The teams in the East division of the NFL had interesting drafts in hindsight, some classes even shared some similarities. The Jets and Patriots both hoped that they found their franchise QBs, but each team ended up trading them before their rookie deal ended. Meanwhile, teams in the NFC East all focused on investing better in the trenches. Each team found success to some degree, but the mark of a good draft can come from how well the value was when selecting a player. Today, we’ll be looking at each East team’s best value selection from the 2021 NFL draft with the benefit of hindsight, and see which franchise drafted true steals, and which failed to find those hidden gems.
Washington Football Team: G Sam Cosmi
(Credit: Eric Hartline)
Plenty of college tackles have thrived as guards in the NFL, such as Zack Martin or Joel Bitonio. Sam Cosmi follows this precedent. He played as a tackle for the Longhorns during his college career, and proved himself as a very capable one. In 2020, he joined many other Texas alumni in earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. Washington drafted him at pick 51 in the second round, expecting him to continue his role as OT. While Cosmi wasn’t terrible at tackle, his play fell short, and raised doubts whether he could be the long term solution. In his second season, Cosmi found himself sidelined with a hand injury, and had to get surgery for his thumb. During that period, swing tackle Cornelius Lucas was thrust into the role as starter and played effectively, having the highest OT run block win percentage at one point. When Cosmi returned to the line-up, Washington decided to move him inside to right guard, and he found immediate success. In his first game at his new position, he only allowed one QB pressure when he was against Giants DT Dexter Lawrence. Since then, the former Longhorn has been a vital piece of the Commanders offensive line. In 2023, his first season as full-time starter at guard, he emerged as a bright spot on an infamously bad line, with PFF naming him the third best guard in the game. In his most recent campaign, he allowed just 1 sack alongside only 5 QB hits throughout the entire season. The Commanders signed Cosmi to a 4 year 74 million dollar extension before last season, and he’ll be protecting newfound face of the franchise Jayden Daniels for a good while.
Notable Highlight: Cosmi hits the griddy in a preseason game.
New York Giants: OLB Azeez Ojulari
(Credit: Perry Knots)
The Giants 2021 draft class was not the best. This isn’t to say that Ojulari is a bad player, but calling him a value pick when he was selected with the 50th pick in the second round is difficult. Of course, the other options start with Kadarius Toney, who’s biggest contributions to the New York was a third round pick (which was traded for Darren Waller, who didn’t do much with the Giants) and a punt-return which eventually led to the Eagles having one less ring. The rest of Ojulari’s draftmates either didn’t make finish out their rookie contract, or were simply backups. Nonetheless, Azeez had a very promising rookie campaign. In 17 games he got to the quarterback a total of 8 times, a record for Giants rookies. Furthermore, he had 49 tackles along with 8 TFLs. The G-men and their fanbase were excited for the future of their defensive line, with Dexter Lawrence in the middle and their fifth overall selection Kayvon Thibodeaux combined with an improved Ojulari would be dominant. Unfortunately with the former Georgia Bulldog, his health was never a consistency after his rookie season. He missed a good amount of games the following three years to injury, and despite being on track to have double digit sacks in 2022 and 2024, those same injuries stymied his rise. He’s been good when healthy, and he had his best season since his rookie campaign this past year. Ojulari went to division rival Philadelphia and joined his former Bulldog teammates on the defensive line. With Bryce Huff traded, Ojulari will have his opportunities to thrive with Vic Fangio.
Notable Highlight: Ojulari forces the fumble and recovers it on the same play, New York would end up tying 20-20.
Dallas Cowboys: DT Osa Odighizuwa
(Credit: Kevin Sabitus)
An elite wrestler in high school, who used those skills to hone his craft as a force in the trenches, Osa Odighizuwa was drafted at pick 75 by Dallas in the third round. Odighizuwa entered his first season as full-time starter at UCLA in his Junior year, and logged 3.5 sacks alongside tying for team leader in TFLs with 10. In his 2020 campaign, he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after racking up similar numbers, despite there being less games. As part of a revamped defensive line, the former Bruin has made his presence be known alongside draftmates Chauncey Golston and Micah Parsons. He’s gotten to the quarterback 13.5 times, and has been good against the run by making tackles behind the line 28 times in his young career. In his contract year, Odighizuwa put his best play on tape, cementing himself as one of the better pass rushing DTs in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, he pressured the quarterback 60 times, and led the league in pressures during the second half of the season according to Next Gen Stats. Furthermore, he had career highs in sacks and QB hits. Odighizuwa signed a 4 year 80 million dollar contract to stay in Dallas prior to free agency, and will most likely be part of one of the most expensive defensive lines after Micah Parsons receives his deserved pay raise.
Notable highlight: Odighizuwa beats Panthers LG Damien Lewis for the sack and forced fumble, Dallas would end up winning 30-14.
Philadelphia Eagles: DT Milton Williams
(Credit: Mark J. Rebilas)
A ripple effect of Dallas making Odighizuwa the 15th highest paid interior d-lineman was the increase of the DT price tag. This increase made it difficult for division rival Philadelphia to keep their young star in midnight green. As such, Williams signed a contract worth 104 million dollars with New England this free agency period, a week after Odighizuwa’s. Nevertheless, Williams’s contributions to the Eagles are part of why their defensive line has been one of the best among the game. After Philadelphia drafted him with pick 73, he sat behind veterans Javon Hargrave and Fletcher Cox as a rotational player. As a backup, Williams didn’t turn many heads during his rookie season. However, he showed hints of who he would become, particularly in a 1 sack and 4 tackle performance against Detroit. He wouldn’t start in any games in the following season, but he did have 4 sacks and 26 tackles. In the last two seasons however, he played as the starter 17 times, despite being in an interior defensive line room with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. During that period he rallied 5.5 sacks, 17 QB hits and 66 tackles. Williams was a particularly dominant threat against Kansas City in the Super Bowl, where he sacked Patrick Mahomes 2 times, one of which was a strip sack, and had 2 TFLs. The Eagles could not afford to keep Williams past his rookie deal, but his Super Bowl performance and impact on the line will make sure his name is remembered fondly in the city of brotherly love.
Notable Highlight: Williams forces the strip sack on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to solidify the Eagles’ super bowl win, Philadelphia would end up winning 40-6.
Buffalo Bills: S Damar Hamlin
(Credit: Timothy T Ludwig)
Everyone is familiar with the horrific injury that Damar Hamlin sustained during a routine play against the Bengals during the 2022 season. But what many people haven’t noticed is that Hamlin has played well when on the field, and has steadily improved since the Bills drafted him in the sixth round. Hamlin did not do much for Buffalo in his first year, only having 2 tackles and 2 passes defensed. He began to see more action in 2022, after starting safety Micah Hyde suffered a season ending neck injury in week 2. Hamlin had 91 tackles across the 13 games he started that season, and also found himself in the backfield with 6 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. After his collapse, which caused an unprecedented cancellation of that night’s matchup, Hamlin would focus on his recovery before getting back on the grass. He was active again for the first time since injury against Miami in week four, playing 18 snaps all on special teams. However, when the Bills lost both Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer in the 2024 offseason, they named Hamlin the starter for the year. He provided consistency for the Buffalo defense and had career highs in interceptions (2) and passes defensed (5), and was named a pro bowl alternate for his play. The former sixth rounder has provided stability at the safety spot for Buffalo and has risen up to the task whenever called for it. This offseason he re-signed with the Bills for a one year 2 million dollar contract, and is set to be the starter alongside Taylor Rapp this upcoming season.
Notable Highlight: Hamlin forces the fumble against Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, causing a big return, Buffalo would end up winning 27-25.
Miami Dolphins: S Jevon Holland
(Credit: Jim Rassol)
The versatile DB from Canada has been one of the best young safeties the game has to offer. In his last season with Oregon, he was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, and was a leader on the Ducks defense. Much like other rookies, he didn’t start immediately after Miami drafted him in the second round. However, once he got on the field, it was difficult to keep him off of it. In his first year as a pro, he got the start in a week 2 game against Buffalo, but became the full-time starter from week 5 onwards. Holland has been versatile throughout his career, making it a focal point of his game. As a Duck he played mostly in the slot and at safety, but he also saw some snaps in the box and even at defensive line. He continues to be a swiss army knife as a pro. He spent most of his time at safety in Miami, but he kept playing in the box and even sometimes at corner, inside and outside. Additionally, Holland made an impact on the Dolphins defense with his leadership. Miami’s secondary coach Renaldo Hill called him the “quarterback of the defense”, as he constantly made sure that his teammates were in their right spots, ready to wreak havoc. The former duck’s teammates named him captain in 2022 and 2023, and he was still a leader in his last season with the Fins. Holland inked a three year 45.3 million dollar deal with the Giants, and is going to bring his versatility and leadership to a franchise that’s greatly missed Xavier McKinney.
Notable Highlight: Holland intercepts the Hail Mary and takes it all the way to the house from his own endzone, Miami would end up winning 34-13.
New England Patriots: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
(Credit: Michael Dwyer)
New England was able to find an effective weapon for their offense late in the draft. The Patriots selected Rhamondre Stevenson with the 120th pick in the fourth round and he has carried the rock north of 700 times throughout his career. His career didn’t have a great start, as in his debut he fumbled away the football, and was badly beat on a blitz, leading to a New England loss. But despite being on the inactive list for the next few games, the former Sooner had a good season overall. He tallied 606 yards on 133 carries, and went into the endzone 5 times, earning praise from longtime New England RB coach Ivan Fears. In his following season, Stevenson rushed for over 1000 yards, and provided life for the Patriots offense. PFF even ranked him as the twelfth best running back in the entire NFL. Furthermore, he earned the respect and liking of head coach Bill Belichick, who went so far as to compare him to Lawrence Taylor and Tom Brady. However, fumbles have remained a problem for Stevenson past his rookie season. In his latest campaign, while he set a career high in touchdowns and ran for 801 yards, he also lost the ball seven times, leading to a benching by Jerrod Mayo. If he can hold on to the ball with a better consistency, he and new teammate TreVeyon Henderson will make a formidable rushing duo for New England.
Notable Highlight: Stevenson bursts for 64 yards and breaks a tackle for the touchdown, New England would end up losing 20-17.
New York Jets: LB Jamien Sherwood
(Credit: Perry Knots)
Prior to last year, it looked like the Jets 2021 was an utter disaster. However, despite this previous season being a disappointment for New York, two of those picks showed they were deserving of being drafted, one being Alijah Vera-Tucker. The Jets selected Jamien Sherwood in the fifth round with pick 146. He played at safety during his college career, but Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich wanted a switch to linebacker after he noticed Sherwood’s grasp of the playbook. He already had experience playing linebacker, as he saw 34 percent of his snaps at MLB. His rookie season would come to an end after he suffered a torn Achilles in week 7, and he’d return the following year. In 2022 he mostly played as a special teamer, logging 309 snaps. He’d see the field more in 2023, having solid numbers for a backup linebacker. However, Sherwood got his shot in 2024 when CJ Mosley suffered an injury in week 2. During his time as starter, the former Tiger was a tackling machine, racking up a total of 146, and ended the year as the league’s leader in solo tackles. Additionally, Pro Football Focus graded him as sixteenth best among all linebackers. His success eventually led to the Jets releasing C.J. Mosley after his injury filled tenure, making him the second linebacker alongside first-team All-pro Quincy Williams. The Jets gave the former fifth round selection a 45 million dollar deal, and he helps to make the otherwise painful 2021 draft class be remembered fondly.
Notable Highlight: Sherwood speeds his way through the Houston offensive line for a crucial third down sack, New York would end up winning 21-13.
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