Buffalo Bills

5 players that AFC East fans should watch in Saturday's bowl games

Published Dec. 24, 2015 11:27 a.m. ET

foxsports

For the most part, the AFC East has been relatively clear-cut this season. The New England Patriots ran away with the division early, while the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins have struggled and dealt with frustration both on the field and off it. Yet, the team that was blindsided in the offseason -- the New York Jets, who lost Geno Smith to injury -- has overcome injuries and controversy consistently.

However, looking ahead towards the NFL Draft, all four have needs on both sides of the ball. Here are a few needs for each team, in order from top to bottom in the division.

Patriots: CB, RB, WR, MLB

Jets: LB, RB, QB, TE

Bills: WR, LB, S, OT

Dolphins: LB, OG, CB, S

With Saturday chock-full of bowl games and draft prospects, these five players are among the ones to watch for AFC East fans.

Stacey Coley, WR, Miami: Sun Bowl

A 6-foot-3, 187-pound junior, Stacey Coley has good combination of size and speed that will always attract NFL eyes. On the season, Coley, an all-ACC second-team performer, has caught 44 passes for 645 yards. Coley can compete against top-notch competition, as evident by his seven-catch, 139-yard performance against Florida State.

Teams interested: Patriots, Bills

Travis Feeney, LB, Washington: Heart of Dallas Bowl

Freeney finished the year as a second-team All-Pac-12 linebacker, recording 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2015 (both team-highs). He has Good height (6’4) and speed at linebacker, but he is a little light. In the NFL, he’ll likely be an outside linebacker, but could be a big safety depending on 40-yard dash time.

Teams interested: Jets, Bills, Dolphins

Deon Bush, S, Miami: Sun Bowl

Miami safety Deon Bush was a highly-touted prospect out of high school, and has remained one during his career with the Hurricanes. He has the speed to cover and the strength to make big hits on players coming across the middle. Bush, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound all-ACC third-teamer, tallied 47 tackles and four pass breakups and one INT this season.

Teams interested: Bills, Dolphins

Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana: Pinstripe Bowl

At 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, Jordan Howard is a big running back. Following a transfer from UAB, Howard had an immediate impact with the Hoosiers. He was named first-team All-Big Ten after finishing the regular season second in the conference with 134.8 yards per game on the ground, a figure that is ninth in the country heading into bowl season. He went over 150 yards in a game five times and had two 200-yard games. He did all that despite missing the equivalent of 4 1/2 games with injury, including a sprained ankle suffered against Ohio State.

He has good forward lean and will break arm tackles and fall forward for more yardage, something NFL coaches covet. He’s not a burner like predecessor Tevin Coleman, but is good at powering through gaps inside and out in Indiana’s zone running game. Though he hasn’t yet declared for the draft, he could be a player to watch for in the coming months.

Teams interested: Patriots, Jets

Artie Burns, CB, Miami: Sun Bowl

Equipped with good speed and football instincts, Miami corner Artie Burns led the ACC with six interceptions this season, the most by any Hurricane since Sean Taylor picked off 10 passes in 2003. The 6-foot, 197-pound Burns has good size for a corner and tallied 33 tackles this season to land on the all-ACC second team.

Teams interested: Patriots, Dolphins