TALKDRAFT
FOOTBALL · SCOUTING · NEWS
New England Patriots
​
(23) Isaiah Wynn, OT, Georgia
(31) Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
(56) Duke Dawson, CB, Miami
(143) Ja'Whaun Bentley, LB, Purdue
(178) Christian Sam, LB, Arizona St
(210) Braxton Berrios, WR, Miami
(219) Danny Etling, QB, LSU
(243) Keion Crossen, S, Western Carolina
(250) Ryan Izzo, TE, Florida St
UDFA
P Ryan Anderson, Rutgers
P Corey Bojorquez, New Mexico
FB Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois
​
After weeks of speculation that the Pats were looking to trade up for a QB, they stayed put once Mayfield went #1 and reloaded in some key areas. OT/OG Wynn was the most dominant player at senior week practices before bowing out to a lingering injury. He played better in 17' at LT for Georgia than he had the previous year at OG but was considered to short to stick on the outside despite his long arms. Patriots will likely give him a shot at LT. He's a good run blocker and pass protector that would've been a top 5 pick if he were and inch or so taller. His teammate Michel is an older prospect and got flagged by some teams medically, but was regarded as 1st round caliber talent. His skill set fits well in NE but he'll need to improve his ball security to see the field.
Corner was one of the most glaring needs and Bill tabbed Miami's Dawson in the 2nd. Dawson a solid talent with tools but wasn't a shutdown guy for the Hurricanes. Back to back thumpers came off the board next in Bentley and Sam. Together with the acquisition of Shelton it's clear BB wants to be more stout up the middle but unless last year's picks Rivers & Wise break out, pass pressure might be hard to come by. Berrios should thrive in the system if he can digest it quickly and should at least help in the return game. Etling and Crossen are training camp fodder. Izzo has some upside if he can keep healthy.
​
UDFA CB J.C. Jackson dropped in part due to past off field issues. He's a physical corner/safety type with ball skills but lacks short area quickness. He's combative enough to stick. DE Trent Harris doesn't have the measurables but he's smart and physical. He whipped first rounder McGlinchey's ass on more than one occasion in their matchup.
----------------------------------
Miami Dolphins
​
(11) Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
(42) Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
(73) Jerome Baker, OLB, Ohio State
(123) Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
(131) Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona St
(209) Cornell Armstrong, CB, Southern Miss
(227) Quintin Poling, LB, Ohio
(229) Jason Sanders, K, New Mexico
​
UDFA
OG Connor Hilland, William & Mary
DE Quincy Redmon, Fairmont State
DE Claudy Mathieu, Notre Dame (OH)
DT Anthony Moten, Miami
DT Jamiyus Pittman, UCF
OG David Steinmetz, Purdue
​
Fitzpatrick was arguably the most versatile defensive player in this class and he'll be a big boost to the defense against Brady along with feasting on the young QBs in NY & Buffalo. Dolphins opted not to chase Rosen and will hang with Tannehill for the short term. As much as I love Fitzpatrick, Josh Rosen was probably the better choice. Gesicki is an ideal fit for the offense and fills a big need.
And I'm nearly as high on 4th rounder Smythe. He's a solid blocker and highly underrated receiver with clutch hands. Baker's a LB/safety hybrid who lacks sand but brings needed sideline to sideline speed to the 2nd level. Ballage's is an enigmatic guy who's never played up to his ability. He's solid depth but not the young banger inside the team needed. UDFA McCray was one of my favorite prospects this class. He moves better than he should and plays instinctively. I think he's a poor man's Dont'a Hightower and should stick.
​
-----------------------------------
Buffalo Bills
​
(7) Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
(16) Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
(96) Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
(121) Taron Johnson, CB, Weber St
(166) Wyatt Teller, OG, Virginia Tech
(187) Ray Ray McCloud, WR, Clemson
(255) Austin Proehl, WR, UNC
UDFA
WR Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech
OT Gerhard de Beer, Arizona
OG Wilson Bell, Auburn
DE Mat Boesen, TCU
OG Ike Boettger, Iowa
CB Ryan Carter, Clemson
WR Robert Foster, Alabama
OT Mo Porter, Baylor
​
As the saying goes...you can't fix it all in one season...and the Bills opted to go defensive after grabbing for their QB of the future in Allen. The team needed to reload the offensive skill positions and offensive line and came away with late rounders OG Teller, WR's McCloud and Proehl. Needless to say things could get ugly on the offensive side of the ball and they better pray McCoy stays relatively healthy.
I like A.J. McCarron more than most and think he could be a serviceable starter, but he's not working with much on the Bills. Allen is clearly textbook boom or bust without much in between. But their 2nd first rounder is also a bit of a gamble. Edmunds upside is nearly as high as Allen's but similarly he's also a project that'll need some time to grow into his game. Unfortunately for both, they're not going to get that time buffer and will probably be both thrown in before they're ready. On the flip side, DT Phillips is a plug and play interior guy who was talented enough to come off the board much earlier. But his tweener DE/DT skill set without top notch athleticism knocked down his stock. He should be a worthy successor to Kyle Johnson in the middle. I like CB Taron Johnson but I thought the secondary was the strongest unit on the team. A skill guy at WR or TE would've helped a lot there.
​
UDFA CB Wallace was one of my higher rated CBs and a steal imo. He tested poorly but hangs with most receivers on the field. WR Cam Phillips is quick footed with great ball skills but pedestrian athletic ability and size.
​​
------------------------------------------
New York Jets
​
(3) Sam Darnold, QB, USC
(72) Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays St
(107) Chris Herndon, TE, Miami
(179) Parry Nickerson, CB, Tulane
(180) Foley Fatukasi, DE, UConn
(204) Trenton Cannon, RB, Virginia St
UDFA
CB Reggie Hall, Jacksonville State
RB Vic Enware, Cal
RB Ryan Green,FSU
DT Lord Hyeamang, Columbia
OG Darius James, Auburn
LB Frankie Luvu, Washington State
DE Darian Bass, Missouri Western
DT Nifae Lealao, Vanderbilt
K Canon Rooker, Middle Tennessee State
OG Dakoda Shepley, University of British Columbia
DE Mych Thomas, Texas Tech
Back to back strong drafts at the top might actually overcome the mediocrity of Todd Bowles as a HC. Darnold was QB1 on a lot of team boards and the Giants allowed him to fall into their lap. Arm talent and an Eli like demeanor with impressive pocket mobility, Darnold's the most talented Jets QB since a healthy Pennington. Shepherd was a beast of a small school DL and should work in at DE and DT straight away. Herndon's an athletic blocker/receiver that's a solid bet to be a better pro than college player. Some had DB Nickerson as one of the best slot CB prospects in this class. And Fatukasi's an athletic project that should improve with experience.
​
UDFA Tre Williams a hard guy to bet against. He's a Demario Davis type that should stick. I thought Golson was draftable and could fill in at any OL spot, with OC likely being his home. Flowers was the best FB in this class.
------------------------------------------
​
