2007 AFC East Draft Review

With long-time champ New England improving in the off-season - most notably with the additions of LB Adalius Thomas and WR Donte Stallworth via free agency - the 2007 NFL Draft was key for their AFC East pursuers. Buffalo and Miami are rebuilding, while the Jets - who beat the Patriots in New England and finished second a year ago - are looking to build on last year's playoff finish. All four teams made trades for veterans before the draft, while New York and New England stayed active through the weekend.

New England Patriots

24. Brandon Meriweather S/Miami (Fla.)
127. Kareem Brown DT/Miami (Fla.)
171. Clint Oldenburg OT/Colorado State
180. Justin Rogers DE/SMU
202. Mike Richardson CB/Notre Dame
208. Justise Hairston RB/Central Connecticut
209. Corey Hilliard OL/Oklahoma State
211. Oscar Lua LB/Southern Cal
247. Mike Elgin C/Iowa

Trades: Traded WR Deion Branch to Seattle for 1^st-round pick (#24 overall; trade made in 2006); traded 2^nd-round pick (#60 overall) and 7^th-round pick (#238 overall) to Miami for WR Wes Welker; traded 1^st-round pick (#28 overall) to San Francisco for 4^th-round pick (#110) and 2008 1^st-round pick; traded 3^rd-round pick (#91 overall) to Oakland for 7^th-round pick (#211 overall) and 2008 third-round pick; traded 4^th-round pick (#110) to Oakland for WR Randy Moss

The trade with Oakland for wide receiver Randy Moss got much of the media attention, but the Patriots had an excellent draft regardless of the Moss trade. Brandon Meriweather adds speed and toughness to a Patriots secondary that has been chronically thin the last few years, often relegated to playing late-round draft picks and even wide receiver Troy Brown.

The Patriots then parlayed their own first-round pick (used by the 49ers to select OT Joe Staley) into Randy Moss and a 2008 first-rounder. While both Moss and Meriweather have well-documented off-the-field issues, the Patriots' system, leadership, and tradition of winning will give both players the best chance to show off their considerable talents.

The Patriots used the later rounds to add depth; given their track record of developing late-round picks into starters, it's likely that at least one of the three offensive linemen drafted will contribute to the Pats' offensive line.

Between the free-agent additions of Thomas and Stallworth, the trades for Moss and Welker, the Patriots have built what ESPN.com's Bill Simmons compared to a Madden 2008 video game team, while stockpiling additional first- and third-round picks for 2008. Last year's AFC finalist looks like a Super Bowl favorite in 2007.

Grade: A

New York Jets

14. Darrelle Revis CB/Pittsburgh
47. David Harris LB/Michigan
177. Jacob Bender OT/Nicholls State
235. Chansi Stuckey WR/Clemson

Trades: Traded 2^nd-round pick (#37 overall) to Chicago for 2^nd-round pick (#63 overall) and RB Thomas Jones; traded 1^st-round pick (#25 overall), 2^nd-round pick (#59 overall), and research-round pick (#164 overall) to Carolina for 1^st-round pick (#14 overall) and research-round pick (#191 overall); traded 2^nd-round pick (#63 overall), 3^rd-round pick (#89 overall), and research-round pick (#191 overall) to Green Bay for 2^nd-round pick (#47 overall) and 7^th-round pick (#235 overall)

With 21 of 22 starters returning, the Jets were able to focus on need in the 2007 draft - in the words of ESPN's Chris Mortensen, New York chose "quality over quantity". The Jets traded up for both Revis and Harris, adding a shutdown corner and a run-stopping linebacker to a defense that desperately needed both a year ago. Jacob Bender is a project at tackle, who may be groomed to eventually replace RT Anthony Clement, while 7^th-rounder Stuckey will primarily expect to contribute on special teams.

The Jets also picked up running back Thomas Jones from the Bears before the draft, essentially turning the #37 pick (acquired last year from Washington) and their own third-round pick into Thomas Jones and the pick used to draft LB Harris - a solid exchange by any measure. A few commentators have criticized the Jets for moving up and winding up with a league-low four draftees (Denver also finished with four). But with so many returnees at the skill positions, there was little room for late-round flyers on the depth chart. The success of this draft will largely depend on the development of Revis and Harris, but, after last year's surprising 10-6 finish, GM Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Eric Mangini deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Grade: A-

Buffalo Bills

12. Marshawn Lynch RB/California
34. Paul Posluzny LB/Penn State
92. Trent Edwards QB/Stanford
111. Dwayne Wright RB/Fresno State
184. John Wendling S/Wyoming
222. Derek Schouman TE/Boise State
239. C.J. Ah You DE/Oklahoma

Trades: Traded RB Willis McGahee to Baltimore for3^rd-round pick (#92 overall), 7^th-round pick (#239 overall) and 2008 third-round pick; traded QB Kelly Holcomb and LB Takeo Spikes to Philadelphia for DT Darwin Walker and conditional 2008 draft pick; traded 2^nd-round pick (#43 overall) and 3^rd-round pick (#74 overall) to Detroit for 2^nd-round pick (#34 overall)

The Bills showed flashes of promise a year ago, as franchise quarterback J.P. Losman started to find his footing and an underrated defense kept the Bills in games. The off-season trade of RB Willis McGahee to Baltimore left a gaping hole for the Bills to fill, and they responded by picking Cal RB Marshawn Lynch with their first-round pick. They then traded up early in the second round for Penn State LB Paul Posluzny, a consensus All-American.

The problem for the Bills is that they used their first three picks to replace the three veterans traded in the off-season. Posluzny and Lynch will be counted on to replace the production of McGahee and Spikes (who struggled in Buffalo), but Buffalo essentially has only Walker to show for this off-season. It's hard to argue Buffalo has taken a step forward - and impossible to believe that they kept pace with the Patriots or even the Jets in the division.

Safety John Wendling and TE Derek Schouman may both make immediate impact on special teams and in a reserve capacity, and fourth-round pick Dwayne Wright will compete with incumbent RB Anthony Thomas to back up Lynch, but this draft - and this off-season was not enough for Buffalo.

Grade: C

Miami Dolphins

9. Ted Ginn, Jr. WR/Ohio State
40. John Beck QB/Brigham Young
60. Samson Satele C/Hawaii
71. Lorenzo Booker RB/Florida State
108. Paul Soliai DT/Utah
181. Reagan Mauria RB/Hawaii
199. Drew Mormino C/Central Michigan
219. Kelvin Smith LB/Syracuse
225. Brandon Fields P/Michigan State
238. Abraham Wright DE/Colorado

Trades: Traded WR Wes Welker to New England for 2^nd-round pick (#60 overall) and 7^th-round pick (#238 overall)

Apparently, the Dolphins weren't interested in Brady Quinn, after he slipped into their laps in the number-nine slot. Having watched every Quinn start in college, I can honestly understand their hesitation. That said, is Ted Ginn the right selection? Ginn seemed a reach, and with teams like the Jets, Broncos and Browns moving up behind them - and Quinn still available - one wonders why the Dolphins didn't move down and stockpile draft picks for an aging team that needs an infusion of youth.

The question is whether Ginn projects to a number-one receiver in the NFL; and, in fact, whether he is even a major upgrade over Welker, who was sent to division rival for New England for a second- and a seventh-round pick. Between QB John Beck, DT Paul Soliai and the two centers drafted, the Dolphins picked up three potential starters - but likely none for 2007. Running back Lorenzo Booker from Florida State could duplicate the immediate success of former teammate, Jet RB Leon Washington, as a change-of-pace back, but the sixth-round selection of punter Brandon Fields was a reach.

In short, the Dolphins desperately needed an impact player, and an impact draft. It's not clear that, even with ten picks, the Dolphins can expect that kind of production from the 2007 draft class.

Grade: C+