Now that free agency is all but finished and team needs are much more settled than they were a month ago, it's time to turn our attention to the NFL draft.
We'll be going division by division to break down which prospects make sense for each team on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft. (Even if a team does not have a pick on a given day -- example: the Patriots on Day 1 -- we'll still recommend a player, as trades can always change the draft order.) Important note: This is not a mock draft. We aren't predicting where players will land. Rather, we're identifying a few prospects who fill needs and/or fit what each team likes to do schematically.
Here's a breakdown of the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills
Day 1: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Buffalo runs a run-heavy offense by today's standards, but general manager Doug Whaley should look to improve a passing game that finished 28th in the league last season. While Treadwell doesn't have great top-end speed (4.63 40 at his pro day), his big frame and strong hands regularly result in him making contested catches and he's productive after the catch. He's also an excellent blocker making him a good fit for the scheme. With Sammy Watkins and Treadwell on the outside, Robert Woods would compete for the No. 3 role where he has the potential to be more effective.
Day 2: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
Buffalo's run defense finished 16th in the league last year and 323-pound defensive tackle Stefan Charles signed with the Lions. Underrated Kyle Williams agreed to a pay cut, but he's coming off a season-ending knee injury and turns 33 in June. At 6-foot-2 and 314 pounds, Clark is an outstanding run-stopper with the quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield and the strength to anchor in a phone booth. He has some upside as a pass-rusher and he's versatile enough to line up on the inside or the outside in head coach Rex Ryan's scheme.
Day 3: Stephen Weatherly, OLB, Vanderbilt
It wouldn't surprise me to see the Bills take an edge rusher and/or linebacker sooner, but I didn't like the value at those positions in the first round and Clark is a potential Day 2 steal who also fills a need. Even if the Bills take an edge defender early, Weatherly is an interesting Day 3 option. At 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds, he ran a 4.67 40 at the combine and he flashes on tape. He has the length and size to play defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker, along with the athletic ability to hold up in coverage if asked to play off the line. While his production and tape don't yet match up with his talent, he'd be a valuable weapon if the creative Ryan can unlock his potential.
Miami Dolphins
Day 1: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
Dolphins strong-side linebacker Koa Misi hasn't played in all 16 games of a season since 2010, and he's an average athlete coming off a season-ending back injury. And an ankle injury slowed weakside linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who came out of Florida with durability concerns in 2013. Adding Lee would likely mean moving Jenkins to the strong side where he doesn't fit quite as well, but he has the frame to play there. It would give the Dolphins two outside linebackers with excellent range chasing the run and the ability to match up in coverage.
Day 2: D.J. White, CB, Georgia Tech
Miami finished 28th overall in third-down defense and it still has a lot of work to do at corner after trading for Byron Maxwell, who struggled in part because of the scheme and injuries in Philadelphia last year. The Dolphins also released Brent Grimes, Brice McCain is an unrestricted free agent and 2013 second-round pick Jamar Taylor hasn't developed as hoped. White's instincts, strength and balance make him a good fit for new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's scheme, which is expected to feature more zone looks.
Day 3: Matt Judon, DE, Grand Valley State
The Dolphins signed defensive ends Mario Williams and Andre Branch this offseason. Plus, 2013 third-overall pick Dion Jordan can apply for reinstatement in April, and they added Damontre Moore late last year. The Dolphins should still be in the market for a defensive end considering Olivier Vernon signed with the Giants, Derrick Shelby signed with Atlanta and 34-year-old Cameron Wake is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Judon is a talented small-school prospect with the athletic ability to make an immediate impact rushing the passer and the frame to develop into an every-down player.
New England Patriots
Day 1: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
New England doesn't have a first-round pick due to the Deflategate sanctions, and it's my understanding the league would force the Patriots to forfeit the earlier pick if they were to trade into the first round. As a result, Arizona at No. 29, Carolina at No. 30 and Denver at No. 31 are the only likely trade partners. With that said, seeing Nkemdiche slip down to one of those teams could get Bill Belichick to make a move.
The concerns about Nkemdiche's maturity and inconsistent tape are well-known, but he projected as a top-10 talent heading into the season. While 2014 first-round pick Dominique Easley has flashed at times, he has had problems staying healthy. Adding Nkemdiche would give New England an explosive three-technique in the mold of Warren Sapp to complement big-bodied defensive tackles Malcolm Brown, Alan Branch and free-agent signee Terrance Knighton.
Day 2: Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
Nate Solder is coming off a season-ending biceps injury, while injuries hampered Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon in relief. Vollmer and Cannon are entering contract years. In addition, Cameron Fleming is a better fit at guard. The return of one of the best offensive line coaches in the league in Dante Scarnecchia should help, but the Patriots would be wise to target a tackle in the draft. Hawkins makes sense for a couple of reasons. At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds with 34 ¼-inch arms, he has experience lining up at right and left tackle so he's capable of pushing Cannon for that No. 3 role. He also has the potential to develop into an effective starting right tackle and possibly replace Vollmer if he doesn't return in 2017.
Day 3: Alex McCalister, DE, Florida
The Patriots signed Chris Long and have a couple of young defensive ends in Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom, but Rob Ninkovich is 32 years old and they traded Chandler Jones. McCalister is a high-risk/high-reward pick. There are concerns about his maturity and he's lean, weighing in at just 239 pounds. But he's 6-foot-6 with rare length (36-inch arms) and the athletic ability to make an immediate impact rushing the passer.
New York Jets
Day 1: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
The Jets should be in the market for an O-lineman capable of pushing Breno Giacomini for the right offensive tackle job and potentially replacing 32-year-old D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who may be asked to take a pay cut. So taking a tackle makes sense, though I struggled with which one. There's a chance that Ohio State's Taylor Decker makes it to No. 20 and he's ranked ahead of Ifedi on our board. But I'd still go with Ifedi if both were available. While Decker is more NFL ready, he doesn't have Ifedi's upside. Both project as starting right tackles, but Ifedi has the length (36-inch arms) and foot speed to potentially play on the left side.
Day 2: Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky
Georgia's Leonard Floyd is the 20th overall prospect on our board and the Jets could take him in the first. But I don't think he'll last that long, and they're better off filling this need on Day 2 if that's the case. Spence didn't test as well as expected and the Ohio State transfer struggled with his off-field decision making early in his career. So it's not inconceivable that Spence could fall to Day 2, in which case the Jets would be wise to take him. Adding his ability to get after the quarterback and set the edge against the run at outside linebacker would help the Jets address their most pressing need.
Day 3: Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky
The hope is that 2014 second-round pick Jace Amaro bounces back after sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in the 2015 preseason, but there's reason to be skeptical considering his underwhelming rookie season. The rest of the Jets' tight ends caught a total of eight passes in 2015 and unrestricted free agent Jeff Cumberland had five of those. Higbee is a tough evaluation as a former receiver who needs to improve as a blocker and his medical will impact where he gets drafted. With that said, I have no question he has the ability to make a difference in the passing game. He catches the ball well, he stretches the field and he produces after the catch. Higbee also has the frame and toughness to develop into a functional blocker.