Coming into the 2023 season, the AFC East projects to be one of the top divisions in football. Coming into the draft, all four teams have rosters talented enough to at least compete for a playoff spot. The NFL Draft is the most important part of the team-building process, so we sort through how each team got better with their draft picks the past three days in the 2023 NFL draft.
2023 NFL Draft: AFC East Grades
New York Jets: C+
Players Added: Will McDonald IV, Joe Tippmann, Carter Warren, Israel Abanikanda, Zaire Barnes, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Zack Kuntz
With four tackles off the board in the first 14 picks, the Jets instead added another edge rusher to an already deep and talented group. Will McDonald IV is a very good pass rusher as he wins with bend around the edge as well as anyone in this draft class. He’s on the light side at 239 pounds which will make it difficult for him to play the run in the NFL. For that reason, 15th overall is a bit high, but what he offers as a pass rusher is still very valuable. The Jets will likely utilize him as a third down, pass-rush type specialist in their edge rusher rotation next season.
The Jets then went to the offensive line with their second-round pick in selecting Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann. Tippmann played center for the Badgers but he’d also project well as a guard if the Jets stick with Connor McGovern as the starting center. As a run blocker, Tippmann can make blocks that not every lineman can make as he has the athleticism to make pulling or second-level blocks and the power to win leverage battles at the line of scrimmage to open up holes in the run game. In pass protection, Tippmann was remarkably consistent at Wisconsin as he allowed just nine pressures in his last two seasons of starting.
With their first pick on day three, the Jets went back to the offensive line taking Pitt tackle Carter Warren. He is a four-year starter at Pitt, but his last season ended after a meniscus tear after four starts. Warren is solid as a pass protector as he has the foot quickness to stay in front of pass rushers and he sets a powerful anchor when he goes against power rushes. In the fifth round, they added a running back by selecting Israel Abanikanda. He is an electrifying player who was highly productive putting up over 1400 yards and 20 touchdowns for Pitt. He’ll be entering a good running back room, but he’s definitely talented enough to be on an NFL roster.
Zaire Barnes was a three-year starter at linebacker for Western Michigan where he made first-team all-conference in 2022 and second-team in 2021. Jarrick Bernard-Converse is a versatile defensive back who has played safety, slot corner, and boundary corner in college. He spent four years at Oklahoma State before transferring to LSU after Jim Knowles left. He projects as a potential backup, depth piece in the secondary. In the seventh round, they took Zack Kuntz, a tight end out of Old Dominion. Kuntz has potential as he is a terrific athlete at his size evidenced by his combine numbers. At 6-foot-6 ⅝, 255 pounds Kuntz ran 4.55 40 yard, so perhaps can Kuntz can make the roster as a developmental tight end.
New England Patriots: B-
Players Added: Christian Gonzalez, Keion White, Marte Mapu, Jake Andrews, Chad Ryland, Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, Kayshon Boutte, Bryce Baringer, Demario Douglas, Ameer Speed, Isaiah Bolden
The Patriots kicked off their 2023 NFL draft by getting good value in the first round by trading down, securing a fourth-round pick, and still getting one of the top corners in the 2023 NFL draft class. Christian Gonzalez was seen as a potential top-ten pick by many analysts, so getting him at seventh overall is good value. He has an ideal physical and athletic profile to play corner as he has a phenomenal combination of size at 6-foot-1 ⅜, 197 pounds, speed, and very fluidity. Playing corner, it’s paramount to have fluid hips and be able to change directions effectively and Gonzalez certainly can do that. A corner as physically gifted as Gonzalez going to Bill Bellicheck is very intriguing. Patriots fans should be hopeful they have a future star on their hands with Gonzalez.
In the second round, the Patriots added Georgia Tech edge rusher, Keion White. At 6-foot-5, 285 pounds White has a good combination of size and power. He still has more developing to do, but his ceiling as a power rusher is high. With their other day two pick, they took Sacramento State safety Marte Mapu. This was a reach in the third round based on consensus boards, but he has a good all-around skill set. He can play near the line of scrimmage as a linebacker, as well as in a slot role. The Patriots have a good history of utilizing versatile defensive players on the backend, perhaps Mapu can be next.
With nine day three picks the Patriots targeted all sorts of positions including offensive, defense, kicker, and punter. They kicked off day three by taking versatile offensive lineman Troy Andrews who has a lot of experience at both center and right guard at Troy. That versatility provides good value in a projected backup. They then traded up to select Maryland kicker Chad Ryland. With Nick Folk being 38 years old, Ryland will almost certainly be the kicker for the Patriots next season.
Sidy Sow is a five-year starter out of Eastern Michigan, with four years at left guard and one year at left tackle. He projects as another depth piece on the offensive line. Their next pick was another offensive lineman with UCLA’s Antonio Mafi. He has some experience at both left and right guard, he was dominant as a run blocker but needs to improve his pass protection to get NFL reps.
With their first sixth-rounder in the 2023 NFL draft, they added a player who was a projected first-rounder coming into the college football season and has seen his stock plummet since. He had an underwhelming season at LSU, which combined with a poor showing at the combine caused him to slip in the draft. He does have legit talent as a route runner and with the ball in space as well however so he’s someone they hope they can develop.
Bryce Baringer, a punter from Michigan State was their next pick. He and Carliss Waitman will battle it out to be their punter next season. Demario Douglas is undersized, but electric with the ball in his hands as a wide receiver out of Liberty. His best chance to make the roster will be as a kick and punt returner. Their last of four sixth-rounders was Ameer Speed, a corner out of Michigan State. Speed spent five seasons at Georgia before transferring to Michigan State last season. Their seventh-rounder was also a corner in Jackson State’s Isaiah Bolden. Both Speed and Bolden will likely look to make an impact on special teams to make the Patriots roster.
Buffalo Bills: A-
Players Added: Dalton Kincaid, O’Cyrus Torrence, Dorian Williams, Justin Shorter, Nick Broeker, Alex Austin
In the first round, the Bills traded up to secure Dalton Kincaid who many viewed as the top tight end in the 2023 NFL draft class. Kincaid is a very athletic tight end and lethal weapon in the pass game. He has the speed and route running to separate from linebackers and he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands in the open field. Kincaid and Dalton Knox give the Bills two good weapons to utilize in the pass game. The Bills passing attack was too reliant on Stefon Diggs at times last season, perhaps this selection will help with that.
In the second round, the Bills secured the best guard in this draft class in O’Cyrus Torrence. The Bills offensive line wasn’t a disaster, but also definitely wasn’t a strength for them last year. One player won’t change that, but Torrence is someone who projects to start from day one. Torrence is a dominant run blocker as he has tremendous power and is capable of making a variety of different blocks. He’s also very consistent as a pass protector as he plays with good pad level and sets a strong anchor.
Their other day-two selection was Dorian Williams, a linebacker out of Tulane. Williams was a three-year contributor at Tulane including last season where he was named first-team all-conference. He tested very well athletically at the combine as he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash. This bodes well for his projection as a coverage defender. After losing Tremaine Edmunds in free agency, Williams could step up into a starting role on the Bills defense.
Their first of three-day three selections was Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter. He’s a big-bodied receiver at nearly 6-foot-4, 229 pounds. He was a two-year starter on the Florida offense with his best game being a 155-yard performance against Tennessee. Ole Miss offensive lineman Nick Broeker was their first of two seventh-round picks. Broeker has experience at both left tackle and left guard as he played 2019-2021 at left tackle before moving to left guard in 2022. The Bills hope he can make the roster as a depth offensive line piece. Alex Austin, a corner out of Oregon State rounded out the Bills draft. Austin was a three-year starter for the Beavers and will look to make his impact as a special teamer for the Bills.
Miami Dolphins: C+
Players Added: Cam Smith, Devon Achane, Elijah Higgins, Ryan Hayes
After forfeiting their first round due to tampering allegations and trading the first-rounder they had from the 49ers trade in the 2021 draft in the Bradley Chubb trade, the Dolphins didn’t have a first-rounder. With their first pick of the 2023 NFL draft, they added to a secondary that also acquired Jalen Ramsey this offseason. Cam Smith is a good value pick in the middle of the second round. He checks off all the physical tool boxes as he’s got the size and athleticism to at least hold his own against most NFL receivers. He’s also very technically sound as he’s someone you can tell knows the position very well. Many times on film he is tested in man coverage and finds himself in perfect positioning and times when to get his arm in between the receiver’s hands for a breakup.
With their other selection on day two, they stuck with a common theme for their skill position players which is speed. Achane is one of the fastest players at any position in this draft class as his 4.32 40-yard dash was the fastest amongst running backs at the combine. His speed and big play ability is his biggest selling point, but he’s also very effective as a receiver. Adding Achane to this offense likely as a rotational back will not only be fun to watch but is also solid value in this position.
In the sixth round, the Dolphins took Stanford wide receiver Elijah Higgins. As a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Higgins is a body type that the Dolphins are lacking at receiver. He led the Cardinal in receiving yards last season and has a solid chance to make the Dolphins roster as a depth piece. In the seventh round, they added Michigan offensive tackle Ryan Hayes. He is a two-time second-team all-Big Ten on the coaches’ ballot in 2022 and 2021, however, his lack of length as he has 32 ½ inch arms hurts his projection to the NFL. Hayes could be a depth piece at tackle for the Dolphins.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
