We move along to the “other” team greatly affected by the TOM BRADY move to Tampa, which of course would be the PATRIOTS. For the first time in forever they were not the AFC East champs, and the top dog for the division was the 13-Win BILLS from upstate New York. Right now, the BILLS have the top QB in their division and are likely to ride the First Rounder from 2018 (Pick 7 to be exact) to a repeat title. The JETS and PATRIOTS are both the owners of 10 Picks and BILL BELICHICK will be on the prowl for his new Franchise QB. I don’t do trades in my Mocks, but expect the PATS to maneuver around, if possible, to get one of the 5 expected first round QB’s.
BILLS
Round 1, Pick 30 JAYSON OWEH ER/DE Penn State
Round 2, Pick 61 RICHIE GRANT S UCF
Round 3, Pick 93 JAY TUFELE DT Southern Cal
Round 5, Pick 161 RHAMONDRE STEVENSON RB Oklahoma
Round 5, Pick 174 ADRIAN EALY OT Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 213 KENDRICK GREEN OG Illinois
Round 7, Pick 236 MARK WEBB DB Georgia
The BILLS are now playing the game of keeping their roster strong, deep, and affordable. OWEH is an athletic freak, and they have time to figure out his best pro position on the field. He appears to have excellent pass-rush potential despite not recording a sack in last year’s abbreviated schedule. He would appear to be the replacement, as early as after this season for the 30-plus, and expensive JERRY HUGHES. They also added rising prospect RICHIE GRANT, a Safety with great versatility. JAY TUFELE, who took a Covid leave last season looks like a solid DT . The BILLS had a pretty mediocre running attack last year and clearly lacked a power back option on their roster. Enter 5th Rounder STEVENSON who ranges between 225-245 lbs. and reminds some of us older folks of a guy named Cookie Gilchrist who used to pound his way for yardage in Buffalo, back in the day. BILLS brass also added OL EALY and GREEN who both have long term pro potential. Nice job, with 7 Picks that all might make the 2021 roster.
DOLPHINS
Round 1, Pick 6 JAYLEN WADDLE WR/RS Alabama
Round 1, Pick 18 TREVON MOEHRIG S TCU
Round 2, Pick 36 LANDON DICKERSON OC Alabama
Round 2, Pick 50 JOE TRYON DE/ER Washington
Round 3, Pick 81 SPENCER BROWN OT Northern Iowa
Round 4, Pick 123 TREY SERMON RB Ohio State
Round 5, Pick 156 CHRISTIAN UPHOFF S Illinois State
Round 7, Pick 231 DARIUS STILLS DL West Virginia
Round 7, Pick 258 JONATHAN MARSHALL DT Arkansas
The DOLPHINS have reached a stage in their rebuilding process where they are looking for a few key starting pieces, and some quality depth. Looks like they got some of each. WADDLE will be a big upgrade in their receiving corps. Best of all, his assimilation into their offense should be helped by familiarity between he and TUA from their ‘Bama days together. MOEHRIG is regarded by most as the best S in this Draft Class. Right now, their secondary is strong at CB, but average at S. He is a potential starter back there. DICKERSON is expected to be the long term starter at the center of their OL, as well as an eventual locker room leader. JOE TRYON will find a position at which to start eventually, but for now pass-rushing will be his primary duty. TREY SERMON is another of their draftees that should get a chance to see plenty of game time right away. He will likely be their most full sized and talented RB on the roster this Summer. Their OL is young and talented but keep an eye out for SPENCER BROWN/OT long term.
PATRIOTS
Round 1, Pick 15 AZEEZ OJULARI OB/ER Georgia
Round 2, Pick 46 CREED HUMPHREY OC Oklahoma
Round 3, Pick 96 TYLER SHELVIN DT LSU
Round 4, Pick 120 MICHAEL STRACHAN WR Charleston
Round 4, Pick 122 BEN MASON FB Michigan
Round 4, Pick 139 TOMMY DOYLE OT Miami (O)
Round 5, Pick 177 DEZ FITZPATRICK WR Louisville
Round 6, Pick 188 JAMIE NEWMAN QB Wake/Georgia
Round 6, Pick 197 JOSE BORREGALES K Miami (F)
Round 7, Pick 242 GRANT STUARD IB/ST Houston
Little Bill has his own way of doing things, and this Draft just goes to prove it. But first let me say, I do expect the PATS to try to maneuver around if possible to get one of those 5 QB prospects. But in this case, I pick for them as they currently stand on the Board. OJULARI is a bit raw, but is an amazing athlete with the size and speed to wreak havoc as an edge rusher. He reminds many of the Vikings Danielle Hunter. Also for that Defensive front, TYLER SHELVIN is a naturally massive man (6’2/350) and the PATS defensive scheme demands someone on the Nose (0 Technique) who can plug against the run. They hope he can approximate what a guy named VINCE WILFORK did for them for a decade in stopping opponents’ run games. Despite the VFA’s that they signed, adding a couple of young receivers was a must. Watch out for STRACHAN in another year or so. Many teams don’t even have a true FB on their roster, but the PATS still miss James Devlin, who retired because of neck injuries, and MASON was clearly the best true FB in this Draft. He will also be a big contributor on Special Teams as well. Kicker has been an issue for several years in New England and BORREGALES fixed that issue last season for Hurricanes football. Maybe he can do the same for New England this season. Watch out for STUARD from Round 7. He plays like his hair is on fire and luvs football. He should be an absolute ace for this team as a Special Teamer and then some.
JETS
Round 1, Pick 2 ZACH WILSON QB BYU
Round 1. Pick 23 JAELAN PHILLIPS DE/ER Miami (F)
Round 2, Pick 34 SAMUEL COSMI OT Texas
Round 3, Pick 66 QUINN MEINERZ C/G UW/Whitewater
Round 3, Pick 86 AMON-RA ST. BROWN WR Southern Cal
Round 4, Pick 107 JERMAR JEFFERSON RB Oregon State
Round 5, Pick 146 KENNY YEBOAH TE Ole Miss
Round 5, Pick 154 THOMAS GRAHAM CB Oregon
Round 6, Pick 186 NATE HOBBS CB Illinois
Round 6, Pick 226 PATRICK JOHNSON DE/ER Tulane
The trading of Sam Darnold clearly puts them in total rebuild. GM JOE DOUGLAS is highly regarded around the League as an astute judge of talent. He’d better be, because it’s all his mess to deal with now. All their Picks from last year are still on the roster and some have even earned starting jobs already. JETS fans hope the same from this group. WILSON will of course be their starting QB, and PHILLIPS will be their top pass-rusher. COSMI and MEINERZ have the talent and experience to battle for starting jobs as Rookies. These two guys should solidify their IOL for the rest of this decade. ST. BROWN will make a solid receiver out of the slot with home run potential. YEBOAH will likely be their most talented TE and similar to HERNDON in many ways. I have been a big fan of JEFFERSON as an explosive runner in college. He and PERINE could make a dynamic young duo. Think positive JETS fans, but be patient. There is still lots of talent that needs to be added to this roster. But DOUGLAS looks to have produced his second good one in a row.
Overall, a very lucrative talent haul for the entire division. Out of a healthy 35 Picks total for the 4 teams, 10 are from my Top 50 ranked players. All of these teams looked to have helped themselves, but I do not see these moves changing the new pecking order within the division for 2021. The BILLS should be crowned Division Champs by the end of December.
Pigskin Paul
Next up, by popular demand, the NFC South.
