Bedard: Ranking the AFC East (Offense) - Patriots, Bills close but more depth needed in New England

There has been and will be a lot of talk about how the Patriots stack up with the rest of the AFC East after the departure of Tom Brady. We decided to see exactly where the Patriots stand on offense and defense (since the Patriots don't have a kicker, special teams is kind of moot) heading into the draft. We mixed together opinions from personnel executives and coaches, along with our own data and analysis.

It's a good exercise to see where the Patriots do stand and where they can improve. It becomes pretty glaring where they need upgrades out of this draft.

The good news? The Patriots still have far and away the best top-end talent on offense, with six first-place votes — including two elite players at their spot relative to the rest of the division (LG Joe Thuney, 3rd down back James White). That's a good step up from the Bills (4 firsts, one elite — Stefon Diggs).

It's also good news that, despite Brady's exit and the resulting drop from the best QB situation in the AFC East to the worst (Jarrett Stidham is the lone player with no track record — it has to be that way for now), the Patriots are still very close to the Bills.

The bad news? The Bills top out our current offensive rankings with 41 total points and an average of 3.2 per position. The Patriots are a very close second with 39 total points and a 3.0 average. Then there's a big drop to the Dolphins and Jets

But it shows how close things are, and how the Patriots can easily take a leap depending on Stidham — or whoever is the eventual starting quarterback. And, also, if the Patriots get a lot more out of N'Keal Harry and the tight end position.

A look at the offensive rankings, and some thoughts on the position:

[table id=434 /]

 

Quarterback



Look, I'm sure a lot of fans for each team would take issues in these ratings, but with talent among the surrounding cast being equal, it's hard not to take Fitzpatrick — he did beat the Patriots and their defense, at Gillette, with a last-place tanking team — then Darnold and Allen fighting it out, and obviously Stidham has to be last for now.

Running back

This is a very competitive position but Bell, with a year under his belt in New York, is the top talent. Singletary, Howard and Michel are all very good in their own right.

Running back — third down

It's James White's world, everyone else is just living in it.

WR1

This is a surprisingly stacked position in this division, especially with Diggs in Buffalo. This also shows just how far behind the Patriots are, and how they need a huge season from N'Keal Harry or someone at that boundary spot.

WR2

Who ya got – Edelman or Beasley? Sorry, but Perriman is going to be a bust in New York.

TE1

Three really good tight ends ... and then what the Patriots have (and LaCosse could get there if he can manage to stay healthy).

TE2

This position is so shaky that I gave first place to a talented player in Herndon who is coming off ACL surgery and might not be ready for camp.

LT

Dion Dawkins was better last season, but not by much. Wynn could easily take the top spot — then there's a huge drop.

LG

Thuney, if he stays on the roster, is by far the best player here, but Spain is decent and not everyone is buying that Flowers has turned a corner and was worth his contract.

C

Mitch Morse is a good player, but if Andrews is back on the field and healthy, he left as the best center in the division.

RG

Mason had a down year for him last year and could regain his elite status. Feliciano is a good, solid player.

RT

For all those screaming for Cannon to be traded or cut, this should show you his current value. He's another level better than the other players in the division, including Cody Ford, who was a second-r0und pick last year.