2021 NFL Draft Grades: AFC East Overall Grades
Part 6 of the 2021 NFL Draft Grades series — A full breakdown of each Franchise in the AFC East.
The AFC Division is full of youth at Quarterback and each Franchise has their Quarterback of the future set in place. It’s an intriguing Division that is no longer dominated by the New England Patriots after two decades of glory. Now the attention has shifted over to Bills Mafia and the Rise of Superstar Quarterback Josh Allen.
The question is did any of the other AFC East teams lessen the gap on Buffalo to close and fight for the AFC East Division Crown? Let's find out!
If you’ve read the previous versions of this series, then you’re already familiar with the grading scale and I won’t be regurgitating them. If you are new to my content please refer to the 2021 NFL Draft Reviews section below for later versions of the 2021 NFL Grade series, which explain the grading scale.
2021 NFL Draft Reviews:
1. Miami Dolphins
Draft Picks:
Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle (6th Overall), Miami (FL) DE Jaelan Phillips (18th Overall), Oregon S Jevon Holland (36th Overall), Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg (42nd Overall), Boston TE Hunter Long (81st Overall), UMass OT Larnel Coleman (231st Overall), Cincinnati RB Gerrid Doaks (244th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 9/10
Summary:
Jaylen Waddle was surprisingly taken over by his Alabama Heisman Trophy-winning teammate, Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith. We all knew the Dolphins would go either Penei Sewell or Wide Receiver. If they took a Receiver they would take Smith. That didn’t happen though. Miami wisely took the better prospect of the two.
Waddle is a speedy playmaking Receiver with game-breaking ability. His route running and ability to create separation are second to none. He doesn’t have the size concerns that Smith has and can fight off defenders in the short-yard passing game. Waddle reunites with his former Alabama teammate and Dolphins Starting Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and together the two should be a dynamic duo.
Additionally, the Dolphins stole Jaelan Phillips at 18th Overall. Phillips is a monster 6'5 athletic freak of nature with a “mean streak” on the Edge. He has quick hands, footwork, and technique to win his one-on-one battles and fight free to get to the Quarterback. Phillips is athletic and quick enough to stop mobile Quarterbacks as well, which is why he has star potential.
The Dolphins weren’t done impressing in the 2021 NFL Draft though. Hunter Long and Liam Eichenberg will provide some great pass blocking. Hunter Long in particular is an underrated pass catcher as well who will stay underneath as a security blanket to help move the chains when things break down for Tua.
Jevon Holland is an all-around Safety that can do it all. He has great size, speed, and athleticism. He can get to the Quarterback, play man coverage, and make plays on the ball (9 career interceptions in two full College Football seasons).
Holland was a 2020 College Football opt-out who still went fairly high in the draft because of his elite attributes. The Miami Dolphins no question had a great 2021 NFL Draft Class.
2. Buffalo Bills
Draft Picks:
Miami (FL) DE Gregory Rousseau (30th Overall), Wake Forest DE Carlos Basham Jr. (61st Overall), Northern Iowa OT Spencer Brown (93rd Overall), Miami (OH) OT Tommy Doyle (161st Overall), Houston WR Marquez Stevenson (203rd Overall), Pittsburgh S Damar Hamlin (212th Overall), Wisconsin CB Rachad Wildgoose (213th Overall), Texas Tech OG Jack Anderson (236th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 7.5/10
Summary:
The kings of the AFC East had a solid 2021 NFL Draft. Buffalo had possibly the Steal of the 1st Round in Gregory Rousseau who was a 2020 College Football opt-out. However, in 2019, Rousseau showed what he could do as he finished the 2019 College Football Season with 15.5 Sacks.
The Bills also added another great Edge rusher in Carlos Basham Jr., who is amongst the best at his position in this 2021 Draft Class. The problem with Basham Jr. though, is that he oftentimes doesn’t give max-effort. It’s one of the main reasons he wasn’t a 1st Round pick.
Late Round picks Tommy Doyle and Marquez Stevenson were nice additions on the Offensive side of the ball. Stevenson has great hands, understands how to run crisp routes, and has good speed. Doyle is a 6'8 developmental Offensive Tackle that has potential and could be a starter down the line.
3. New York Jets
Draft Picks:
BYU QB Zach Wilson (2nd Overall), USC OT/OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (14th Overall), Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore (34th Overall), UNC RB Michael Carter II (107th Overall), Auburn S Jamien Sherwood (146th Overall), Duke S Michael Carter II (154th Overall), Pittsburgh CB Jason Pinnock (175th Overall), FSU S Hamsah Nasirildeen (186th Overall), Kentucky CB Brandin Echols (200th Overall), Arkansas DT Jonathan Marshall (207th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 6.5/10
Summary:
There are many picks in the Jets draft class that was questionable. For one, while I do like Zach Wilson, his playstyle isn’t much different than Sam Darnold who failed in New York and failed to elevate the players around him. We’ll see if Zach Wilson can fare better. The drafting of Tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker was a bit of a reach and is not someone you trade up to get.
The Jets did redeem themselves after round 1 though. Elijah Moore is a speedy Slot Receiver that will make Zach Wilson’s life easier by making big play underneath with his Yards-after-catch (YAC) ability. Moore is shifty, elusive, and can make people miss. The late-round addition of Hamsah Nasirildeen, a rough-rider at Safety was a good value pick.
4. New England Patriots
Draft Picks:
Alabama QB Mac Jones (15th Overall), Alabama DT Christian Barmore (38th Overall), Oklahoma DE Ronnie Perkins (96th Overall), Oklahoma RB Rhamondre Stevenson (120th Overall), Michigan LB Cameron McGrone (177th Overall), Missouri S Joshuah Bledsoe (188th Overall), Colorado OT William Sherman (197th Overall), UCF WR Tre Nixon (242nd Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 6/10
Summary:
Bill Belichick and The New England Patriots had a typical Bill Belichick kind of draft. The only thing out of the ordinary was the Drafting of Mac Jones in the 1st round. The last time the Patriots took a quarterback in the first round was in 1993 when they selected Drew Bledsoe 1st Overall.
Bledsoe was a 3-time Pro-Bowler for the Patriots and was infamously benched by Bill Belichick for the Legendary Tom Brady. Brady is still playing in the NFL and is coming off a Super Bowl Championship season and will probably win another one in the 2021 season.
The Patriots by contrast are on a rebuild and will struggle to stay above.500. Enter Mac Jones, who fell on Draft night, but what really happened was that Kyle Shanahan came to his senses and realized that Trey Lance was the better prospect and fit for his system. Jones, however, is a great fit for the Patriots. He won’t have to play right away and can sit and learn behind Cam Newton
Christian Barmore is a run-stuffing Defensive Tackle that was a steal for New England. He can get to the Quarterback as well but specializes in eating up double teams to create open-up lanes for his pass-rushing teammates to get to the Quarterback.
Their 3rd round pick, Ronnie Perkins will do just that, get to the Quarterback. This Draft Class will be highly contingent on whether or not the Patriots hit or miss on Mac Jones.
Jeffrey Genao is a Writer and Contributor for Top Level Sports, Basketball University, and Kitchen Tales. You can read more of his Content at Top Level Sports, Basketball University, Kitchen Tales, and the Official Basketball University website https://officialbballuniversity.com/author/jeffrey-genao/.
