The dust has settled on the 2023 NFL Draft and it is time to look back at every team’s haul to assess how they did. The AFC East was always going to be full of intrigue given that all four teams harbour playoff ambitions. Here are my grades for each team.
Buffalo Bills
| Pick | Player |
| 1.25 | Dalton Kincaid – TE, Utah |
| 2.59 | O’Cyrus Torrence – IOL, Florida |
| 3.91 | Dorian Williams – LB, Tulane |
| 5.150 | Justin Shorter – WR, Florida |
| 7.230 | Nick Broeker – IOL, |
| 7.252 | Alex Austin – CB, Oregon State |
The Bills needed to add another pass catcher and they did just that with Dalton Kincaid. Whilst he might be a tight end in name, Kincaid had a case for being the best pure pass catcher in the entire draft. He is a good athlete with soft hands and refined route running technique. His arrival will also allow the Bills to utilise more heavy personnel packages without sacrificing any potency in the passing game, something that they have clearly been looking to do more of.
Their following two picks were both home runs too. Torrence might not be the most fleet of foot, but he is a mauler in the trenches and helps give the Bills some much-needed power along their offensive line. In Dorian Williams they get a long, athletic linebacker who is very comfortable in coverage. Their day three picks were a little less exciting, but Shorter is a name worth watching. At 6’4″ and 229 lbs he is one of the biggest receivers in the class and he led the SEC with 19.9 yards per reception.
Grade: A
Miami Dolphins
| Pick | Player |
| 2.51 | Cam Smith – CB, South Carolina |
| 3.84 | Devon Achane – RB, Texas A&M |
| 6.197 | Elijah Higgins – TE, Stanford |
| 7.238 | Ryan Hayes – OT, Michigan |
For the second year in a row, the Miami Dolphins were working with very little in the way of draft capital. Their four player haul was the smallest of any team, but there is a fair bit to like about what they managed to do. In Smith they get a somewhat undersized but feisty man cover corner who possesses legitimate ball skills.
Their third round pick gives us perhaps the most entertaining player-team fit of the entire draft. Devon Achane is tiny at 5’9″ and 188 lbs but he has track speed, with 36 runs of 15+ yards over the last two seasons. Expect him to become a dynamic part of Miami’s backfield committee. Elijah Higgins played wide receiver at Stanford but was announced by the Dolphins as a tight end and could plausibly develop into their starter. They finished things off with Ryan Hayes, who adds some vital depth along the offensive line.
Grade: B
New England Patriots
| Pick | Player |
| 1.17 | Christian Gonzalez – CB, Oregon |
| 2.46 | Keion White – EDGE, Georgia Tech |
| 3.76 | Marte Mapu – S, Sacramento State |
| 4.107 | Jake Andrews – IOL, Troy |
| 4.112 | Chad Ryland – K, Maryland |
| 4.117 | Sidy Sow – IOL, Eastern Washington |
| 5.144 | Atonio Mafi – IOL, UCLA |
| 6.187 | Kayshon Boutte – WR, LSU |
| 6.192 | Bryce Baringer – P, Michigan State |
| 6.210 | Demario Douglas – WR, Liberty |
| 6.214 | Ameer Speed – CB, Michigan State |
| 7.245 | Isaiah Bolden – CB, Jacksonville State |
The Patriots ended up picking 12 players in the 2023 NFL Draft but one name in particular stood out. Getting Christian Gonzalez after trading back in the first round didn’t seem fair. Gonzalez is an uber-athletic cornerback who has great ball skills and who is still only 20 years old. He is the perfect fit for Bill Belichick and this New England defense and should be a plus starter from the outset.
The rest of the draft might not have seen many big names, but there were some solid picks in there. Keion White at No. 46 felt a tad rich but he has the build and ferocious playstyle that the Patriots love to work with. They also managed to add some nice depth along the offensive line as well as a couple of talented specialists in Ryland and Baringer. The name to watch though is Kayshon Boutte. A consensus first round talent this time last year, injuries, poor testing, and some off-field concerns saw him slide. If he can get back to full fitness and rediscover that form the Patriots may have stumbled upon a gem.
Grade: B
New York Jets
| Pick | Player |
| 1.15 | Will McDonald IV – EDGE, Iowa State |
| 2.43 | Joe Tippmann – IOL, Wisconsin |
| 4.120 | Carter Warren – OT, Pittsburgh |
| 5.143 | Israel Abanikanda – RB, Pittsburgh |
| 6.184 | Zaire Barnes – LB, Western Michigan |
| 6.204 | Jarrick Bernard-Converse – CB, LSU |
| 6.220 | Zack Kuntz – TE, Old Dominion |
Things got off to a rough start for the Jets. With the Steelers trading up and depriving them of much-needed help at offensive tackle, they made a pretty perplexing pick in taking Will McDonald. Whilst McDonald has the measurables and pass rushing profile of a first round pick, his play strength and major inconsistencies in run defense present legitimate concerns when projecting to the NFL. He feels like a player that needs real development to be a three-down difference maker at the next level.
The rest of the draft class felt solid without ever being spectacular. Most of the names called don’t feel like they are going to be major contributors anytime soon. That is particularly perplexing given the Aaron Rodgers trade and the fact that puts the Jets firmly in a win-now window. The selection of Joe Tippmann was a smart one though. His athleticism and strength makes him a perfect fit for the Jets’ wide zone offense and he can be a high quality NFL center.
Grade: C+
