Buffalo Bills
4. Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
44. Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
73. Preston Brown ILB Louisville
109. Ross Cockrell CB Duke
153. Cyril Richardson OG Baylor
221. Randell Johnson OLB Florida Atlantic
237. Seantrel Henderson OT Miami
Immediate Impact: WR Sammy Watkins, OT Cyrus Kouandjio
The Bills traded next year’s 1st and 4th round picks to move up to get Watkins and then traded top WR Stevie Johnson so Watkins is going to step in as the lead WR immediately. Watkins is a game breaker and he’ll be QB EJ Manuel’s top target. Kouandjio had some health issues and his play was inconsistent last year but he will step in at RT in place of Eric Pears and start. If he holds up he is a serious talent upgrade over Pears.
Best Value: OG Cyril Richardson
Richardson fell in the draft due to some poor workouts and his weight is a concern but he’s a powerful experienced blocker. The Bills signed free agent Chris Williams to play LG and while he is solid he’s never been spectacular and I won’t be shocked to see Richardson steal that job.
Sleeper: ILB Preston Brown
Brown is not a household name but he’s talented and the Bills are looking for a way to move Kiko Alonso outside. They signed Brandon Spikes in free agency but Brown gives them another option inside.
Overall Analysis:
Watkins was the top skill position talent in the draft and the Bills made a bold move up to get him. Watkins will lead a solid WR corps along with Robert Woods, Mike Williams and Marquise Goodwin giving EJ Manuel some very good weapons. Cyrus Kouandjio needs some work but he upgrades the RT spot which was a must. Brown and Cockrell add depth to what was a pretty good defense last season. The Bills took a chance on 7th rounder OT Seantrel Henderson a supremely talented lineman with serious off-the-field baggage. Henderson has never lived up to his talent and he tested positive for marijuana at the combine. His father has been known to be an issue since his high school days (he’s a little overly involved in his son’s life) and his work ethic is more than a little suspect. I really didn’t think Henderson should get drafted but the Bills are rolling the dice. The additions of Kouandjio and Richardson could really help the offensive line and if the Bills could get Henderson’s head on straight they could have a steal (I don’t believe that will happen, he is a lifetime ban waiting to happen).
Miami Dolphins
19. Ja’Wuan James OT Tennessee
63 Jarvis Landry WR LSU
67. Billy Turner OL North Dakota St.
125. Walt Aikens CB Liberty
155. Arthur Lynch TE Georgia
171. Jordie Tripp OLB Montana
190. Matt Hazel WR Coastal Carolina
234. Terrence Fede DE Marist
Immediate Impact: OT Ja’Wuan James, WR Jarvis Landry
James is an immediate starter at RT which is why the Dolphins reached for him at #19. James isn’t an elite tackle but he is a huge upgrade over Jason Fox who was penciled into the spot before the draft. Landry is a savvy receiver that doesn’t have elite speed but he has excellent hands. This is a good place for Landry because he can be the third WR and play in the slot which will utilize his skills. QB Ryan Tannehill will be very happy to have both of these guys.
Best Value: OL Billy Turner
The small school prospect from North Dakota St. proved he could play with the big boys at the Senior Bowl and even though he’s played tackle he can move inside to RG and play next to Ja’Wuan James. The Dolphins needed offensive line help and getting a starter at #67 is great value.
Sleeper: TE Arthur Lynch
Lynch is not an elite prospect but the Dolphins depth chart at TE isn’t stellar by any means. Charles Clay is the starter and he proved to be fine last year but Lynch could make the team as a backup and he’s a willing blocker which they need.
Overall Analysis:
I’m usually against reaching for a need but once Zack Martin went off the board three picks before their choice the Dolphins had to take the next tackle on their board. James isn’t making the Pro Bowl anytime soon but he’s solid and experienced and that’s more than they had. Adding Turner to the line at RG helps even more and while having two rookies line up next to each other usually isn’t good just look at the Chicago Bears last year with two rookies on the right side of their line, that worked out. Landry adds a steady player in the WR corps while Matt Hazel adds big time potential. Walt Aikens could surprise in the secondary because the depth chart behind starters Brent Grimes and Courtland Finnegan isn’t set in stone.
New England Patriots
29. Dominique Easley DT Florida
62. Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois
105. Bryan Stork C Florida St.
130. James White RB Wisconsin
140. Cameron Fleming OT Stanford
179. Jon Halapio OG Florida
198. Zach Moore DE Concordia-St. Paul
206. Jemea Thomas S Georgia Tech
244. Jeremy Gallon WR Michigan
Immediate Impact: DT Dominique Easley
Easley is coming off a knee injury and he’s had multiple knee injuries so he’s a pretty big risk but when healthy he’s a disruptive interior force. If the Patriots have Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly back healthy Easley will be a great rotational player and a nice change of pace with his penetrating style.
Best Value: No one
The Patriots didn’t get anyone far beyond where they were slated to go but they got more than one sleeper.
Sleepers: C Bryan Stork, OT Cameron Fleming, RB James White
Stork was the starting center on the National Championship Florida St. Seminoles and the Patriots are looking to replace Ryan Wendell. Stork is a technically sound player with strength and loads of experience. If he beats out Wendell as the starter I won’t be the least bit shocked. Fleming will be a nice swing tackle behind LT Nate Solder and RT Sabastian Vollmer and given Vollmer’s injury history that’s a need. RB James White was overshadowed most of his career at Wisconsin by either Montee Ball or Melvin Gordon but he could be a steal because he’s a very talented back.
Overall Analysis:
The Patriots didn’t really “reach” for anyone but they didn’t grab anyone well after their value. Easley was moved down some teams’ boards due to his injury history but he has 1st round talent and DT is the Patriots sore spot. QB Jimmy Garoppolo went late 2nd round which is where he should have been rated. The Patriots got a guy that has talent but needs time and they could trade backup QB Ryan Mallett or they could keep him this season and then just let him walk next year as a free agent knowing they have Garoppolo. Garoppolo gives them someone to groom either to take over for Brady someday or to trade down the road. C Bryan Stork, OT Cameron Fleming and OG Jon Halapio bring some much needed depth to the offensive line and RB James White and WR Jeremy Gallon could add depth at the skill positions. DE Zach Moore and S Jemea Thomas may not stick but Thomas does play a position of need so that could help him. The biggest issue with this draft was the lack of a TE’s and WR’s. Given Gronkowski’s injury history and that other loss they had of a TE you may have heard of it was strange they didn’t try to get one. They should have passed on Garoppolo and grabbed CJ Fiedorowicz given the fact that there was still good value at QB into the fifth round, Fiedorowicz was the last good TE and he went 1st in the third round. I’m not sure Gallon is the deep threat WR the Patriots need and given the depth of the position they should have found someone better.
New York Jets
18. Calvin Pryor S Louisville
49. Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech
80. Dex McDougle CB Maryland
104. Jalen Saunders WR Oklahoma
115. Shaq Evans WR UCLA
137. Dakota Dozier OG Furman
154. Jeremiah George ILB Iowa St.
195. Brandon Dixon CB Northwest Missouri St.
209. Quincy Enunwa WR Nebraska
210. IK Enemkpali DE Louisiana Tech
213. Tajh Boyd QB Clemson
233. Trevor Reilly OLB Utah
Immediate Impact: S Calvin Pryor, TE Jace Amaro
Pryor becomes the immediate starter at SS and will pair with Dawan Landry to improve the backend of the Jets defense. He brings a big hitting style and intimidating presence the Jets were lacking over the middle last year. Amaro may not beat out Jeff Cumberland as the starting TE but that’s only because Amaro isn’t the blocker Cumberland is in the running game. Amaro’s impact will come in the passing game though because he excels there. Whether it’s Geno Smith, Michael Vick, Matt Simms or Tajh Boyd at QB (nothing would shock me at this point) Amaro will be the QB’s best friend.
Best Value: OG Dakota Dozier
The fourth round lineman out of Furman, Dakota Dozier, could also be classified as a sleeper but I’m saying value here because he could step in and take the LG spot from Brian Winters and upgrade the interior of the line. If nothing else he gives them nice depth and some competition at guard they didn’t have before.
Sleepers: WR Jalen Saunders, OLB Trevor Reilly
Saunders is a small, fast WR with a lot of talent and the Jets could use a lot of help at the position. Eric Decker is the bigger receiver type so Saunders should be a nice complement and he will excel in the slot. Reilly is an older prospect (he’s 26 because he took a 2 year Mormon mission) and he’s a perfect fit at OLB for Rex Ryan. Calvin Pace isn’t getting any younger and Reilly is a very good pass rusher that Ryan can develop.
Overall Analysis:
The Jets helped their secondary with the Pryor pick but Dex McDougle was a reach and there were better prospects still on the board (Bashaud Breeland, Keith McGill, Jaylen Watkins). McDougle and Dixon are not the type of corners that will solve the Jets problems quickly if at all. They seriously helped their depth at WR with Jalen Saunders, Shaq Evans and Quincy Enunwa but Evans was taken before some higher upside guys like Martavis Bryant and Devin Street and Enunwa is going to struggle to make the roster. ILB Jeremiah George and OLB Trevor Reilly add depth to those spots. My biggest concern is the lack of help added to the offensive line. RG Willie Colon isn’t getting any younger and free agent addition RT Breno Giocomini is average at best. Dakota Dozier was a nice addition but he wasn’t enough. QB Tajh Boyd was well worth the seventh rounder they spent on him and he’ll give Matt Simms a run for the third QB job.
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