AFC East Grades
Buffalo Bills
2-54 AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa
3-86 Zack Moss, RB, Utah
4-128 Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
5-167 Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
6-188 Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
6-207 Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
7-239 Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
The Bills had a so-so draft. AJ Epenesa is an interesting player, but I think his best fit is as a defensive end in a 3-4. Zach Moss is liked by many, but I don’t see what so great about him. Gabriel Davis is very overrated even for a fourth-round pick. Jake Fromm was a nice addition as he will be great in that quarterback room and may develop into a starter at some point. Dane Jackson was a steal in the seventh round with his coverage skills and success at the Senior Bowl.
Grade: C
Miami Dolphins
1-5 Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
1-18 Austin Jackson, OT, USC
1-30 Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
2-39 Robert Hunt, G, Louisiana
2-56 Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
3-70 Brandon Jones, S, Texas
4-111 Solomon Kindley, G, Georgia
5-154 Jason Strowbridge, DE, North Carolina
5-164 Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State
6-185 Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU
7-246 Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy
The Dolphins had a very good draft. They wait until the 5th overall pick to get their guy in Tua Tagovailoa. The reports I have heard is that he is recovering well. Austin Jackson will protect his blind side for years to come. Noah Igbinoghene was a bit of a surprise, but he is a nice slot corner for them. Robert Hunt is among the best guards in this draft and will probably become their right guard, right away. Raekwon Davis was once projected as a top 15 pick, but still offers value as a second-rounder. Brandon Jones is a solid strong safety but needs to be a better tackler to be a good value in the third-round. Solomon Kindley was overrated on a lot of draft boards, but I’m okay with him in the fourth-round. Jason Strowbridge really excelled at the Senior Bowl and makes me think he will be a good pro. Curtis Weaver did it all at Boise State showing he could play on the edge as a pass rusher and then as a linebacker on the outside. Blake Ferguson is a good long-snapper and is worth a sixth-round pick in my opinion.
Grade: A-
New England Patriots
2-37 Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir Rhyne
2-60 Josh Uche, OLB, Michigan
3-87 Anfernee Jennings, OLB, Alabama
3-91 Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
3-37 Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech
5-159 Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall
6-182 Michael Onwenu, G, Michigan
6-195 Justin Herron, G, Wake Forrest
6-204 Cassh Maluia, LB, Wyoming
7-230 Dustin Woodard, C, Memphis
The Patriots traded out of the first round and had a very Patriots draft. They took a lot of under the radar players and it will be interesting to see how they use them. Kyle Dugger was the first small school player to be taken out of Lenoir Rhyne. He has good tape as a safety, but obviously wasn’t going against top competition. Josh Uche was their best pick as he brings something as a pass rusher and could be a defensive end in their system. Devin Asiasi is a favorite of our own Alex Khvatov and will probably be the Patriots top tight end in 2020. The Patriots grabbed a kicker with their fifth-round pick, and he will probably have the job in 2020. This isn’t the first time the Patriots have drafted a kicker and it worked out. Justin Herron was at the Senior Bowl and he definitely has the intelligence to continue the Patriot way. Cassh Maluia is a special teams’ player from the University of Wyoming that had a decent Pro Day. The unsuccessful part of the draft is that they did not get a quarterback and will have to roll with Jarrett Stidham in 2020.
Grade: C
New York Jets
1-11 Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
2-59 Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
3-68 Ashtyn Davis, S, California
3-79 Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida
4-120 LaMical Perine, RB, Florida
4-125 James Morgan, QB, FIU
4-129 Cameron Clark, T, Charlotte
5-158 Bryce Hall, CB, Virgina
6-191 Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M
The Jets had an average draft. They picked up a left tackle who has a lot of upside to protect Sam Darnold. They also picked up Senior Bowl standout Denzel Mims from Baylor in the second-round. Ashtyn Davis is a great athlete, but the question is can that turn into something as a free safety. Jabari Zuniga was once thought of as a high draft pick, but slid a bit in this draft. He still looked good at the Senior Bowl. LaMical Perine is a very average running back that they got in the fourth-round and James Morgan is a career backup quarterback who has a good head on his shoulders. Bryce Hall is a great zone corner with tackling ability that is undervalued in today’s NFL. The Jets capped off their draft with one of the top punters.
Grade: C
