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19. New England Patriots
The Patriots secondary will feature some new faces this year after the losses of Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson to free agency. Veteran Fernando Bryant and Jason Webster will step into the void, while Ellis Hobbs will continue to hold down the other corner spot. New England also added some youth to the group by drafting Terrence Wheatley in the second round. Veteran SS Rodney Harrison continues to make a difference despite his age, and James Sanders is back after starting 15 games last season. Second-year man Brandon Meriweather should be more of a safety, and if he can play with the same confidence he demonstrated in college Meriweather will be a good one.
23. Miami Dolphins
Jason Allen has the physical tools to excel as a starting free safety, but has started just nine games in his first two seasons and he will have former Atlanta starter Chris Crocker behind him if he falters. SS Yeremiah Bell can make a lot of plays with his toughness and instincts, but he also faces health questions after playing in just one game last season. Will Allen has been a solid and durable fixture at RCB, while LCB Michael Lehan needs to recover quickly from an injured ankle. The Dolphins have good depth at safety with Keith Davis and Crocker as the backups. Davis and Crocker will quickly upgrade the special teams units if they are not starting, and Andre Goodman, Nathan Jones and Travis Daniels provide quality depth at corner.
26. New York Jets
The Jets should feel good about their future at corner as RCB Darrelle Revis showed good technique and cover skills while starting every game last season as a rookie. Revis should only get better with experience, and Kerry Rhodes is an above-average starter at safety who will provide consistent production. The other safety spot is a bit of a question mark as Abram Elam will look to improve after starting eight games last season. If New York gets LCB Justin Miller back at full strength this year it will be a bonus as the Jets were forced to adjust to his absence early last season. This is another group that could finish much higher in the rankings by the end of the year if some concerns are addressed.
27. Buffalo Bills
They will be improved this year with SS Donte Whitner and FS Ko Simpson both entering their third season. Simpson missed the majority of the 2007 season with a dislocated ankle, but should be ready to return as the starter, and the duo gives the Bills two young playmakers with good instincts who can make plays in traffic or in space. Buffalo returns starters Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer back at corner, and while McGee lacks ideal size he does have good quickness and ball skills. Greer has better size to match up with receivers and is very competitive. The addition of CB Leodis McKelvin through the draft will provide depth and competition, and McKelvin should be at least the nickel corner when the season begins.
The Patriots secondary will feature some new faces this year after the losses of Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson to free agency. Veteran Fernando Bryant and Jason Webster will step into the void, while Ellis Hobbs will continue to hold down the other corner spot. New England also added some youth to the group by drafting Terrence Wheatley in the second round. Veteran SS Rodney Harrison continues to make a difference despite his age, and James Sanders is back after starting 15 games last season. Second-year man Brandon Meriweather should be more of a safety, and if he can play with the same confidence he demonstrated in college Meriweather will be a good one.
23. Miami Dolphins
Jason Allen has the physical tools to excel as a starting free safety, but has started just nine games in his first two seasons and he will have former Atlanta starter Chris Crocker behind him if he falters. SS Yeremiah Bell can make a lot of plays with his toughness and instincts, but he also faces health questions after playing in just one game last season. Will Allen has been a solid and durable fixture at RCB, while LCB Michael Lehan needs to recover quickly from an injured ankle. The Dolphins have good depth at safety with Keith Davis and Crocker as the backups. Davis and Crocker will quickly upgrade the special teams units if they are not starting, and Andre Goodman, Nathan Jones and Travis Daniels provide quality depth at corner.
26. New York Jets
The Jets should feel good about their future at corner as RCB Darrelle Revis showed good technique and cover skills while starting every game last season as a rookie. Revis should only get better with experience, and Kerry Rhodes is an above-average starter at safety who will provide consistent production. The other safety spot is a bit of a question mark as Abram Elam will look to improve after starting eight games last season. If New York gets LCB Justin Miller back at full strength this year it will be a bonus as the Jets were forced to adjust to his absence early last season. This is another group that could finish much higher in the rankings by the end of the year if some concerns are addressed.
27. Buffalo Bills
They will be improved this year with SS Donte Whitner and FS Ko Simpson both entering their third season. Simpson missed the majority of the 2007 season with a dislocated ankle, but should be ready to return as the starter, and the duo gives the Bills two young playmakers with good instincts who can make plays in traffic or in space. Buffalo returns starters Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer back at corner, and while McGee lacks ideal size he does have good quickness and ball skills. Greer has better size to match up with receivers and is very competitive. The addition of CB Leodis McKelvin through the draft will provide depth and competition, and McKelvin should be at least the nickel corner when the season begins.
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