AFC EAST
Bills
They addressed their biggest needs with CB Leodis McKelvin and WR James Hardy, who should both play right away. The Bills also drafted one of former NBA star Karl Malone's illegitimate kids, OT Demetrius Bell. Grade: Solid
Dolphins
The top of their draft couldn't have gone any better, Parcells got 3 pre-draft 1st round talents in the first 3 rounds. OT Jake Long, DE Phillip Merling and QB Chad Henne. If Henne would have been healthy his senior season he would have been drafted higher than the 3rd. Grade: Solid
Patriots
While LB Jerod Mayo is a great fit for the Patriots with his ability to play inside or outside, it seems that the normally draft savvy Patriots made a huge blunder by trading down and allowing the Bengals to take LB Keith Rivers, the player many speculated the Patriots wanted, but were trying to save some money with the trade and were forced to choose Mayo a late 1st/early 2nd round talent at #10! They chose another small CB in Terrence Wheatley, which is the problem with Ellis Hobbs, not being able to cover taller WR's (Burress in the Super Bowl) Patriots also reached for QB Kevin O'Connell whom they could have taken much later. The players picked are good guys for the Patriots, but it was an unusual draft for the Patriots who didn't get good value for their picks by trading down instead they overdrafted and therefore will overpay the guys they wanted. Grade: Average (Poor for any other team)
Jets
Most of the Jets work was done in Free Agency, addressing the O-line. With only 2 first day picks LB Vernon Gholston (above) was a beast in college, and a workout warrior at the Combine the Jets can't afford to have him not pan out. The pick of TE Dustin Keller at the end of the 1st was interesting, in that he is a big WR, he isn't a good blocker, and has helped add to the offseason battle/headache TE Chris Baker is having over his contract status. None of their other picks look to be special. Grade: Poor
