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NFL Draft Grades: AFC East And NFC East
NFL Draft
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Sports
Philadelphia Eagles - C-plus
Their first pick didn't come until the second round after they traded their first-round pick to Carolina for a first-rounder next year. In the second round, they took Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws and California wideout DeSean Jackson. Both are good players who help solidify two areas of weakness but they failed to add any other value in the later rounds. For a team that was the lone non-playoff participant from this division last season, they didn't help themselves in the draft, especially considering how well everyone else in the division did.
AFC EAST
Miami Dolphins - A-minus
Once again Bill Parcells proved why he is Bill Parcells. Taking Jake Long No. 1 was the safe pick and you can always build a team around a great left tackle. But the rest of the draft is what makes this class so great. They took Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling and Michigan quarterback Chad Henne in the second round. Merling should have been a first-rounder but a sports hernia scared teams off. He is a perfect fit at end in their 3-4 alignment because he can play both the pass and run extremely well. Getting Henne as late as they did in the second round was a great pick. He is definitely better than incumbent John Beck and look for Henne to beat him out in his rookie year. When you factor in a traded fourth-round pick that brought back Dallas tight end Anthony Fasano and linebacker Akin Ayodele and Parcells has the Dolphins headed in the right direction.
New York Jets - B
The way the board fell, the Jets weren't able to get their No. 1 target Darren McFadden, but Vernon Gholston is a nice consolation prize. He will be a terror off the edge in their 3-4 scheme. They traded back into the first round to select Purdue tight end Dustin Keller who is the most athletically gifted player at his position. He will certainly bring another element to their offense, one that they did not currently have with Bubba Franks and Chris Baker. When you can add two potential difference-makers in one draft, you can definitely label it a success.
Their first pick didn't come until the second round after they traded their first-round pick to Carolina for a first-rounder next year. In the second round, they took Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws and California wideout DeSean Jackson. Both are good players who help solidify two areas of weakness but they failed to add any other value in the later rounds. For a team that was the lone non-playoff participant from this division last season, they didn't help themselves in the draft, especially considering how well everyone else in the division did.
AFC EAST
Miami Dolphins - A-minus
Once again Bill Parcells proved why he is Bill Parcells. Taking Jake Long No. 1 was the safe pick and you can always build a team around a great left tackle. But the rest of the draft is what makes this class so great. They took Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling and Michigan quarterback Chad Henne in the second round. Merling should have been a first-rounder but a sports hernia scared teams off. He is a perfect fit at end in their 3-4 alignment because he can play both the pass and run extremely well. Getting Henne as late as they did in the second round was a great pick. He is definitely better than incumbent John Beck and look for Henne to beat him out in his rookie year. When you factor in a traded fourth-round pick that brought back Dallas tight end Anthony Fasano and linebacker Akin Ayodele and Parcells has the Dolphins headed in the right direction.
New York Jets - B
The way the board fell, the Jets weren't able to get their No. 1 target Darren McFadden, but Vernon Gholston is a nice consolation prize. He will be a terror off the edge in their 3-4 scheme. They traded back into the first round to select Purdue tight end Dustin Keller who is the most athletically gifted player at his position. He will certainly bring another element to their offense, one that they did not currently have with Bubba Franks and Chris Baker. When you can add two potential difference-makers in one draft, you can definitely label it a success.
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