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Here are four important players to keep an eye on who are returning from injuries suffered last season:

Buffalo Bills: Defensive end Mario Williams

Injury: Pectoral

Thoughts: Williams was on his way to a dominant 2011 after he recorded five sacks in his first five games. Then he tore his pectoral muscle and was sidelined for the rest of the season. That didn't scare Buffalo away from making Williams the richest player in franchise history. The Bills gave Williams a $100 million contract in free agency to improve their pass rush. Williams will join teammates Mark Anderson, Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams to make up one of the NFL's most formidable defensive lines. There's no reason to think Williams won't be successful with this group as long as he avoids injuries.

Miami Dolphins: Left tackle Jake Long

Injury: Bicep

Thoughts: Long missed two of the final three games last season and was placed on injured reserve last December with a torn bicep. The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle went four straight years without missing a start but played hurt much of last season. Long is entering the final year of his contract, and the rebuilding Dolphins need a healthy season from their best player. Miami general manager Jeff Ireland says he wants to keep Long in a Dolphins uniform for a long time. The team may not extend Long's contract happen this summer, but look for the Dolphins to offer Long a huge extension by next year -- especially if he shows his durability in 2012.

New England Patriots: Tight end Rob Gronkowski

Injury: Ankle

Thoughts: Gronkowski didn't miss any games last season. But he suffered a major ankle injury in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens that hindered his effectiveness in New England's Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Gronkowski opted for surgery after the Super Bowl and is in the recovery phase. There is no reason to believe he won't be the same dominant player who set an NFL record for tight ends with 17 touchdown receptions in 2011. Gronkowski is 23 years old. But sometimes with youth comes the propensity to rush back on the field. It will be up to the Patriots' medical staff to make sure "Gronk" takes his time getting back to 100 percent.

New York Jets: Safety LaRon Landry

Injury: Achilles

Thoughts: The Jets signed Landry to a one-year, $3.5 million contract despite knowing he wasn't 100 percent. Landry has already missed organized team activities. The Jets hope his Achilles can be fully healthy by training camp. Landry, when healthy, is a big and physical safety who can blow people up. That would fit in well with New York's defense. But Landry can't help the Jets unless he's on the field. The former first-round pick missed 16 games the past two seasons with the Washington Redskins.

» AFC Scenarios: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Buffalo Bills in 2012.

Dream scenario (11-5): It would be a dream for Bills fans to see their team back in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The last time we saw Buffalo make the postseason, the Bills were the victim of the “Music City Miracle” in 1999. It has been a long line of disappointments and underachieving since that historic play. (Many Bills fans still contend that was a forward pass, by the way.) This year’s team looks poised to break the streak. This is the best team, on paper, that Buffalo has had in a long time. The offense will be dangerous if quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick improves his consistency in the passing game and Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller and the running game stay consistent. Buffalo also made improvements to the defense, including drafting corner Stephon Gilmore in the first round and adding stud defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Chances are, everything won’t fall into place for Buffalo. But this is a sleeper team that does have a chance to make a jump and contend for the playoffs.

Nightmare scenario (5-11): Despite all the additions, there is no guarantee the Bills and their coaching staff can bring it all together in one year. What if Fitzpatrick continues to play like the second half of 2011 and is not the long-term solution? What if the defense struggles to make the transition to a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt? What if big injuries again decimate this team? A lot can go wrong for the Bills, especially in a division where the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots are expected to dominate. The Bills are trying to catch up and cannot afford to make many mistakes in the AFC East. They were 1-5 against division foes last year. Bills head coach Chan Gailey is only 10-22 in his first two years in Buffalo. He has more talent than he has ever had with the Bills. There are no excuses for Gailey this year. It’s still somewhat of a mystery whether Gailey can coach. But we will find out in 2012.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

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

Things are looking up for the Buffalo Bills. A team that finished 6-10 and in last place in the AFC East in 2011 had arguably the league's best offseason. The Bills acquired defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency, drafted first-round cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and gave contract extensions to in-house stars Fred Jackson and Steve Johnson.

But each move adds more pressure to third-year Bills coach Chan Gailey, who is 10-22 in his first two seasons in Buffalo.

Is Gailey a good NFL head coach? It's hard to say. Gailey was 18-14 in two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before he was abruptly fired. Gailey still carries that sting after getting relieved without ever posting a losing season in Dallas. Gailey has struggled in Buffalo, but hasn't had nearly the same talent that he had with the Cowboys.

Talent is no longer a question this year in Buffalo. The Bills spent to the cap to nab top free agents, and many in-house players are coming into their own. Buffalo now has enough talent to make a playoff push. The question is, can Gailey and his staff put it all together?

This is a no-excuse year for Gailey. It's time to finally show what he can do in Buffalo with a bevy of talent at his disposal.

The quarterback controversy has already begun in Browns minicamp, Damien Woody thinks the Jets should skip "Hard Knocks" and Herm says Vince Young will be more than just a backup in Buffalo.

The Buffalo Bills signed quarterback Vince Young to a one-year contract on Friday. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports the deal is worth $2 million, with an extra $1 million in incentives.

The natural inclination is to assume Young, a former first-round pick, could pose a threat to the job security of Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a former seventh-round pick. But that is not the case.

Fitzpatrick has no reason to worry. Buffalo is his team. The Bills signed him to a $59 million extension last year, and in many ways Buffalo's offense has been geared specifically to Fitzpatrick's strengths. Young is insurance in the event of injury.

A bigger question is how much does Young have left in the tank? Last season, Young looked like a quarterback who no longer had much to offer. He started three games in relief last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, and threw for 866 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had a career-low 60.8 passer rating.

Young is only 28. He's still one of the most athletic quarterbacks out there. Maybe he can help Buffalo's Wildcat package in ways Brad Smith couldn't. Maybe Young can run trick plays. Maybe Young will start a couple games if Fitzpatrick gets hurt.

Either way, it's clear Buffalo is doing all it can to strengthen its weaknesses. The Bills couldn't rush the passer last season, so they signed defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. The Bills needed a cornerback and left tackle, and drafted Stephen Gilmore and Cordy Glenn, respectively, in the first two rounds. Young adds depth at quarterback.

Buffalo's front office is covering all its bases. As long as Young doesn't make a "Dream Team" reference in Buffalo this season, the Bills have a chance to surprise people.

Any good news involving Buffalo Bills starting running back Fred Jackson most likely is bad news for backup C.J. Spiller. The 2010 first-round draft pick has patiently waited his turn for two seasons while Jackson, 31, steadily puts up numbers ahead of him.

Barring injury, Jackson should be the starter for the immediate future after signing a two-year, $9 million extension. Jackson is coming off a spectacular 10 games in 2011 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Buffalo is confident he will bounce back and gave Jackson the pay raise he was looking for.

What does this mean for Spiller? It means Spiller will stay in a reserve role longer than he expected. Spiller, 24, is signed through 2014. He’s a budding talent who wants a chance to start. But Spiller could find himself in a backup role in Buffalo for a majority of his rookie contract as long as Jackson continues to play at a high level.

I asked coach Chan Gailey about his running back quandary during the NFL owners meetings in March. Gailey admitted he needs to do a better job of dividing carries between two of his top offensive players.

“There is only one football, and you got several guys who can make plays," Gailey said. "Everybody is not going to be happy. That's part of it. So, you do the best you can to try to use C.J. and Fred in different ways to get them the ball, because they're capable of making big plays when they have the ball in their hands."

Spiller is ready to turn his game up, but Jackson's game has been revved up for a while. It will be important for Spiller to make the most of his opportunities in 2012, even if he thinks it's not enough.

Last week ESPN.com's blog team examined big questions around the NFL. I had four in the AFC East that need to be answered that you can check out here.

This week we want to look at four smaller questions about the AFC East. Credit goes to NFC East blogger Dan Graziano for the idea.

Will the Jets improve safety play?

Opponents found the weakness in the New York Jets' defense in the second half of last season. The Jets were exploited time after time over the middle of the field, particularly by opposing tight ends. It was part of the reason the Jets lost their final three games.

Will New York improved its safety play in 2012? The Jets are banking on LaRon Landry to be an upgrade over Jim Leonhard. Landry is a bigger hitter but his coverage skills are questionable. Landry also has injury concerns. Eric Smith struggled last season but will get another year in the starting lineup. Neither safety is known for coverage.

The corners -- Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie -- will do their job. But the Jets could have the same issues over the middle if Smith and Landry don't step up.

Will Shawne Merriman contribute?

Where does Merriman fit with the 2012 Buffalo Bills? It depends mostly on Merriman's health. The outside linebacker is trying to return from back-to-back season-ending Achilles injuries.

Buffalo could use a rejuvenated "Lights Out" coming off the edge this year. The Bills have made it a point to improve their pass rush by investing most of their free-agent dollars on starting defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Merriman has lacked the burst he had earlier in his career. But if he can add several sacks to the pile for the Bills, that would be a huge bonus.

Can the Miami Dolphins find a second pass-rusher?

Speaking of pass-rushers, the Dolphins have one in Cameron Wake, who just received a $49 million extension. But who will take the pressure and double-teams off Wake, which was a major issue last season?

Miami's defense is strong in many areas. The team is expected to use more 4-3 looks under first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle. Wake will be a threat on one edge, but someone needs to step up on the opposite side.

Miami's second-leading player in sacks last year was Jason Taylor, who is retired. Maybe defensive lineman Jared Odrick has the potential to fill the void. The Dolphins also drafted Olivier Vernon in the third round to bolster the pass rush.

Will Patriots' running game produce?

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots improved their defense. They upgraded their wide receivers and signed several offensive linemen.

But what about New England's running game? The Patriots did little at tailback. They lost leading rusher BenJarvus Green-Ellis and signed Joseph Addai, which is a downgrade. Addai averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season.

The key will be the development of second-year running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. New England hopes one or both players make a big jump in Year 2. The Patriots will be a pass-heavy team. There's no denying that. But the running backs have to make the most of their opportunities when quarterback Tom Brady isn't throwing the ball.

The Buffalo Bills stayed true to their word. They reportedly gave a two-year contract extension to running back Fred Jackson, who has been one of the NFL's most undervalued and underrated players the past several seasons.

Jackson was an early MVP candidate when he tore up the league with 934 rushing yards in the first 10 games. At the time, Jackson thought he proved he deserved a new contract, and the Bills agreed to work something out.

Unfortunately, Jackson suffered a season-ending leg injury, and former first-round pick C.J. Spiller did a good job replacing Jackson in the starting lineup. That could've been reason enough for the Bills to go back on their word. But the Bills and general manager Buddy Nix stayed loyal to Jackson, which is not something you often see in the cut-throat business of the NFL.

Jackson has been a model of consistency on and off the field in Buffalo. He's one of the team's leaders, a self-made player and hard worker who often represents the Bills in the community.

There are some risks involved, but the length of the agreement lowers that risk. First, Jackson is a 31-year-old running back. He can hit the wall at any time, just like many great tailbacks before him. He also is coming off a season-ending leg injury and needs to prove he can bounce back. Jackson, a late bloomer, says he still has plenty left in the tank.

Risks aside, Jackson's extension caps the best offseason in Buffalo in recent memory. The Bills signed bookend defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency, used a top-10 pick on cornerback Stephon Gilmore and extended Jackson and No. 1 receiver Steve Johnson. All of these moves should help the Bills, who were 6-10 last season, be competitive in the AFC East.

Nix and the Bills' front office have set the table for a good year of football in Buffalo. Now, it's up to the Bills' coaches and players to put it all together on the field.

I usually don't like to look beyond this season in the NFL because so much can change in a year. But ESPN's resident scout Todd McShay has an interesting mock draft up for 2013.

It's a very early projection. But let's take a look at what McShay has in store for the AFC East:

Miami Dolphins

Pick: No. 8

McShay's pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Thoughts: McShay projects Miami to take one of the best pass-rushers next year. Jones recorded 13.5 sacks as a junior, and expectations are high for Jones in 2012. Pass-rushers are always needed. For example, Dolphins outside linebacker Cameron Wake is entering the final year of his contract and is in the middle of a dispute with the team.

New York Jets

Pick: No. 9

McShay's pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

Thoughts: I'm surprised McShay and Scouts Inc. project New York to have a top-10 pick next year. Are the Jets on their way to another implosion, as the No. 9 overall pick suggests? If that's the case, McShay sees the Jets drafting another pass-rusher in Mingo. This is the norm for Jets coach Rex Ryan. But I think running back and offensive tackle could be more pressing needs by the end of next season.

Buffalo Bills

Pick: No. 17

McShay's pick: Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

Thoughts: The Bills didn't draft a developmental quarterback this year. So I understand why McShay sees Buffalo taking one in the first round in 2013. Buffalo will need to have someone ready to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick in the next few seasons. But I was surprised that it was Thomas over Oklahoma's Landry Jones, who has more buzz entering this year. But both players will settle it on the field to determine who is the second-best quarterback prospect behind Matt Barkley of USC.

New England Patriots

Pick: No. 32

McShay's pick: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State

Thoughts: Once again, it's interesting that McShay and Scouts Inc. are vaguely predicting a Super Bowl title for New England. The Patriots have so many receivers already that I'm finding it hard to see New England drafting that position in the first round. The Patriots have few holes. But maybe cornerback or running back could be early targets, depending on how things play out this season.

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?

The Buffalo Bills announced the release of veteran cornerback Drayton Florence Friday. The move paves the way for rookie first-round pick Stephon Gilmore to take over the position.

Here are several thoughts on the move:

Drayton Florence
#29 CB
Buffalo Bills
2011 STATS
• Tot50
• Solo41
• Ast9
• FF1
• Sack0.0
• Int3
• Cutting Florence shows a tremendous amount of confidence in Gilmore, who has yet to play a down in the NFL. Gilmore is viewed as one of the safest and most NFL-ready players in this draft. Buffalo is ready to put him to the test after investing the No. 10 overall pick. Gilmore is projected to be a Week 1 starter.

• Some might be surprised that Florence was cut after being one of the team's most productive corners. He recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions in 2011. However, Buffalo wants to get younger at the position and decided to cut ties with Florence, 31. Buffalo has a trio of young corners in Gilmore, Aaron Williams and Leodis McKelvin that it wants to get on the field. All were high draft picks, and the Bills are ready to see if some or all are ready for more playing time.

• This move puts some pressure on Bills safeties George Wilson and Jairus Byrd. The Bills need their veteran safeties to take command of the secondary. Buffalo will certainly be more athletic at corner next year but lost some experience and veteran presence in Florence.

The AFC East blog has confirmed a report in the Buffalo News that free-agent quarterback Vince Young will work out for the Bills Wednesday. It's an interesting note from Buffalo, which had a great offseason.

Here are some thoughts on Young and the Bills:

• The Bills have an opening at quarterback and proved this offseason they will be aggressive. The Bills easily could have been content with finding a developmental quarterback in the later rounds of the draft. But the Bills feel they can make a jump this year and are looking to see if they can find a more proven backup behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Buffalo also has a veteran quarterback in Tyler Thigpen on the roster. The Bills could carry three if they choose to sign Young.
• Buffalo's Wildcat package also plays a role. The Bills struggled to run the formation effectively last season with receiver/quarterback Brad Smith. Young is a much better passer than Smith and could make Buffalo’s Wildcat package more dangerous with the threat to throw.
• An interesting side note is Young would be paired with defensive end Mario Williams in Buffalo, if he signs. That would match two of the top three picks from the 2006 draft. There was a lot of debate whether the Houston Texans should draft Williams or Young No. 1 overall. The Texans wisely chose Williams, and Young went No. 3 to Tennessee. Williams has been much more productive over his career and recently signed a $100 million contract with the Bills.

ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings are back!

The NFL draft is in the books and free-agency is all but done. Now it's time to reassess the rosters.

Here is how the AFC East fared:

New England Patriots

Power Ranking: No. 2

Walker's vote: No. 2

Analysis: It's no surprise the reigning AFC champs are firmly at No. 2. They are the favorites once again to win the conference and the division. New England did a good job of drafting all defensive players until the seventh round. The offense is elite, and the defense needs to catch up. An underrated aspect to the Patriots' season is they have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Barring significant injury, I don't see any reason why they won't run away with another division title.

New York Jets

Power Ranking: No. 20

Walker's vote: No. 18

Analysis: New York's offseason acquisitions of quarterback Tim Tebow and top draft picks Quinton Coples and Stephen Hill didn't do much for its Power Ranking. The Jets come in at No. 20, which I think is a little low. Expectations are not high for this club, which could play in New York's favor. The talent to have a winning season remains, it's just a matter of whether this team can stay together. Chemistry issues and infighting ruined the Jets last season.

Buffalo Bills

Power Ranking: No. 23

Walker’s vote: No. 16

Analysis: The Bills continue to be near the bottom of the Power Rankings. But I like it, because it makes my pick of Buffalo a true sleeper in 2012. The national perception of Buffalo isn't great. Much of that is earned since the Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999. However, I think the Bills have some great pieces for a chance to end the drought. I voted Buffalo much higher at No. 16. That gives the Bills credit, but not too much before they have a chance to prove anything on the field.

Miami Dolphins

Power Ranking: No. 27

Walker’s vote: No. 27

Analysis: I agree with Miami's placement. The Dolphins are solid on defense but could struggle on offense. Is Matt Moore the starting quarterback? Is it David Garrard? Who are the wide receivers? Miami patched some holes in the draft but certainly not enough. The Dolphins have a long way to go before they are a contender. Expect 2012 to be a rebuilding year.

The NFL draft is in the books, and the next step is to get rookies signed with their new teams. The new rookie wage scale has helped teams sign players much easier. The drama and potential for holdouts have been taken away now that teams, players and agents already know what kind of contract to expect based on their projected slot.

Here is a quick look at what players made last year, and what the latest AFC East rookies can expect:

No. 8 pick: QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

2011 No. 8 pick: QB Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (four years, $12.58 million)

No. 10 pick: CB Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo Bills

2011 No. 10 pick: QB Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars (four years, $12 million)

No. 16 pick: DE Quinton Coples, New York Jets

2011 No. 16 pick: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins (four years, $8.72 million)

No. 21 pick: DE Chandler Jones, New England Patriots

2011 No. 21 pick: DT Phil Taylor, Cleveland Browns (four years, $8.1 million)

No. 25 pick: LB Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots

2011 No. 25 pick: OT James Carpenter, Seattle Seahawks (four years, $7.641 million)

These contracts are absolute bargains for teams. That is why so many were trading into the top 10 at an unprecedented rate.

Even Miami's pick at No. 8 will be cheap compared to what quarterbacks in the draft usually make. Tannehill will average about $3-$4 million per year on his rookie contract? That’s not much risk for the Dolphins. Other AFC East teams will be risking even less thanks to the rookie wage scale.

Buffalo Bills leading receiver Steve Johnson announced on Twitter that he is in Philadelphia to undergo groin surgery. Johnson's agent told Buffalo television station WKBW that the procedure is "extremely minor."

Johnson was slowed late last season with the nagging injury. He played through it and didn't miss any games. He re-signed a contract extension with the Bills this offseason.

Johnson is an important part of Buffalo's offense. He caught 76 passes for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns last season.