2016 NFL Mock Draft: AFC East
By jonfox
New England Patriots
1. Forfeited
2. Karl Joseph, S WVU
3. Vernon Butler, DL Louisiana Tech
Considering how much success that the Pats have had with their drafting style, it’s hard to mess with success. So, instead of making picks with myself as the GM, let’s try to get inside the head of Bill Belichick.
So, that means forget about “need” or “perceived value.” Belichick looks for a certain type of player and his interview process(and some say his scouting process) is about finding that kind of personality.
Joseph and Butler both seem like his kind of player: never ending motor, do all the small things on the field and know the game mentally.
New York Jets
1. Taylor Decker, OL Ohio State
2. Leonard Floyd, LB UGA
3. Sebastian Tretola, OL Arkansas
They need a replacement for Pace and Coples. Floyd in the middle of the 2nd is fair value for him. Decker is their right tackle for the future. Tretola is a big time project, but he has the physical tools.
The best value in this class is Leonard Floyd. It’s mildly incomprehensible why he’s seen as a 1st round pick right now. He’s a project OLB who runs like a safety. But he doesn’t have the physical tools of, say, Shaq Thompson.
Decker might be a boring pick, but they need a boring pick that fills an immediate need.