2015 AFC East Draft Grades

New England Patriots 

Grade: B

Best Pick: Round One-Malcolm Brown-Defensive Tackle-Texas

The 2015 National Football League Draft was business as usual for the New England Patriots as they were out to replace players that left via free agency. After losing nose tackle Vince Wilfork in free agency to the Houston Texans, the Pats were happy that defensive tackle Malcolm Brown fell to them at the end of the first round. Brown was expected to be selected in the mid-to-late first round and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was happy that he was still available.

This draft was very defensive heavy for the Patriots as they selected a trio of defensive ends including Xzavier Dickson in the seventh round.

This wasn’t a draft by the Patriots that will jump off of the charts, but it was one where they added players to keep their championship machine going.

Buffalo Bills

Grade: C

Best Pick: None

As a result of a trade to acquire wide receiver Sammy Watkins at the 2014 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills were without a first round pick this year. For new Bills head coach Rex Ryan, he used the second round to select cornerback Ronald Darby from Florida State. Ryan loves to keep his cornerbacks on an island and he is hopeful that Darby will be up for the challenge of covering some of the top wide receivers that the AFC has to offer. However, the main problem with the Bills selecting Darby is that it was a reach choice as Darby more than likely would have been available in the third or fourth round for them. The Bills failed to find an impact player in the draft which won’t help their chances of overtaking the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC East.

Miami Dolphins

Grade: B

Best Pick: Round Five-Jay Ajayi-Running Back-Boise State

After missing in free agency a few years ago when they signed wide receiver Mike Wallace, the Miami Dolphins decided to use the NFL Draft to find a wide receiver for quarterback Ryan Tannehill to throw the football to. The Dolphins used their first round selection last week on wide receiver DeVante Parker who has a big frame to shield off cornerbacks. The Dolphins selected defensive tackle Jordan Phillips in the second round who had first round potential. But the Fins hit it big in the fifth round when they selected running back Jay Ajayi. Ajayi has been a workhorse running back over the past few years at Boise State and he’ll be a person that will compete with Dolphins running back Lamar Miller for carries from the first day of training camp.

The Dolphins feel that they are on the cusp of becoming a playoff team, and this draft could go a long way in helping them.

New York Jets 

Grade: B+

Best Pick: Round Two-Devin Smith-Wide Receiver-Ohio State

Defensive end Leonard Williams entered the 2015 NFL Draft as the best player available for many draft experts, but he fell to the New York Jets who took him with the sixth overall selection. I expected the Jets to select outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. in the first round, but the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the third overall pick. Williams does fill a void with the Jets due to the fact that defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is seeking a new contract from Gang Green.

In the second round the Jets selected wide receiver Devin Smith who can fly and he’ll give New York more depth in the passing game. The Jets selected quarterback Bryce Petty in the fourth round and I guarantee that quarterback Geno Smith will be looking over his shoulder in training camp this summer.

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has hit it big this off-season between free agency and what he was able to accomplish at the NFL Draft.