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Identifying the biggest need for every AFC East team

Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest positional needs for all 32 NFL teams entering the 2017 draft, which will be held from April 27-29.

AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST

Buffalo Bills

Biggest need: Cornerback

Other needs: Safety, wide receiver, tight end

After Stephon Gilmore signed with the Patriots in free agency and Aaron Williams was released after two gruesome neck injuries, the Bills possess multiple holes in their secondary. Ronald Darby is capable of being a genuine No. 1 cornerback and Micah Hyde was a savvy signing during the offseason, but the Bills will need to remedy their lack of depth during the draft.

Sammy Watkins displays star potential, but a lingering foot injury has held him back from actualizing his immense potential. The Bills completely lack depth and talent across the board after Watkins, exacerbated by Robert Woods' departure to the Rams. Buffalo will need to inject life into its passing game through the draft this spring.

Potential draft targets: Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley would be excellent options for the Bills at No. 10, but it's quite possible that the former will be off the board by then. If neither player is available, Clemson's Mike Williams would be a welcome addition to the Bills' receiving corps.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Luckily for the Bills, this is the deepest safety class in recent memory, and the team could nab N.C. State's Josh Jones, Utah's Marcus Williams, or Florida's Marcus Maybe in the second round.

Alabama's O.J. Howard would be the best tight end the Bills secured in recent memory if they opt to go that route, but the team could opt for value at the position later in the draft.

Miami Dolphins

Biggest need: Linebacker

Other needs: Defensive tackle, cornerback

The Dolphins did well to add Lawrence Timmons in free agency, but addressing their linebacker corps should be general manager Chris Grier's top priority this month. Kiko Alonso was rewarded with a four-year extension in March, but the Dolphins lack depth outside of him and Timmons.

Ndamukong Suh is still among the NFL's best defensive tackles, but outside of himself and Jordan Phillips, the Dolphins are short on both depth and quality. Lawrence Okoye and Nick Williams aren't going to cut it in the event Suh suffers an injury.

Byron Maxwell lived up to expectations last season at cornerback, but the team needs significant upgrades over Bobby McCain and Tony Lippett. Xavien Howard remains a work in progress and could show signs of further development in his second year, but the Dolphins should add to a sub-optimal grouping.

Potential draft targets: Alabama's Reuben Foster sounded alarm bells during the combine, but there isn't a more talented inside linebacker in this year's class. If Foster isn't available at No. 22, the Dolphins ought to consider Florida's Jarrad Davis.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Michigan State's Malik McDowell is a boom-or-bust option, but his tremendous talent should win the Dolphins over. Florida's Caleb Brantley is also an option here. The Dolphins could also address their need at cornerback on Day 2, with USC's Adoree' Jackson and Washington's Sidney Jones as two options with outstanding athleticism.

New England Patriots

Biggest need: Edge rusher

Other needs: Cornerback

Determining what the Patriots need to extract from this draft is almost a perverse exercise, with the reigning champs boasting a multitude of riches that no other team in the league can.

Nevertheless, New England should target an edge rusher in this year's draft after Chris Long and Jabaal Sheard left during the summer. The Patriots use edge rushers interchangeably, and few are better identifying late-round gems than Bill Belichick and his staff.

Upon first glance, the Patriots have one of the best cornerback duos in the league with Malcolm Butler and free-agent acquisition Stephon Gilmore locking down opponents. However, Butler's been linked to trade rumors throughout the offseason, and the Patriots should build a contingency plan in the event he's traded or refuses to sign his RFA tender.

Potential draft targets: New England will wait until the No. 72 slot to make its first selection, so it becomes somewhat difficult to project where it will allocate its resources.

Alabama's Ryan Anderson, Auburn's Carl Lawson, and Houston's Tyus Bowser all represent great value at the No. 72 position, and could fortify the Patriots' pass rush immediately.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Florida's Teez Tabor was once projected as a first-round pick before a poor showing at the scouting combine, and could represent the type of boom-or-bust prospect that endears himself to Belichick and Co. If Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie drops into the third round, he'll be able to start immediately for the Patriots.

New York Jets

Biggest need: Quarterback

Other needs: Offensive tackle, center

It would be a startling waste of draft capital if the Jets were to select a quarterback with the No. 6 pick, considering that the team took Christian Hackenberg in the second round last year. Nonetheless, the Jets enter the 2017 season with Josh McCown and Bryce Petty as their most likely starting options, which is an untenable scenario.

Kelvin Beachum was signed by the Jets to a three-year, $24-million deal in March, but the 27-year-old struggled immensely with the Jaguars last season. Breno Giacomini was released, while Ben Ijalana and Brent Qvale are replacement-level players who will be asked to take on a larger role. This won't help the shaky quarterback scenario whatsoever.

Nick Mangold was released after 11 seasons with the Jets, and the team will need to find a new center during the draft.

Potential draft targets: If New York elects to find its quarterback of the future once and for all with the No. 6 pick, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and Mitchell Trubisky are in play. However, if the Jets decide to stick it out with McCown, Petty, and Hackenberg, Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Utah's Garett Bolles will be available, although many outlets believe neither warrants a top-six pick.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Ohio State's Pat Elflein is the most pro-ready center in this year's draft and would represent excellent value for the team in the second round. It appears likely that the Jets could fulfill their most pressing needs by trading down.

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