Ranking the AFC East DB rooms: Where do Sauce Gardner and the Jets land?

Each of these AFC East secondaries has undergone significant transformations in recent seasons. Under Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich, the NY Jets have markedly strengthened this group, becoming one of the league's best.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills have faced notable changes, as familiar faces like safety Jordan Poyer and cornerbacks Micah Hyde, and Tre'Davious White have departed, leaving a younger group to take over in 2024.

The Miami Dolphins are also navigating their roster shifting all over the defensive side of the ball. On a more promising note for New England, the return of second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez gives them a more favorable outlook fresh off their worst season record-wise since 1992.

4. New England Patriots

The Patriots get an unlucky draw here, as they lay within a division with some of the highest-regarded defensive backfield talent in the NFL residing in the AFC East.

They get their most talented cornerback on the roster back, Christian Gonzalez, who showed flashes in his first four games last season, before suffering a torn labrum in their Week 4 contest at Dallas. Additionally at cornerback, they'll have Jonathan Jones, who enters the final year of his deal, and Marcus Jones manning the nickel.

Jabrill Peppers is coming off the best season of his career, posting an 87.3 Pro Football Focus grade at safety in 2023. Kyle Dugger rounds out this group, as one of the better safeties in the league. He struggled more in coverage last year than his previous three for the Patriots but was terrific in stopping the run.

3. Buffalo Bills

The Bills will have to learn to live without three seven-year starters in the secondary with Micah Hyde, Tre'davious White, and Jordan Poyer departing in the offseason. However, for having three major pieces of the secondary departing, this group is in great hands.

Buffalo is left with their three starting corners as Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, and Taron Johnson at the nickel. They all stepped up in a major way in 2023, with Johnson being arguably the best nickel cornerback in the league. This is, in my mind, the strongest positional group on the defensive side of the ball for the Bills.

At safety, Buffalo will turn to Taylor Rapp and either Mike Edwards or second-round rookie out of Utah Cole Bishop at free safety. Sean McDermott has been able to make this defense one of the better ones in football over his tenure as head coach — the secondary will be the least of his concerns heading into the 2024 season.

Despite missing three foundational pieces this upcoming year, Buffalo should have no problems maintaining an incredibly stellar unit.

2. Miami Dolphins

This was a true toss-up between the Dolphins and Bills for this spot. However, the slight edge goes to Miami based simply on the presence of Jalen Ramsey.

The Dolphins did take some hits to their secondary this offseason, losing cornerback Xavien Howard to the Houston Texans. They replaced him with former Commanders star Kendall Fuller, who is coming off one of the better seasons he's had as a pro.

The Dolphins also have the best safety in the division in Jevon Holland, who enters 2024 coming off his most impressive season as a player. Holland posted a 90.4 PFF grade in 12 games in 2023. He made strides in all areas of his game and will be in line for a massive payday if he continues his strong play in 2024.

They also picked up the aforementioned Jordan Poyer to fill in at strong safety. The Dolphins struggled in the secondary in 2023, but with Ramsey and Holland both returning to full health, we can expect this group to be one of the better ones in the AFC.

The addition of Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator should provide new life for this group, as it was anything but smooth sailing with Vic Fangio at the helm.

1. New York Jets

The Jets website having the Jets as No. 1 on this list could have probably been predicted prior to clicking on this article, but it absolutely rings true. There can be an argument made that New York has the best cornerback in the league in Sauce Gardner, the best No. 2 cornerback in the league in D.J. Reed, and the best nickel cornerback in football in Michael Carter II.

Gardner and Reed have been spectacular as a duo over the past two seasons, posting incredible numbers in coverage and yards per route run. The Jets also got a version of Ashtyn Davis that they had never seen before in 2023, and they will see the return of Chuck Clark in the 2024 season.

It'll likely be Tony Adams roaming at free safety and Chuck Clark back from his ACL tear at strong safety. In terms of this position, there's an argument to be made that the Jets would rank last within the division. However, having three elite starters at the cornerback position ascended them to the top of this list.

More NY Jets news and analysis: