2022 NFL Draft Grades: AFC East
The 2022 NFL Draft is officially in the books so it’s time to hand out some grades. We’re starting things out in the AFC East and OH BOY there is plenty to talk about. I’m not wasting another second. We’re jumping right into things.
Buffalo Bills: Grade A-
- Round 1 (No. 23 overall, from Cardinals through Ravens) – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
- Round 2 (63, from Bengals) – James Cook, RB, Georgia
- Round 3 (89) – Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
- Round 5 (148, from Texans through Bears) – Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
- Round 6 (180, from Jaguars through Buccaneers) – Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
- Round 6 (185, from Panthers) – Christian Benford, CB, Villanova
- Round 6 (209, from Bengals) – Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech
- Round 7 (231, from Falcons) – Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
The Bills rocked this draft. I’m in on Kaiir Elam. He would have been the third corner off my board. Really good athlete that’s going to be a gamer in Buffalo. Especially with Tre’Davious White on the other side. After seeing this interview, I’m pretty confident Elam is going to make it.
This isn’t a football team with a ton of needs. The run game was really the biggest issue. I can’t imagine what this offense can do with James Cook? Especially in the passing game. Just a home run selection.
I don’t necessarily love the other selections but this draft deserves an A. Punt god? Oh, yeah. Nothing more needs to be said.
Miami Dolphins: Grade B
- Round 3: No. 102 (from SF) – Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
- Round 4: No. 125 (from PIT) – Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
- Round 7: No. 224 (from HOU via NE and BAL) – Cameron Goode, LB, University of California-Berkeley
- Round 7: No. 247 (from TEN) – Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
The Tyreek Hill trade has to be factored in here obviously. You can only do so much when you trade your first and second round picks.
I thought it was a mixed draft for Miami. Channing Tindall was a really smart selection at the back end of the third round. Great pick with massive upside. The rest of the draft was a waste. Probably won’t get anything out of the other three players.
New England Patriots: Grade F
- Round 1: No. 29 (from KC via SF via MIA) – Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
- Round 2: No. 50 (from KC via MIA) – Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
- Round 3: No. 85 – Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
- Round 4: No. 121 (from KC via MIA) – Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State
- Round 4: No. 127 – Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
- Round 4: No. 137 (from LAR via HOU via CAR) – Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
- Round 6: No. 183 (from HOU) – Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina
- Round 6: No. 200 – Sam Roberts, DT, Northwest Missouri State
- Round 6: No. 210 (from LAR) – Chasen Hines, G, LSU
- Round 7: No. 245 (from HOU via DAL) – Andrew Stueber, G, Michigan
Bill Belichick is a fucking idiot. He’s so bad at this that it’s actually insane that he hasn’t been put into a nursing home. This draft was so bad that Sean McVay publicly laughed at him…
This was a joke. Cole Strange is not a first round prospect. Never was. Lacks strength and probably tops out as an above average center. Tyquan Thornton flat out stinks. Fast but not a real football player. The only thing they may have gotten right is finding a running backs that can play in the middle rounds.
I really don’t have much to add. This draft is fundamentally idiotic on every level. Belichick clearly needs to be fired at this point. This roster is being run into the ground.
New York Jets: A-
- Round 1: No. 4 – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
- Round 1: No. 10 (from SEA) – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
- Round 1: No. 26 (from TEN) – Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
- Round 2: No. 36 (from NYG) – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
- Round 3: No. 101 (from NO via PHI and TEN) – Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
- Round 4: No. 111 (from CAR) – Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
- Round 4: No. 117 (from MIN) – Michael Clemons, DE, Texas A&M
No question the Jets got better and upgraded their talent haul in a big way. However, this needs to be put into context. The Jamal Adams trade netted Garrett Wilson. The Jets also traded up every chance they could to limit their player pool. It’s why they didn’t have a pick after the 4th round. It’s really hard to screw up the early picks.
It’s not an A+ Draft. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very good. I’m high on Sauce Gardner. He’s a starting NFL corner all day. Garrett Wilson is probably going to be a stud. Jermaine Johnson is damn talented too. Breece Hall was considered the best running back in the draft and he’s going to at minimum be a solid contributor.
Let’s just all be honest; I own Joe Douglas. I own his ass. I blasted his 2020 Draft class and I was spot on. Including my assessment of that bum Denzel Mims. The second half of Douglas’ draft was shit. Jeremy Ruckert is ass. He won’t be on the team in four years. I just know it.
