AFC East

-New England Patriots 

Cole Strange, G, UT Chattanooga: C

Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor: D-

Marcus Jones, CB, Houston: A-

Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State: A-

Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State: B

Bailey Zappe, QB, WKU: C

Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina: B

Sam Roberts, DT/DE, Northwest Missouri State: C

Chasen Hines, G/C, LSU: A-

Andrew Stueber, OT/G, Michigan: B

Analysis: After an awesome 2021 Draft filled with great value selections, I don’t feel like I can say the same this year. I like Cole Strange, but I don’t like reaching on him in the first round. However, my least favorite pick was actually Tyquan Thornton. Non-early declares from Baylor, and other Big 12 schools are often bad bets to make in the NFL. The success rate is low, and given the fact that I was unimpressed with his film, I don’t think he’ll break the mold. It wasn’t all bad, though. Marcus & Jack Jones were both nice secondary pickups, and the Hines-Stueber O-Line stack was a nice finish to the Draft. Overall Grade: C-

-Buffalo Bills 

Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida: A+

James Cook, RB, Georgia: A

Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor: C-

Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State: A

Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State: A+

Christian Benford, CB, Villanova: B-

Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech: C

Baylor Spector, LB, Clemson: B+

Analysis: The Buffalo Bills needed to address cornerback to have a day one quality starter in case Tre’Davious White is not 100 percent healthy. They did this early and got Kaiir Elam who even has the potential to be a cornerback one if White wasn’t on the team. With his ability to play both man and zone coverage Elam was a perfect fit in round one. They then got a playmaker for Josh Allen at the running back position in James Cook who can also align out wide with his receiving skills. Getting a back that has receiving upside and a cornerback was the main focal point heading into the draft and after that they just needed depth players. While Terrel Bernard will be more of a developmental guy they got a steal in the fifth by adding a playmaker with Khalil Shakir. The next steal was in round six when Matt Araiza, the best special teamer in the draft fell perfectly to them. Overall grade: A

-Miami Dolphins

Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia: B

Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech: B+

Cameron Goode, LB, California: B

Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State: C-

Analysis: Tindall is one of the highest-upside linebackers and has good size as well. He is an elite athlete and can be explosive on the point of attack. His tackling ability should allow him to be productive until he really rounds out his game. Ezukanma should work in this system down in Miami, his run after catch ability makes him an interesting pick in the fourth round. Looking at the Dolphins draft as a whole, it was good but not great. However, they did most of their damage prior to the draft and should be in for a good season. Overall grade: B

-New York Jets

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati: A+

Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: A+

Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State: A+

Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State: A

Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State: A-

Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana: A

Michael Clemons, EDGE, Texas A&M: B

Analysis: The New York Jets hammered it home on night one and won the draft. With their original picks, they got the best cornerback in Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and an absolute playmaker in Garrett Wilson to help Zach Wilson. They then addressed their second biggest need at EDGE by trading back into the first round to get Jermaine Johnson. Then getting more offensive playmakers for Wilson on day two in Breece Hall and Jeremy Ruckert showed how the Jets executed their draft plan perfectly. If that wasn’t enough, they continued to get draft steals by getting Max Mitchell who has the potential to develop into a great swing tackle of the future for them. With the talent the Jets were able to get, they addressed all of their biggest needs. The future is very bright for this team. Overall grade: A+