2010 NFL Draft Grades- AFC East

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Buffalo Bills:
2010 NFL Draft Overall Grade: B+
9. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Value Board #: 8
Grade: A
I like this pick, even if it wasn’t a need. The draft is NOT about need, it’s about getting value and obviously, Spiller was going to go in the top 10, so the Bills made the right decision. Spiller is going to be a tremendous playmaker and will provide the Bills with great kick returning ability.

41. Torell Troup, NT, Central Florida
Value Board #: 77
Grade: C
With the likes of Linval Joseph and Terrence Cody still left on the board at nose tackle, the Bills might have liked Troup a lot better than the others. This seems like a reach. Troup will be the new nose tackle in their 3-4 defense.

72. Alex Carrington, DE/DT, Arkansas State
Value Board #: 69
Grade: A
Another good value pick for the Bills. Carrington, even though he went to small Arkansas State, is expected to be a force at defensive end.

107. Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
Value Board #: 197
Grade: B-
There were definitely better WRs left on the board. Easley had been furiously rising after his pro day, so there was probably a lot of interest in him from other teams, so Buffalo had to get him while they could. I had him rated lower than he should be. He can turn into a solid receiver for Buffalo. He’ll help their 30th ranked passing offense.

140. Ed Wang, OT, Virginia Tech
Value Board #: 114
Grade: A
Good value here as well. Wang had been rising this offseason. He’s a former tight end, but made the switch in 2006, so he’s got experience at OT. Will need to get stronger in run game. Good strength and balance, but had some trouble with holding calls senior year.

178. Arthur Moats, DE/OLB, James Madison
Value Board #: 159
Grade: A
Another good pick. Small school prospect and will be a good OLB in the 3-4 for Buffalo. Good character guy and hard worker.

192. Danny Batten, DE/OLB, South Dakota State
Value Board #: Projected 7th round
Grade: B
Another hybrid DE/OLB for Buffalo’s new 3-4 defense. Transitioning to the 3-4 usually takes a year or two and takes drafting a lot of linebackers, so Buffalo is doing a decent job of getting it started.

209. Levi Brown, QB, Troy
Value Board #: Projected in 6-7th rounds
Grade: B
Good Value here again. Buffalo is, for the most part, getting the most value for their picks. Will provide competition for 2nd QB in Buffalo this year, maybe starter in the future.

216. Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa
Value Board #: 166
Grade: A
Comes from Iowa, who has a good offensive line coach for prepping linemen for the NFL. Maybe Trent Edwards will be able to live this season.

Miami Dolphins
2010 NFL Draft Overall Grade: B
28. Jared Odrick, DE/DT, Penn State
Value Board #: 21
Grade: A
Excellent pick with best available player. Miami’s rush and pass defense last year weren’t that great, so they get a huge upgrade here.

40. Koa Misi, DE/OLB, Utah
Value Board #: 62
Grade: B-
Misi started to get noticed at the Senior Bowl. He’ll be a good 3-4 OLB and Miami’s defense will continue to get better as this draft goes on.

73. John Jerry, G, Ole Miss
Value Board #: 75
Grade: A
The Dolphins appeared to have their offensive line set for all the positions except for the guard opposite Justin Smiley. Now they have a complete offensive line.

119. A.J. Edds, ILB, Iowa
Value Board #: 147
Grade: B-
Crowder, Dansby, Misi, Edds, Wake…looking to be a very solid linebacking corp for Miami. Getting rid of Porter was very healthy for them.

145. Nolan Carroll, CB, Maryland
Value Board #: 157
Grade: B
Some teams were gathering a lot of interest in Carroll, so it makes sense why the Dolphins took him here. It’s still decent value. Miami has a young defensive backfield, ranked 24th, but they have tons of potential with all these young guys in there.

163. Reshad Jones, S, Georgia
Value Board #: 102
Grade: A
Excellent pick, Miami’s really going to have a good secondary in time.

212. Chris McCoy, DE/OLB, Middle Tennessee State
Value Board #: Projected 6-7th round
Grade: B
Another linebacker, they now have solidified their defensive front 7.

252. Austin Spitler, ILB, Ohio State
Value Board #: 7-FA
Grade: B-
The Dolphins are taking best available players and this is a very strong defensive front 7 draft, so it’s no surprise that the good drafting teams are taking lots of front 7 guys on defense.

New England Patriots
2010 NFL Draft Overall Grade: B
27. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
Value Board #: 32
Grade: B+
Good pick, but Kyle Wilson is still on the board here. The Pats must’ve known something about Wilson that everyone else didn’t because Wilson would’ve been a good corner plus a returner, but McCourty doesn’t help in the return game, as well.

42. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
Value Board #: 50
Grade: B+
Gronkowski has had back injuries in the back, but those are literally behind him now. He’s an excellent athlete (who does a great job of huddling up with his family in public) and will provide a great weapon for Brady.

53. Jermaine Cunningham, DE/OLB, Florida
Value Board #: 99
Grade: C+
Beginning to think that Belichick and Urban Meyer are grooming players. Cunningham has more of a motor than the more popular Dunlap, and I’m not surprised that the guy who has maybe less ability, but is a harder worker, is getting drafted before the other.

62. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Value Board #: 72
Grade: B
Spikes had a terrible 40 time, but that shouldn’t deter teams and it didn’t do that to the Pats for drafting Spikes. He’s still a tremendous defender, but seriously dropped after not coming out after his junior year.

90. Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
Value Board #: 104
Grade: B
Price all of a sudden made a push for the 2nd, 3rd rounds after the season ended. He is very quick and had a 4.4 40.

113. Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
Value Board #: 66
Grade: A
A lot of mockers and draft analysts had Hernandez going in the 2nd, or at the latest the 3rd. The Pats got him in the 4th. Perhaps teams were worried about his blocking ability. And on ESPN they said that this guy CAN block, then they show a highlight of him blindsiding somebody. That is not blocking. The type of blocking that he’s needed to do in the NFL is in-line blocking.

150. Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan
Value Board #: 237
Grade: C
Yea, they needed a punter, but this was way too early to take one, no matter what the value. Punters in 4th or 5th rounds are bad value, especially if it’s not a decent year for them.

205. Ted Larsen, C, N.C. State
Value Board #: 191
Grade: A
Good value here, Larsen provides depth for the Patriots’ offensive line.

208. Thomas Welch, OT, Vanderbilt
Value Board #: Projected FA
Grade: C
More depth for the offensive line.

247. Brandon Deaderick, DE/DT, Alabama
Value Board #: Projected 6-7th round
Grade: B
Good value, didn’t get enough of the credit for what he did in college.

248. Kade Weston, NT, Georgia
Value Board #: Projected 6-7th round
Grade: A
Good nose tackle prospect here. Georgia had 3 good DTs coming out and they could prove to be all good in the NFL.

250. Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State
Value Board #: Projected 7-FA
Grade: C
Don’t think Robinson should’ve been drafted, but he can provide some depth maybe.

New York Jets
2010 NFL Draft Overall Grade: B
29. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Value Board #: 25
Grade: A
Wilson could’ve been taken in the top 20, but I think the Texans fell in love with Kareem Jackson, and the Pats then must’ve liked McCourty more. I think the Jets get great value, now that Leon Washington got dealt to the Seahawks. Wilson will be able to play nickel corner now and be a returner.

61. Vladimir Ducasse, G/OT, UMass
Value Board #: 64
Grade: B+
Again, right around where I had these early picks at. Ducasse provides a backup plan in case they decide to trade Alan Faneca or if they can’t trade him, cut him.

112. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
Value Board #: 124
Grade: B
Good pick for the Jets again. LT is on the downside of his career, so they needed another RB. He can also help in the return game as well.

139. John Conner, FB, Kentucky
Value Board #: Projected 6-7 round
Grade: D
This is a reach, but it was late in the draft and it was their last pick.