AFC East 2024 NFL Draft recap
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Tennessee DB Jaylen McCollough (58 tackles, 2 TFLs, 4 PBUs) attempts to tackle with Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis (1.042 yards, 4.5 YPC, 5 TDs) in a November 2022 contest. Davis led the SEC in touchdowns as a senior at Kentucky (21).
In the 2024 AFC East NFL Draft recap, did the New England Patriots find their quarterback of the future early in Round 1? After attempting to do so in the 2021 NFL Draft, the team took a different approach this time around. Soon thereafter, the Patriots went with a physical approach. It was supplemented with savvy, big play route runners.
Miami Dolphins
In Miami, the team went “chopping” for its first-round pick, but may have found another edge rusher in Round 5. Dolphinswire.com’s Jason Sarney goes into all of the team’s draft picks in detail. Did they get a potential left tackle of the future in Round 2? If not, they drafted a couple of receivers in the latter rounds to satisfy Phins fans’ affinity for the position.
New York Jets
The New York Jets went to Penn State for an upgrade at left tackle, but he may not have to play right away. They also added running backs to a room that could eventually become the best in the division. One of the ACC’s most successful quarterbacks joins the mix after only getting better in school. And they added the CFL’s 2023 Most Outstanding Rookie.
Buffalo Bills
Finally, the Buffalo Bills were not to be outdone. The team lost a boatload of receivers in free agency, yet still moved back in the draft. With the 33rd overall pick, they selected a receiver with cold weather experience. Its second-round pick brings needed speed to the back end of the defense. And if James Cook needs a break, the Bills took a running back who “only” led the SEC in total touchdowns.
Did they find a potential complement to star defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the third round? The team also continues to search for replacements for the since-departed Mitch Morse at the center position. And the team may have found a punt returner to ease the load of losing Deonte Harty in free agency.
We review every team’s selections in our 2024 AFC East NFL Draft recap.
NOTE: Bold (black) indicates respective link (video, article, photo gallery) to player, school or otherwise.
| AFC East 2024 NFL Recap | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | |||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Notes | Value (1-5) | |
| 1 (3) | Drake Maye | 6’3 223 QB-UNC | Maye makes the hard passes look easy on a regular basis. The gunslinger’s athletic ability shined running the football in 2022, when the ACC Offensive Player of the Year rushed for seven TDs. | 4.5 | |
| 2 (37) from LA Chargers | Ja’Lynn Polk | 6’1 203 WR-Washington | Polk’s high football intelligence was a big reason the Huskies were able to move him around to multiple spots. His big 2023 season came at just the right time, as teammate Jalen McMillan was often unavailable in 2023. | 4 | |
| 3 (68) | Caedan Wallace | 6’5 314 OT-Penn State | Wallace has smooth feet, decent hand placement and plenty of experience on the edges. The third-rounder has starting potential early in his career. | 4 | |
| 4 (103) | Layden Robinson | 6’3 1/2” 302 OG-Texas A&M | The “knockdown block” king was one of the best bar room brawlers in the draft. Getting the pad level under control will be key at the next level. | 4.5 | |
| 4 (110) from LA Chargers via Chicago | Javon Baker | 6’1 202 WR-UCF, Alabama | Body control was the strength in Baker’s game. He is big enough to be a factor in the Red Zone on more than just fades. Flashes awareness on shallow crossing routes. | 4 | |
| 6 (180) | Marcellas Dial | 6’0 190 CB-South Carolina | Despite seeing action at the safety position during the postseason, Dial likely get an opportunity to play corner early in his career. The 2022 season was a breakout season for him opposite Dolphins 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith (3 INTs, 12 PBUs). | 4 | |
| 6 (193) from Jaguars | Joe Milton III | 6’5 235 QB-Tennessee, Michigan | Blessed with the draft’s strongest arm, Milton III did not throw an interception in 2022 and finished that season as the Orange Bowl MVP. Touch has been a question mark, but the upside is undeniable. | 3.75 | |
| 7 (231) from Bears | Jaheim Bell | 6'2 241 H-back-FSU, South Carolina | Aligned all over the field at South Carolina and continued the theme at FSU. He’s been seen at the X-WR spot and defeated cornerbacks on fade routes from that position (Georgia ’22). Averaged nearly 17 yards per catch in 2021 (5 TDs). | 4 | |
| No. 1 UDFA signing: | DeShaun Fenwick | 6'1 225 RB-Oregon State, South Carolina | Fenwick’s foot speed may have hurt his chances to get drafted, but he has all of the ability to work as a runner in-between the tackles for the Patriots. Can he contribute on special teams? | ||
| Draft Grade: | 4.09 | ||||
| Miami Dolphins | |||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Notes | Value (1-5) | |
| 1 (21) | Chop Robinson | 6'3 254 DE-OLB Penn State | Robinson finished on the QB better in 2022 than 2023, but his flexibility stood out rushing from a number of different spots. He could very well become a chess piece for the team on third downs as a rusher. | 4 | |
| 2 (55) | Patrick Paul | 6’7 331 LT-Houston | 44 straight starts in school only tell part of the story. His 36 1/4” arms make it tough for defenders to get around his wingspan. If he can speed up his punch and sit down with consistency, Paul could become a fixture on the Dolphins offensive line. | 4.5 | |
| 4 (120) from Philadelphia via LA Rams via | Jaylen Wright | 5’10 210 RB-Tennessee | One of the draft’s fastest running backs, he projects as a Raheem Mostert-clone in terms of big play potential on the team’s inside zones. He has also been very effective on gap-schemed runs. | 4 | |
| 5 (158) | Mohamed Kamara | 6'1 248 DE-OLB-Colorado State | Kamara is a player that we talked about early in the season as a potential draft pick. He has operated from a stand-up rush outside linebacker position on both sides of the ball. His tenacity, play speed and overall strength have been evident over a three-year period. | 5 | |
| 6 (184) from Bears | Malik Washington | 5’8 191 WR-Virginia, Northwestern | Washington was already an explosive target for the Wildcats before going to the ACC. His RB-like strength after making defenders miss is evident in the middle of the field (Nebraska ’22). Washington fits the team’s preference for screens due to his efficiency in that department. 110 receptions for a school-record 1,426 yards at UVA in 2023. | 4 | |
| 6 (198) | Patrick McMorris | 6'0 210 S-Cal, San Diego State | A team captain at San Diego State, McMorris has consistently stuck his foot in the ground from the Rover position (at SDSU) and flashed closing burst to tackle (Boise State ’22). Tackling in space has been a question mark, but his work as an eighth man in the box is unquestioned (Independence Bowl ’23). | 3.75 | |
| 7 (241) | Tahj Washington | 5’9 174 WR-USC, Memphis | Few players ended their career with as dominant of a performance as Washington had in the 2023 Holiday Bowl. In that game, all of his strengths shined (run after the catch, timing and route-running from the slot position). He can stick his foot in the dirt to make tacklers miss and has excellent ball skills. | 4.5 | |
| No. 1 UDFA signing: | Grayson Murphy | DE/OLB-UCLA, North Texas | Did not get the combine invite that his twin brother, Gabriel, received back in February. Nearly matched his production and uses savvy quickness to overcome lack of length off the edge. | ||
| Draft Grade: | 4.25 | ||||
| New York Jets | |||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Nasty’ Take: | Value (1-5) | |
| 1 (11) from Minnesota | Olumuyiwa Fashanu | 6’6 312 OT-Penn State | Fashanu was thought to be a potential Top 10 pick going into the season and ended up going one pick outside of the slot. He’s consistent, moves bodies in the run game and generally can mirror in pass protection. | 4.5 | Traded the 10th overall pick and 2024 sixth-round pick (203rd overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the 11th overall pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick (129th) and 2024 fifth-round pick (157th overall) |
| 3 (65) | Malachi Corley | 5’11 210 WR-Western Kentucky | Corley wins in a number of ways with the ball in his hands but has been featured in a spread offense. He finds soft spots on sit down patterns (Auburn ’22) and plays low to the ground. He has aligned in the backfield on occasion and will hang on to the ball when thrown into harm’s way (Army ’21) due to physical stature. | 4 | |
| 4 (134) from Ravens | Braelon Allen | 6’1 235 RB Wisconsin | We spotlighted Allen after a dominant freshman performance against Arizona State in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl. Allen excelled at creating explosive runs in school, including a 96-yard touchdown in 2022. One of the draft’s most productive backs could become a steal for the Jets in Round 4. | 4 | |
| 5 (171) | Jordan Travis | 6’1 200 QB-FSU | It’s easy to forget how much Travis improved as a third-down passer in school. Rarely did he rely on his legs on that down after using them exclusively early in his career. He was flawless in the Red Zone during the latter portion of his career. | 3.75 | |
| 5 (173) | Isaiah Davis | 6'0 220 RB-South Dakota State | Davis’ production needs to be quantified. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and rushed for over 4,500 yards (4,578). In 2020-21, he averaged 32.6 yards per KOR. All of this while sharing carries with Pierre Strong and Amar Johnson. | 4.5 | |
| 5 (176) | Qwan’tez Stiggers | 5’11 203 CB-Toronto Argonauts | The 2023 CFL Rookie of the Year competes with fervor through the down. He flashed excellent special teams upside in the postseason (opening tackle on KO, East-West Shrine ’24). Stiggers finds the ball late in the down on downfield passes. | 4.5 | |
| 7 (257) | Jaylen Key | 6'1 209 DB-Alabama, UAB | Key’s length adds to his profile as a potential fit for the team inside as a dime linebacker. If ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ can continue to flash on special teams (as he has dating back to his days at UAB), then he’ll have a chance to make the team. | 3.75 | |
| UDFA signing: | Braiden McGregor | 6’5 257 DE-Michigan | The Jets defensive line will be tough to crack, but McGregor has the size and traits that the Jets want in their defenders. Can he find a consistent secondary pass rush move? | ||
| Draft Grade: | 4.14 | ||||
| Buffalo Bills | |||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Nasty’ Take: | Value (1-5) | |
| 1st Trade: Exchanged the 28th overall pick, traded a fourth-round pick (133rd overall) and a seventh-round pick (248th overall) to the KC Chiefs in exchange for the 32nd overall pick, a third-round pick (95th overall) and seventh-round pick (221st overall) | |||||
| 2 (33) from Panthers | Keon Coleman | 6’3 213 All-Purpose/FSU,Michigan State | Quick-footed big wide receiver with outstanding ball skills down the field and above average body control. Coleman runs faster with the ball in his hands than running routes. It’s an area of continued improvement outside of the Red Zone. His frame will give Josh Allen a different type of Red Zone threat. | 4.5 | Traded the 32nd overall pick (acquired from Chiefs) and a sixth-round pick (200th overall) to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a second-round (33rd overall pick) and fifth-round pick (141st overall) |
| 2 (60) | Cole Bishop | 6’2 206 S-Utah | Bishop’s range is underrated, as is the football intelligence. He communicates with passion when dealing with motion adjustments. This showed up throughout his film, even when he filtered down into the box as an extra linebacker. | 4.5 | |
| 3 (95) from Kansas City | DeWayne Carter | 6’2 303 DT-Duke | Carter -who was often the focus of the opposition at Duke- could benefit from playing alongside Ed Oliver. His foot speed and effort show up consistently when re-tracking his steps to the ball. Hand displacement improvement will be key in his development as a pass rusher, but he gets his hands on the ball after getting tied up (11 career PBUs). | 4.25 | |
| 4 (128) | Ray Davis | 5’8 211 RB-Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Temple | Davis has been productive at each stop. He actually rushed for 921 yards at Temple back in 2021. And in 2023? The only player to rush for over 1,000 yards at two SEC schools led the conference in TDs (21). | 4.5 | |
| 5 (141) | Sedrick Van Pran-Granger | 6’4 298 OC-Georgia | Van Pran-Granger is generally assignment-sound, finishes through the down and snaps with efficiency. The length is a question mark going against longer zero-technique nose guards. | 4 | |
| 5 (160) | Edefuan Ulofoshio | 6’0 1/2” 236 LB-Washington | Former walk-on who earned starting job. Long stride covers ground on outside runs. While he attacks vs. climbing OL, he does not consistently shoot hands and is caught on the backside. Season-ending injuries likely caused draft day slide. Starting-caliber skill-set. | 4 | |
| 5 (168) | Javon Solomon | 6'1 246 OLB-Troy | Played the Bandit position for the team. Nation’s sack leader also posted 11 sacks and 17 TFLs back in 2021. Natural bender who has shown an ability to handle OLB duties in terms of fluid curl-hook drops in coverage. Impressed in the postseason with ability to disengage as a LG on the punt team. | 4 | |
| 6 (204) | Tylan Grable | 6’5 309 OT-UCF | He gets into his kick-slide with urgency and keeps his hands up ready to punch. A tendency to settle his feet a step early allows defensive ends to climb his top shoulder early in the down. Offers flexibility as a pulling option due to mobility. High ceiling prospect. | 3.75 | |
| 6 (219) | Daequan Hardy | 5’9 179 CB/Ret-Penn State | Hardy’s sub-4.4 40-yard speed showed up as a punt returner for the Nittany Lions in 2023. He should compete for a return role as Khalil Shakir takes on more of a receiving burden in 2024. | 4 | |
| 7 (221) | Travis Clayton | 6'7 301 OT-IPPP | The Bills take a rugby player who has yet to play football. The International Player Pathway Program has already produced one Pro Bowl tackle in Jordan Mailata (Eagles). Can it produce another? Clayton has an 84-inch wingspan and runs in the 4.8 range. | 3.5 | |
| No. 1 UDFA signing: | Frank Gore, Jr. | 5'8 200 RB-Southern Miss | Gore, Jr. did it all in school, even starting at QB back in 2021. The top attribute he contains is an innate ability to find cutback lanes due to vision. | ||
| Draft Grade: | 4.075 |
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