2017 AFC East Draft Review
Buffalo Bills
- Tre’Davious White CB LSU
- Zay Jones WR East Carolina
- Dion Dawkins OT Temple
- Matt Milano OLB Boston College
- Nathan Peterman QB Pittsburgh
- Tanner Vallejo OLB Boise St.
Immediate Impact: CB Tre’Davious White, WR Zay Jones, OT Dion Dawkins
The Bills lost Stephon Gilmore in the off season and they need a CB to play opposite Ronald Darby, White should fill that gap nicely. Their WR corps was decimated by free agency as they lost Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and Justin Hunter and Zay Jones is a high volume WR who will bring major production opposite Sammy Watkins. The Bills desperately need a RT and while most thought Dawkins would slide inside to OG in the NFL I think in the short-term he’ll fill the RT need for the team.
Best Value: OT Dion Dawkins
The Bills got Dawkins at the end of the second round and he’ll likely slide right into their RT spot. Getting a starting offensive lineman at #63 is solid value.
Sleeper: QB Nathan Peterman
I could have made Peterman my choice as the best value pick but it may take a little time for him to actually pay off. I like Peterman but I’m not as in love with him as a lot of people seem to be, he has talent but he’ll need some time to transition. I do think he becomes Tyrod Taylor’s backup this year and gives the Bills an opportunity next off season to move on from Taylor if he doesn’t progress.
Overall Analysis
The team got three immediate starters in White, Jones and Dawkins so that’s always a very good start. The best move they made was trading down in the round 1 and picking up Kansas City’s 1st rounder next season. It’s unlikely to be a high 1st rounder since Kansas City is pretty good but having two 1st round picks is never a bad thing. Perhaps if the Bills struggle this year and are looking to move on completely at QB next season they will have the ammunition to move up and get the guy they want. Zay Jones is one of my favorite unknown prospects in the draft and he will catch 80 balls next year, count on it. Dawkins may eventually have to move inside to OG but for now he’s a major upgrade over anyone the Bills could line up at RT. Milano and Vallejo are more likely to be core special teamers than major contributors at LB but the Bills could use depth for sure. Peterman is a solid roll of the dice in the fifth round and he could become an NFL starter. If Taylor struggles they could go to Peterman this year as I think he easily overtakes Cardale Jones as the backup, let’s just say I think Peterman is more cerebral than Jones.
Miami Dolphins
- Charles Harris DE Missouri
- Raekwon McMillan ILB Ohio St.
- Cordrea Tankersley CB Clemson
- Isaac Asiata OG Utah
- Davon Godchaux DT LSU
- Vincent Taylor DT Oklahoma St.
- Isaiah Ford WR Virginia Tech
Immediate Impact: DE Charles Harris, LB Raekwon McMillan
The Mario Williams signing last year was a bust at DE and he’s been jettisoned and while the Dolphins brought in William Hayes from the Rams he’s not exactly known as a great pass rusher. Cameron Wake is still a highly productive DE but he needs someone to take the pressure off of him as he ages and eventually he’ll need to be replaced, enter Charles Harris. He’s slightly undersized but he’s a speed rusher and that’s all they need him to do right now. McMillan gives the Dolphins a legitimate NFL LB besides Kiko Alonso that is still on the right side of 30. Newly signed Lawrence Timmons and holdover Koa Misi are both aging rapidly.
Best Value: OG Isaac Asiata
With Laremy Tunsil sliding outside to his natural LT spot the Dolphins can use a replacement at OG and Asiata isn’t a big name at OG but he can be a starter. When you can pick up a potential starting offensive lineman in the fifth round that’s pretty good value.
Sleeper: WR Isaiah Ford
The Dolphins seem pretty set at WR with Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Leonte Carroo and Jakeem Grant but for some reason I can see Ford making some noise. Carroo and Grant might want to be careful. Ford doesn’t win with speed but he knows how to get open, the best way to describe his game is savvy.
Overall Analysis
The Dolphins focused mostly on defense and Harris and McMillan should pay immediate dividends. CB Cordrea Tankersley could also prove useful early. Last year’s rookie Xavien Howard had his growing pains but he looks like a keeper but Byron Maxwell is inconsistent and could open the door for Tankersley to play. He’s not a flashy CB but he’s pretty solid. DTs Godchaux and Taylor aren’t going to transform the Dolphins’ defense but they add depth at a position that doesn’t have much behind starters Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips. Finally, whatever you do, don’t count out Ford. If you do he’ll prove you wrong.
New England Patriots
- Derek Rivers DE Youngstown St.
- Antonio Garcia OT Troy
- Deatrich Wise Jr. DE Arkansas
- Conor McDermott OT UCLA
Immediate Impact: WR Brandin Cooks, DE Kony Ealy
The Patriots actually draft picks are unlikely to make any difference this year at all. This team is built to win now and with Tom Brady rapidly approaching 40 Bill Belichick isn’t going to wait around for some draft picks to come around. The Patriots traded their 1st rounder for Cooks and their 2nd rounder for Ealy. Cooks is going to be the deep speed complement to Julian Edelman the team hasn’t seen since Randy Moss. Ealy is going to fill in at DE where the team took some major off season losses like Chris Long and Jabaal Sheard. These two are far better equipped to keep the Patriots fighting for the Super Bowl than any draft pick would be.
Best Value: WR Brandin Cooks
Considering the top 3 WRs in this draft went in the top 9 picks the fact that the Patriots only gave up #32 overall to get a legitimate, well-established WR like Cooks is a freaking steal. Cooks will start on the outside and Tom Brady will use his deep speed well. Just when you thought the Patriots offense couldn’t get any better, here comes another weapon.
Sleeper: OT Antonio Garcia
With Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon established at OT Garcia will only provide depth this season unless there is an injury but Solder will be a free agent next year. The Patriots will be counting on offensive line guru Dante Scarnecchia to mold Garcia into Solder eventual replacement, and no one should ever bet against Scarnecchia.
Overall Analysis
You can’t evaluate the Patriots’ draft without including Cooks and Ealy and both of them fill major needs. Ealy looked like a budding star two years ago in the Super Bowl against the Broncos and then he regressed last year. The team has a history of taking guys like that and reigniting their careers, just ask Jabaal Sheard. The trades left the Patriots with only four picks and they took two DEs and two OTs. Garcia could be a future starter and Conor McDermott is an experienced player that adds great depth. Derek Rivers is a good-looking pass rushing prospect while Wise Jr. has some nice versatility on the defensive line. The Patriots just keep chugging along and as long as Brady and Belichick are around they will be in the Super Bowl conversation.
New York Jets
- Jamal Adams SS LSU
- Marcus Maye FS Florida
- ArDarius Stewart WR Alabama
- Chad Hansen WR California
- Jordan Leggett TE Clemson
- Dylan Donahue OLB West Georgia
- Elijah McGuire RB UL Lafayette
- Jeremy Clark CB Michigan
- Derrick Jones CB Ole Miss
Immediate Impact: SS Jamal Adams
Considering the state of the Jets roster there are quite a few players here that could play a lot of snaps. Adams should make a huge impact since the secondary was a major problem last year. The Jets made their intentions clear by drafting Adams and not picking up the fifth-year option on former top draft pick Calvin Pryor who has been a disappointment so far. Adams will come in, start at SS and become the new leader of the secondary as the Jets make wholesale changes.
Best Value: TE Jordan Leggett
The Jets TE position has been a disaster for quite some time but Leggett has the talent to turn that around. He should slide right into the starting spot and give whomever is playing QB a reliable target over the middle. It was a deep TE class and getting a guy like Leggett in the round 5 certainly proves it.
Sleepers: WR ArDarius Stewart, WR Chad Hansen
The Jets sent Brandon Marshall packing and Eric Decker is coming off a shoulder injury and he could be gone once he’s healthy enough to pass a physical. That leaves Quincy Enunwa as the most accomplished WR on the roster. Stewart is the smaller, shiftier guy that could excel in the slot while Hansen would be the bigger outside WR. Both of these guys are going to make this team and they could become the top two WRs this season for the Jets.
Overall Analysis
The Jets couldn’t go too wrong in this draft considering their massive needs and they got one of the best players in this draft in Adams. It was a bit curious that they then grabbed a FS, Marcus Maye, in the second round because there were better prospects available. The two WR picks fill in a huge hole in the roster right now. Leggett becomes an immediate starter at TE so that was a solid choice. OLB Dylan Donahue adds depth and perhaps some special team’s value. RB Elijah McGuire was an accomplished back in college and maybe his skill set helps take some of the load off of the aging Matt Forte but he’s not much more than a backup. The Jets then rolled the dice on a couple of big defensive backs Jeremy Clark and Derrick Jones and hope to strike gold with one of them. If nothing else they add depth to the roster.
The Hott Read 