3GML AFC East Trades That Need to Happen by Deadline

As the AFC East squads near the mid-way point of the 2017 season, the trade deadline is fast approaching. Although NFL teams typically avoid the major wheeling-and-dealing, here are four deadline deals our staff believes need to happen prior to the conclusion of Week #8.

BUFFALO BILLS (3-2-1, 3rd AFC East)
This team still has a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run to defend their Super Bowl title. However, the team needs a better compliment to Myles Garrett on the edge.
TRADE TARGET: DE Ezekiel Ansah (Detroit Lions)
"Ziggy" is on his 5th year option with a steep $12.7 million dollar price tag for this current season before testing the 2018 free agent market. Ansah's production has been down for the Lions, despite their strong start to the season. A fresh start for the second half of this season could do wonders for the former #5 overall pick.
COMPENSATION: DE Kony Ealy and a mid/late round pick could pry the pass rusher from Detroit.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-3, 2nd AFC East)
The rumor mill has been in full swing with the Dolphins trying to acquire another receiving threat.
TRADE TARGET: WR Kelvin Benjamin (Carolina Panthers)
With Cam Newton continuing his up-and-down play and the strong starts by New Orleans and Tampa Bay in the NFC South, the Panthers could be in the market to reload as we head into a strong 2018 draft class. Benjamin, with his receiving and blocking prowess, could be a huge asset for Miami moving forward. Carolina would only need to eat a little over $1 million in '17 dead cap money to get the deal done.
COMPENSATION: Miami could package speedy, but underperforming Breshad Perriman and their valuable 2018 2nd rounder (from San Francisco) to Carolina for Benjamin and a later round pick.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-6, 4th AFC East)
Call this author crazy, but we would love to see the Patriots aggressively shop their best player at the deadline.
TRADE TARGET: Dealing WR Julio Jones
Although the team would take on a hefty (but not deal-breaking) dead cap penalty for this season, the team has not utilized Julio Jones to his full potential (he may feel like he's back on campus at Alabama but without the winning).
COMPENSATION: Picks, picks, and picks. Two seasons ago Amari Cooper fetched consecutive first rounders from the Bills to the Oakland Raiders. What would Julio be worth to a contender?

NEW YORK JETS (5-2, 1st AFC East)
It is rare that a team firmly in the Lombardi hunt to be sellers at the trade deadline, but the loaded New York Jets are a team needing very little.
TRADE TARGET: Dealing FS Earl Thomas
Thomas is the premier safety in the game and arguably an all-time great. However, the team could flip the veteran for some high draft picks with Malik Hooker needing playing time. The team needs draft picks in the years to come as their veteran All Pros will need to leave for bigger contracts.
COMPENSATION: The team should aim to pry a 1st round from a contending team with again QBs (small championship windows) like the Dallas Cowboys with Tom Brady or the Denver Broncos with Drew Brees.

2017 Season: Week #7 Recap

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Buffalo Bills

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

TAMPA BAY             7         7         0         0          14

BUFFALO                  0         10        7        6          23

BUFFALO – The Buffalo Bills (3-2-1, 0-1 AFC East) took care of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-14 following their bye week to edge closer in the AFC East race. 
Aaron Rodgers followed through on his promise to come out aggressive and get his team back over .500.
"That's a good team (Tampa Bay) over there," Rodgers said. "We are in such a tough division that this was a must win for us. I'm proud of our guys."
For the game, Rodgers finished 22-26 for 250 yards and 2 TD.
Rookie Myles Garrett continued his torrid start to the season with a pair of sacks, bringing him within 1.0 sack of the league lead.
"It's all about aggression man," Garrett said. "I didn't get a chance to hoist that trophy last year. I need one."
Buffalo next hosts the Oakland Raiders.

New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

NEW YORK JETS    3         7        10        6          26

MIAMI                       0          0         7        14         21

MIAMI – The New York Jets (5-2, 2-1) had their revenge over the Miami Dolphins (4-3, 1-1) 26-21 in a down-to-the-wire contest Sunday morning.
With a dominant first half, the Jets held only a 10-0 lead at intermission despite out-gaining the Dolphins 220-51.
One play into the second half, the route seemed to be on as David Johnson took the handoff, on the first play of scrimmage, 70-yards to give the team a 17-0 lead.
"We felt good up 17-0, but we knew it wasn't over," Johnson said. "It was a good team win to hang on."
From that point on, the Miami offense woke up via their typically benign passing game to cut the score to 26-21.
With the ball and 2:04 left, Teddy Bridgewater and company had the opportunity to complete their comeback, but Defensive Player of the Year candidate Brandon Marshall stepped in front of a Bridgewater pass at his team's own 37-yard line to end the game.
"Respect to those guys over there," Marshall said. "I'm confident both of these teams will see the postseason. We may have a chance to meet again."
On a short week, the Dolphins head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. The Jets will face the winless Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta vs New England

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

ATLANTA                 7         3          7        0          17

NEW ENGLAND      3         3          7       17         30

NEW ENGLAND – In a battle of winless squads, the Atlanta Falcons (0-6) gave away a chance to pick up their first win of 2017, falling 30-17 to the New England Patriots (1-6).
Leading 17-13 early in the 4th quarter, Russell Wilson threw one of his patented 'pick sixes' to give away the lead for good. From there, the once prolific signal-caller, repeatedly made poor decisions finishing with six interceptions for the game.
"I got rattled," Wilson said. "I really wanted that win for our guys in the locker room."
New England's Logan Ryan, who picked up a pair of Wilson INTs to lead his team, was visibly emotional after the team's victory.
"It's crazy to be crying after your first win of the season," Ryan said. "But we've worked so hard...it's just. I love this team."
The Patriots next play the Los Angeles Chargers. Atlanta will take on the hot New York Jets. 

Russell Wilson: 19-35, 261 yards, TD 6 INT, 6 sacks
Logan Ryan: 2 INT
ATL: 250 NE: 179

2017 Season: Week #6 Recap

New England Patriots vs New York Jets (3GML Game of the Week)

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

NEW ENGLAND       7         0         3         0         10

NEW YORK JETS    6         25       7         0         38

NEW YORK – A balanced Jets (4-2, 2-1 AFC East) squad utilized a blistering 2nd quarter surge to coast past the New England Patriots (0-6, 0-1) 38-10 Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
David Johnson again starred for an improving New York squad with 182 yards and 3 TDs for the game.
"We wanted momentum going into next week against Miami," Johnson said. "We are both 4-2 now, ready to get back to the top of the (AFC) East."
The Todd Bowles led defense again dominated, picking up nine sacks for the game.
Vic Beasley notched 3.0 sacks with Aaron Donald adding another 2.0.
"Coach told us it's time to take the training wheels off," Beasley said. "We aren't here to play anymore."
Despite the loss, Dak Prescott played well with a 19-26, 204 yard passing day.
"It's rough, losing," Prescott said. "But we are a tough-minded team. We aren't closing the book on our playoff hopes yet."
In a battle of winless teams, the Patriots will head home to take on the 0-6 Atlanta Falcons.
The Jets travel south to take on their rivals from Miami in an AFC East showdown for first place. 

Miami 49 @ Atlanta 17
Teddy Bridgewater tossed three touchdown passes and Dalvin Cook added a pair on the ground to lead the Miami Dolphins (4-2) past the hapless Atlanta Falcons (0-6) 49-17 Sunday in Georgia. With eight sacks, four interceptions, and an 82-yard pick-six by Khalil Mack, the Dolphins were clicking on all cylinders. For Atlanta: The team is still looking for their first win as they head to Foxboro to take on the 0-6 Patriots. 

2017 Season: Week #5 Recap

New England Patriots vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3GML Game of the Week)

                                     1         2         3         4          FINAL

NEW ENGLAND       0         3         3         3         9

TAMPA BAY              0         7         0         6        13

TAMPA BAY – Dak Prescott led his team into the Tampa Bay red zone with time ticking away with a chance for his New England Patriots (0-5) to pick up their first win of the 2017 season. Prescott and his teammates failed to score as the team dropped another heartbreaker 13-9.
"We are right there," Prescott said. "We just have to finish the deal."
The Buccaneers have now defeated a pair of AFC East squads and will be a force in the NFC playoff hunt.
"They (New England) are a good team over there," Jameis Winston said. "Even at 0-5, I think that's a team that can turn it around quickly."
Despite all their close calls, the Patriots will still be a formidable foe as we head into mid-October. 
The team will next face the New York Jets in a game that could quickly start the turnaround for the Pats. 

New York Jets 27 @ Cleveland 10
The New York Jets (3-2) shook off last week's heartbreaking loss with a workman-like effort to put away the Cleveland Browns 27-10 in front of the Dawg Pound. With only a 7-point lead to start the 2nd half, Derek Carr found a streaking Tyreek Hill for an 88-yard TD to take the air out of the stadium. Hill's 'deuces' made amends for last week's gaffe when he booted a late punt giving the Jacksonville Jaguars the ball late. The Jets next face the New England Patriots in an AFC East showdown. 

Buffalo 31 @ Cincinnati 31 (OT)
In arguably the NFL's most entertaining game of the young 2017 season, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills (2-2-1) ended in a 31-31 tie. Down seven points and with QB Aaron Rodgers out for the rest of the game, journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick gift-wrapped a pick-six late in the 4th which seemingly ended the contest. But 'Fitzmagic' showed up and willed the game to OT where both teams ran out of steam leading to the draw. The Bills head into their bye as the 3rd place team in the AFC East. 

Tennessee 0 @ Miami 62
The Miami Dolphins (3-2) took out their London frustrations on the 0-5 Tennessee Titans with a college football score of 62-0 Sunday morning. With a pair of pick-sixes, one a 99-yard score by CB Kevin Johnson, and a pair of blocked FGs by Jason Verrett which were both picked up and taken to the house by rookie Rasul Douglas, the Dolphins showed no mercy for the Titans. The only negative: Four missed PATs by K Justin Tucker in the relentless rain. The Dolphins next head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. 

3GML Players on PFF 1st Quarter All Pro Team

BUFFALO (3)

1st Team
Flex D: Casey Hayward (89.5)

Honorable Mention
RG: TJ Lang (83.5)
DT: Geno Atkins (88.5)

MIAMI (7)

1st Team
LG: Richie Incognito (84.1)
RG: David DeCastro (91.7)
Edge: Khalil Mack (91.1)
LB: Bobby Wagner (93.3)
P: Marquette King

Honorable Mention
WR: Keenan Allen (83.5)
RG: Trai Turner (83.4)

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3)

1st Team
LT: Joe Thomas (87.3)

2nd Team
WR: Julio Jones (87.0)

Honorable Mention
DT: Damon Harrison (86.9)

NEW YORK JETS (7)

1st Team
CB: Jalen Ramsey (89.1)

2nd Team
RG: Zack Martin (85.6)
RT: Lane Johnson (85.4)
LB: Myles Jack (88.7)
S: Kam Chancellor (87.1)

Honorable Mention
C: Travis Frederick (84.2)
DT: Aaron Donald (91.4)