Buffalo Bills
(25) Dalton Kincaid TE Utah
(59) O’Cyrus Torrence OG Florida
(91) Dorian Williams LB Tulane
(150) Justin Shorter WR Florida
(230) Nick Broeker OL Mississippi
(252) Alex Austin CB Oregon St.
Immediate Impact: TE Dalton Kincaid, OG O’Cyrus Torrence
The Bills roster is in good shape but they needed another pass catcher and some help at interior offensive line, check. The WR run happened right before the Bills were coming up so they moved ahead of the Cowboys to steal Kincaid. He’s the best pass catching TE and arguably the best pass catcher period, in this draft. He’s basically going to be a big slot receiver while Dawson Knox continues to do the TE stuff. Torrance has the talent of a first-round player but he fell, likely due to the fact he’s a guard only player. He doesn’t have to worry about that here, he can plug in at guard and he’ll seriously upgrade their run blocking.
Best Value: O’Cyrus Torrence
If Torrence had the versatility to be a center or a tackle, he probably goes round one. He’s a starting guard on day one so he’s worth more than a late second round pick.
Sleeper: LB Dorian Williams
Williams is the smaller, speedy type of LB that would be the opposite of Tremaine Edmunds who just left but he can play. He’s athletic and a very good coverage LB. They kept Matt Milano and they only usually play two LBs so there aren’t a ton of snaps to go around if they really like the guys they have. Williams can find some playing time on passing downs early and work his way into more snaps.
Overall Analysis
This isn’t a big class and that’s not a bad thing when your roster is as good as the Bills’ roster. They got a couple of guys early who can really help. Kincaid is going to make the passing game that much harder to defend because he can line up all over and he’s a mismatch in so many ways. Torrence is going to be a mauler on the inside and they should look to run more (with the running backs, not Josh Allen) and doing it behind Torrence is a good idea.
Williams wasn’t a big-time prospect at LB but he brings a skill set they can use on defense. WR Justin Shorter is interesting. He’s the type of player who looks good getting off the bus but then you prefer he just stays on the sidelines during the game. Shorter is absolutely jacked but he’s not fluid, he’s not natural, and he’s going to struggle to be an NFL WR, he looks the part, he just doesn’t play it. OL Nick Broeker was almost my pick as the sleeper because he has guard/tackle versatility and he can make this team as a backup for now and maybe eventually be a starting guard. CB Alex Austin is looking at an uphill battle to make the roster.
Miami Dolphins
(51) Cam Smith CB South Carolina
(84) Devon Achane RB Texas A&M
(197) Elijah Higgins WR Stanford
(238) Ryan Hayes OT Michigan
Immediate Impact: CB Cam Smith
This draft class may not yield any immediate dividends given the current roster but rosters can still change. Xavien Howard hasn’t always been a happy camper in Miami and if the Dolphins cut ties with him, Cam Smith will be starting opposite Jalen Ramsey. Smith is going to contribute as the third CB either way but the level of his contribution will be determined by Howard’s status.
Best Value: RB Devon Achane
This dude is a touchdown waiting to happen. He has Olympic-level speed and he’s a perfect fit for Mike McDaniel’s offense. He’s basically a healthier and more talented version of Raheem Mostert. If Achane can move ahead of Mostert and Jeff Wilson in the pecking order at RB, he’s going to be a monster.
Sleeper: OL Ryan Hayes
Not a lot to choose from here. Hayes is a tall lineman with short arms who isn’t the best mover. He played a lot at Michigan so he’s got plenty of experience against major competition. He can compete on this line for sure.
Overall Analysis
This is a very small class so not much to say. For a four-man class, I really like two of them a lot. Cam Smith has starter potential. He’s feisty, he really competes, and they need a third CB at least. Achane is one of the biggest playmakers in this draft and this is the perfect fit for him. He’ll be really good in this offense. Elijah Higgins is a big WR or a small TE depending on who you believe. Not sure he has much of a chance to make this roster, they have enough actual TEs and the WR group is pretty deep. Hayes is a different story, this team has been searching for competent offensive linemen for years, he might just be one.
New England Patriots
(17) Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon
(46) Keion White DL Georgia Tech
(76) Marte Mapu LB/S Sacramento St.
(107) Jake Andrews C/G Troy
(112) Chad Ryland K Maryland
(117) Sidy Sow OL Eastern Michigan
(144) Atonio Mafi OG UCLA
(187) Kayshon Boutte WR LSU
(192) Bryce Baringer P Michigan St.
(210) Demario Douglas WR Liberty
(214) Ameer Speed CB Michigan St.
(245) Isaiah Bolden CB Jackson St.
Immediate Impact: CB Christian Gonzalez, DL Keion White, K Chad Ryland, P Bryce Baringer
The Patriots first two picks were exceptional and both should pay immediate dividends. Gonzalez was the best CB in the draft and somehow, he fell to 17th overall. They need a big CB to go with all of the short ones they have and Gonzalez fits the bill. He should be the starting outside corner rather quickly and he gets all the bigger receivers. White couldn’t be a more Belichick player if he was designed in a lab. He’s big, powerful DE who isn’t quick off the edge but he’s strong at the point of attack and has heavy hands. Belichick will find ways to use him in his end rotation.
I’m not a fan of taking a kicker or a punter in the draft and I really don’t like doing both, that said, both Ryland and Baringer should start. Ryland is going to have to beat out Nick Folk but Folk is 38 and pretty expensive, that makes him expendable. Baringer doesn’t have any competition for the punter job, he basically just needs to stay out of Belichick’s dog house.
Best Value: CB Christian Gonzalez
I had Gonzalez as the best CB in the draft and he was the third one selected. The Patriots traded down with the Steelers and still, he fell when Washington took Emmanuel Forbes. I was stunned the night of the draft and I still can’t believe they got him.
Sleeper: OL Sidy Sow
He’s a small school offensive lineman who played tackle but probably moves inside to guard in the NFL. He’s massive at 6’5 326 lbs. and that’s clearly the guys the Patriots wanted because they took three huge interior offensive linemen. Sow has upside but may need some time to find it, and with this Patriots team, don’t count out the possibility of using him at RT. They love big dudes like Marcus Cannon and Trent Brown and aren’t afraid to put them at tackle.
Overall Analysis
The first two picks went really well. Gonzalez could be the steal of the draft. I wasn’t a big fan of Keion White when he was being touted as a possible first rounder but he was good value in round two. He also went to a team who isn’t going to try to turn him into something he’s not. He’s a power end, and he’ll be one in New England. LB Marte Mapu is a tough one for me. If they actually play him as a LB and use him in coverage, great, they need his skill set and athleticism there. If they want to play him as a big safety, it was a redundant pick that was wasted and should have been used on a WR. They have Kyle Duggar, Adrian Phillips, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers, Brenden Schooler, and Joshuah Bledsoe at safety, they don’t need a rookie there.
The rest of this draft consisted of three huge interior offensive lineman, two strange WR picks, a kicker and a punter, and two more big CBs. It seems strange to draft three interior offensive linemen after taking an OG in round one last year and the two best linemen on the team are arguably the center and the other guard. David Andrews is the starting center and while he will be 31, he’s one of Belichick’s favorite guys and you’ll have to pry him from Bill’s cold, dead hands. Michal Onwenu is the other guard; he will be a free agent soon and maybe the Patriots don’t want to pay him. However, they had a need a tackle more than at guard, they better hope Sow can play some there. Jake Andrews could be David Andrews eventual replacement inside if the veteran hangs it up in the next year or two. Atonio Mafi is a big human, that’s all I got on him.
Kayshon Boutte is a very questionable pick for any team but for a Belichick coached team it’s ridiculous. Boutte had some rough days at LSU last year under Brian Kelly because of attitude issues and unless he finds Jesus between now and training camp, he’s not making out of camp with this team. Belichick has dealt with some unique personalities at WR but all those guys were incredible talents, Boutte isn’t that. The WR corps isn’t all that great but it has players and a small guy like Demario Douglas is going to have to be special to be anything more than a practice squad player.
I did like the Patriots taking two more big CBs; Ameer Speed and Isaiah Bolden, late in the draft. It’s a crowded CB depth chart but they need some more size. If Speed or Bolden can impress in training camp, I could see Belichick pulling the rip cord on Miles Bryant, he has plenty of guys to play in the slot. Speed and Bolden give them more options outside as long as they end up better than the Joejuan Williams experiment that has mercifully ended.
New York Jets
(15) Will McDonald IV Edge Iowa St
(43) Joe Tippmann C/G Wisconsin
(120) Carter Warren OT Pittsburgh
(143) Israel Abanikanda RB Pittsburgh
(184) Zaire Barnes LB Western Michigan
(204) Jarrick Bernard-Converse CB LSU
(220) Zack Kuntz TE Old Dominion
Immediate Impact: C Joe Tippmann
No offense to Will McDonald but he’s the fourth edge rusher at best to start the year. Tippmann on the other hand has a pretty clear path to starting at center. Connor McGovern was re-signed after starting last season but he’s a middling center at best. Tippmann has size, and the skills to excel right away for the Jets. He should solidify the inside of the line and let McGovern become a versatile backup.
Best Value: C Joe Tippmann
Tippmann went about where he was expected to go but that actually might have been a little bit low. He’s a starting center from day one and he’s going to help Aaron Rodgers get going in New York. If they get decent tackle play with Tippmann holding down the middle, the line could be good.
Sleeper: OT Carter Warren
Warren got injured last season which is why he fell in the draft. Being injured should make him feel right at home with the Jets offensive tackles. If he recovers and is healthy, he could end up starting. Mekhi Becton has been the walking wounded for a few years and Duane Brown is 38. Warren was a really solid pick in round four with starter upside.
Overall Analysis
Not a huge class to help out the new Jets with Aaron Rodgers running the show and the Will McDonald pick was surprising. McDonald was considered maybe a late round one pick at best but after the Steelers jumped the Jets and took the last top OT, it felt like the Jets panicked. They have Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, and Jermaine Johnson ahead of McDonald, he’s a designated pass rusher at best. Tippmann is their best pick and he’s a ten-year starter at center.
The two Pittsburgh guys are good pickups. Warren has starter potential and the RB Israel Abanikanda brings a homerun type of player to complement Breece Hall. Those two could really help an offense in right situation. Zaire Barnes is an undersized small school LB who brings athleticism but is probably just a special team’s guy early on. CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse will also have to try to make the team as a special team’s guy. TE Zack Kuntz is going to find a crowded but unspectacular TE depth chart ahead of him but he’s an athletic freak. If he can stay healthy, he could make the team, he has a different skill set they don’t have right now.
The Hott Read 