2012 NFL Draft Grades: Breaking Down How the AFC East Teams Fared

All four teams in the AFC East had a lot of work to do Thursday night. In an exciting first round, all four members of the division made solid additions to their teams and filled spots they had open.

The Dolphins needed a quarterback or some offensive fire power to replace Brandon Marshall. The Jets needed good character and some help on an aging defense. Buffalo could use some more offensive help, particularly on the line, which struggled to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick last season. The Patriots, despite a trip to the Super Bowl, desperately needed help on the defensive side where they struggled all season.

When Roger Goodell took to the podium last night, fans of every team were both hopeful and nervous. However, fans of the AFC East foursome can rest easy, as their teams fared pretty well on draft day, and here is why.

Miami Dolphins, Pick No. 8

The Miami Dolphins made the first AFC East selection of the 2012 NFL Draft. At No. 8, Roger Goodell announced the selection of Texas A&M quarterback, Ryan Tannehill.

Tannehill was the clear-cut third-best QB in this draft, and the Dolphins have not had a solid solution at the position since Dan Marino retired in 1999. Miami has started 16 different quarterbacks since Marino hung up his spikes. This pick was made out of a feeling of necessity that I don't believe was totally justified. I still feel like Matt Moore is a solid enough option for the Dolphins, and I think the eighth pick could have been used to help him elsewhere.

However, you must give Miami credit for not wavering in the pressure of the moment and getting what they feel will be their franchise guy. Miami was non-committal in stating where he would play this coming season. Because of that indecision, I cannot give them too high a grade for drafting a player who may not have an immediate impact. Coupled with the fact that I believe they already had the second-best quarterback in the division, Miami can only receive a B grade for this pick.

Buffalo Bills, Pick No. 10

Two picks after the Ryan Tannehill selection, the Buffalo Bills were on the clock. With the 10th overall and second AFC East pick, they chose Stephon Gilmore.

Gilmore played cornerback at the University South Carolina and was the consensus second-best CB in the draft behind Morris Claiborne (sixth to Dallas). An interesting pick by Buffalo, as it was widely thought they would be drafting to shore up their offensive line. Since Matt Kalil was grabbed at No. 4 by the Minnesota Vikings, the Bills went with Gilmore.

This pick makes the Bills' defense downright scary in 2012. However, the Bills defense was already going to be scary. Buffalo already has three young corners on their team, but they clearly felt Gilmore was the best available player and added him to a solid defense.

The Bills can't get any higher than a B for this pick. I was hoping they would make a move for an offensive player to help out Ryan Fitzpatrick as their defense is already a proven entity.

New York Jets, Pick No. 16

The Jets defense fell off a bit last season after two straight AFC Championship Game appearances. There was a real lacking in the pass rushing department. While Quinton Coples was regarded by most as the top pass-rushing prospect in the draft, this was still a risky choice by a team that cannot afford to take risks at this juncture.

Coples, a defensive end out of the University of North Carolina, had a beastly junior year in Chapel Hill; however, he fell off a tad last year. Jet's coach Rex Ryan sees a little Shaun Ellis in him, and that is a good thing for the young player.

At 6'6" and 185 lbs., you have to like the look of the selection of Coples. The key to the Jets topping the AFC East is getting to guys like Tom Brady and making them uncomfortable. That is what Coples can bring back to the Jets. I'll give them a B+.

New England Patriots, Picks No. 21 and 25

The only AFC East team with multiple first-round selections was also the only team to make moves during the draft. The New England Patriots were part of two first-round trades with the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos.

First, the Patriots swapped first-rounders and gave up the 93rd pick to Cincinnati to move up to No. 21 and take Chandler Jones. Jones was a defensive end with the Syracuse Orange. Jones gives New England something they haven't had in a great many years: a young pass-rusher. Along with Quinton Coples, Jones was seen as one of the top guys in the draft at getting to the quarterback. With Mark Anderson signed in Buffalo and Anthony Carter's future still undecided, this was a smart move by the Patriots.

Next, New England dealt their other first-rounder and the 126th pick to Denver in return for their 25th selection. The Patriots used that pick on Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Hightower immediately makes the Patriots linebacker corps look very strong. He'll join Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Rob Ninkovich in New England. Hightower is a hard-hitting inside linebacker who will help set the tone as he learns from Mayo.

This was the first time since 2003 that Bill Belichick moved up in the draft, and you have to believe he did so with reason. These were the guys he wanted, and he sacrificed to get them. On top of being the only AFC East team with two selections, the Patriots were also the only team to trade up. For that and the defensive help they drafted, they get an A in the 2012 NFL Draft.