Over the next eight weeks, NFL Pro Prospect will be breaking down all eight NFL divisions. There is 32 teams, four per division, and every team wants to hit a home run with their first round pick, no matter who the player is.
Week One: The AFC East
While the team won’t have a first round pick, thanks to Commissioner Roger Goodell and Deflate Gate, the Patriots will have to hit a home run with their second round draft choice.
Roger Goodell
Fortunately for New England, they have done a good job scouting and selecting future stars in the second round, a list that includes Sebastian Vollmer (2009), Rob Gronkowki (2010) and Jamie Collins (2013).
Also, the Patriots have a history of drafting for team needs a year or two ahead of time staying in front of a problem in order to transition from player-to-player as smooth as possible.
As it stands, the Patriots are young and talented at nearly every position on defense, but lack on offense with needs at running back, wide receiver, and offensive tackle. There is no workhorse back on the roster, all of the wide receivers are almost 30, and the tackles need depth or a replacement a year or two down the line.
Before Brady was bruised and beaten, hit 23 times by eventual Super Bowl champion Denver, 11 more than previous season high, my dream pick for New England would’ve been a running back like Derrick Henry or CJ Promise, but now, since the offensive line simply can’t protect Brady after being mauled, manhandled and overpowered in the AFC Championship Game; New England’s dream pick is Jason Spriggs, offensive tackle out of Indiana.
The Pick: Jason Spriggs, offensive tackle, Indiana.
Buffalo has a solid base of talent on the roster led by coach Rex Ryan, but they have to make some changes on both sides of the football if they want better results than the disappointing 8-8 season they just had.
Fortunately for Buffalo, they have done a good job scouting and selecting future stars in the first round, but it hasn’t been perfect. Since 2010, Buffalo has selected stars Marcell Dareus (2011), Stephen Gilmore (2012) and Sammy Watkins (2014), but has missed horribly with CJ Spiller (2010) and EJ Manuel (2013).
Unless the Bills re-sign Cordy Glenn, this is the team’s biggest need. Even if Glenn returns to Buffalo, the right tackle position will remain a question mark if neither Seantrel Henderson (diagnosed with Crohn’s disease this year) nor Cyrus Kouandjio can’t establish a consistently strong level of play to protect the quarterback.
Since I believe Cordy Glenn will return to buffalo, the Bills should look to target an impact defensive player in the draft. They need to find both a bigger body to play five-technique in Rex Ryan’s defense or a pass rusher to help with the Bills pass rush.
In 2014, the Bills’ defensive line was the best in football. Yet, just a year later, it regressed and Mario Williams’ days in Buffalo appear over. He didn’t fit within Ryan’s system, thus adding a nose tackle or five-technique defensive end to free up Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus is imperative.
Deforest Buckner might be the ideal defensive end, but he won’t be there when Buffalo selects.
There is one player that matches Buckner’s talent who can take on multiple blockers and set the edge; his name is Robert Nkemdiche, defensive lineman out of Ole Miss whom represents the biggest risk and largest upside of any potential draft pick.
Courtesy of Harris Highlights
The Pick: Robert Nkemdiche, defensive lineman, Ole Miss
The New York Jets have become well known for their futility and mistakes in the NFL draft becoming a punch line at this point, but the Jets are trending upwards under coach Todd Bowles after a 10-6 record and narrowly missing the playoffs.
Unfortunately for New York, they haven’t done a good job with scouting and selecting future stars in the first round. Since 2010, Buffalo has selected only two stars, Sheldon Richardson (2013) and Muhammad Wilkerson (2011), in addition to solid players Leonard Williams (2015) and Calvin Pryor (2014), but has missed horribly with Dee Milliner (2013), Quinton Coples (2012) and Josh Wilson (2010).
The Jets can go in many directions like quarterback finding a future franchise signal-caller since you likely won’t ever win the ultimate prize without one, a running back to replace free agent Chris Ivory or cornerback, in which the Jets have whiffed in recent years with drafting cornerbacks. In fact, their last two first round cornerbacks drafted, Milliner and Wilson, have been busts.
If I ran the organization, my choice is simple. Do whatever you can to draft a quarterback, but since I don’t, they’ll ignore it once again and place their immediate future in Ryan Fitzpatrick and continue developing Bryce Petty.
Since that won’t happen, outside linebacker looks like the biggest position need right now. The Jets cut draft bust Coples and Calvin Pace is 35. Rookie Lorenzo Mauldin is promising, but he’s unproven. Therefore, adding a pass rusher that can complement the Jets dominant defensive line is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Eastern Kentucky defensive end/outside linebacker Noah Spence is the dynamic edge defender the Jets should be looking for as a quick-twitch pass rusher who can get to the quarterback consistently off the edge, their own version of Von Miller.
Courtesy of Harris Highlights
The Pick: Noah Spence, defensive end/outside linebacker, Eastern Kentucky
Miami Dolphins
Since 2010, Miami has drafted DeVante Parker (2015), can’t stay healthy, average Ja’Wuan James (2014), can’t stay healthy, major draft bust Dion Jordan (2013), Ryan Tannehill (2012), hasn’t led Miami to anything, Mike Pouncey (2011), only player to reach a Pro Bowl, Jared Odrick (2010).
Does that inspire confidence that Miami will get it right? I didn’t think so, but nonetheless, Miami will select someone. So let’s find out that may be.
Cameron Wake is 34 and could be a salary cap casualty and both Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby are free agents. If Miami lose one or three, so they may need to address this position at some point in the draft.
Miami’s offensive line has been atrocious for a few years now. Not only has the line been constantly unhealthy for the past several years, but Miami’s guards Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas ranks among the worst in the NFL. In fact, Thomas was considered the worst guard in the NFL last year, but drafting offensive line in the first round doesn’t make sense.
Miami still has left tackle Branden Albert, but injuries are a concern. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James has also missed significant time this season. Miami will probably address this situation in free agency or in the middle rounds of the draft.
That leaves Miami with one major number one need; cornerback. Brent Grimes will be 33 next season while showing signs of regression. 2013 second round draft bust Jamar Taylor has suffered from injury throughout his career, and has underwhelmed. Playing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots twice a year, Miami desperately needs to upgrade.
Fortunately this year’s draft is stocked with good cornerbacks, and Vernon Hargreaves III out of Florida may be the best in the draft.
Courtesy of Clay De La Garza
The Pick: Vernon Hargreaves III, cornerback, Florida
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