ESPN NFL

Scouts Inc. has evaluated the team needs for all 32 NFL teams. Here's a breakdown of the AFC East.

After emerging as a playoff contender in 2004, the Bills appear to be slipping back into a rebuilding mode following a disappointing 2005 season. The biggest reason for the setback appears to be Buffalo's decision to hand the offense to unproven quarterback J.P. Losman. Admittedly, Losman played behind an inconsistent offensive line, but he clearly struggled and there are concerns that he may never develop into a franchise quarterback. There are even more questions on the other side of the ball, as the Bills' defense is starting to show some age and the defensive line has to be rebuilt. It's also important to note two potential pitfalls that could derail Buffalo's offseason. The Bills don't have a lot of salary cap room and it's unclear whether general manager Marv Levy or assistant general manager Tom Modrak will have the final say in personnel decisions.

Defensive tackle: Houston is the only AFC team that gave up more rushing yards per game than Buffalo last year. A big reason for the poor run defense was the lack of an interior run stuffer who can eat up blockers and protect the linebackers. Sam Adams is stout at the point of attack, but he is on the downside of his career and there is a good chance the Bills will make him a cap casualty. In addition, Ron Edwards and Justin Bannan are unrestricted free agents and Tim Anderson can't hold up physically.

Cornerback: Emerging Terrence McGee is solid on one side, but unrestricted free agent Nate Clements is expected to test the open market and he'll likely be too expensive to retain. The expected loss of Clements is substantial because there is no heir apparent on the roster and McGee is more of a No. 2 than a shutdown corner. Buffalo needs a corner with man-to-man cover skills to start opposite McGee and eventually develop into the team's No. 1 corner.
Offensive tackle: The protection was mediocre in 2005 and starter Mike Gandy lacks the athletic ability, as well as the quickness, of a premier pass blocker. Jason Peters has the agility to develop into an effective starter on the left side, but he is still somewhat raw and moving him would create a void on the right side where he played relatively well last year. In addition, the Bills moved former first-round pick Mike Williams to offensive guard during the season, weakening depth. Buffalo needs an athletic player who can hold up on an island when Losman drops back to pass, and sustains his blocks on running plays as well.
Safety: Starters Troy Vincent and Lawyer Milloy can still support the run and are adequate zone defenders, but they have slowed with age and no longer have quality man-to-man cover skills. Coy Wire is an adequate backup who can fill in for short periods of time, but there is a need for an athletic playmaker with the burst and speed to match up with slot receivers.
Center: Aging starter Trey Teague is an unrestricted free agent and may not be back, which is reason for concern because backup Duke Preston is not the long-term answer. Adding an efficient center who can make sound line calls, get to the second level and hold his own at the point of attack is important.

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