2014 AFC East Draft Grades

Buffalo Bills

Under head coach Doug Marrone the Buffalo Bills are in the process of stocking up at the skill positions. The Bills traded wide receiver Steve Johnson to the San Francisco 49ers, but they didn’t waste anytime in replacing him as they selected Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins in the first round. The Bills needed to protect their young quarterback EJ Manuel and thus they drafted a few offensive lineman. The Bills used their second round pick on Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandijo and in the seventh round they drafted Miami offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson.

The Bills might still be a year away from contending for the AFC East Title, but they are putting the pieces together offensively.

Miami Dolphins

You knew coming into the 2014 National Football League Draft that the Miami Dolphins were going to concentrate on improving their offensive line. The Dolphins had four openings on their offensive line and they went to work in the draft. The Dolphins used their first round pick on Tennessee offensive tackle Ja’Wuan Jones. The Dolphins needed an offensive tackle, but Jones was a player that they could have found in the second or third rounds. In the third round the Dolphins selected North Dakota State offensive tackle Billy Turner.

In the second round Miami selected LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry who should be able to come in and immediately start while giving Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill another target.

Both Jones and Turner still need some seasoning on the offensive line as they won’t be impact players for the Dolphins in 2014.

New England Patriots

In the past three seasons the New England Patriots have made the AFC Championship Game, but if they want to make it in a fourth straight year it will be a little bit tougher.

The Patriots used their first round pick on Florida defensive end Dominique Easley. Easley would have been a top-15 pick, but injuries last season at Florida changed that. If the Patriots intend on running the 3-4 defense then Easley could be a factor, but not as much if they choose to use the 4-3.

In the second round the Patriots selected Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady will be 37-years old in August and the majority of his football is in the rear-view mirror. The Patriots also have quarterback Ryan Mallett on their depth chart, but at some point they will have to groom an heir apparent to Brady.

The Patriots used their sixth round pick on Florida guard Jon Halapio. Halapio will fit in nicely on the Patriots interior offensive line while also giving them a road grader when they choose to run the football.

The Patriots have enough to win the AFC East, but their depth could be questioned in the postseason if they are able to qualify.

New York Jets

It is not that often that you can say that the New York Jets came away winners at the NFL Draft, but that is not the case 2014. New York came into the draft with several needs and Jets general manager John Idzik addressed all of them.

The Jets needed an impact free safety and they pegged Louisville safety Calvin Pryor. Pryor is a player that can fly all around the football field, but for the first time since he became the head coach of the Jets in 2009, Rex Ryan has the quarterback in the secondary that he covets.
The Jets are attempting to develop second year quarterback Geno Smith. The Jets also signed veteran quarterback Michael Vick, but whomever will be the starting signal caller in New York this season, he will need players at the skill position. In the second round the Jets selected Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro. Amaro is a pass catching tight end that can stretch the field. In the fourth round the Jets selected Oklahoma wide receiver Jalen Saunders who has the ability to come in and become an impact player for New York as a slot receiver.

The Jets used their sixth round pick on Clemson quarterback Tahj Boyd. If Boyd makes the Jets roster then they will become the first NFL team to have three African-American quarterbacks on their roster since the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2006.

The Jets have the pieces together to be an impact team this season in the AFC.