Draft Grades - AFC East: Dolphins steal Tunsil, Jets come up short
With the 2016 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared during all seven rounds.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
New England Patriots
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Forfeited |
| 2 | CB Cyrus Jones |
| 3 | G Joe Thuney |
| 3 | QB Jacoby Brissett |
| 3 | DT Vincent Valentine |
| 4 | WR Malcolm Mitchell |
| 6 | LB Kamu Grugier-Hill |
| 6 | LB Elandon Roberts |
| 6 | OL Ted Karras |
| 7 | WR Devin Lucien |
Having forfeited their first round pick due to "Deflategate", the Patriots were limited in their ability to find a major difference-maker in the draft. Cyrus Jones could slide in as a nickel back in the Patriots' secondary and Joe Thuney is a typical savvy pick by New England and will serve as a swing lineman in 2016, potentially developing into a starter down the road. The decision to take a quarterback in the third round surprised some, but finding a successor for Tom Brady will be a legitimate concern for the Pats in the next few years. The additions of Malcolm Mitchell and Devin Lucien raises the number of receivers on the roster to 11, which means cuts are coming.
Grade: C
Miami Dolphins
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | OT Laremy Tunsil |
| 2 | CB Xavien Howard |
| 3 | RB Kenyan Drake |
| 3 | WR Leonte Carroo |
| 6 | WR Jakeem Grant |
| 6 | S Jordan Lucas |
| 7 | QB Brandon Doughty |
| 7 | TE Thomas Duarte |
While unfortunate for Laremy Tunsil, the last-minute leak of his bong hit video turned out to be a turn of good luck for the Dolphins. Miami ends up with a top-five talent and a potential Pro Bowl blocker, who they plan to use at guard, initially at least. Xavien Howard has plenty of upside, but he will need to prove himself as a cover man at the next level. The selection of Kenyan Drake will give the Dolphins a speedy ball carrier to pair with Jay Ajayi in Adam Gase's new offense. Leonte Carroo is an intriguing prospect, but will have to battle for playing time in a very crowded receiving corps.
Grade: A-
New York Jets
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | LB Darron Lee |
| 2 | QB Christian Hackenberg |
| 3 | LB Jordan Jenkins |
| 4 | DB Juston Burris |
| 5 | OT Brandon Shell |
| 7 | P Lachlan Edwards |
| 7 | WR Charone Peake |
The Jets' 2016 draft class will hinge on Christian Hackenberg and his ability to develop into a franchise quarterback. Even if free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't re-sign with New York, Hackenberg will likely spend some time on the bench behind Geno Smith or another veteran passer, giving him a chance to acclimate to the pro game. At the moment, Hackenberg is a flawed prospect and faces a long road towards becoming a quality starter. Darron Lee is an undersized linebacker who will need to add bulk if he is going to fend off blockers in the NFL. Third-round pick Jordan Jenkins is a versatile edge player and could emerge as the best pick of the draft for New York.
Grade: D
Buffalo Bills
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | DE Shaq Lawson |
| 2 | LB Reggie Ragland |
| 3 | DT Adolphus Washington |
| 4 | QB Cardale Jones |
| 5 | RB Jonathan Williams |
| 6 | WR Kolby Listenbee |
| 6 | CB Kevon Seymour |
No one was surprised when Rex Ryan's team used its first three picks on the defensive side of the ball. The good news is the Bills came away with excellent value throughout the draft. Shaq Lawson and Reggie Ragland will likely be starters from Day 1. Cardale Jones gives the team a high-upside quarterback prospect that can be groomed behind Tyrod Taylor. Jonathan Williams is a luxury pick, but was a rising star prior to sitting out 2015 with a foot injury. Even the Bills' sixth-round pick, receiver Kolby Listenbee, enters the league with at least one elite skill - his speed - which he believes is second to none.
Grade: A