AFC East Surprises
Buffalo Bills: Only a second-year player, Preston Brown seems ready to become a household name. The linebacker played the most snaps of any Bills defender last season, and with Kiko Alonso officially out of the picture, Brown is locked into a starting position for Rex Ryan and Dennis Thurman.
Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill needs time to throw, and the Dolphins desperately need a guard not named Dallas Thomas. Enter Billy Turner, a 23-year-old out of FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Turner has already garnered attention during the preseason, and as long as Turner remains confident, he won’t face a more difficult task on Sunday than he faces during the week in Ndamukong Suh.
Dolphins RG Billy Turner looked good in the run game, a number of strong back side blocks in their zone scheme
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) August 18, 2015
New England Patriots: Dominique Easley sustained an ACL injury that caused his draft stock to plummet, and the Patriots sat there grinning the whole time. He was merely a rotation player last season, but now that Vince Wilford is no longer on the team, Easley can establish himself as a fixture in the lineup.
New York Jets: The secondary is absolutely loaded, and New York’s 2014 first-rounder will benefit the most. Calvin Pryor will spend the year at safety, a more natural position for the hard-hitting defensive back who won’t be under as much pressure now that Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are the corners.