Best And Worst 2013 Draft Picks In AFC East

Apr 27, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins first round pick Dion Jordan speaks to reporters at the training facility at Nova Southeastern University. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL draft has come and gone, and what an exciting draft it was! Many teams were looking to fill important needs through the draft, including our very own Miami Dolphins. The AFC East as a whole provided some of the most exciting draft moves (there’s is no way you guessed Dion Jordan going to Miami, E.J. Manuel going 1st round to the Bills, or Geno Smith going 2nd round to the Jets), and also some of the more puzzling moves (who did NE even draft?). With that said, here is my opinion of each AFC East team’s best and worst pick in the draft.

Miami Dolphins

Best Pick: Dion Jordan, DE Oregon: I really wanted to put Ark St. safety Don Jones here, but I loved this move too much. They traded up nine spots in the first round and only had to give up a second rounder for it. What did they get in return? The best pass rushing talent in the draft. Jordan is a breathtaking athlete in pads. The difference in previous years between Miami and New England has been putting pressure on Tom Brady (and covering the wide receivers). Jordan will take the double teams off Cam Wake and make teams play them both one on one. I can’t wait to see what he can do, and am looking forward to seeing Brady on his back a lot. Lane Johnson is probably still scratching his head.

Worst Pick: Dion Sims, TE Michigan State. : It was a draft of patterns for the Fins (3 gators and 2 Dions). Honestly, I didn’t have a problem with any of Miami’s picks, but if I had to choose their “worst” pick I wold go with the big tight end out of Michigan State. Sims has great size, listed at 6 foot 5, 265 lbs. However, he is known as being a blocking TE, and is not known for being a pass-catching TE. That being said, it does not mean he won’t be a weapon for Ryan Tannehill or help the running game. I just think Miami could have waited to take Sims or someone like him later on in the draft. But who knows, Sims may be a beast next year!

Buffalo Bills

Best Pick: Robert Woods, WR USC: I thought Woods was extremely under looked in this draft class. No, he does not have the size of a Calvin Johnson or speed of a Tavon Austin. But Woods is versatile, and has incredible hands, which earned him his All-American honors. I thought Woods was Buffalo’s smartest decision and believe they picked a winner in filling a WR spot that lacks star power aside from Stevie Johnson. Was Woods the best WR prospect in the draft? No, but he is very solid, and I am not looking forward to covering him twice a year next year.

Worst Pick: E.J. Manuel, QB Florida State: I wish I had a solid year before saying this, but I don’t think drafting EJ Manuel was the right idea for the Bills, especially not at 16 overall. Yes, he has similar traits to Russell Wilson, but I honestly believe Russell Wilsons only come once in a blue moon. Manuel will most likely will have a year to learn behind Kevin Kolb, but I still don’t see him thriving in this league. Drafting Manuel later on in the draft would have been smarter, but using a first round pick to take him was a reach to say the least. This was not the year to reach for a QB.

New England Patriots

Best Pick: Josh Boyce, WR Rutgers: What a weird draft it was for the Pats. They are typically known for finding diamonds in the rough come draft day, but I’m not sure they found any this year. One player that Miami was rumored to draft though was Josh Boyce. Unfortunately, the Pats beat us to it. Boyce can fly: he ran a 4.38 forty yard dash at the combine. He also gets the ball thrown to him from Tom Brady, so yeah I think drafting any wide receivers was a good idea.

Worst Pick: Jamie Collins, LB Southern Mississippi: NFL.com rated Collins 68.8 (out of 100) overall. The Pats took him number 52 overall, above Arthur Brown from Kansas State, arguably one of the best linebackers in the draft. The Pats must have fallen in love with Collins before the draft, because it didn’t make much sense to me.

New York Jets 

Best Pick: Dee Milliner, CB Alabama: While the Jets did fine when Comartie was alone in the secondary this year, I think this pick was the best because it actually made sense (compared to their other picks). The Jets went safe with Milliner, the best corner in the draft, hoping they had found Revis’ replacement.

Worst Pick: Geno Smith, QB West Virginia: I can’t remember laughing as much during an NFL draft as when the Jets took Geno Smith. Who new he would fit in so perfectly right away? The rookie, who has not even practiced yet, has already promised a playoff berth for the gang green next year. The circus is turning into a reality in the Meadowlands. Poor Mark Sanchez. Maybe he can teach Geno how to fumble the ball off his own lineman.

These choices are by no means the only good and bad picks in the AFC East this year. I was thrilled with Miami’s draft, though I would have liked more playmakers on the offensive side. Fins fans, who do you think were the best and worst picks in the AFC East in this year’s draft?

FINS UP!