Buffalo Bills
- (35) TJ Parker Edge Clemson
- (62) Davison Igbinosun CB Ohio St.
- (102) Jude Bowry OT Boston College
- (125) Skyler Bell WR UConn
- (126) Kaleb Elarms-Orr LB TCU
- (167) Jalon Kilgore S South Carolina
- (181) Zane Durant DL Penn St.
- (220) Toriano Pride Jr. CB Missouri
- (239) Tommy Doman P Florida
- (241) Ar’maj Reed-Adams OL Texas A&M
Immediate Impact: Edge TJ Parker
The Bills are a good team with a good roster so most of this class is going to be depth and not make much of an impact. However, Parker comes in as an edge rusher with some serious skill and this team is counting Bradley Chubb as one of its starting edge rushers. No offense to Chubb but it’s been a while since he was healthy and productive. Parker can play opposite Greg Rousseau and give the Bills pass rush help.
Best Value: WR Skyler Bell
Getting Skyler Bell in round four is highway robbery. He’s one of the most productive WRs in college football ever, and somehow, he fell to round four. The list of WRs who went before Bell is insane and that includes Kaden Wetjen from Iowa going four spots ahead of him. Wetjen may be an incredible return man but he’s not half the receiver Bell is. The Bills traded for DJ Moore and then were gifted Bell, so Josh Allen has no excuses. My one hope is that Bell doesn’t get lost between Moore and Khalil Shakir in the offense.
Sleepers: LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, DB Jalon Kilgore
The Bills have Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard set to start at LB, and they don’t have much depth. Neither starter is beyond losing his spot, Elarms-Orr has a chance to steal a starting spot, and he is certainly going to be in the rotation if he can’t win a job. Kilgore is a unique player as big nickel player who could be used as a safety. He gives them a different type of nickel from free agent signing Dee Alford. He brings better size and athleticism. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard might be the perfect coach to get the best out of Kilgore.
Overall Analysis
TJ Parker fills a big need for another pass rusher and while his last year at Clemson wasn’t great, he’s a very talented player. CB Davison Igbinosun is a big CB with a reputation for being too handsy. In 2024 he had a ton of pass interference penalties because he likes to grab too much. He cut down significantly on those in 2025 and he can be a problem with his size if he can be physical without giving up penalties.
The three fourth round picks the Bills made can all contribute even if they don’t start. OL Jude Bowry is a developmental player, but he could end up being used at LG as the team looks to fill the spot vacated by David Edwards. WR Skyler Bell should figure into the WR rotation given his talent. He knows how to get open and that’s a skill in short supply with this WR group. LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr will be a part of the LB rotation for sure.
On day three the Bills grabbed Kilgore at safety and picked CB Toriano Pride Jr. who should give them some depth. They’re trying to improve their depth after having a string of injuries last season. DL Zane Durant is an undersized DT; he’s got an uphill climb to make the roster but he’s a solid bet in round five. OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams is a big OG prospect who’s likely a practice squad guy. Oh, and they drafted a punter.
Miami Dolphins
- (12) Kadyn Proctor OL Alabama
- (27) Chris Johnson CB San Diego St.
- (43) Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech
- (75) Caleb Douglas WR Texas Tech
- (87) Will Kacmarek TE Ohio St.
- (94) Chris Bell WR Louisville
- (130) Trey Moore LB Texas
- (138) Kyle Louis LB Pittsburgh
- (158) Michael Taaffe S Texas
- (177) Kevin Coleman Jr. WR Missouri
- (180) Seydou Traore TE Mississippi St.
- (200) DJ Campbell OG Texas
- (238) Max Llewellyn Edge Iowa
Immediate Impact: OL Kadyn Proctor, CB Chris Johnson
Proctor is one of the more polarizing prospects from this draft. He has everything you want from a size and athleticism perspective, but he’s inconsistent both on and off the field. His boom or bust potential is extreme. He’s going to get every chance to win the RG job or maybe compete for the RT spot. Chris Johnson is the anti-Proctor, he’s as consistent as they come. He’s going to step in and be CB1 for this group and while he may never be a top five CB in the league, he’s going to be a starter for the next 8-10 years.
Best Value: WR Chris Bell
Bell was taken towards the end of round three and he has the potential to be a WR1. He will likely miss the beginning of the season but once he’s healthy, he’s the best WR on the team. He was the 94th pick and somehow was the second WR they took. He’s better than Caleb Douglas and he’s better than every veteran WR they signed in the off season.
Sleepers: WR Kevin Coleman Jr., S Michael Taaffe
Coleman was a fifth-round pick but he’s as good as anyone they have at WR who’s not named Chris Bell. He can play in the slot and he’s going to give Malik Washington and Tutu Atwell and run for their money. The Dolphins drafted three WRs so clearly, they aren’t overly impressed with the guys on the roster, Coleman’s going to get his chance to play. S Michael Taaffe isn’t the most physically gifted player, but he’s got safety instincts you can’t teach. The safety group leaves a lot to be desired and if you told me Taaffe was starting by the midway point of the season, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.
Overall Analysis
The Dolphins’ draft was quite a roller coaster. Proctor has upside as a prospect, but the downside is considerable too. In two years, he could be a Pro Bowler or he’s playing in the UFL. CB Chris Johnson was the second CB off the board and he’s an immediate starter and he’ll be good. LB Jacob Rodriguez was their second-round pick and while he didn’t seem like a need, he could beat out Tyrel Dodson to start. Even if he doesn’t win the job this season, he’s a long-term starter and leader for this defense.
They had three third round picks and the first one was the first major reach of the draft. WR Caleb Douglas was not a guy rated as even a mid-round pick, he was expected to be a late day three guy. He has size at 6’4, and they are lacking that, but he’s just not a great receiver. TE Will Kacmarek fills a big need but he’s basically just a blocking TE and taking him in round three felt a little early. In their defense, there was a run on blocking TEs happening which was a bit strange. Their third pick in the round was WR Chris Bell, and he was a huge value.
The Dolphins had two fourth round and three fifth round picks and they drafted some guys who can give them some help. Trey Moore is a bit undersized for an edge rusher, but this team needs help there and he was a solid value. Kyle Louis is an undersized LB who probably won’t play LB all that much. He will be used in a variety of ways and can also be a big help on special teams. S Michael Taaffe and WR Kevin Coleman Jr. were great picks in round five. TE Seydou Traore is the complement to Will Kacmarek, he’s the pass catching athlete. They had a major need at TE, and they got two guys for the roster. OG DJ Campbell came in round six, and while he’s inconsistent too, if they move Proctor to OG, it could be a competition between the two for the RG spot. Proctor is the better athlete, but Campbell was a big-time recruit with a great pedigree, and he’s actually played OG throughout his career. Generally, seventh round designated pass rushers aren’t likely to make a roster but don’t count out Max Llewellyn, this team needs all the help it can get on the edge.
New England Patriots
- (28) Caleb Lomu OT Utah
- (55) Gabe Jacas Edge Illinois
- (95) Eli Raridon TE Notre Dame
- (171) Karon Prunty CB Wake Forest
- (196) Dametrious Crownover OT Texas A&M
- (212) Namdi Obiazor LB TCU
- (234) Behren Morton QB Texas Tech
- (245) Jam Miller RB Alabama
- (247) Quintayvious Hutchins Edge Boston College
Immediate Impact: Edge Gabe Jacas, TE Eli Raridon
The Patriots signed Dre’Mont Jones to be one edge rusher, and they are hoping Harold Landry can be healthy this season. Since that’s unlikely, Jacas is going to play and he’s ready to be a good edge player right away. Raridon is ready to be a blocker immediately and while the team signed Julian Hill for that role, Raridon adds at least something in the pass game. He’s big and athletic who just needs to work on his pass catching skills. Hunter Henry would be a good guy for him to learn from.
Best Value: OT Caleb Lomu
Lomu isn’t going to start this season unless there’s an injury. He was the last of the seven OTs taken in round one and the Patriots had to move up a couple of spots to be sure they got him. Eventually, he’ll be a starting tackle for this team and getting a starting level OT with the 28th pick in the draft is good value.
Sleeper: RB Jam Miller
When Miller is healthy, he’s a really good player, he was not healthy this last season. One of the reasons Alabama struggled on offense last season was Miller wasn’t himself. The Patriots only have Rhamondre Stevenson and Treyveon Henderson and not much else. Miller has the size and skills to be an NFL back and as Stevenson ages, they are going to need another guy to go with Henderson. If Miller can become the guy I think he can, they may have found a starting level RB in round seven.
Overall Analysis
The Patriots made a small move up to draft Caleb Lomu because he was the last of first-round tackles and they wanted to be sure to get him. Lomu shouldn’t play this season if Will Campbell and Morgan Moses stay healthy and that’s good because he needs to improve his strength if he’s going to hold up in the NFL. He’s a great pass blocker right now but lacks strength in the run game. Jacas is a very good fit on the edge for the Patriots as they like guys who can defend the run as well as rush the passer. TE Eli Raridon is a bet on a great athlete who needs some refinement. He can be a real asset if he puts it all together.
Their fifth-round pick CB Karon Prunty felt like a reach but at that point the CB board had been picked pretty clean. Prunty has size and can play the man coverage style they like but he’s a project. They have to be hoping he can take the year behind Gonzalez and Davis and really learn some things. OT Demetrious Crownover is a very large human being who is potentially a backup to Caleb Lomu at RT down the road. The Patriots took another large OT late last season in Marcus Bryant, it’s likely they will vie to be the fourth OT this season.
LB Namdi Obiazor brings some athleticism and coverage ability to the position, and he’ll be a special team’s guy. Miller will also help on special teams. Undersized edge rusher Quintayvious Hutchins will also have to make the team on special teams, he’s probably too small to be an effective edge rusher at this point. QB Behren Morton will become the third QB on a team with Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito set ahead of him. Morton feels like a decent scout team guy. One of the quirks of all the covid and extra years in college for guys is that Morton comes into the NFL as a third string QB but he’s actually older than Drake Maye who’s been starting in the NFL for two years.
New York Jets
- (2) David Bailey Edge Texas Tech
- (16) Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon
- (30) Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana
- (50) D’Angelo Ponds CB Indiana
- (103) Darrell Jackson Jr. DT Florida St.
- (110) Cade Klubnik QB Clemson
- (188) Anez Cooper OG Miami
- (228) VJ Payne S Kansas St.
Immediate Impact: Edge David Bailey, TE Kenyon Sadiq, WR Omar Cooper Jr., CB D’Angelo Ponds
The Jets had a very impressive draft. Their top four picks should all contribute immediately and they get help on both offense and defense. Bailey might not start given the team has Will McDonald IV, Kingsley Enagbare, and Joseph Ossai but he’s an excellent pass rusher so they will use him plenty. TE Kenyon Sadiq and WR Omar Cooper Jr. add two playmakers on offense that will help Geno Smith this year and more importantly, help the QB they draft next year. Those were just their first-round picks. In round two they took CB D’Angelo, he’s undersized but that’s never stopped him from being good. Aaron Glenn was an undersized CB so he shouldn’t mind using Ponds who could end up starting.
Best Value: Ponds
If D’Angelo Ponds ends up starting either at outside CB or in the slot, he’s a very good value as the 50th pick overall.
Sleeper: S VJ Payne
He was a seventh-round pick but he’s an experienced safety with great physical measurements. The Jets traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick and signed Dane Belton, but Fitzpatrick will be 30 this year and Belton was only signed for a year. Andre Cisco and Malachi Moore are on the safety depth chart too but neither one is the most reliable player.
Overall Analysis
The first four picks were excellent, and I can’t complain about the last four picks either. Bailey is one of my favorite prospects. For everyone that says he’s not good against the run, I say, guys can still get better at things when they get to the league. He’ll be fine. Sadiq will pair nicely with Mason Taylor when they run two TE sets. WR Omar Cooper Jr. makes for a nice pairing with Garrett Wilson. Ponds may not be the biggest CB but he’s as tough as they come.
Darrell Jackson Jr. is a 6’6 315 lbs. NT and those guys don’t grow on trees. He should be an excellent backup to T’Vondre Sweat and he gives the Jets some good depth on the defensive line. QB Cade Klubnik had a pretty bad year at Clemson but he’s still a guy with a lot of experience who can run an offense. He may never be a starter, but he gives them cover in case Geno Smith is terrible and he has long-term backup potential. G Anez Cooper is a prospect with great size and has potential to be a long-term player inside for them. S VJ Payne is a solid bet on a good athlete who played a lot of football at Kansas St.
The Hott Read 