Grading the 2005 NFL Draft: AFC East

After the 2008 NFL Draft, media types around the country criticized the practice of providing grades prior to any of the players setting foot on the football field. 

They say it takes three years to properly evaluate a team's draft, yet they rarely provide the three-year draft grades. With our 2008 draft analysis now complete (with team-by-team and pick-by-pick analysis), we now turn our attention to 2005 and the three-year grades.  

In our eight-part series, NFL Draft 101 takes a look at how each team really performed three years later. The AFC East is up first.

Buffalo Bills

Number of picks: Six

On Current Roster: Two

Projected Starters: Zero

Grade: D

After trading their first-round pick to draft QB J.P. Losman in 2004, the Bills were left with just one pick in each of the remaining rounds. Second rounder Roscoe Parrish has been the only player to make a major contribution on the field as a solid punt returner/slot receiver. 

Tight end Kevin Everett has been an inspirational story off the field, but he was only a backup/special teams player on the field. The only other player still with the team is G/C Duke Preston (fourth round). Generating zero starters, combined with the J.P. Losman trade, results in the low grade.

Miami Dolphins

Number of picks: Six

On Current Roster: Four

Projected Starters: Two or Three

Grade: C+

Ronnie Brown appeared on the verge of a breakout season in 2007, prior to tearing his ACL. His status for 2008 is uncertain, but if healthy, the job is his to lose. He is a solid runner/receiver who has struggled to stay healthy. 

Linebacker Channing Crowder (Round Three) has been a starter for most of his three seasons, and he is one of the few, young playmakers on their defense. Second-round pick DE Matt Roth has been a solid role player the past three years, and he appears on the verge of earning a starting spot.

CB Travis Daniels (Round Four) has started off and on throughout his career, but his best role is likely as a nickel back. Overall, not a bad draft. They picked up few stars, but several contributors. Arguably their best draft since 1997 (Jason Taylor, Sam Madison).

New England Patriots

Number of picks: Seven

On Current Roster: Five

Projected Starters: Four 

Grade: A

They drafted a Pro Bowler at No. 32 overall in G Logan Mankins. They also added starting RT Nick Kaczur in the third round. CB/KR Ellis Hobbs has proved to be a solid starting-CB and special-teams player.

Fourth-round pick S James Sanders started in 2007, but he will be challenged by Brandon Meriweather and Tank Johnson this season. 

Backup QB Matt Cassell has played well when given a chance, and has done real well considering he was a seventh-round pick who did not even start in college.  Overall, anytime a Super Bowl contender gets four starters out of a draft, it was a good one. 

New York Jets

Number of picks: Eight

On Current Roster: Four

Projected Starters: Three

Grade: B-

SS Kerry Rhodes was a steal in the fourth round. He has provided tremendous value and has been the defense's best player the past two years. Second rounders Mike Nugent (K) and Justin Miller (CB) maintain starting jobs, but their hold on them is tenuous.

Spending a second-round pick on Nugent has not been a complete bust, but he has not been the elite kicker many expected. 

Miller has excellent return skills, but his cornerback play has been spotty, and he is coming off a season-ending injury. After two developmental years, NT Sione Pouha (Third Round) established himself as a solid backup in 2007.

As a whole, it was not a great draft. But anytime you find a gem like Rhodes in the fourth round, it boosts the overall grade.

Chris Maier is the Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com, and he can be contacted at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Check out more of Chris's great work at http://www.nfldraft101.com/.

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