The rest of the AFC East all made draft selections within the first 13 picks of the 2025 draft. With the AFC East shaping up to be one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, the Patriots, Jets, and Dolphins made major moves in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to challenge the Bills’ dominance. Bills Mafia knows the first step to success is to win the division, but the other teams in the East are all dedicated to knocking the Kings of the Hill off of their mount.
So how did they do?
New England Patriots
With the 4th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected OT Will Campbell. Drake Maye looked the part of a promising developmental QB. This offseason has seemingly been dedicated to giving Drake Maye the best possible chance for success in 2025.
With a new coaching staff that includes Mike Vrabel at head coach, Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator, and Doug Marrone as offensive line coach, the Patriots took a page from the Bills playbook, signing WR Stefon Diggs, WR Mack Hollins, and TE Austin Hooper to give their young quarterback sure-handed savvy veterans to provide stabilizing leadership as receivers. The addition of veteran Josh Dobbs gives Drake Maye great support with essentially a coach on the field.
They also have intentionally revamped the Offensive Line, signing a new RT in Morgan Moses, a new C in Garrett Bradbury, a new contender for starting OG in Wes Schweitzer, and now with the 4th overall pick, they lock down their starting LT position for years to come in OT Will Campbell.
Campbell enters the league after playing at LSU at 6’6″ and 319 lbs. He put up 90+%ile in three tests at the NFL Combine, running a 4.98 40 time, leaping for a 32″ vertical jump, and a broad jump of 113″, Campbell is an elite athlete at a premium position, tasked with protecting Drake Maye’s blindside.
Analysis: Campbell represents good leadership from NE Brass, building the new roster from the lines back. The best way to enhance the production and development of a young QB, is to keep him upright, and to do so, you must seek to keep him upright.
Draft Grade: A
New York Jets
Picking in the 7th slot, The New York Jets selected for their greatest need, by choosing LT Armand Membou. Playing his college ball at Missouri, Armand demonstrated amazing athleticism that any offensive line coach would covet. He not only put on a show at the combine with top 97 percentile performances in the 40 with 4.91, the vert with 34″, and a broad jump of 115″, Membou also displayed incredible strength and body type at his pro day, with only 18% body fat at 322 lbs and squatting 600 pounds. Membou might just be the best combination of size, strength and skill, who should benefit not only the passing game led by QB Justin Fields, but also has the mean streak run blocking trait that could be problematic for opposing defenses. Fields dual-threat skill set might combine extremely well with Membou’s run blocking acumen, which was fully on display at Missouri, where he led the Oline to dominant 200 yard run performances on 5 separate occasions.
Analysis: Membou presents a uniquely good match for a team that is exploring a new way to try to gain ground on the Bills, both figuratively and literally. Membou should anchor the LT position for a long time with the J-E-T-S-Jets-Jets-Jets.
Draft Grade: A
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins once again demonstrate faith in their offense’s ability to gain yards and score points, investing instead in the defensive side of the ball with their selection of DT Kenneth Grant.
Grant was a popular hope for many Bills fans and commentators, but being selected at pick 13 put him well out of reasonable reach from moving up from 30. With the skill set he brings as a stud DT, Kenneth Grant will be a massive upgrade at 1 technique. At 6’4, 331 lbs, Grant provides all the size you could need to fill interior run gaps, but provides a pass rushing upside, lateral ability, and a hurry-to-the-ball mentality that threatens all levels of the field. He should pair extremely well with pass rushers Jaelen Phillips and Chop Robinson.
Analysis: Kenneth Grant goes to a rival, and may make Bills fans wonder “what if.” The Bills task of keeping Josh Allen clean and safe, just got harder 2 weeks a year.
Draft Grade: A+