably could have been in either order. But we felt like we would have a better chance to end up with both players if it went that way, not that we were sure we would get the second one, but we thought we might have a shot at it. Looking forward to working with both guys."

New England also took pass-rushing defensive end Jake Bequette in the third round. He could be a sleeper. The Patriots made one curious pick on defense in the second round that we will get to later.

The Patriots did a good job overall, but an individual move I really like is Miami's pick of former Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin. I had the chance to watch Stanford several times, and I was really impressed. He moves well, has a good frame and is intelligent.

"He's used to playing with a very demanding quarterback with Andrew (Luck), and they trusted him to protect Andrew for three years," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said of Martin. "We're very happy with the pick."

Martin has to move from left tackle to right tackle, because Pro Bowler Jake Long is on Miami's roster. But that's an easier transition to make than going from right to left tackle.

The Buffalo Bills also made some solid picks, particularly first-round corner Stephon Gilmore and second-round offensive tackle Cordy Glenn. Buffalo had a safe draft that should help the team immediately next season.

RISKIEST MOVE

The New York Jets entered the offseason with a lot of questions. Can they fix their locker room issues? Can they handle the Tim Tebow phenomenon?

Instead of going safe, the Jets continued to roll the dice by taking risky prospects with their top two picks: defensive end Quinton Coples and receiver Stephen Hill. Both are boom-or-bust prospects the Jets plan to rely on next season.

New York needs help rushing the passer and hope Coples can provide it. He has all the physical tools, but there are big questions about his motivation. The Jets also need a big-play receiver, and Hill could be that player. He has all the measurables but wasn’t productive at Georgia Tech, which ran a triple-option offense. Hill caught just 28 passes last season but averaged an astounding 29.3 yards per reception.

"I feel great. Especially now, I'm in more of an offense where I can catch the ball a little bit more," Hill said. "And you know, catching the ball from [quarterback] Mark Sanchez is great. I'm going to make sure I get with him as soon as possible and we both try to get this roll on."

Both players have the potential to start as soon as next season.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

Belichick has some explaining to do. The Patriots took a player in the second round who wasn’t invited to the NFL combine or any pre-draft all-star games.

Patriots second-round pick Tavon Wilson caught everyone completely by surprise. The defensive back wasn’t on anyone’s radar, especially in the second round. But New England liked him enough to take Wilson No. 48 overall.

"He played plenty. You can see him plenty at Illinois," Belichick said. "You can see him against whoever you want to see him against: All the Big Ten schools, Arizona State, teams that throw the ball. He’s playing corner, he’s playing safety, he’s playing the inside positions, the nickel position, the dime position."

Belichick is known to go off the radar in the draft at times. He continues to defend the Wilson pick.

"Similar situation with [Sebastian] Vollmer a couple of years ago. We drafted guys -- I think one year, didn't we draft like three of four guys that were non-combine guys?" Belichick said. "Some guys play in all-star games, some guys don't. I don't know who picks all those all-star teams. In all honesty, I don't know who picks the combine for that matter."

New England needs immediate help in the secondary. Wilson has experience in college at cornerback and safety and will get a chance to show what he can do in New England.

FILE IT AWAY

This is the perfect category for Miami first-round selection and rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. You can probably file this pick away until 2013.

Tannehill will begin the season third on Miami's depth chart behind incumbent starter Matt Moore and free-agent signing David Garrard. The odds that the rookie will jump two veteran quarterbacks before Week 1 are long. But Tannehill isn't resigning himself to holding a clipboard.

"I'm a football player and I'm a competitor," Tannehill said Saturday. "I want to be on the field and I want to compete. But I also realize that I'm coming in and there's veteran quarterbacks on this team that I can learn from."

The race for the No. 2 quarterback in the AFC East behind Tom Brady is wide open. Tannehill has the potential to fill that void in two or three years. But the Dolphins have to do the right things to nurture the young quarterback, despite very high expectations.

Tannehill is the first quarterback taken in the first round by Miami since Hall of Famer Dan Marino in 1983.

"I didn't take him as the eighth pick in the draft to be a backup quarterback," Ireland said. "I picked him to be a starting quarterback in this league at some point, to have an impact on this football team, to help us win football games and championships. That's the expectation that I have going down the line."

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

• Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Cordy Glenn will be motivated after falling to the second round.

Morning take: This is good news for Buffalo. Not only did the Bills get solid value, but they get a player with a chip on their shoulder who wants to prove himself. This can only help.

• Will Miami Dolphins second-round pick Jonathan Martin eventually replace starting left tackle Jake Long?

Morning take: It's a legitimate question. Long is due for a huge contract extension and you never know if the new coaching staff is in love with someone else's draft pick. If Martin develops fast, it's possible.

• Could New England Patriots defensive end/linebacker Jake Bequette be a sleeper pick in the third round?

Morning take: It’s certainly possible. Bequette was productive against very good competition in the SEC. The Patriots need pass-rushers, and Bequette should help in that area.

• Did the St. Louis Rams make a mistake by passing on former Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill, who fell to the New York Jets?

Morning take: I thought Hill would be off the board early in the second round. But St. Louis drafted Brian Quick of Appalachian State, which helped the Jets. Time will tell if the Rams made a mistake.

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

• New England Patriots Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins recently had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his knee.

Morning take: Mankins unknowingly played in the Super Bowl with a torn ACL, according to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss. That shows his toughness, but it also looks like he will be out until at least training camp, if not longer.

• The New York Jets have expressed interest in free-agent tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Morning take: This would be an interesting development. The Jets know Green-Ellis well from his days with the Patriots, and he doesn't fumble. Could he fit New York's ground-and-pound offense?

• Can Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow thrive in the Miami Dolphins' new West Coast offense?

Morning take: Nope.

• Which quarterback has Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams sacked the most?

Morning take: The answer is Peyton Manning. But click the link to find out who's No. 3 on Williams' hit list. Interesting.

The New York Jets have agreed to a three-year contract with pending free-agent nose tackle Sione Pouha, the team announced. Pouha played in all 16 games last season and had 58 tackles and one sack.

This was a move the Jets had to make. Pouha is one of the Jets' biggest cogs in the middle of their 3-4 defense, which ranked fifth in the NFL last season. He faces a lot of double teams and allows other players to fly to the football and make plays.

There aren't many natural 3-4 nose tackles in free agency. If New York couldn't re-sign Pouha, perhaps former Miami Dolphins nose tackle Paul Soliai would have been an option.

Also, credit an assist to Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. New York signed its quarterback to a five-year contract extension Friday night to provide the Jets with the necessary cap room to re-sign Pouha and still have room for free agency, which begins Tuesday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter has some bad news for Miami Dolphins fans, which might be good news for the New York Jets and several other teams. Schefter reports Miami may be losing ground already in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

Schefter sites the recent helicopter chase and the way the Dolphins failed at pursuing head coach Jeff Fisher as ominous signs. The Dolphins expect to meet with Manning soon so the future Hall of Fame quarterback can get a feel for the organization. Miami was considered one of the early favorites to land Manning.

It's early, but potentially losing Manning would be a big blow to the Dolphins, who want to make a splash and make football relevant again in South Florida. Plan B for the Miami is to chase former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn in free agency next week.

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

• Former New York Jets great Joe Namath says the Jets can't land Peyton Manning because they don't have their act together.

Morning take: This is no surprise, as Namath has been arguably the Jets' biggest critic. He does have a point about New York's in-house issues, but it's unknown if that's a huge deterrent.

• Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino thinks Manning would be a good fit in South Florida.

Morning take: The Dolphins haven't had a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback since Marino. Manning has a friendship with Marino and respects his opinion, which could help.

• Contract extensions for starting tight end Scott Chandler and receiver Steve Johnson prove players want to stay with the Buffalo Bills.

Morning take: This is a good sign that Buffalo could be onto something. The Bills are keeping their young talent. But the bigger challenge is convincing top outside free agents to come to Buffalo.

• Could the New England Patriots show interest in free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan?

Morning take: Finnegan is arguably the top free-agent corner on the market, but I'm not sure he's a good fit. For starters, he will be pricey. But I also think the Patriots want more athleticism in the secondary.

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

• It is no secret the Miami Dolphins are very interested in soon-to-be free agent quarterback Peyton Manning.

Morning take: Miami has all the pieces to make a strong run at Manning. But can the Dolphins sway Manning from other teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins?

• The New York Jets also will reportedly take a look at Manning.

Morning take: The Jets have been careful not to hurt starting quarterback Mark Sanchez's confidence. But if the Jets go after Manning, that means the team wasn't as confident in Sanchez as they showed publicly.

• One mock draft has the New England pulling off a big trade for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace.

Morning take: My thoughts exactly.

• Can the Buffalo Bills make a run at free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson?

Morning take: The Bills need another receiver to pair with Steve Johnson, but it could be too much money invested in one position. The Bills also will have competition and may need to overpay for Jackson.

Get the helicopter warmed up, Miami Dolphins.

The moment has arrived. It's time for the Dolphins' organization to make their best pitch to soon-to-be free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Indianapolis Colts will release Manning and hold a news conference on Wednesday. The deadline to pay Manning a $28 million roster bonus is Thursday, and there was zero chance the Colts would fork over that kind of money for a quarterback who missed the entire 2011 season.

But that won't stop the Dolphins and several other teams for knocking down Manning's door any day now. Miami is projected as one of the favorites. Other teams such as the Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins and New York Jets also are rumored to have interest.

The Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross want to make a splash this offseason. They tried everything from helicopter rides to offering big money to head coach Jeff Fisher, who spurned Miami to join the St. Louis Rams. Ross and Co. will try to put their best foot forward again with Manning.

The timing is perfect for Miami. Free agency doesn't start until next Tuesday, which gives the Dolphins time to gauge whether Manning is legitimately interested in coming to Miami. We listed all the reasons why the Dolphins are a great fit here. But if it doesn't work out, Miami still has enough time to transition to Plan B and go after former Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn in free agency.

Manning, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, is one of the biggest names ever to reach free agency. Business is about to pick up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• In a surprise move, the Buffalo Bills interviewed Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III at the NFL combine.

Morning take: I wouldn’t make too much of this if you’re a Bills fans. Buffalo has the No. 10 pick and just paid starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick $59 million. The interview was more for due diligence.

• Here is good news for the Miami Dolphins: The Green Bay Packers are not expected to use the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Flynn.

Morning take: This means Miami’s No. 2 target will certainly hit the open market. The Dolphins will explore Peyton Manning over the next few weeks. If that’s not an option, Flynn is next.

• Will New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light retire this offseason?

Morning take: Light is under contract for one more year and is considering it. But even if Light walked away, New England is well-stocked at offensive tackle with Sebastian Vollmer and Nate Solder.

• Is Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd a possibility for the New York Jets?

Morning take: Floyd was one of the stars at the combine, and he could be available to New York with the No. 16 pick. The Jets can go in a lot of different ways, but I think safety and right tackle are bigger needs.

Here are the latest happenings Thursday evening in the AFC East:

• The Buffalo Bills and representatives for receiver Steve Johnson have exchanged proposals and will meet at the NFL combine.
• How far are the Miami Dolphins from the Super Bowl?
  
• Will the New England Patriots be interested in free-agent receiver Brandon Lloyd?
• New York Jets coach Rex Ryan wants a Super Bowl ring quickly.

The AFC East blog continues its rankings of the top 40 players in the division.

Here are Nos. 9-12:

No. 12: Logan Mankins, G

Team: New England Patriots

Stats: 15 starts

Analysis: Mankins, a perennial Pro Bowler, is a grinder. He is relentless in the running or passing game. His style can get under some opponent's skin. Members of the New York Giants defense called Mankins and New England's offensive line "dirty" and "cheap" leading up to the Super Bowl. Mankins responded that it was a compliment. I also like Mankins' toughness and durability. He missed one game this season, when other Patriots offensive linemen were dropping left and right. Mankins has missed just seven games in his seven-year career at guard.

No. 11: Karlos Dansby, LB

Team: Miami Dolphins

Stats: 103 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception

Analysis: Dansby isn't the best linebacker in the NFL, as he proclaims, but he's still very good. Dansby and fellow linebacker Kevin Burnett (No. 39) set the physical tone for the Dolphins on a weekly basis. Teams struggled to run on Miami, because the team was stout up the middle. Dansby is a sure tackler and takes on blockers well. I think he's Miami's most consistent defensive player. Dansby has recorded 100 tackles or more in three of the past four seasons.

No. 10: Fred Jackson, RB

Team: Buffalo Bills

Stats: 934 yards, 6 touchdowns, 39 receptions

Analysis: Jackson was probably the hardest player to rank in "Walker's Fab 40." Based on the eye test and players I saw in person, Jackson was without a doubt one of the top players in the AFC East. But he also turns 31 next week and is coming off a season-ending leg injury. How well will Jackson bounce back in 2012? Will he be the same player we saw for 10 games this past season? No one has the answers yet to these questions. But Jackson's skills are plentiful. He's a powerful runner who always falls forward and has surprisingly great hands for a player his size. Jackson also was one of the best bargains in the NFL in terms of salary. The Bills plan to give him a well-deserved raise.

No. 9: Aaron Hernandez, TE

Team: Patriots

Stats: 79 receptions, 910 yards, 7 touchdowns

Analysis: I'm not sure many know how talented Hernandez truly is, given that he plays in Rob Gronkowski's shadow. Hernandez, who is a better pure athlete than "Gronk," might be a top-five tight end if he wasn't playing second fiddle in New England. Hernandez is versatile. He is the team's best vertical threat and could also play a little running back if needed. Hernandez is elusive and difficult to tackle. The Patriots are very fortunate to have both tight ends playing together for the next couple of years. There's a very good chance that one of them -- probably Hernandez -- bolts in free agency when the time comes; the Patriots can't pay both Pro Bowl-type money. Gronkowski is a Pro Bowl player now, and Hernandez has that potential with more opportunities.

I am almost always against taking a right tackle in the top 10. But the more I think about it, the more I am starting to make an exception for the Miami Dolphins. I think they should at least consider the possibility.

Here are several reasons:

No. 1: RT is a big need

The entire right side of the Dolphins' offensive line could need reconstructing in 2012. Right guard Vernon Carey and right tackle Marc Colombo are both unrestricted free agents. Colombo is not expected to return, but Carey has a chance. Pass protection at times was an issue for Miami. Drafting a first-round right tackle to pair with Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long would solve that issue for the next quarterback (Peyton Manning? Matt Flynn?) coming in. It's also another way to help build the offense.

No. 2: This is a good draft for offensive tackles

Offensive tackle is one of the deepest positions this year. There are three or four offensive tackles projected to go in the first round. The Dolphins at No. 8 or No. 9 will have a shot at most of them. There also is less pressure playing on the right side. That rookie would have a chance to succeed right away in Miami. The Dolphins drafted center Mike Pouncey in the first round last year and could have two long-term building blocks.

No. 3: Long is entering a contract year

Coming off a season-ending biceps injury, it's too risky to give Long a huge extension right now. The Dolphins most likely will let 2012 play out and see how Long bounces back. Long had arguably his worst season in 2011. He battled through injuries, and to his credit he never used them as an excuse. But long term, what if injuries are catching up to Long? What if Miami is afraid to give Long a Joe Thomas contract? Thomas received a seven-year, $84 million extension last year from the Cleveland Browns. If the Dolphins aren't willing to do the same with Long, it may be wise to draft a first-round tackle with potential to play the left side in a year or two.

With that said, it still makes me cringe for any team to take a right tackle with the No. 8 or No. 9 pick. Miami has other needs it can address. But I'm a little more open to the idea than I was before.