2009 AFC East Draft Review

Buffalo Bills

Terrell Owens is getting most of the off-season and organized team
activity publicity, but the Bills added a pass rusher, a vertical
receiving tight end, two offensive linemen, and three defensive
backs all in need positions. Aaron Maybin was a high risk, high
reward selection. He has numerous factors going against him to
succeed in the league. First, he is junior. Unless you play running
back, the success rate for underclassmen is less than fifty percent.
He only started ten games in his career and didn’t even start at
the beginning of the 2008 season. Eleven is very high for a
situation pass rusher. Buffalo’s “other” first round pick, Eric
Wood, was high on most team’s draft boards. He was a four year
starter with a track record of consistency and a high level of play.
The Bills needed a pass rusher after only 24 sacks in 2008, but
Aaron Maybin was a surprise selection at the eleventh pick for a
variety of reasons. One, Chris Kelsay is undersized like Maybin
and has an injury history that keeps him off the field. Secondly,
he lacks the strength to play the run and the ability to separate
from huge linemen. That being said, he has an explosive first
step, is athletic, and plays with a lot of energy. Eric Wood is
penciled in as a starter at right guard. He is a mauler that is
competitive and physical. He plays with good leverage if he
bends his knees and stays low. Jairus Byrd may be the Bills’
draft sleeper with skills to play free safety or corner. Athletic and
instinctive he is also disciplined, versatile, and dependable in his
overall play. He has good ball anticipation and tackling ability.
Andy Levitre is another guard prospect that has experience at
tackle. He is similar to Wood in his physical demeanor and
aggressiveness. Explosive in pass protection to punch and finish,
he may eventually be the left guard. Tight end Shawn Nelson is
a more skilled receiver than Derek Fine and Derek Schouman. He
brings a vertical presence to the pass game down the middle of
the field with T.O. and Lee Evans on the outside. He needs more
bulk to be an effective blocker. Nic Harris is a conversion project
from safety. He is sudden getting downhill and aggressive in his
play. Harris will have a chance to unseat Keith Ellison and Pat
Thomas if he plays to his ability. Cary Harris has good man-toman
cover skills and has a chance to make the team with
developmental time. Ellis Lankster is a developmental corner
that is willing to support the run and contribute on special teams.
GRADE: GOOD.




FREE AGENCY: Terrell Owens signed with the Bills for a
guaranteed $6.5 million dollars for one year and should open
things up for Lee Evans and give Trent Edwards another viable
weapon. Geoff Hangartner will start at center after Duke Preston’s
departure to Green Bay. Dominic Rhodes will split time with Fred
Jackson if Marshawn Lynch is suspended early in the season by
the league. Ryan Fitzpatrick will back up Edwards at quarterback,
but got valuable starting experience at Cincinnati last year. Drayton
Florence will back up second year corner Leodis McKelvin.







Miami Dolphins




After the Miami defections of Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill to
Denver, the Dolphins needed to upgrade their secondary. Vontae Davis,
the athletic cover man from Illinois, was drafted to start at one corner
position. Sean Smith, the tall angular corner from Utah will also get a
chance to compete for a starting position. Linebacker was a need position
and wasn’t addressed until the seventh round. The Dolphins think free
agent Cameron Wake, after upgrading his game in Canada, will help as
an edge pass rusher. The draft didn’t do much to help Chad Pennington
to get any difference makers at receiver. Corner Vontae Davis has
outstanding athletic ability and closing quickness supporting the run.
He has the size and strength to reroute receivers, get position, and keep
it in man-to-man coverage. His ball reactions and timing are off. A high
maintenance player, he has all the tools to star on Sundays. Pat White
is a special talent that makes plays. Elusive and electric in his play, he
has top end speed and quickness to break contain or scramble for positive
yards. He will keep defensive coordinators up at night. Drafted as a
quarterback, he will bring a different dimension to the Wildcat offense.
Sean Smith is a big press corner with good athletic ability. He has long
arms to reroute receivers but lacks the quick movement out of transition
to break on the ball. He is not loose hipped, smooth, or fluid. He is a
developmental height, weight, and speed project. Patrick Turner is a
big slot type receiver with inconsistent hands. He struggles to get off of
press coverage. A long strider, he has some unique skills. The Dolphins
are looking for a big red zone receiver after Ernest Wilford did not play
up to expectations in 2008. Brian Hartline is a good sized
developmental receiver that has average athletic ability. He caught 21
passes in 2008 averaging 22.4 yards per catch. He needs to improve his
route running and contribute on special teams if he hopes to make the
final roster. John Nalbone is a developmental tight end that needs to
improve his blocking and strength. A competitive and athletic small
college player, he has good hands. He was not invited to the Combine
but had a good pre draft workout. He hails from Bill Parcell’s hometown.
Chris Clemons is the sleeper of the Dolphins’ draft. The rangy and
athletic safety has rare speed and a closing burst on the receiver or ball
carrier. He has good instincts and anticipation. He displays corner tools
and skills that will help him succeed at safety. Andrew Gardner is an
angular tackle with first step quickness. He’s a heady player that uses
his long arms to his advantage. He played left tackle in college, but
projects to the right side because of his marginal foot quickness. He is a
size prospect with fringe skills. J.D. Folsom is a developmental outside
linebacker with good straight line speed. He plays hard and with good
intensity. He will be 25 years old in August. Folsom did not attend the
Combine. GRADE: AVERAGE.




FREE AGENCY: The Dolphins re-signed three starters in right tackle
Vernon Carey, strong safety Yeremiah Bell, and inside linebacker Channing
Crowder. Center Jake Grove was signed away from Oakland to battle the
AFC East’s nose tackles. Cameron Wake, an athletic pass rusher from Penn
State by the way of the Canadian League, is a sleeper free agent. Gibril
Wilson was signed to start at free safety after he was released from the
Raiders. Former Cardinal Eric Green will be the back up at corner.







New England Patriots








The Patriots needed to address the secondary shortcomings in 2008
and did that with the drafting of Patrick Chung and Darius Butler, two
second round selections. Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden were also
added in free agency. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork is a free agent in 2010
and New England responded by drafting three nose tackles. Patrick
Chung won’t stay down on the depth chart long once the bullets start
flying. He will push Brandon Meriweather for the starting position
once he learns the defensive schemes. Physically and mentally tough,
he will be productive on special teams’ coverage while learning the
defense. Ron Brace is a wide-bodied grass grabber that can gum up the
inside running lanes and occupy two blockers. Not a great athlete, but
he is a top effort try hard player. Naturally strong, he will battle to get
in the front line rotation. Darius Butler is another addition to the
secondary. The Patriots were torched for 27 touchdown passes in 2008.
Butler brings outstanding athletic ability as a cover corner with speed.
He will give Wilhite and Wheatley a run for their money. Sebastian
Vollmer was a reach in the second round, but fits into the Patriots’ line
prototype. He is a developmental prospect with measurables and some
pro physical skills. A major work in progress, he has an injury history.
Brandon Tate may be a PUP (physically unable to play) candidate
after tearing his ACL and MCL in his right knee in October of 2008. A
natural hand catcher, he has special receiving and kick return skills.
Tyrone McKenzie is a skilled linebacker that makes plays. He has
been productive over his career. A tackling machine, he has the talent to
make the New England team and be a major contributor on special
teams while he learns the defensive scheme. Rich Ohrnberger is a
prototype New England guard; smart, tough, and crafty. He is probably
headed to the practice squad. George Bussey has experience at both
guard and tackle, but projects to guard. He must do everything right to
make the team. A developmental player, he did not go to the Combine.
He was a three-year starter in college. Jake Ingram is a long snapper
that will compete with veteran Nathan Hodel. Myron Pryor is the
second of three nose tackles that the Pats drafted. He was impressive
with his athletic ability and short area quickness in the East-West
practices. He will also get a look at defensive end. Athletic Julian
Edelman is a former quarterback that projects to a wide receiver/Wildcat
quarterback. The Pats also think that he could be the next Josh Cribbs
as a return specialist. Darryl Richard is the third of three nose tackles
drafted, but may get a look at right end. He plays with smarts, leverage,
and strength. He is strong enough to absorb two blockers and has good
footwork and use of hands. GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.




FREE AGENCY: Traditionally the Patriots sign aging veterans that bring a
certain skill to the table to help upgrade a position. These veterans are
willing to sign a cap friendly contract for an opportunity to win a Super
Bowl ring. This year was no different. The collection of veterans includes
Fred Taylor (RB), Joey Galloway (WR), Shawn Springs (DC), and Chris
Baker (TE). Other veterans signed to compete for starting jobs are corner
Leigh Bodden, receiver Greg Lewis, and tight end Alex Smith.







New York Jets








The New York Jets drafted quality since they didn’t have a quantity of
selections. Three draft picks to be exact. No one can argue that General
Manager Mike Tannenbaum is not being aggressive in his approach to
getting the Jets back to their second Super Bowl, the first since the Joe
Namath guaranteed win over the Baltimore Colts. Last year Tannenbaum
made a bold move to bring in Brett Favre and it looked to be a winning
combination until late in the season when Favre injured his throwing
arm. A trade with ex-Jet coach Eric Mangini and Cleveland moved the
Jets up to the fifth spot so they could lock up Mark Sanchez, the
quarterback of the future. Head Coach Rex Ryan will get the defense
playing like a tribe of screaming banshees and will take the pressure off
the offense to win the games, since there are more ways to score on
defense than there are on offense. Mark Sanchez will be given every
opportunity to win the quarterback job over Kellen Clemens. The
rhythm type passer demonstrates the physical talent and ability to
succeed on the next level. Having played in a pro style offense should
help his adjustment to pro ball. He possesses a strong and accurate arm
to go with his natural feel for the passing game. Sanchez is the new face
of the franchise, but he does not have to go out and win the games with
his arm as he will have a great defense and running game to put pressure
on the opponent. Early reports out of the Jets’ camp are all positive
about his position progression. Shonn Greene has the talent to work
his way into the running back rotation with Thomas Jones and Leon
Washington. Jones led the AFC in rushing in 2008 and Washington was
a potential game breaker every time he touched the ball. Greene is a
tackle to tackle hammer that is a distinct contrast to the other pair’s
running styles. The former Hawkeye needs to improve his hands and
his pass protection skills, but he was drafted because of his one cut
zone running ability. He brings a battering ram mentality to the inside
running game and gets yards after first contact. His downhill running
ability will help wear down defenses late in the game. Matt Slauson
rejoins his Nebraska coach, Bill Callahan. The wide-bodied zone blocking
guard is a physical player that plays square. Fundamentally sound, he
has good lateral quickness. He has been versatile over his playing career
playing both tackle positions and right guard. He is an aggressive player
with a violent punch and good body control. He has a chance to be one of
the top eight offensive linemen if he can stay healthy. GRADE: GOOD.




FREE AGENCY: Make no mistake about it; the Jets are going to be all
about defense and a strong dominating running attack. Rex Ryan’s first
move was to sign defensive playmaker Bart Scott to a six-year $48
million dollar contract with $22.5 million guaranteed. All the other free
agent signings were also on the defensive side of the ball. Safety Jim
Leonhard is smart and instinctive. Lito Sheppard (DC), Marques Douglas
(DE), Howard Green (NT), Larry Izzo (IB), and Donald Strickland
(DC) all add competition and depth.