New England Patriots
The Patriots clearly got a lot better and went into this draft with a very focused plan to get more athletic defensively. The team had a great draft, not taking too big of risks, allowing the picks to fall into place and mixing in guys ready to play and contribute now with pieces that they can develop. It was another exceptional job of team building by the reigning executive of the year and while there were some moves that I didn’t quite fully agree with, the general direction of the draft and the way it played out was probably exactly how the Pats wanted moving forward.
Round 1 Pick 4: Bradley Chubb, DE NC State
This was the obvious move and instead of try to get cute New England went and got a stud pass rusher in a class where there wasn’t much to get there. I think Chubb is going to wreak havoc for a long time and he projects favorably to Joey Bosa and Mario Williams. Really good simple selection.
Round 1 Pick 8: Tremaine Edmunds, LB Virginia Tech
Some people wanted this to be Roquon Smith but to me this was a tremendous selection. Only having to pay him 16th overall money is a really good value situation as well. He’s a guy with rare upside and production combined and he’ll only be 20 when his rookie season starts. Edmunds is someone who could eventually challenge for defensive MVP of the 3GML universe and his versatility is something that the coaching staff up in New England will love to try to utilize. Another excellent selection here and I think a better pick than Smith would have been.
Round 1 Pick 13: Derwin James, S FSU
I think this was a tough pick between James and Fitzpatrick but the Pats went all upside with this pick. James has the potential to be the best player in this draft, I think personally he is a Sean Taylor clone. He’s an absolute monster and even if he doesn’t start immediately for New England, he’ll be an exceptional special teams player and his ability to potentially shift down to linebacker makes him really valuable.
Round 2 Pick 34: James Daniels, C Iowa
Daniels is a good solid football player and this pick made a lot of sense for the Patriots. In a division where Geno Atkins and Aaron Donald dominate, getting a long center for pass protection is really smart. He’s not a power center by any stretch but those guys are quickness guys anyway so the move in terms of strategy is very solid. He’s a high floor guy too, and able to play all 3 interior positions is nice.
Round 2 Pick 64: Mo Hurst, DT Michigan
Round 2 Pick 64: Mo Hurst, DT Michigan
This was a great value pick for a couple of reasons for the Patirots. The biggest reason was that they got Hurst for dirt cheap in terms of contract value being paid about 60% of what the selection was. Getting a player of his caliber for that low of a salary turned out to be a nice move. The other thing was if Hurst is truly healthy he’s a top 30-40 player in this draft and even getting him at 64 is a nice pick. He’s a disruptive player who I think could play anywhere from the 0 to the 5 technique. I do think after losing Nick Fairley to a heart condition that taking Hurst was an extremely bold and maybe unnecessary risk for the Patriots but it’s one that could turn out to be a major plus moving forward.
Round 4 Pick 103: Kyle Lauletta, QB Richmond
Round 4 Pick 103: Kyle Lauletta, QB Richmond
The Patriots worst selection but the team had a high grade on Lauletta as a developmental pick and so I understand it. Every team wants to find a quality backup and someone who can grow and Lauletta clearly fit the scheme that the Patriots want to run moving forward. I think it was a reach to draft him here and his lack of arm strength may not hinder him too much in the real NFL but that lack of ability in the 3GML is going to completely cap his upside. Too rich here.
Round 4 Pick 113: Jamarco Jones, OT Ohio State
I was a little surprised the Pats didn’t try to address their offensive tackle positions before this. Jones is a developmental prospect who likely will need a year or two to develop. I think the position made sense to draft but he’s a year or two away, who will fill that role the next two seasons?
Round 4 Pick 128: Michael Dickson, P Texas
Trading an additional 6th round pick to move up and grab a punter was a very bold move, particularly in the 4th round. He’s an elite guy and likely a multiple time pro-bowler, but that’s a lot for a position where given current “sim” situations punters lack any value. That said he’s a stud and if you really wanted him and had that focus on special teams he’s a nice piece.
Overall it’s tough to mess up a draft when you have 4 picks in the top 34, and the Patriots I think were great with their first 4 selections. This team is going to be much better the next 4 seasons with those guys. Their 4th round picks weren’t my favorites but if Dickson is as good as I think he’ll be, Jones develops into a capable tackle, and Lauletta proves a capable backup, this draft will be a huge success.
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills are clearly a team that drafts for need and it was a bit surprising they didn’t try to trade up to grab Nelson. However, in allowing the team to sit there and wait, they were able to grab more picks, and parlay them into an additional first. The move turned out to be fantastic and the Bills filled their two biggest needs with really top tier players instead of only getting 1 stud. The team constantly hit on high value picks and added pieces they needed while also never reaching for a player. The Bills got everything they could get out of this draft and have to be ecstatic about what they ended up with.
Round 1 Pick 12: Vita Vea, DT Washington
Grabbing a really good player in Vea to fit a scheme switch to a 34 was a very nice solid selection by the Bills. He’s a prototype 34 nose and with the team unlikely to resign star Geno Atkins, Vea was an absolute necessity to fill that role. He’s a good value with the trade back, at a position of need, smart solid if not sexy pick.
Round 1 Pick 30: Will Hernandez, G UTEP
The team wanted Nelson desperately but instead got a free Hernandez by trading back after missing out on Nelson. Packaging those picks, and then moving up into the first round to get the 5th year option on a guy at a position you desperately need was the best move of the 3GML draft season. Hernandez isn’t a dominant pass blocker but he’s a 95+ graded run blocker. An extremely unsexy first round but an excellent one for the Bills.
Round 2 Pick 39: Harold Landry, DE/OLB Boston College
Another really good value pick at a position of need. Landry is a prototype for the Bills new 34 approach and he’s what you look at as a pass rusher for an outside linebacker. If he’s what he was in 2016 in the NFL they got a top 10 player with the 39th pick. Worst case is he’s another pass rushing weapon for the Bills.
Round 3 Pick 71: Harrison Phillips, DT Stanford
What do you know, finding another value pick at a position of need. When you have a hole, it’s really good to try to throw multiple draft picks at it and that’s exactly what Buffalo did here. While I’m not exactly sure if Phillips can play 34 nose or not, I don’t think the scheme fit is great, the value was too much to pass up here. Phillips is a playmaker and while I’m not sure where he projects to play here, adding depth along the d-line is important.
Round 3 Pick 75: Martinas Rankin, OL Mississippi State
My favorite pick for the Bills in terms of value. Rankin is a 5 position lineman who can probably be average on the outside as a starter and maybe excellent on the interior. Worst case if you just drafted a quality player who can back up all 5 positions and likely keeps your a full roster spot available. I think this was a tremendous value.
Round 3 Pick 94: Shaquem Griffin, LB/S UCF
Round 3 Pick 94: Shaquem Griffin, LB/S UCF
I think this pick was a bit strange but there is some logic here too. This guy is definitely a will linebacker, and he can play that role on the interior of the 34 for Buffalo but in the new look defense I’m not sure it made a ton of sense. They may have drafted him to simply be a special teams stud too as that’s where he projects to have the biggest impact. I don’t think it’s a bad move to ever draft someone who is 220 pounds and runs sub 4.4 I just think he’s a tweener but the Bills got good utilization out of Su’a Cravens in that role and drafted Griffin likely to play a similar spot.
Round 4 Pick 106: Tyrell Crosby, OT Oregon
Round 4 Pick 106: Tyrell Crosby, OT Oregon
Meh. Once you get into day 3 everyone is sort of a risk reward situation, I just think Crosby is likely a swing tackle but if you get a quality one in the 4th round it’s not a bad pick. He has a chance to develop into a starting caliber tackle so I understand the move, the team doubled up on another position, with offensive linemen so the Bills had holes along their lines and addressed them.
I think this was an exceptional draft for the Bills. They filled every major hole they had except at backup quarterback and doubled down on helping along the line. No one is thinking this was a sexy draft at all. But overall they added help running the ball and defending the run and those things in this division against the world champion Jets and the emerging Patriots is paramount. Great moves by a ‘needs based’ approach draft team, and they do it better than almost anyone.
New York Jets
This was a bit of a weird draft for the Jets as the team didn’t have really any glaring needs. Having the 10th pick was a luxury and while many thought they would simply take best player available the Jets clearly had a plan in place going into this draft and ended up with a potential quarterback controversy. The team wanted to give itself maximum cap flexibility moving forward and their picks for a team without a need was interesting and although they didn’t probably love what they ended up with, the upside from this teams draft was obviously what they were going for. It was the 3rd of the 3 drafts but there is potential here for days.
Round 1 Pick 15: Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville
Jackson was a reach here probably but the Jets clearly have a plan for Jackson. Todd Bowles said immediately that Carr is still the starter but Jackson is going to “get plenty of PT”. Jackson is a legit 4.35 guy with a cannon and he should be much better in 3GML than he is in real life. With an offense that broke the NFL record for rushing last season, they may be even better in 2018. This move also potentially means that the team could move on from Carr’s contract after this season for very little cap casualty if they choose to build around Jackson.
Round 2 Pic 41: Derrius Guice, RB LSU
Guice was a top 15-20 talent in this draft and his falling this far was surprising. The Jets could potentially lose league MVP David Johnson after this season, as well as the versatile Duke Johnson as well. New York went into this draft knowing it had to get someone who could potentially be a starter moving forward and they got a stud in Guice. The team understands there is off the field baggage and worry here but the kid is a baller on the field. If he can work it out, he could be a monster in year 2 and beyond.
Round 3 Pick 79: Orlando Brown, OT Oklahoma
Yes he had a horrible combine, but the kid’s tape is really good. The team has one or even two full years to develop him into a starter before Yanda’s contract is up. I think the Jets really wanted Rankin and were disappointed to see him go off the board to a division rival, but Brown is a tackle and his upside is good. It again gives the team flexibility for the cap should they move on from Yanda after this next season.
Round 4 Pick 132: Dalton Schultz, TE Stanford
He’s a very boring pick but Schultz was the 50th ranked player on my big board. He’s an exceptional blocker and the team gets to let him redshirt for a season or play him at fullback while Eifert and Howard run around. His blocking prowess means he’ll likely team up with Howard should the team move on from Eifert after one season.
Round 4 Pick 135: Tim Settle, DT Virginia Tech
A depth pick for the team, Settle provides great value here. He’s a 2nd round grade guy who for some reason fell into the 4th. While Donald and Reed are really good there, and Watkins is coming on as a quality backup, the value made sense and you can always use quality big men up front.
Round 5 Pick 138: Genard Avery, LB Memphis
I think other than Guice falling into their lap this was the best value pick for the Jets. Avery is an extremely versatile guy who can fill the role that Ray plays now as a backup linebacker and defensive end. He’s not getting resigned so this allow him to develop for a season before shifting into that role full time in the 2019 season.
Round 5 Pick 152: Cedrick Wilson, WR Boise State
Another good solid value pick at a position that may well need help moving forward, Wilson from Boise State is going to have a shot to make this roster. He’s a good route runner and the team could lose every receiver on the roster in the next two seasons. They needed someone here and got a quality 3rd option in Wilson.
Round 7 Pick 250: Desmond Harrison, OT West Georgia
A complete flier pick, Harrison has round 3 talent but his off the field baggage is huge. He’s got a less than 50 % chance of making this team but the team is looking for someone who can potentially replace Yanda and after missing on Bosnowaty last year they took two swings this season with developmental but high upside guys.
This draft was all about creating potential for cap flexibility. Jackson and Guice are going to play huge roles this season, with them both likely touching the football more than 100 times. The rest of these picks are all potential based. The team wants options moving forward for expensive players, Johnson, Carr, and Yanda. Their draft was based on that. It was a solid if unspectacular draft that will hinge a ton on some of these guys achieving their upside.
