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2018 NFL Draft Grades: AFC East

[April 30, 2018] BUFFALO BILLS

1 (7). Josh Allen, QB: 6-5, 237, Wyoming

1 (16). Tremaine Edmunds, ILB: 6-4, 253, Virginia Tech

3 (96). Harrison Phillips, DT: 6-3, 307, Stanford

4 (121). Taron Johnson, CB: 5-11, 192, Weber St.

5 (154). Siran Neal, S: 6-0, 206, Jacksonville St.

5 (166). Wyatt Teller, OG: 6-5, 301, Virginia Tech

6 (187). Ray-Ray McCloud, WR: 5-10, 190, Clemson

7 (255). Austin Proehl, WR: 5-10, 185, North Carolina

Grade: A-

Allen landed in the ideal NFL city for several reasons. He has the requisite big arm to succeed in Buffalo come winter, he doesn't have to play Day 1 while developing behind AJ McCarron and he has time to earn the respect of teammates without being under the intense microscope of a big market. Meanwhile, Buffalo moved up for a potential franchise quarterback for a pair of second-rounders while bartering more draft assets to land Edmunds at No. 16. Adding Phillips -- a Kyle Williams clone and potential replacement -- toward the end of Day 2 was just icing on the cake.

Best Pick: Edmunds is a top-10 talent who slid to the middle of the first round due to the run on QBs. He is the youngest player in the draft, but is an athlete with great burst, range and fluidity.

Upside Pick: Phillips is a former wrestler with long arms who is scheme-versatile and diagnosis plays quickly.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

1 (23). Isaiah Wynn, OT: 6-3, 303, Georgia

1 (31). Sony Michel, RB: 5-10, 214, Georgia

2 (56). Duke Dawson, CB: 5-10, 197, Florida

5 (143). Ja'Whaun Bentley, LB: 6-2, 252, Purdue

6 (178). Christian Sam, LB: 6-1, 244, Arizona State

6 (210). Braxton Berrios, WR: 5-9, 184, Miami (Fla.)

7 (219). Danny Etling, QB: 6-2, 212, LSU

7 (243). Keion Crossen, CB: 5-9, 178, Western Carolina

7 (250). Ryan Izzo, TE: 6-4, 256, Florida State

Grade: B+

Trader Bill Belichick was at his finest, spending picks acquired for Jimmy Garoppolo and Brandin Cooks and flipping others for future draft capital, including a 2019 second-rounder from Chicago. Left tackle was a major need after Nate Solder bolted in free agency, and Wynn, a guard in college, has the arm length and technical savvy to step right in on Tom Brady's blindside. He'll be two spots down from former UGA teammate David Andrews at center opening holes for Michel. Dawson and Crossen, who ran 4.33 in the 40, are nickel cornerbacks until they master Belichick's diverse defense.

Best Pick: Michel. First time Belichick spent a first-rounder on a running back since Laurence Maroney. Michel's burst to the hole is elite, and he can avoid or absorb contact.

Upside Pick: Berrios. A punt returner first, Berrios can gradually step into a niche slot receiver role and climb the ladder late-round picks Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola (undrafted) did in this offense.

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NEW YORK JETS

1 (3). Sam Darnold, QB: 6-3, 211, Southern Cal

3 (72). Nathan Shepherd, DT: 6-4, 315, Fort Hays State

4 (107). Chris Herndon, TE: 6-4, 253, Miami (Fla.)

6 (179). Parry Nickerson, CB: 5-10, 182, Tulane

6 (180). Folorunso Fatukasi, DL: 6-4, 318, Connecticut

6 (204). Trenton Cannon, RB: 5-10, 185, Virginia State

Grade: B-

At long last and after many second-round swings and misses, the Jets endorsed the get-what-you-pay-for approach and lucked into Darnold after the Browns surprisingly went with Baker Mayfield at No. 1. GM Mike Maccagnan won't regret parting with a bounty of second-round picks if Darnold, 20, is starting and successful by next season. Shepherd performed like a first-round pick at the Senior Bowl and will be a 3-4 defensive end. Speed and athleticism were the focus late, particularly with Nickerson (4.32 40) and Cannon, a return specialist who had 20 total touchdowns from scrimmage.

Best Pick: Darnold. The obvious answer after mulling Mayfield and more, few expected USC's prized passer to be available at No. 3. Turnovers - 22 including nine fumbles in 2017 - are the only real knock. He won 20 games in two seasons as starter.

Upside Pick: Shepherd. The Canadian-born five-technique had to quit football to enter the workforce but refused to let the dream die. Bet on him filling Muhammad Wilkerson's DE spot.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

1 (11). Minkah Fitzpatrick, S: 6-0, 204, Alabama

2 (42). Mike Gesicki, TE: 6-6, 247, Penn State

3 (73). Jerome Baker, OLB: 6-1, 229, Ohio State

4 (123). Durham Smythe, TE: 6-5, 253, Notre Dame

4 (131). Kalen Ballage, RB: 6-2, 228, Arizona State

6 (209). Cornell Armstrong, DB: 5-11, 180, Southern Miss

7 (227). Quentin Poling, LB: 6-0, 235, Ohio

7 (229). Jason Sanders, K: 5-11, 190, New Mexico

Grade: A-

The Dolphins exited the draft with arguably the most versatile ballhawk in Fitzpatrick and the most explosive receiving tight end prospect in Gesicki. They closed off Day 2 with Baker, a 21-year-old undersized "Will" linebacker with tremendous athleticism and range in the run game. After adding Smythe and Ballage in the fourth round, they went deep prospecting for the remainder of the draft. They clearly believe QB Ryan Tannehill will return healthy. If Fitzpatrick and Gesicki live up to their potential, this should prove to be a strong haul.

Best Pick: Fitzpatrick was considered the top defender in this class by many experts. Not only is he a ballhawk with excellent instincts, Fitzpatrick works like a walk-on and will elevate the entire defense around him.

Upside Pick: Ballage has a nose for the end zone and can provide a short-yardage presence as a rookie. With a year under his belt of watching how Frank Gore plies his trade, Ballage could emerge as a great complement to Kenyan Drake.

--Field Level Media

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