SI AllDolphins Preseason All-AFC East Team: Offense
Selecting preseason all-star teams, whether it be an all-NFL, all-conference or all-division team always is tricky because it involves projections.
Those projections, however, can become more than just guesses by combining an evaluation of past performance along with high-end potential.
With that in mind, let's go ahead with the SI AllDolphins Preseason All-AFC East team:
• Quarterback: Cam Newton, New England — This obviously is going under the assumption he stays healthy the whole year, which certainly is no guarantee. But if he's in the lineup, there's no question he's the best quarterback in the division.
Runner-up: Josh Allen, Buffalo.
• Running back: Le'Veon Bell, N.Y. Jets — Bell had a thoroughly forgettable first season with the Jets, but like Newton he's clearly the best player at his position in the division.
Runner-up: James White, New England
• Wide receiver: Stefon Diggs, Buffalo — There's a reason the Bills sent a first-round pick to the Vikings to land Diggs. He's a big-play threat who should make a big impact for Buffalo.
• Wide receiver: DeVante Parker, Miami — There's no way to keep him off this team after what he did in the second half of the 2019 season. Yes, it came after four frustrating seasons, but Parker was nothing short of dominant.
• Wide receiver Julian Edelman, New England — It's logical to expect Edelman's numbers to decrease with Tom Brady now in Tampa Bay, but he's still too good and savvy a receiver not to be productive.
Runners-up: John Brown, Buffalo; Preston Williams, Miami; Jamison Crowder, N.Y. Jets
• Tight end: Mike Gesicki, Miami — Like Parker, Gesicki was simply lights out down the stretch as he developed a tremendous rapport with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Runner-up: Chris Hernon, N.Y. Jets
• Left tackle: Dion Dawkins, Buffalo — Dawkins quietly has become a very good left tackle in his three seasons with the Bills.
Runner-up: Mekhi Becton, N.Y. Jets
• Left guard: Joe Thuney, New England — There's been a lot of speculation since the end of last season about Thuney's future with the Patriots, but it's got everything to do with his contract and nothing to do with his performance.
Runner-up: Ereck Flowers, Miami
• Center: David Andrews, New England — Andrews will be coming back in 2020 after missing all of last season because of blood clots in his lungs. Assuming his health checks out, he's clearly the best center in the division.
Runner-up: Mitch Morse, Buffalo
• Right guard: Robert Hunt, Miami — We're going to go out on a major limb here and predict the Dolphins will want to start Hunt out at right guard, and he is going to nail out with his athleticism and his physicality.
Runner-up: Shaq Mason, New England
• Right tackle: Cody Ford, Buffalo — Ford was pretty good as a rookie second-round pick last year and he's got all the tools to become even better in 2020.
Runner-up: Marcus Cannon, New England
• Kicker: Jason Sanders, Miami — The reality is that no AFC East kicker had a great 2019 season and Stephen Gostkowski is gone from New England after being injured last year.
Runner-up: Tyler Bass, Buffalo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get the latest Dolphins news by joining the community. Click "Follow" at the top right of the AllDolphins page. Mobile users click the notification bell.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alain Poupart has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989. You can follow him on Twitter at @apoupartFins.
