BREAKING DOWN THE PATRIOTS AND THE AFC EAST

The AFC East proved to be one of the best and most competitive divisions in the conference last season.

That distinction is not likely to change given how the teams have already managed to reload and fortify less than a week into free agency.

What could change, however, is the pecking order from top to bottom.

The Bills, while still the favorite, aren’t a lock to win their fourth straight division title as all of the teams below have their sights on making a move and unseating the champs.

For starters, the second-place Dolphins have strengthened their defense, most notably with the acquisition of cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker David Long, while the Jets are in the process of seriously upgrading the one position that held them back last season – quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers is headed to the Big Apple if and when the Packers and Jets can work out the details on trade compensation. The Patriots?

They’ve made some moves, and added some nice players on the offensive side of the ball, although none would qualify as being the type of game-changing talent the Pats lack.

Perhaps they’re banking on Bill O’Brien being that game-changer at the helm of a retooled offense, as the Patriots new offensive coordinator should make a significant difference given the disaster of having Matt Patricia and Joe Judge run the offense last season.

So the Patriots will be better in 2023. The problem? Everyone else below the Bills has also improved.

That said, here’s a breakdown of the four teams in the division, what they’ve done during the offseason, and where they’re headed.