Chris Perkins: Breaking down the AFC East’s draft . . . Dolphins’ grade might surprise you

Three AFC East teams are enjoying a nice draft grade today, and one is not.Guess which team fared the worst.The Miami Dolphins, who finished 8-9 last season, had a rough three-day experience in the 2025 NFL draft.But the AFC East did pretty well as a group.The Dolphins, along with the New York Jets (5-12) and New England Patriots (4-13), are all trying to catch Buffalo (13-4), which has won the past four division titles and advanced to the AFC Championship game last season.The Jets and Patriots might have gained ground on the Dolphins, but you could make the argument none of them gained ground on the Bills.Interestingly, Buffalo selected two players from the same school (Kentucky), the Dolphins selected two players from the same school (Maryland), New England selected two players from the same school (LSU), and the Jets selected two players from the same school (Miami).Well watch to see who fared best over the long-term.On a side note, the Jets, under the direction of first-year general manager Darren Mougey and first-year coach Aaron Glenn, stuck it to the Dolphins.

Read on to find out about that.Heres what you need to know about AFC East teams in the draft: Miami Dolphins: DThe Dolphins found a new way to say f those picks.Before expounding on that, lets give some credit here.General manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel did OK, not great, by selecting Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, their first-round pick, and Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea, their second-round pick.Either player would have to be embarrassingly bad to lose the starting job hes already been gifted.And they also addressed two of the Dolphins three biggest needs (cornerback, defensive tackle and guard).But heres the problem with what the Dolphins did in the final two days of the three-day draft.Many analysts thought this draft had tremendous value in the middle rounds the second, third and fourth.The Dolphins traded away/swapped their third- and fourth-round picks, a total of three selections, in deals with Las Vegas and Houston.

Yes, the Dolphins gained a 2026 third-round pick, however ...The Dolphins next six picks in this draft came in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, territory where you dont expect a Year One contribution.

Its a nice bonus if you get that from any of those late-round picks.But youre a fool if you expect it.The Dolphins selected some intriguing players late in the draft, including Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, the 2023 Doak Walker winner as the nations best running back, and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who won 21 games in his final two years with the Longhorns, in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.However, this is basically a two-man draft involving Grant and Savaiinaea for a team that desperately needed help in the draft.By the way, the secondary, which badly needed help in the draft, was practically neglected and now has the potential to be the worst in the AFC East.Not good.Chris Perkins: A glance at Miami Dolphins 2025 draft class and how they fitBuffalo Bills: B-The Bills, led by general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott, definitely focused on defense, using their first five picks on that side of the ball.But was it wise to trade up twice in the first four rounds to grab defensive players?Buffalo was 10th in offense last season and No.

2 in scoring (30.9 points per game).

Theyre good on that side of the ball.But the Bills ranked 17th in defense last year, 24th against the pass, 12th against the run and 11th in points allowed.

So, the Bills went to work in the draft.Buffalo selected speedy Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the first round (pick No.

30) and followed that by trading up with Chicago in the second round, going to No.

41 from No.

56, to select South Carolina defensive tackle TJ Sanders.Both should be contributors but theres a chance neither is a starter.Buffalo selected Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson in the third round, and traded up in the fourth round, again with Chicago, to select Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker.The Bills rounded out the defensive run with Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock, their fifth-round pick.Buffalo entered the draft with needs at cornerback, defensive tackle and wide receiver, and used three of their first four picks on a cornerback and two defensive tackles.Good work.Well see whether it was worthwhile to trade up twice, however.Dolphins add slew of wide receivers among undrafted free agent pickups after draft New York Jets: BIt seems to be a nice debut for Mougey and Glenn.The Jets needed help at offensive tackle, tight end and wide receiver.They addressed each in their first four picks and probably made a best player available selection in the third round.But theres room to second guess whether they made a huge mistake by passing on Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the first round.The Jets selected Missouri right tackle Andrew Membou in the first round (pick No.

8), and hes expected to be a Day One starter.

Membou might have been the best offensive lineman in the draft.

The Jets stuck it to the Dolphins in the second by selecting LSU tight end Mason Taylor, the son of Dolphins Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who also happened to play one season for the Jets.Mason Taylor might be the most complete tight end in the draft.The Jets took Florida State cornerback Azareyeh Thomas in the third round, and completed their pre-draft needs checklist in the fourth round when they took Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith.Thomas appears to be a BPA pick because he doesnt seem likely to start ahead of boundary cornerbacks Sauce Gardner or Brandon Stephens or nickel/slot Michael Carter.Smith is a speedster who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash.Alabama safety Malachi Moore, the fourth-round pick, could be interesting.

The Jets moved up 15 spots to draft him, and he has some safety-nickel versatility to his game.The ex-Miami players linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, who played at St.

Thomas Aquinas, and defensive end Tyler Baron will likely need special teams skills to make the roster.New England Patriots: B-Lets start at the top, where Eliot Wolf, the executive vice president of player personnel who is basically the general manager, and coach Mike Vrabel got who they wanted.LSU left tackle Will Campbell, selected with the No.

4 pick of the first round, seems to be everything youd want, except, of course, he comes with relatively short arms.No big deal.All the draft analysts agree that Campbell is an absolute beast, a mauler.Hell likely figure a way to be effective at left tackle or guard.The offense, under the guidance of quarterback Drake Maye, last years first-round pick, got the first four picks of this draft.

The Patriots selected Ohio State running back TreyVeyon Henderson in the second round, and he adds speed to the bulk of running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.Washington State wide receiver Kyle Williams, the third-round pick might have to wait another year before making an impact from scrimmage.

The same is probably true for the three fourth-round picks Georgia center Jared Wilson, California safety Craig Woodson and Florida State defensive tackle Joshua Farmer.The Patriots traded down twice, adding a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick, before selecting Wilson.

Not bad.The Patriots biggest needs heading into the draft were offensive tackles, tight end and wide receiver.They addressed two of those (offensive tackle and wide receiver) in the first three rounds.More 2025 NFL draft coverageChris Perkins: A glance at Miami Dolphins 2025 draft class and how they fitDolphins add slew of wide receivers among undrafted free agent pickups after draftFast facts: Learn more about the Dolphins Day 3 drafteesDolphins, still without Jalen Ramsey trade partner, add DTs, local CB, QB on Day 3 of draftChris Perkins: Why didnt Dolphins draft a cornerback in first three rounds?Chris Perkins: Dolphins rookie Kenneth Grant under tremendous pressure months before his first gameFast facts: Learn more about Jonah Savaiinaea, the Dolphins second-round pickDolphins move up in second round to draft guard Jonah SavaiinaeaMiami Dolphins first-round draft pick DT Kenneth Grant | PHOTOSPerkins and Furones: Is Kenneth Grant a good pick for Dolphins? And Will Johnson in second round? | VIDEOWhat draft analysts are saying about Dolphins first-round pick Kenneth GrantChris Perkins: New DT Kenneth Grants dawg mentality is exactly what Dolphins needFast facts: Learn more about Dolphins first-round pick Kenneth GrantInstant Analysis: Miami Dolphins first-round pick Kenneth GrantDolphins select Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in first round of NFL draft.

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