AFC East Notes: Mariota, Gurley, Patriots

There has been a lot of talk about the Jets making a move to go up at get Marcus Mariota, but Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Daily News gives one big reason why the team shouldn’t trade up for the Heisman-trophy winner.

New general manager Mike Maccagnan was hired because of his track record as an evaluator who will build through the draft, and Cannizzaro wants him to trust his abilities and not give up future picks to move up in the draft. If Mariota should fall that would be different, but believes Maccagnan should give himself as many chances as possible to draft players and worry about the franchise quarterback another time without mortgaging multiple picks for one player.

Here are some more notes from around the AFC East:

  • The Dolphins seem to be very high on Todd Gurley, but that doesn’t mean they are planning on targeting the Georgia running back in the first-round, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. The Dolphins got a great season out of Lamar Miller in 2014, and Gurley’s injury history is a red flag that high in the draft for a team with so many needs.
  • The Patriots could go a number of ways in the draft, returning a solid roster from their Super Bowl team despite losing a few big names on the defensive side of the ball. Judy Cohen of WEEI.com picks out a player who could come in and help on that side in Arizona State defensive tackle Marcus Hardison. Hardison could be a day two pick, and could even fall to round four it the Patriots wait on him.
  • Another player Cohen takes a close look at is offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo. He could be a great pick as a swing tackle for the Patriots, with the physical tools to handle either side of the line. He played quarterback and tight end in the eighth grade and high school before moving to the defensive and offensive lines. Sambrailo is expected to be a day two pick.
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