Below is a full 2014 mock draft for the AFC East. Selections are based on team needs and not the best player available.
Buffalo Bills (6-10)
Round 1, pick 9: OT, Greg Robinson – Auburn. The Bills gave up an astonishing 48 sacks last year which was tied for fourth worst in the NFL. Robinson is young and very raw but has shown tremendous upside. He is a bulldozer in the run game which should make C.J. Spiller very happy.
Round 2: WR, Kelvin Benjamin – Florida State. Steve Johnson missed four games in 2013 and, despite Robert Woods showing he has talent, the Bills are in desperate need of a red zone target. At 6’5” Benjamin is huge and has consistently shown he can go up over defenders to make tough catches. He is not a burner but Marquise Goodwin was drafted in the third round last year to do that.
Round 3: DB, Lamarcus Joyner – Florida State. Joyner is undersized for the NFL at 5’9” but he is the gritty, tough, hard-nosed player you need when you are in a division with the Patriots. In college Joyner had interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles and a boat load of tackles.
Round 4: OG, Xavier Su’a-Filo – UCLA.
Round5: OLB, Boseko Lokombo – Oregon.
Round 6: TE, Jacob Pedersen – Wisconsin.
Round 7: QB, Kenny Guiton – Ohio State.
New York Jets (8-8)
Round 1, pick 18: WR, Marqise Lee – USC. Fast, agile, playmaker. Just the receiver Geno Smith needs to help open up his game. Lee is dynamite with the ball in his hands and can score from anywhere on the field. When NFL coaches get their hands on Lee and improve his route running he will be the focus of most opposing defenses.
Round 2: OG, Cyril Richardson – Baylor. Richardson is a very good pass blocker who will help keep Smith on his feet. He is surprisingly athletic as well as being very reliable. The Baylor Bear is highly unlikely to be a bust in the NFL.
Round 3: Traded as part of the deal for Darrelle Revis.
Round 4: RB, Charles Sims – West Virginia.
Round 5: CB, Stanley Jean-Baptiste – Nebraska
Round 6: TE, Rob Branchflower - UMass
Round 7: QB, Logan Thomas – Virginia Tech
Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Round 1, pick 19: OT, Taylor Lewan – Michigan. Thanks to his size - Lewan is a monster of a tackle at 6’8” – the former Wolverine is extremely strong, evident by his initial punch and solid base in pass protection. When he locks onto defenders the fight is all but over and he has the feet to play in a zone or man blocking scheme. The tackle position was a nightmare for the Dolphins last year who sorely missed Jake Long.
Round 2: HB, Carlos Hyde – Ohio State. Both Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas struggled in 2013 so here I give them a tailback that can make a difference. Hyde is a battering, bruising beast who drives his legs until the whistle goes. He possess amazing agility and speed for his size and although his blocking leaves a lot to be desired, his core strength means teaching him the requisite skills should not be a problem.
Round 3: OG, Gabe Jackson – Mississippi State. Along with Lewan, Jackson will help shore up the Dolphins’ offensive line. He is strong, disciplined, quick and a four year starter in college. Like with many players coming out of college he has his technical flaws but if he works on bending at the knees and cut blocking effectively he will slot right in.
Round 4: QB, Aaron Murray – Georgia.
Round 5: DT, Anthony Johnson – LSU.
Round 6: WR, Jalen Saunders – Oklahoma.
Round 7: CB, Ricardo Allen – Purdue.
New England Patriots (12-4)
Round 1, pick 29, 31 or 32: TE, Austin Seferian-Jenkins – Washington. With Aaron Hernandez in jail and Rob Gronkowski consistently injured, the Patriots need to address the tight end position which is integral to their offense. Gronk is the best tight end in football when healthy but that has been rare over the past two seasons. If Jace Amaro falls he could well be chosen.
Round 2: OL, Zack Martin – Notre Dame. While Logan Mankins is still an elite left guard, right guard Dan Connolly and centre Ryan Wendell are not ideal starters – at least not as a pair. At 6’4” Martin was a fifth-year captain for the Irish and projects to slide inside at the next level.
Round 3: DT, DaQuan Jones – Penn State. The Patriots lost both of their starting defensive tackles Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly to injuries in 2013 and neither are young men anymore. The 318lbs. Jones is a natural three-technique tackle with exceptional strength and run-stopping ability.
Round 4: C, Tyler Larsen – Utah State.
Round 6: QB, Jeff Matthews – Cornell.
Round 6: CB, Bene Benwikere – San Jose State.
Round 7: TE, Coly Lyerla – No Team.