2021 NFL Draft Aftermath: Winners and Losers from the AFC East
I’ve always loved the NFL Draft. As a kid, I would dream about my name being called and imagine what it would be like to move to a new city and play for a new team. When I eventually got into video games, I was the kid playing Madden who would simulate the NFL season and invest most of my time in the off-season. I would accumulate picks so I could build through the draft. Now I watch it and get caught up in the reactions from the families and the celebration of it all.
Every draft pick a team makes says something about who they are, who they want to be, what they think of the player they are drafting, and what they think of the players currently on their roster. A team adding an offensive weapon can be exciting. We love to think about the fit, but we also need to think about what it means for the veterans already on their team.
The AFC East had some clear winners and losers in this draft we need to explore so let’s dive in.
Buffalo Bills
Winner – Zack Moss, RB
Sometimes what we don’t do speaks louder than what we do. Despite many pre-draft rumors connecting the Bills to a running back, they choose not to invest in the position and will presumably allow Moss and Devin Singletary to compete for snaps.
In 2020, injuries kept Moss from completely asserting himself, but he out-snapped Singletary in six of their last nine games with one tie and one where he left early. To win the job in 2021, Moss needs to prove he can stay healthy for a 17-game season. He also needs to prove he’s a better option at the goal line than his quarterback. What he doesn’t have to do is compete with a rookie, which gives him a chance to earn the lead-back role in a highly productive offense.
Loser – Gabriel Davis, WR
Davis is the closest thing the Bills have to an asset losing value this off-season. I may not be selling him, but I do have questions about why they addressed the wide receiver position at all. When John Brown was struggling through injuries last season, Davis stepped up with some nice performances. Many expected the Bills to move on from Brown and for Davis to step right into his role in the offense.
I won’t make too much about a sixth-round wide receiver (Marquez Stevenson), but Emmanuel Sanders is capable of filling Brown’s 2020 role. If Davis is as good as we think, why would the Bills bother bringing him in at all? Sanders will play and see targets which will limit what Davis can do to break out in 2021.
Miami Dolphins
Winner – Tua Tagovailoa, QB
The Dolphins’ off-season began with rumors about replacing Tagovailoa, but their actions indicate a commitment to adding the offensive weapons he needs to succeed. They made an early splash in free agency by signing Will Fuller, used the sixth pick in the draft to select Jaylen Waddle, and then added an intriguing pass-catching tight end in the third round (Hunter Long). Once you add in veterans DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki, this Dolphins offense could be vastly improved from last season and Tagovailoa could be the primary beneficiary.
What we saw on the field from Tagovailoa last season was uninspiring, to say the least, but I’m willing to give him a pass on his 2020 performance. We know he needed time to get fully healthy after his injury-riddled final season in college. The offense never seemed to fit his skillset either and it seems like Miami decision-makers agreed as Chan Gailey was replaced as offensive coordinator by the tag team of Eric Studesville and George Godsey.
The new offense is intended to take advantage of what Tagovailoa does best. He has to prove he’s capable of producing the kind of numbers fantasy owners expect from a QB1, but the pieces are all there for him to excel.
Loser – Preston Williams
Williams looked like he could beat the odds and become a fantasy asset for us despite being an undrafted free agent in 2019. His 32-428-3 stat line over his first eight games had us dreaming about what his role could grow into on this Dolphins offense. After all, the options were limited and Williams looked the part of a good NFL receiver. Many even declared him the best receiver on the team.
Injuries in 2019 and 2020 kept Williams from playing more than eight games in either year. Even before the off-season began there were questions about whether he would ever be able to recapture what we saw to begin his career. The signing of Will Fuller had Williams’s dynasty value on life support and the drafting of Waddle put the nail in the coffin.
New England Patriots
Winner – Jonnu Smith, TE
Pick an offensive weapon, any offensive weapon on the Patriots and I could argue they were the biggest winners in this draft. You don’t have to believe Mac Jones is Tom Brady to think he’s an upgrade over Cam Newton. With Newton starting at quarterback in 2020, the Patriots ranked 31st in pass attempts and before the draft it looked like 2021 would be more of the same. When Jones fell in their lap at pick 15, hopes of a return to the pass-heavy offenses we’ve seen in the past began to surface.
I chose Smith as the winner here because he seems most likely to lead the team in targets. The wide receiver group leaves a lot to be desired and Hunter Henry is a worse bet of the two to play all 17 games. I’ve always thought Smith deserved more targets and didn’t initially love the fit in New England. The new quarterback and expectations of an increased amount of pass attempts make the landing spot look much better.
Loser – Cam Newton, QB
After what Newton showed last season, I was surprised to see the Patriots re-sign him. He started 15 games and somehow managed to throw for eight touchdowns, leading New England to a bottom-six offense in the NFL.
There was brief optimism for Newton, but the selection of Jones could leave him off the roster come opening day. The question then becomes whether or not he gets another opportunity to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. On the one hand, Newton looked abysmal last season and it is entirely possible injuries have severely hindered his abilities. On the other hand, he’s only 32 and could have a second life as a bridge quarterback or capable backup in the mold of Ryan Fitzpatrick or Andy Dalton. If he lands on his feet somewhere with a path to playing time, Newton will have superflex value and should be rostered.
New York Jets
Winner – Corey Davis, WR
Davis broke out last season in Tennessee, compiling 65 receptions and nearly 1,000 yards in 14 games. He was the Robin to AJ Brown’s Batman and it was a role he thrived in. His signing in New York seemed to put him in position to receive a lion share of the targets, but I had my doubts about whether or not he could succeed as the alpha receiver. Denzel Mims left a lot to be desired in his rookie season and Jamison Crowder may not even be with the team in a couple of months.
Enter Elijah Moore. This is the guy Davis needed the Jets to draft. He’ll eventually lock down a prominent role in the offense and command targets as well as attention from the defense. He’s not AJ Brown and never will be, but he’ll be good enough to give Davis the room he needs to succeed.
Loser – Jamison Crowder, WR
Entering his age-28 season and the last year on his current deal, Crowder needs to put together a productive 2021 season in order to get one last big contract. The selection of Moore at the top of the second round made things a lot more difficult. Moore operated mostly out of the slot at Ole Miss which is where Crowder has made his living thus far.
As soon as the pick was made rumors began flying around suggesting Crowder could be released by the Jets. The move would result in a little over $10 million in 2021 cap savings, but the Jets have plenty of cap space so the decision to move on from Crowder wouldn’t likely be motivated by the cap. As a rebuilding team, however, I could see both sides deciding a parting of ways is the best way forward. In this scenario, Crowder could rebuild his value by landing on a team like the Packers or the Titans.
- 2021 Summer Sleeper: Arizona Cardinals - August 17, 2021
- 2021 Summer Sleeper: Houston Texans - August 10, 2021
- 2021 NFL Draft Aftermath: Winners and Losers from the AFC East - May 28, 2021