The AFC East entered the 2026 NFL Draft with four teams in very different windows. The Jets were building the roster before finding the quarterback. The Patriots were adding stability after a Super Bowl run exposed protection issues. The Bills needed to keep reloading around Josh Allen without forcing the board. The Dolphins, under a new regime, had the capital to make a statement.
That difference in team context shaped the whole division. New York came away with the clearest foundation-setting class, New England found solid long-term starters, Buffalo added useful pieces but left the receiver room feeling too familiar, and Miami’s early value left the most questions despite a better finish on Day 3.
These grades are not final verdicts before the players take an NFL snap. They reflect how each team worked the board, the value of the picks relative to IT5 grades, roster fit, positional value, opportunity cost, and how clear each player’s projected role looks right now.
AFC East Draft Grades
| Team | Grade |
|---|---|
| New York Jets | A |
| New England Patriots | B+ |
| Buffalo Bills | C |
| Miami Dolphins | C |
New England Patriots — Grade: B+
Patriots picks:
- R1-28 (28) > Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
- R2-23 (55) > Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
- R3-31 (95) > Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
- R5-31 (171) > Karon Prunty, CB, Wake Forest
- R6-15 (196) > Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
- R6-31 (212) > Namdi Obiazor, LB, TCU
- R7-18 (234) > Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech
- R7-29 (245) > Jam Miller, RB, Alabama
- R7-31 (247) > Quintayvious Hutchins, EDGE, Boston College
The Patriots did not draft a ton of flash, but the class makes sense. Picking in the back half of the league naturally capped the ceiling, so New England worked the board to avoid getting stuck in thinner tiers. That started with a trade-up for Caleb Lomu, sending a fourth-rounder to division rival Buffalo to move up in a tackle class that was starting to dry up.
Lomu is a textbook left tackle prospect from a traits standpoint. He is tall, long, fluid, quick with his feet, efficient mirroring rushers, and balanced enough to recover when he loses early. The concern is the anchor. Power will test him early, and he does not consistently create displacement in the run game. Still, the ceiling is worth chasing, and the pick made sense for a team whose pass protection was exposed on the biggest stage last season.
The landing spot is interesting because of Will Campbell. New England can keep giving Campbell time at left tackle while Lomu sits and develops, or eventually shift Campbell to the right side when Morgan Moses departs and plug Lomu in. Much like Campbell, Lomu’s anchor will be tested early, but the long-term left tackle ceiling may be higher with Lomu. This was a good position-value swing without dipping too late into a scarce tackle pool.
The Patriots moved up again for Gabe Jacas, and I like the player. Jacas is a high-floor edge defender with good length, powerful hands, awareness, and real value against the run. He sets a hard edge and gives you a solid bull rush. He probably is not a 10-plus sack player because the first-step explosiveness and bend are not special, but he profiles as a long-term complementary starter. With Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones already in place, he can rotate early and take on more later.
Eli Raridon continues the same theme. Not flashy, but useful. At 6-foot-6 with an 80-inch wingspan, he gives New England real in-line value as a blocker and enough athletic ability and ball skills to matter in the passing game. He still needs to sharpen the route-running, but he fits the modern TE2 profile: block, help the run game, show up in play action, and give the quarterback a big target underneath. With Hunter Henry approaching free agency, there is a clear path to a bigger role.
The rest of the class is mostly depth and special teams value. Karon Prunty was not scouted by IT5, so it is hard to fully endorse the pick, and he likely adds corner depth more than he threatens for a starting job. Dametrious Crownover is a developmental tackle swing with size and length, but pad level and redirection issues. Namdi Obiazor brings athleticism and special teams value, though the linebacker instincts are limited. The seventh-rounders are roster competition: Behren Morton as an inconsistent QB flier, Jam Miller as an athletic back with special teams value, and Quintayvious Hutchins as a toolsy edge with length and get-off.
Best pick: Gabe Jacas
Best value: Gabe Jacas
Biggest question: Does Lomu become the long-term left tackle, and what does that mean for Will Campbell?
Overall: A sensible, well-structured class. Lomu gives them the upside swing, while Jacas and Raridon should have long-term roles. It lacks true star power, but there are several players here who can become solid starters or useful contributors.
Miami Dolphins — Grade: C
Dolphins picks:
- R1-12 (12) > Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
- R1-27 (27) > Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
- R2-11 (43) > Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
- R3-11 (75) > Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech
- R3-23 (87) > Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
- R3-30 (94) > Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
- R4-30 (130) > Trey Moore, EDGE, Texas
- R4-38 (138) > Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
- R5-18 (158) > Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
- R5-37 (177) > Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri
- R5-40 (180) > Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State
- R6-19 (200) > DJ Campbell, IOL, Texas
- R7-22 (238) > Max Llewellyn, EDGE, Iowa
The Dolphins came into the draft under a new regime with six top-100 picks. That is the kind of capital that should produce multiple high-impact starters. Instead, the top of the class feels like a missed opportunity, even if the board improved later.
Kadyn Proctor sets the tone. The NFL was always going to value the size and movement traits. He is enormous, moves better than players that size usually move, and the franchise tackle idea is easy to understand. The film just did not look like a top-15 offensive tackle prospect. He struggles to mirror and redirect, oversets too often, and loses leverage too regularly. His better NFL projection may be at guard, and Miami feels like a spot where he could be thrown to the wolves at tackle before that conversation happens.
The roster-building logic makes sense. A new regime wants to start fresh, build inside-out, and find a cornerstone offensive lineman. I am just not sure Proctor was the right prospect to make that bet on.
The best pick in Miami’s first five selections was Chris Johnson. He has NFL size, athletic ability, instincts, and ball skills, and the corner class had already been shaken up by Jermod McCoy sliding. Johnson has the profile to become an impact starter, and if this class ages well, he is probably a big reason why.
The next stretch is where the class loses me. Jacob Rodriguez is instinctive and athletic, and the NFL clearly liked him in this range, but I struggle with the profile inside the top 50. He is an undersized middle linebacker whose role is mainly tied to the run game, yet he lacks length, struggles taking on physical blockers, and does not bring enough coverage impact to cleanly affect all three downs.
Caleb Douglas may be one of the biggest reaches in the draft. He is a tall, lanky boundary receiver with strong testing numbers, but the film is not there. He struggles to separate, the ball skills and hands are subpar, and the play strength is not good enough. That should have been a developmental pick, not a top-100 selection.
I like Will Kacmarek as a player, but not at No. 87. He is a strong run blocker who can move people at the point of attack and play a long time as a blocking TE2 or TE3. The issue is the passing-game ceiling. It is mostly leak-out, play-action, shallow route value. Useful player, but too one-dimensional for the top 100.
The Dolphins started saving the class at pick 94 with Chris Bell. He slid because of the ACL tear, but the skill set is much better than the draft slot. Bell has a prototypical X receiver profile: size, strength, speed, physicality, hands, ball skills, and the ability to win at all three levels. If the medicals hold, this could be a really good pick.
The rest of the class was much better. Trey Moore gives them an undersized subpackage speed rusher, and Kyle Louis is a super athletic linebacker with coverage value who pairs well with Rodriguez. Both are tweener-ish, but in the fourth round that is fine. Michael Taaffe brings range, instincts, and special teams value. Kevin Coleman Jr. gives them a quick slot profile with reliable hands. Seydou Traore is a developmental receiving tight end still new to football, while DJ Campbell and Max Llewellyn add interior offensive line and pass-rush depth.
Best pick: Chris Johnson
Best value: Chris Bell
Biggest question: Is Kadyn Proctor actually a franchise tackle, or will Miami wait too long to move him inside?
Overall: A frustrating class. Johnson and Bell are good picks, and Miami found useful role players from pick 94 onward. But with six top-100 picks, the early value needed to be much better. Proctor, Rodriguez, Douglas, and Kacmarek all come with enough questions to keep this in C range.
New York Jets — Grade: A
Jets picks:
- R1-2 (2) > David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- R1-16 (16) > Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
- R1-30 (30) > Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
- R2-18 (50) > D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
- R4-3 (103) > Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
- R4-10 (110) > Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
- R6-7 (188) > Anez Cooper, G, Miami (FL)
- R7-12 (228) > VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
The Jets were in a strange spot. They had the capital to lay the foundation for the next version of the roster, but this was not the year for them to access their quarterback of the future. With six top-120 picks, including four inside the top 50, the goal had to be simple: add real building blocks now and make life easier for the quarterback who probably arrives later. They did that.
David Bailey at No. 2 is a strong pick, even if it is not totally clean. He is an explosive pass rusher with a polished rush arsenal and the frame to keep adding strength. The run defense and power profile are still developing, but the pass-rush appeal is obvious. He gives the Jets a premium starter at a premium position.
The only question is profile. With Will McDonald already in place, it is fair to wonder whether Arvell Reese would have changed the structure of the defense more. But it is hard to be too critical when the Jets still came away with a high-end edge talent at the top of the draft.
The better value came at No. 16 with Kenyon Sadiq. He was a top-10 player on the IT5 board, and the Jets got him in the middle of the first round. Sadiq is a dynamic receiving tight end who can become a high-impact starter in the passing game while showing enough grit as a blocker to stay on the field. This pick could look even better after a year of experience, when the Jets hopefully have the quarterback in place.
Omar Cooper Jr. also fits the plan. He is a plug-and-play slot starter who complements Sadiq and Garrett Wilson well. Cooper is not the most explosive receiver in the class, but he is instinctive, sure-handed, and understands how to find space over the middle. He should be a reliable WR2 type for the future of the offense.
D’Angelo Ponds is one of my favorite fits in this class. He is sticky and physical in coverage with premier ball skills. If he were a couple inches taller and longer, he probably goes top 10. The size will show up against bigger receivers, but if the Jets use him smartly, he can be an impactful cover corner or nickel. There is a little bit of Aaron Glenn to his game, which makes the fit even more fun.
The fourth round added useful role value. Darrell Jackson Jr. gives them real size on the interior now that Quinnen Williams is gone. He is stiff and limited athletically, so he is not a backfield disruptor, but he is freakishly strong, long, and difficult to move. He should muddy up inside runs and gives them a high-floor rotational piece with starter potential. Cade Klubnik is a fine fourth-round QB flier, but I would not expect him to change the long-term plan. He can make throws from a clean pocket, but the pressure response and out-of-structure play remain major questions.
Anez Cooper is backup guard depth with size and length, while VJ Payne is the better late value. Payne is a terrific athlete at safety and may be best as a subpackage nickel-linebacker type who can cover underneath, trigger downhill, and contribute on special teams. In the seventh round, that is good business.
Best pick: Kenyon Sadiq
Best value: VJ Payne
Biggest question: Will the pieces put in place in this class push the Jets into playoff contention in 2027?
Overall: A strong foundation-setting draft. Bailey gives them a premium edge, Sadiq and Cooper give the next quarterback a better offensive structure, Ponds makes the secondary better right away, and the late picks add useful role value.
Buffalo Bills — Grade: C
Bills picks:
- R2-3 (35) > T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
- R2-30 (62) > Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
- R4-2 (102) > Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
- R4-25 (125) > Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
- R4-26 (126) > Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
- R5-27 (167) > Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
- R5-41 (181) > Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
- R7-4 (220) > Toriano Pride Jr., CB, Missouri
- R7-23 (239) > Tommy Doman, P, Florida
- R7-25 (241) > Ar’maj Reed-Adams, G, Texas A&M
The Bills’ class is not a bad one, but it is difficult to get excited about. Buffalo traded out of the first round rather than forcing T.J. Parker into the back end of Round 1, picked up extra capital, and still landed him early on Day 2. That is fine board management. The trade-off is that this class lacks a true headline talent.
Parker is a solid first pick. He is a traits bet who wins with get-off, length, and speed-to-power that can drive tackles back into the pocket. The concern is that the rush plan can get stale. If he does not develop more setup, counters, and variety, NFL tackles will sit on the power path. Still, in this range, betting on an explosive edge with heavy hands and closing ability is reasonable.
The pick I struggle with more is Davison Igbinosun at No. 62. He has the size and speed for outside corner, and he improved in 2025, but the tape is still too inconsistent for me in this range. He can carry vertically and compete through routes, but he plays upright, looks tight when forced to turn, and gets grabby downfield. I understand the tools. I just thought there were cleaner corners available.
The fourth round is where the class gets more interesting. Jude Bowry is a reasonable developmental offensive line swing with size, length, and athletic tools, but the technique is still raw and a move inside to guard may eventually make more sense. That is fine in the fourth and adds needed depth.
Skyler Bell is the more frustrating pick. He is a fine prospect with a smooth release package, good route tempo, reliable hands, and enough feel after the catch to be productive. The issue is the fit. Buffalo spent the offseason facing the same question: do they have enough around Josh Allen? Adding DJ Moore helps, but it does not fully solve the room. The Bills needed something different — more size outside, more vertical stress, or a true field-tilting element. Bell feels closer to what they already have than what they were missing. He can still be good fourth-round value, but I am not sure he changes the offense.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr is one of the better swings in the class. He is still developing his eye discipline and coverage feel, but the athletic profile is easy to buy into. He can run, close, and cover ground, giving him a special teams floor with developmental linebacker upside.
I like the fifth-round run. Jalon Kilgore is a high-upside athlete with size, speed, and ball skills, even if the safety/nickel projection still needs sorting out. Zane Durant is my favorite value in the class. He is undersized, but I like him as an interior penetrator. He can win with leverage, quickness, and violent hands, and the disruptive flashes are worth chasing in the fifth round.
The seventh-round group is mostly roster competition. Toriano Pride Jr. brings speed and ball skills but may struggle with bigger receivers. Tommy Doman gives them a punter. Ar’maj Reed-Adams has NFL size and run-game strength, but balance issues in pass protection likely cap him as a reserve guard.
Best pick: T.J. Parker
Best value: Zane Durant
Biggest question: Did Buffalo do enough to change the receiver room around Josh Allen? Probably not.
Overall: A workable class with useful defensive swings and some good Day 3 value, but not enough top-end impact. The trade back was sensible, yet the class lacks a true premium addition and the receiver strategy still feels too familiar.
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