Draft Grades - AFC East: Dolphins, Jets add significant talent
With the 2015 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors handout their initial grades for how teams fared during all seven rounds.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Buffalo Bills
| Rd | Player |
|---|---|
| 2 | CB Ronald Darby |
| 3 | OL John Miller |
| 5 | RB Karlos Williams |
| 6 | LB Tony Steward |
| 6 | TE Nick O'Leary |
| 7 | WR Dezmin Lewis |
The Bills weren't armed with many picks after trading up in the first round of the 2014 draft to acquire Sammy Watkins, meaning they had to make the most of their six picks this year. Darby will compete with Leodis McKelvin and Corey Graham to help give Buffalo a stronger presence across from Stephon Gilmore. Williams enters a crowded backfield and was one of three Florida State players taken by the Bills. It's nice that EJ Manuel will have some former Seminoles to hang around with, but overall Buffalo's draft was unimpressive.
Grade: C
Miami Dolphins
| Rd | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | WR DeVante Parker |
| 2 | DT Jordan Phillips |
| 4 | OL Jamil Douglas |
| 5 | DB Bobby McCain |
| 5 | RB Jay Ajayi |
| 5 | DB Cedric Thompson |
| 5 | WR Tony Lippett |
After securing a potential number one receiver with their first pick, the Dolphins are set to field an extremely potent offense in 2015. Ryan Tannehill will now have a receiving corps that features Parker, Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills and tight end Jordan Cameron. Miami also got very solid value with defensive tackle Phillips in the second round and running back Ajayi in the fifth. The Dolphins are definitely a team on the rise.
Grade: A-
New England Patriots
| Rd | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | DT Malcom Brown |
| 2 | S Jordan Richards |
| 3 | DE Geneo Grissom |
| 4 | DE Trey Flowers |
| 4 | OL Tre' Jackson |
| 4 | OL Shaq Mason |
| 5 | LS Joe Cardona |
| 6 | LB Matthew Wells |
| 6 | LB AJ Derby |
| 7 | DB Darryl Roberts |
| 7 | LB Xzavier Dickson |
Picking at the end of the first round, the Super Bowl champions were able to land an impact defensive lineman in Brown, whose versatility will be a welcome addition in New England. Richards appeared to be a reach in the second round, but the Patriots made up for it by grabbing Jackson, who could compete for a starting spot on the interior offensive line. In classic Patriots fashion, they selected a long snapper in the fifth round.
Grade: B-
New York Jets
| Rd | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | DE Leonard Williams |
| 2 | WR Devin Smith |
| 3 | LB Lorenzo Mauldin |
| 4 | QB Bryce Petty |
| 5 | OL Jarvis Harrison |
| 7 | DL Deon Simon |
The Jets had arguably the draft's best defender fall to them in the first round. It's a coup for New York, who will now have to decide how to use Williams on a defensive line that already features Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. New York's depth chart at receiver is also looking fairly impressive with speedster Smith joining Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. While he likely won't start this season, Petty may be the Jets starter sooner rather than later if Geno Smith doesn't show significant improvement.
Grade: B+