Grading the 2008 NFL Draft: AFC East

In what is the final part in my eight-part series re-grading the 2008 NFL Draft, I'll be breaking down the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills
1(11)   - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
2(41)   - WR James Hardy, Indiana
3(72)   - DE Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech
4(114) - CB Reggie Corner, Akron
4(132) - TE Derek Fine, Kansas
5(147) - LB Alvin Bowen, Iowa State
6(179) - RB Xavier Omon, NW Missouri State
7(219) - OT Demetrius Bell, Northwestern State
7(224) - WR Steve Johnson, Kentucky
7(251) - CB Kennard Cox, Pittsburgh
Thoughts: McKelvin has scored three touchdowns on returns (INT, kick, punt), but struggles mightily covering double-moves and deep balls, though he's played better covering slot receivers. Hardy collected just ten catches in his two seasons in Buffalo, and was a final cut with the Ravens in 2011. Ellis played with the Bills for three season (13 tackles, 1.0 sacks), but was cut by the Steelers in the preseason this past year. Corner spent three seasons as a reserve with Buffalo, was a preseason roster cut, but re-signed with the team midway through the season. Fine was largely the third tight end in his two seasons with Buffalo, and after landing on IR, was cut by the Bills, Rams and Texans. Bowen appeared in two career games (with Jacksonville in 2010), while Omon appeared in seven games through 2009 with the Bills (11 rushes, 27 yards). Bell has emerged as a solid left tackle, but has battled injuries in both 2009 (8 games missed) and 2011 (9 games missed). Johnson is the gem of the group, as he became the first receiver in Bills history to record consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. Cox was cut in the preseason, but has been a reserve with both the Jaguars and Seahawks the past four seasons. Outside of the selections of Bell and Johnson, this draft really lacked contributors.
Grade: D+

Miami Dolphins
1(1)     - OT Jake Long, Michigan
2(32)   - DE Philip Merling, Clemson
3(66)   - DE Kendall Langford, Hampton
4(110) - OT Shawn Murphy, Utah State
6(176) - RB Jalen Parmele, Toledo
6(195) - G Donald Thomas, Connecticut
6(204) - RB Lex Hilliard, Montana
7(245) - DE Lionel Dotson, Arizona
Thoughts: Long has been a Pro Bowler in each of his four pro seasons, and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2010. Merling has just 3.5 sacks in four seasons, while Langford has recorded 7.5. Both have suffered after the team transitioned to an even front. Murphy has appeared in one NFL game, and was cut by Denver during the 2011 preseason. Parmele was cut early in the 2008 season, but landed a job as a reserve running back and kick returner for the Ravens from 2008-2010. Thomas made 12 starts with the Dolphins in 2009, and was most recently a backup guard with New England. After spending 2008 on the practice squad, Hilliard emerged as a solid fullback for the Dolphins, a role he's held since then. Dotson has appeared in 12 career games with the Dolphins (2008-2010) and Bills (2011). Long and Hilliard were the only players who provided value for where they were selected.
*the team grabbed both WR Davone Bess and K Dan Carpenter as undrafted free agents
Grade: C

New England Patriots
(original 1st rounder forfeited due to "Spygate")
1(11)   - LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
2(62)   - CB Terrence Wheatley, Colorado
3(78)   - LB Shawn Crable, Michigan
3(94)   - QB Kevin O'Connell, San Diego State
4(129) - CB Jonathan Wilhite, Auburn
5(153) - WR Matthew Slater, UCLA
6(197) - LB Bo Ruud, Nebraska
Thoughts: Mayo was the defensive rookie of the year in 2008, received All-Pro honors in 2010, and has been one of the few consistent players on the Pats' defense. Wheatley has appeared in just 12 games over four seasons with the Patriots, Jaguars and Bills. After missing his first two seasons with injuries, Crable appeared in six games during the 2010 season. O'Connell completed just three career passes, and spent time with the Pats, Lions, Jets and Dolphins. Wilhite has been a solid depth corner since his rookie season, and has 121 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 4 interceptions between stints with the Patriots (2008-2010) and Broncos (2011). Slater has been a special-teams dynamo for the Patriots, and was selected to the Pro Bowl as the AFC's special teamer this past season. Ruud never appeared in an NFL game.
Grade: C-

New York Jets
1(6)     - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
1(30)   - TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
4(113) - CB Dwight Lowery, San Jose State
5(162) - QB Erik Ainge, Tennessee
6(171) - WR Marcus Henry, Kansas
7(211) - OT Nate Garner, Arkansas
Thoughts: Gholston never recorded a sack in his three seasons with the Jets, and was cut after the preseason by the Bears in 2011. Keller has been a solid receiver for QB Mark Sanchez, but still has the potential to be better as a blocker. Lowery has been a solid safety with both the Jets and Jaguars (143 tackles, 9 INT, 2 sacks, 2 TD). Ainge suffered with injuries and substance abuse before retiring in mid-2011. Henry spent three seasons on the Jets (2008, 2009) and Jaguars (2010) practice squads, while Garner has appeared in 32 games over his three seasons on with Miami (9 starts).
Grade: C-