Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft was a big one for the AFC East. Armed with six of the first 32 selections in the draft, the division's four teams had a chance to reshape their teams to be competitive in a division that has never been more competitive than it is now.
The results of the picks were potentially game-changing. Two teams ended up with new quarterbacks. Two teams ended up with multiple top-20 picks. And the Buffalo Bills, who made the AFC Championship Game last year, were able to further strengthen their team by adding a high-upside pass rusher to the fold.
Did any team significantly outperform the other? Here are the grades for each AFC East team as they continue to jockey for position during the offseason arms race.
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2021 NFL Draft Grades: New York Jets
Round 1, Pick 2: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Round 1, Pick 14: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
It was no secret that Wilson was going to be the selection for the Jets with the No. 2 overall pick. The BYU quarterback has a cannon of an arm and some Patrick Mahomes-type flashes in his game. He has a lot of upside and was the consensus No. 2 QB in the draft, so the Jets were smart to take him as a high-ceiling player that could fix their long-term quarterback woes.
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After that, the Jets got aggressive and opted to move up to get offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. The athletic, experienced USC product will have a chance to earn the right tackle job across from 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton and form a solid tackle tandem. Vera-Tucker wouldn't have been available at 23, so the Jets were smart to move up to grab him.
The first night of the draft was a solid one for the Jets. They got a high-upside passer and a high-floor offensive lineman that will either be a good starting tackle or a great starting guard. Joe Douglas deserves a strong grade for getting the guys that he believes will help take the Jets' offense to the next level.
Grade: A-
2021 NFL Draft Grades: Miami Dolphins
Round 1, Pick 6: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Round 1, Pick 18: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
The Dolphins were hoping to add some offensive weaponry around Tua Tagovailoa while adding some pass rush talent to their defense. Mission accomplished.
Waddle is a speed threat that has worked with Tagovailoa before during their time together at Alabama. He averaged a whopping 21.1 yards per catch during his final year with the Crimson Tide, so pairing him with Will Fuller will add some serious downfield threats to the Dolphins' offense.
As for Phillips, it was a bit of a surprise to see him go ahead of Kwity Paye, especially considering that Phillips had previous concussion issues that had once forced him into a brief retirement. Still, he was dominant at Miami after transferring from UCLA and should have a chance to emerge as a solid pass rusher.
Grade: B
2021 NFL Draft Grades: New England Patriots
Round 1, Pick 15: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
When Justin Fields and Mac Jones slipped out of the top 10 picks, there were some that clamored for the Patriots to move up. However, they stayed put and still managed to get one of the top five quarterbacks in this year's class.
Jones was terrific in his lone full season as a starter for the Crimson Tide. He completed 77.3 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and four interceptions while demonstrating great accuracy and ball placement as well as a great ability to read the field and throw with anticipation.
Jones may not have the biggest arm and he may not be the most athletic player. But he fits the Patriots' system well and should be able to take advantage of the offensive weaponry that the Patriots stockpiled over the offseason including Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne.
Bill Belichick has done a lot to remake the Patriots' offense this year, and adding Jones to their quarterback room should give them a high-floor option to challenge Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham for the starting job in 2021.
Grade: B+
2021 NFL Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills
Round 1, Pick 30: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Make that two Miami pass rushers that landed in the AFC East. When we last saw Rousseau on the football field, he posted a whopping 15.5 sacks for the Hurricanes. However, he didn't play in 2020, opting out because of the COVID pandemic, and that allowed some other edge players to pass him.
Rousseau is a lanky 6-foot-7 edge player that can generate a lot of pressure. He was a high school receiver, so he's still learning how to be a defensive lineman. Under Sean McDermott, he should have a chance to become a strong rotational player, and as the old adage goes, you can't teach height.
The Bills needed some extra pass-rush depth as well, so Rousseau was a solid value that filled a need. His potential makes the Bills one of the biggest Day 1 winners.
Grade: A-