NFL Draft 2019: AFC East Draft Recap

Here are my AFC East grades for 2019 NFL Draft for the following teams: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets.

The Buffalo Bills upgraded the trenches with their first two selections and have surrounded Josh Allen with more support in free agency on offense. The Miami Dolphins have found a solution at quarterback, for now, in Josh Rosen (by trading their 2nd round pick) as they hope to build around their young talent. The New England Patriots took a lot of shots with their draft selections in the middle of the draft and look to repeat for another super bowl with Tom Brady. The New York Jets made some key signings on both sides of the ball, as they hope Sam Darnold continues to develop.

Buffalo Bills- 8 Selections: Best Pick-Ed Oliver, Worst Pick- Devin Singletary

Cavemen Rating:

The Bills have added many offensive linemen and weapons for Josh Allen, surrounding him with talent that he just did not have last year. But with their first pick, head coach Sean McDermott gets his versatile defensive lineman in Ed Oliver, as he fills a huge need they have had for a few seasons. Oliver will help out their defensive line that already has Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, Shaq Lawson, Harrison Phillips, and Star Lotulelei.

The offensive line unit as a whole will be intriguing to watch as they have to decide which combination gives them the best five starters on the line. Four of their projected starters were additions this past offseason, as Dion Dawkins is the only starter from last year at left tackle (for now). The Bills got a steal in Cody Ford, as he should be an instant starter at guard or right tackle. Quinton Spain, Mitch Morse, Ty Nsekhe, and LaAdrian Waddle are all new additions that will start or be viable backups.

The selections of Dawson Knox, Vosean Joseph, and Jaquan Johnson were all good selections where they were taken in the draft. Signed in free agency, tight end Tyler Kroft suffered a broken foot in the offseason practices so Knox could step in a potential start. Both Vosean Joseph and Jaquan Johnson (can sit behind Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde) give them more depth at linebacker and safety as Lorenzo Alexander is not getting younger with Joseph as a potential replacement.

Tommy Sweeney could now play a backup role to Knox as they were lacking tight end depth last year. Darryl Johnson gives them another edge rusher with some speed on the outside. I thought they were going to take a wide receiver or cornerback, despite them signing a few veterans at those positions.

One pick I did not get was Devin Singletary and even though he is a good player for where they picked him, Buffalo is stacked at running back. The Bills signed Frank Gore, Chris Ivory, and T.J. Yeldon but with LeSean McCoy still on the roster, I am not sure how much playing time Singletary will get. But other then that, they filled almost all their needs this past offseason.

Miami Dolphins- 6 Selections: Best Pick- Christian Wilkins, Worst Pick- Andrew Van Ginkel

Cavemen Rating:

Other then the Miami Dolphins drafting Christian Wilkins, the best pickup was Josh Rosen, as they only gave up a 2nd round pick to the Arizona Cardinals on day two of the 2019 NFL Draft. They could plan him as the starter over Ryan Fitzpatrick and if he does not work out, it does not limit them from taking a quarterback early in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Christian Wilkins gives them an interior defensive lineman that will pair well with Davon Godchaux as they needed younger talent on their defensive line. They should have taken another defensive end as that is their weakest position with Charles Harris as one starter.

Michael Deiter was a nice pickup, as he could play guard or tackle and their offensive line needed a lot of work this offseason. Isaiah Prince could be a backup or start eventually at right tackle. Even though they addressed guard and tackle, I am not sure how much they upgraded their offensive line much from last year but with the lack of talent they have, getting younger bodies is necessary as the Dolphins will hope their draft picks develop.

Myles Gaskin gives the Dolphins more depth at running back as he will sit behind Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage but could be a role player later on in the season. Miami is going old school and are making Chandler Cox their starting full back, improving the running game and giving them another option on offense.

I was surprised they did not add a cornerback or wide receiver late in the draft but they have some young talent there still that they hope to step up in 2019. Andrew Van Ginkel was a head-scratching pick as I thought he was over-drafted at a position that already has starters so I am not sure how much he plays this season.

New England Patriots- 10 Selections: Best Pick- Chase Winovich, Worst Pick- Jake Bailey

Cavemen Rating:

The New England Patriots, Super Bowl LIII champions, look to make another run at the Super Bowl with Tom Brady at the helm. Even though they were the champions last year, they still had one of the most selections in the 2019 NFL Draft out of any team, with ten total (most on Day 2 of the draft). With these picks, they pretty much filled every single need along with their free agent acquisitions.

Brady getting a big-bodied wide receiver would be unfair but that actually came into fruition, as the Patriots select N’Keal Harry with their first pick. Harry is versatile enough to play on the outside or in the slot as a good red zone threat and possession receiver. He could start on the outside, as they also added Demaryius Thomas and other receivers in free agency.

The Patriots improved their cornerback group with Joejuan Williams and Ken Webster in the 2019 NFL Draft. Williams may play in rotation as he can start on the opposite side of Stephon Gilmore with Jason McCourty on the outside. Both Williams and Webster have nice sizes for outside cornerbacks and could eventually develop into starters.

Chase Winovich, at that pick, was great value as he can start opposite Michael Bennett (who was an offseason trade). Deatrich Wise Jr. can move outside and inside on the defensive line, along with John Simon and Derek Rivers as situational pass rushers. Byron Cowart was not the defensive tackle I thought they would take, as they could have taken one early, but he has some potential with a few flashes of disruptive play on the inside.

Yodny Cajuste and Hjalte Froholdt were great value picks, as they can develop and have no urgency to start with the starters they have on the offensive line. Cajuste fell in the draft due to injury concerns, but he could turn it around and be a potential starter for them. Froholdt gives them a player they can mold into a nasty, interior offensive lineman that will give them depth at that position for now.

I am questioning why they did not draft a young tight end to pair with Austin Sefarian- Jenkins but they signed Ben Watson in free agency (due to Gronk retiring). Damien Harris’s role will be interesting as they already have all their running backs; including Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead. Jarrett Stidham is listed as the successor to Brady as he can be a backup for a few years before Brady retires. They also took Jake Bailey, a punter to compete with Ryan Allen, which may not be the best idea on day 3 of the draft.

New York Jets- 6 Selections: Best Selection- Quinnen Williams, Worst Selection- Chuma Edoga

Cavemen Rating:

The New York Jets made the no brainer pick with Quinnen Williams. He will be the corner stone of their defensive line as he can play some nose and some 3-4 defensive end. Williams can pair with Leonard Williams as one of the better defensive lines in the AFC East, as they also brought back Henry Anderson as he had a better season than most thought in 2018.

With the Jets staying in a 3-4 defense, Jachai Polite will play at outside linebacker as a pass rusher and will most likely start opposite Jordan Jenkins or be in a rotation with Brandon Copeland. Polite had one of the worst offseason reviews, as he had terrible athetic performances and was not great in interviews. However, getting him where he fell in the draft could pay off big for the Jets; as he can provide the edge rush presence they have lacked for a while.

Blake Cashman is a undersized linebacker in a 3-4, but gives them depth and range at the position. The Jets signed C.J. Mosely in free agency and now have him starting along with Avery Williamson in the middle of their defense. Their run defense should be a lot better compared to last year with their upgraded front seven.

Even though the Jets have Chris Herndon, Trevon Wesco can be a good number two tight end that can back him up and help out in the run game as well. Sam Darnold now has some new weapons as they signed Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder in free agency as well. I was surprised they did not draft a receiver, as they can always use more pass catchers for Darnold.

Darnold needs better protection in front of him, as their offensive line was upgraded with them trading for Kelechi Osemele earlier in the offseason. One pick I thought was confusing was Chuma Edoga. Even though he can play tackle and potentially guard, Edoga was slightly over drafted and I thought there were better prospects on the offensive line they could have taken at that spot. He did go to the same college as Darnold but they could have made a better selection with good value here.

Cornerback has always been an issue, as of late, but they address the need with Blessuan Austin, who I thought was not a bad pick but an earlier selection at corner would have been better. The Jets signed Brian Poole to be the slot corner but they could still use a starter on the outside opposite Trumaine Johnson.

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