AFCN analysis

1(4) MIKE WILLIAMS OT TEXAS
2(4) JOSH REED WR LOUISIANA STATE
2(29) RYAN DENNEY DE BRIGHAM YOUNG
3(32) COY WIRE S STANFORD
5(4) JUSTIN BANNAN DT COLORADO
6(4) KEVIN THOMAS CB NEVADA-LAS VEGAS
7(4) MIKE PUCILLO OG AUBURN
7(38) RODNEY WRIGHT WR FRESNO STATE
7(40) JARRETT FERGUSON FB VIRGINIA TECH
7(49) DOMINIQUE STEVENSON LB TENNESSEE

Williams should immediately improve their running game, a need with Bledsoe. Reed, likewise, could be a tremendous asset across from Moulds, as long as the running game keeps moving the chains and Riemersma/Centers can make the hard shorter yardage catches. Denney and Wire are typical roleplayers. Bannan was good value, as was Thomas. Stevenson wouldn't have been worth drafting except for in this system. Overall, the Bills were methodical, unspectacular, and yet IMO one of the better drafts given their needs, even without the off-field changes.

Buffalo did well off the boards, getting Drew Bledsoe. I still don't particularly like Bledsoe, and my Buffalo ties have me a little torn. But they needed to take a chance, and this seems to be a decent one. Better to dump a future #1 on a QB than be the one trading him, if you're in the same division.

Mike Williams was the better pick of the availables. He fits what they want, and can honestly play either tackle, with RT being a good fallback. Trey Teague could fit in either spot, and conventional wisdom says that Teague's left side. Jonas Jennings is a lineman I really liked last year and his move to center prompted me to revive this crap. Jennings is a fairly large center, and part of an interesting trend for big, smart linemen. Hartings got moved last year, and I think a few other guys have gotten notice this year as possible converts. Oughta be interesting to see how all that works out.

Either way, Jennings inside, with Sullivan and Williams to the right, that's not bad. Teague should be able to handle the job as well as Fina at a cheaper price, and Reuben Brown is still the best at his position in the AFC, because Will Shields has dropped off some.

Side note - Cowart wasn't worth what he could have gotten to stay, but Eddie Robinson isn't enough to replace the playmaking. Fletcher should be solid inside or out, and the team's still going to be strong at LB. Making sense of what they have at DE should be the harder part. Flowers should have been able to wrap up an every-down LDE, and here they are with Ryan Denney. Next year they could really do worse
Sorry, I'm a little involved with them so I tend to run on.

Miami
3 25(90) SETH McKINNEY C TEXAS A&M
4 16(114) from New Orleans RANDY McMICHAEL TE GEORGIA
5 26(161) OMARE LOWE DB WASHINGTON
5 35(170) Compensatory Pick SAM SIMMONS WR NORTHWESTERN
7 30(241) from Chicago LEONARD HENRY RB EAST CAROLINA

Obviously hard to grade. Obviously hard to gauge impact. Center, TE first two are pedestrian, but McKinney could start at LG for a year or two and then take over for Tim Ruddy. Still, the need and value aren't paramount. TE was a need and mcMichael's interesting there. The rest don't much matter. Ricky Williams better have plenty of drive and plenty of stats.

Pats
1 21(21) from Tampa Bay through Oakland and Washington DANIEL GRAHAM TE COLORADO
2 33(65) DEION BRANCH WR LOUISVILLE
4 19(117) from Denver ROHAN DAVEY QB LOUISIANA STATE
4 28(126) from Green Bay JARVIS GREEN DE LOUISIANA STATE
7 26(237) from Miami through Dallas ANTWOINE WOMACK RB VIRGINIA
7 42(253) DAVID GIVENS WR NOTRE DAME

Graham should add to the O, giving a speedy but physical presence, but Branch doesn't make great sense. They have added Hayes to Brown and Patten, and still have Terry Glenn, right?

Davey's an interesting pick but an iffy one IMO. Green should be worth it given the Pats' big line.

Jets

22(22) BRYAN THOMAS DE ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM
2 25(57) JON McGRAW S KANSAS STATE
3 23(88) CHRIS BAKER TE MICHIGAN STATE
4 23(121) ALAN HARPER DT FRESNO STATE
5 19(154) from Washington JONATHAN GOODWIN C MICHIGAN

Reach-fest. Thomas is good, and given the reach for Freeney I guess this makes some sense, but not much. Corners were there. Abraham can't play both corner spots. McGraw is somewhat interesting, but they signed Garnes. Guess they are really just that unhappy with Damien Robinson. They have Becht, who's far better than their relative ability at WR, but I expect they'll want to push Santana moss in a thriving role. harper's decent value at a need spot, but they're just very small along the DL. Hit or miss the whole way.

 

Love what Buffalo is doing. That team finally has a line, which is what they've always needed. Bledsoe has all the weapons anyone could want, with Centers, Bryson, Reed (big time steal), Moulds, Price, and Reis. You couldn't ask more than get Williams, Reed, and Denney, 3 players you just plug in.

They'll miss Cowart. Only a couple of years ago linebacking was a strength for this team, and then the injuries hit.

Miami - Is it just me, or is this team starting to get old? Old offensive line, age on defensive lines. One decent young reciever. I expect to see a lot of Thunder (Williams) and Lighting (Minor) out of this O next year.

People knock Fiedler, but I don't think he's that bad. Efficient. Not going to carry an O, but he can make a few plays. Accurate and poised.

Pats

Glenn in Green Bay. So reciever is a bit of a need, and that was a good spot for one. Team could have really used a DE like Grant or Edwards instead of a Tight End. Green could be that end if his back ever gets good.

Jets.

How many undersized DE can one team have? Good god. The Jets look like they'll be lucky to win 6 this year. VinnieT is getting up there, Pennington is reportably struggling, no corners, no DTs, a bunch of small recievers.

They've still got Curtis Martin, but he's due for an off year. He may be looking at some big fronts this year.

 

Fiedler shouldn't have to carry them with Williams there. Too bad their receivers aren't that good. And yeah, they're old.

I thought Glenn had possibly made a move. It's been a while since I checked anything out. Still don't think that was a good pick, even if they get rid of Patton they have a solid unit compared to other needs.

 

Looking at their roster, I might have taken a chance on a guy like Rasheed. They could use a linebacker, aand he was good value. Then again, I was high on Rasheed.