Draftaganza! - AFC East

This is the first of a series of eight posts from Adam analyzing the 2010 NFL Draft and what it means for each franchise.

This should be fun, Rex Ryan won't let this not be fun.  The Dolphins are better with Brandon Marshall and an emerging Chad Henne.  The Jets are better with a nice draft and slew of free agent additions.  The Pats had another deep draft and continue to reinvigorate the base of this team.  The Bills still suck. 

Buffalo Bills

1.09 Spiller, C.J., RB, Clemson
2.09 Troup, Torell, DT, UCF
3.08 Carrington, Alex, DE, Arkansas St.
4.09 Easley, Marcus, WR, Connecticut
5.09 Wang, Ed, OT, Virginia Tech
6.09 Moats, Arthur, DE, James Madison
6.23 Batten, Danny, DE, South Dakota St.
7.02 Brown, Levi, QB, Troy
7.09 Calloway, Kyle, OT, Iowa

Don't get me wrong, I love Spiller, but you cannot guarantee me that he will be different than Jahvid Best or Dexter McCluster.  I see Spiller as a luxury pick, a guy that a team without glaring needs might take.  The Bills have no offensive line, no quarterback, a porous defense; you name it the Bills can't do it.  So while Spiller elevates the Bills' talent level, he does not address a need.  Their second and third picks seem like reaches as well, and they did not address quarterback until the 7^th round.  They also didn’t address the o-line until the 5^th.  Bad draft for the Bills. 

Miami Dolphins

1.28 Odrick, Jared, DT, Penn St.
2.08 Misi, Koa, DE, Utah
3.09 Jerry, John, OT, Mississippi
4.21 Edds, A.J., LB, Iowa
5.14 Carroll, Nolan, CB, Maryland
5.32 Jones, Reshad, SS, Georgia
7.05 McCoy, Chris, DL, Middle Tennessee St.
7.45 Spitler, Austin, LB, Ohio St.

This is the definition of a no-name draft.  Yet for Bill Parcells and Tony "I'm doing my best impersonation of Da Bears Superfans" Sparano, I'm sure that is just fine.  Odrick is a very solid player and can probably fit in their rotation immediately.  Misi Koa comes from a very good defensive system in Utah, and is a rare athlete that should eventually add pass rush to this front seven.  John Jerry could have gone much higher and he will add depth to a solid offensive line.  Overall this team got incrementally better through the draft, and made a huge splash by landing Marshall.  If the defense is solid, and Henne can take another step forward, this team will be in every game they play and could compete for a playoff spot.  They are, however, in a nightmare division.

New England Patriots

1.27 McCourty, Devin, CB, Rutgers

2.10 Gronkowski, Rob, TE, Arizona

2.21 Cunningham, Jermaine, DE, Florida

2.30 Spikes, Brandon, LB, Florida

3.26 Price, Taylor, WR, Ohio

4.15 Hernandez, Aaron, TE, Florida

5.19 Mesko, Zoltan, P, Michigan

6.36 Larsen, Ted, OL, North Carolina St.

7.01 Welch, Thomas, OL, Vanderbilt

7.40 Deaderick, Brandon, DE, Alabama

7.41 Weston, Kade, DT, Georgia

7.43 Robinson, Zac, QB, Oklahoma St.

The Pats continue rebuilding their core for the second straight draft.  They have had seven second-round picks over the past two drafts; this team should really have a stable of talent for a long time.  McCourty helps their ailing secondary, I think Spikes can start from day one and Cunningham is a great athlete at linebacker as well.  This defense will be better this year as last year's young players progress and this year's crop comes in to help.  Aaron Hernandez is a better tight end in my opinion than the guy from Arizona they grabbed in the second round, but either way they nabbed two dangerous receiving tight ends that can help fill the middle of the field void created by Wes Welker's injury.  Julian Edleman is very good as well.  I thought they could have gotten Dez Bryant to give them a young deep threat but they went a different route.  Overall you have to like the sheer number of picks as at least a few of these guys should be very nice players for this team, and I think their depth will be underrated going into this year.

New York Jets

1.29 Wilson, Kyle, CB, Boise St.

2.29 Ducasse, Vlad, OT, Massachusetts

4.14 McKnight, Joe, RB, Southern Cal

5.08 Conner, John, RB, Kentucky

Kyle Wilson, Antonio Cromartie, and Darrell Revis will form the best corner trio in football.  Ducasse is raw and powerful, but surrounded by Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson, he should just be able to be a physical force and not worry too much about making mistakes.  Shonn Greene is a rising star, LaDanian Tomlinson is at least versatile and experienced, and McKnight has a load of talent.  They have great receiving threats in Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and Dustin Keller, and a rising player in Mark Sanchez.  This team has the chance, if Sanchez progresses, to be one of the most well-rounded offenses in football.  Defensively, their front seven is a nightmare with Kris Jenkins, Shaun Ellis, Calvin Pace, David Harris, and Bart Scott, not to mention Jason Taylor rushing the passer.  I think on paper this may be the best team in football.