Normally, when a defending Super Bowl champion lurks within a division, the motto of their fellow teams is "close the gap." The Patriots, however, are not normal, run-of-the-mill defending champs. They pulled off the unthinkable with heart and coaching. Neither can be had with a first-round pick.

So, while teams in the NFC West will try to find a way to play catch-up with the still-dangerous Rams, the AFC East teams will merely concern themselves with their own houses, trying to upgrade and fill certain needs. These needs will not be based on "catching up" with the Patriots.

New York Jets

Needs: DT, DE, CB, FS, OT, WR, TE.

The Jets, who started their draft meetings Tuesday, will get solid run-stopper Jason Ferguson back in the lineup after he spent 2001 on injured reserve. But ample problems in their interior will force them to search for another stud to help keep the heat off Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham.

The Jets, like most teams, have Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth and John Henderson, North Carolina's Ryan Sims and Wisconsin's Kendall Bryant rated as top-level defensive tackles. If any of them somehow drops far enough, the Jets will grab him and then party the night away in the Big Apple for pulling off such a coup.

The fifth-rated defensive tackle, Larry Tripplett of Washington, they regard as better suited to play nose tackle in the 3-4 and at this point don't feel they would take him if he's there.

So where do they go if all of these guys are gone? A near lock? Offensive tackle or cornerback.

Quick Florida CB Lito Sheppard looks interesting to the Jets.(Allsport)

Coach Herman Edwards is looking for a bigger, tackling cornerback in the Cover 2 mold.

Aaron Glenn was never his style of player who would come up and stick a ball carrier. Ray Mickens is in the Glenn mold, and Jamie Henderson is still inexperienced. Team sources say they like Lito Sheppard of Florida, who impressed them with his speed on grass and his technique.

"The fact that he ran in the 4.4 range on grass really impressed us," said one team source. "We'd like him to be a little bit bigger, but he's got decent size, much bigger than Aaron was. He comes out of his breaks very well, gets good angles. He's definitely a consideration."

Another area they would tab in the first round is offensive tackle, where Arizona State's Levi Jones, who projects to right or left tackle on the next level, might still be on the board.

One player some Jets love is Alabama-Birmingham DE Bryan Thomas. If he's around when they pick in the second round, he will be a very strong possibility.

Miami Dolphins

Already got their first-round pick via trade with New Orleans for running back Ricky Williams. They also traded away their second-round pick, so their first selection isn't likely to come until after coach Dave Wannstedt and VP of personnel Rick Spielman get in their second jog of what will be a boring Saturday for them.

They have one third-round pick and then get to play with the rest of the class on Day 2 of the draft.

Needs: OT, OG, C, DE, TE, P.

Miami has upgraded its backfield but needs to construct a much better blocking line for Williams. Although offensive line is their highest priority, the Dolphins will not reach.

"We are not going to take a guy that we don't think can play," Wannstedt said. "If there is a good player there, then obviously you draft him. And there will be another wave in June of the free-agent guys cut. It is an ongoing process. There may be somebody cut in July that we might sign. You just don't know."

If a solid offensive lineman is not available, the Dolphins will likely shift their focus to defensive end or tight end. This week, they brought in a few second-tier defensive ends as well as BYU tight end Doug Jolley and TCU tight end Matt Schobel, both of whom would be good value in the third round.

Late on Day 2, the team is considering grabbing a punter. They have zeroed in on Ohio's Travis Zastudil and Purdue's Travis Dorsch. But they obviously don't need to use a third- or fourth-rounder on either prospect.

Buffalo Bills

What holes don't they have? Their roster as it stands might not be as strong as the Houston Texans' current lineup, despite the fact Houston has yet to play a game. Luckily for the Bills, they have received four additional compensatory draft picks from the NFL's Management Council.

Needs: QB, OT, OG, C, DT, DE, LB, S.

QB Joey Harrington could be the answer for the Bills. (Allsport)

Many scouts and general managers believe Buffalo would be crazy to pass up Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington. But those scouts and GMs don't cash a paycheck signed by Ralph Wilson.

It's not hard to be tempted by such studly offensive tackles as Bryant McKinnie and Mike Williams, but Harrington needs to be their guy. He has the moxie that Jim Kelly used to manufacture a Hall Of Fame career.

In the second round, the Bills should go with the best available defensive lineman available. They desperately need to provide help to Pat Williams, who was asked last year to step in for Ted Washington's very big shoes.

They also need a bona fide pass-rushing phenom to calm angered Bills fans who covet the days of Bruce Smith and Marcellus Wiley. Buffalo also needs to replace retired Phil Hansen. Possible early second-rounders include Tripplett, Notre Dame's Anthony Weaver and Alabama Birmingham's Thomas.

New England Patriots

Usually, a Super Bowl champion doesn't have many holes or upgradeable areas. Not true in New England.

In order for them not to turn from champs to chumps, they'll need to use their last-in-each-round picks wisely. Unfortunately for Bill Belichick, who built his team on solid, experienced, discarded veterans, there are no aging warriors coming out of college.

Belichick's draft will be a complete success if he can somehow pull off a deal to send Drew Bledsoe elsewhere in exchange for a decent package of picks.

Needs: QB, DT, DE, LB, CB, OT, OG.

Quarterback? If Bledsoe is gone as expected, they'll need a backup for Patriots star Tom Brady (that sounds so strange, doesn't it?). But the Patriots have learned first-hand that they don't need to use a high pick for a solid QB. Other needs are more pressing.

The Pats are still run by a defensive-minded coach in Belichick. His defense is old to say the least, with players such as Roman Phifer, Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton. Richard Seymour, last year's No. 1 pick, flourished into a beast. Grabbing another big-time lineman is a priority. A player such as Syracuse's Dwight Freeney might be the perfect replacement for DE/LB Willie McGinest. Freeney astounded NFL teams by running a 4.38 40-yard dash with a 263-pound frame. South Carolina's Kalimba Edwards and UAB's Thomas are other considerations. If Georgia defensive end Charles Grant is somehow still on the board, the Pats could scoop him up and hold yet another celebration.

One good value selection here can be guard. One of the draft's top-rated guards will be available for the last pick of the first round. Most teams believe they can grab a starting guard in the second and third rounds. But a guy such as Colorado's Andre Gurode would be a good pick at No. 32.

They could also upgrade at linebacker, but only Napolean Harris of Northwestern is considered a solid first-round prospect. They'll have to go later in the draft to upgrade the now Bryan Cox-less unit.

The Pats also needed a cornerback, but have signed Tom Knight, formerly of the Cardinals. So Belichick and Romeo Crennel no longer have to keep finding ways to make Otis Smith look like Aeneas Williams in huge games.