2015 NFL Draft Analysis: AFC East Draft Review and Grade

May 4, 2015

Rotoballer writer Owen Elle reviews the 2015 NFL draft with some fantasy football analysis and grades the AFC East teams' draft based on talent and future potential.

Rotoballer kicks off the 2015 NFL and Fantasy Football Season by reviewing each teams draft starting with the AFC East. Draft expert Owen Elle gives his take on each teams ability to fill their needs and add overall talent to their rosters.

Buffalo Bills

Round 2, Pick 50 - CB Ronald Darby, Florida State
Round 3, Pick 81 - OG John Miller, Louisville
Round 5, Pick 155 - RB Karlos Williams, Florida State
Round 6, Pick 188 - OLB Tony Steward, Clemson
Round 6, Pick 194 - TE Nick O'Leary, Florida State
Round 7, Pick 234 - WR Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas

The Bills draft can only be categorized as underwhelming. That’s not to say they didn’t make some good selections, Nick O’Leary was a great selection in the middle of the sixth round. The only problem with taking a receiving tight end is he won’t be that effective with Matt Cassel or E.J. Manuel throwing him the ball. On a side note, it was a great moment in the draft when former Bills QB and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly made the selection of Ronald Darby in the second round as Kelly had just recently beaten cancer and wasn’t even expected to be alive today.

The selections of Karlos Williams and Nick O'Leary can be looked at currently as depth picks since both players will sit behind LeSean McCoy and Scott Chandler respectively, learning the ropes behind these two veterans. The Central Arkansas-product Dezmin Lewis should provide a big-bodied red-zone threat, as he stands at 6'4.

Grade: D

Miami Dolphins

Round 1, Pick 14 - WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
Round 2, Pick 53 - DT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
Round 4, Pick 114 - OG Jamil Douglas, Arizona State
Round 5, Pick 145 - CB Bobby McCain, Memphis
Round 5, Pick 149 - RB Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Round 5, Pick 150 - S Cedric Thompson, Minnesota
Round 5, Pick 156 - WR Tony Lippett, Michigan State

Despite already having Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and Jarvis Landry, I really enjoyed the selection of DeVante Parker. Now Ryan Tannehill has four legitimate wide receivers to throw to making the Dolphins offense a potential powerhouse in 2015. Jordan Phillips was a nice second round selection and has one of the highest ceilings of all the defensive tackles taken in the draft.

Fifth round selections Jay Ajayi and Cedric Thompson were home runs. Ajayi, despite concerns over his knee, was still one of the best running backs available in this draft. Thompson, a former Golden Gopher, was the most athletic safety in the draft. He led nearly every combine category measured at his pro day. I believe that given the Dolphins weakness at safety, that Thompson has the chance to win a starting spot in the secondary during training camp. Overall, the Fins had a very promising draft class.

Grade: B-

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New England Patriots

Round 1, Pick 32 - DT Malcom Brown, Texas
Round 2, Pick 64 - S Jordan Richards, Stanford
Round 3, Pick 97 - OLB Geneo Grissom, Oklahoma
Round 4, Pick 101 - DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas
Round 4, Pick 111 - OG Tre’ Jackson, Florida State
Round 4, Pick 131 - OL Shaq Mason, Georgia Tech
Round 5, Pick 166 - LS Joe Cardona, Navy
Round 6, Pick 178 - LB Matthew Wells, Mississippi State
Round 6, Pick 202 - TE A.J. Derby, Arkansas
Round 7, Pick 247 - CB Darryl Roberts, Marshall
Round 7, Pick 253 - OLB Xzavier Dickson, Alabama

I’m sick and tired about hearing how Bill Belichick can do no wrong because he absolutely butchered this draft. The Patriots had eleven picks in this draft and only took two or three picks that were the right value for where they were selected. Brown was good value at a position of need late in the first round, especially with the departure of veteran defensive tackle Vince Wilfork in the offseason. It made a ton of sense to invest a first round pick at a massive hole in the defensive line.

I like the selections of Flowers and Jackson in the fourth round, as they both have the potential to be starters in this league. The rest of the draft class was horrible with New England taking two players with seventh round value in the second and third rounds. Most draft boards didn't bother to include Wells, Derby, Roberts or Dickson and I have never heard any draft experts even mention any of those players. Bill Belichick can do wrong and this draft class shows it.

Grade: F

New York Jets

Round 1, Pick 6 - DT Leonard Williams, Southern California
Round 2, Pick 37 - WR Devin Smith, Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 82 - OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville
Round 4, Pick 103 - QB Bryce Petty, Baylor
Round 5, Pick 152 - OG Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M
Round 7, Pick 223 - DT Deon Simon, Northwestern State

When Leonard Williams was sliding down draft boards the Jets could have taken wide receiver Kevin White, however they decided to take the best player on the board, which was a smart move by New York. Even though the Jets have the best defensive line in the league, they took the consensus best overall player in the draft, making that defensive line even scarier. They came back in the second round and picked up Devin Smith, adding to a formidable group of receivers that already included Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.

Now the Jets wide receiving corps, which just two years ago was nonexistent, features a deep threat in Smith, a possession receiver in Decker and a true number one receiver with a chip on his shoulder in Marshall,  giving the Jets a solid mix of talented receivers that can be used for different purposes on offense. Bryce Petty isn't the immediate answer to the Jets QB woes, but given time to develop and tame his wild cannon of an arm behind the lackluster front of Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick, he could eventually become the answer the Jets have been looking for. However if an injury or two occurs or poor quarterbacking remains a constant, Petty may be forced under center by seasons end.

Grade: B

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