How Will The First Round Rookies Impact Their New AFC East Teams?

alen1 · Jun 12, 2009

AFC East

Miami Dolphins

First Round Draft Choice: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

The division champion Miami Dolphins were slotted to pick twenty-fifth in the 2009 NFL Draft and they chose Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis. The team had a major hole at the cornerback position and Vontae Davis is expected to immediately fill it as a rookie. The Dolphins switched to a Quarters coverage and hope that their top draft choice fits in well from the start.

What Can Be Expected of Vontae Davis?

What can be expected of Vontae Davis is an immediate impact at the opposite cornerback spot of Will Allen. Davis struggles with man to man coverage because he lacks elite long speed but he does an excellent job of attacking down field in zone coverages, which is what he’s required to do in the Quarters coverage. He will likely cause some turnovers because he has good ball skills. He won’t be asked to play very much run support because usually the safeties, Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell, are in the box to make the stop. However, if Davis is asked to make a play in the open field, he is very capable of it as run support is one of his strengths.

Who Else Could Have an Impact?

The third pick for the Dolphins was Utah cornerback Sean Smith and he may surprise some with an immediate impact on the field. He’s a physical cornerback who can do it all such as playing bump and run coverage or zone coverage with a dangerous side-saddle technique. He’s got good ball skills stemming from his wide receiver days in high school and the early parts of his Utah career. Many consider Smith to be a raw prospect but he’s one of the better cornerbacks in my opinion. Another prospect that could make an impact is Clemson safety Chris Clemons. Clemons is a big hitter who plays well in the box and runs very well. He may be an early contributor on special teams.

New England Patriots

First Round Draft Choice: None.

The Patriots did not have a first round draft choice as they traded twice in the first round before eventually getting out of it. However, they did pick 34th overall in the NFL Draft and selected Oregon strong safety Patrick Chung.

What Can Be Expected of Patrick Chung?

Patrick Chung should quickly have a big role on the New England defense and could immediately start at strong safety. The Patriots may be looking to move Brandon Meriweather to free safety and play the former Oregon Duck and first choice at the strong safety spot. Chung is a good in the box safety that does not over-pursue in run support and knows how to stay home on the play. He struggles to play the ball in the air when in coverage but will lay the wood when roaming the middle of the field. Further, Chung could play a linebacker/safety role for the Patriots, much of what Rodney Harrison did as well as John Lynch when he was with the Patriots. Last, Chung has also returned some punts and kicks during his time in college and coach Belichick values players who can play multiple roles on the field.

Who Else Could Have an Impact?

41st overall pick Darius Butler of Connecticut may have a greater impact than any other rookie in New England because of Shawn Springs injury history. Springs was signed to be the second corner to Leigh Bodden but he’s played sixteen games only once since 2000. Butler is a burner and has very good ball skills. He’s not a very aggressive player in run support and struggles to tackle in the open field however.

New York Jets

First Round Draft Choice: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

The Jets invested in their future in the NFL Draft when they moved up from the seventeenth overall pick to the fifth overall in a trade with the Cleveland Browns to obtain the rights to Mark Sanchez.

What Can Be Expected of Mark Sanchez?

The rookie quarterback is expected to be in a heated battle with Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens for the starting job. Clemens has eight career games started whilst Sanchez has none due to being a rookie. Sanchez, however, may be the favorite to start in New York because of the money that’s invested in him. The Jets are said to be installing the West Coast Offense and that fits Sanchez strengths the best. Sanchez struggles to pass accurately down field, reminiscent of Donovan McNabb, and he won’t be asked to do much of it in the West Coast offense I assume. Sanchez does a very good job of passing in the short to intermediate routes as he’s very accurate and hits the target right between the numbers. Moreover, Sanchez does a very good job of rolling out and has no troubles rolling out to his left or right to pass the ball.

Who Else Could Have an Impact?

New York selected running back Shonn Greene 65th overall in the NFL Draft and despite having Thomas Jones and Leon Washington at the top of the depth chart, Greene could still have an impact out on the field. Greene is a bruising running back that could be heavily used in goal-line situations. He could also see some time in a three-headed attack of him, Washington and Jones, as the Jets may wish to keep Jones fresher due to his age.

Another name not to dismiss in New York is guard Matt Slauson. The Jets recently re-signed Brandon Moore but have very little depth behind him. In the case of an injury. Slauson could see time on the field. He could also see time at RT if Damien Woody struggles once again. Woody, who lacks the quick feet to play right tackle, surrendered 6.5 sacks last season and is not getting any younger. If he goes down with an injury, Slauson could slide over to his spot and have success. Slauson has experience playing RT, as he was the starting RT at Nebraska during his sophomore year.

Buffalo Bills

First Round Draft Choice: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

The Bills had several major needs going into the NFL Draft and while many had them penciled in to take a left tackle with the eleventh overall pick, they decided to use it on Aaron Maybin, a quick twitch defensive end from Penn State.

What Can Be Expected From Aaron Maybin?

The Bills have had production from Aaron Schobel consistently but the same can’t be said of the opposite starting defensive end, Chris Kelsay. Kelsay failed to get into the backfield of the opposition last year consistently, as he was only able to notch two sacks in sixteen starts. Rookie Aaron Maybin has now been drafted to be the replacement for Kelsay or to at least relieve him of pass rushing duties full-time. Maybin is a raw but very explosive defensive end that does a good job of mixing up his pass rush and getting under the pads of blockers. He is a one-way defensive end, however, as he doesn’t play the run very well and that can be taken advantage of on third and short situations for example.

Who Else Could Have an Impact?

While Eric Wood or Andy Levitre may be the favorites for many here in this category, I’m going to go with tight end Shawn Nelson. The Southern Miss product was selected 121st overall and was considered, by me at least, as one of the most complete tight ends in the draft class. Nelson is a very athletic player that can split out wide or play the slot. He has good, reliable hands and can stretch the field as well. Also, Nelson is a good inline blocker who redirects wall and displays good leverage when blocking as he has good strength and a flat back in pass protection. This may be a big asset to the offense as the Bills have re-shuffled their offensive line and may need help with pass protection as well as run blocking.
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Interesting article.

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