Best bargain picks: AFC/NFC East | AFC/NFC North | AFC/NFC South | AFC/NFC West
The 2015 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror and grades have already been passed out to all 32 teams. But who really did their homework and grabbed a big-time contributor late in the draft?
CFB 24/7 takes a look this week at the five best bargain picks in each division, continuing today with the AFC East and NFC East teams:
AFC East
RB Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins
Drafted: 5th round (149th overall)
Why he's a bargain:Ajayi was being discussed by some as a potential Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) pick, but questions about his knee prompted a long fall down draft boards. That allowed the Dolphins to land a productive runner in the fifth round, perhaps one who can be a starter for the team. Ajayi will be a nice fit in Bill Lazor's offense, given his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Sure, the knee might prevent him from landing a rich second contract with the team, but the Dolphins might wind up with a good tailback from the middle rounds.
DL Leonard Williams, New York Jets
Drafted: 1st round (6th overall)
Why he's a bargain:Landing the player whom many considered the best prospect in the draft with the No. 6 pick? Nice job by the Jets' front office of sticking to the "best player available" strategy. With a little bit of seasoning under Todd Bowles on a veteran defensive line, Williams should be well on his way to realizing his All-Pro potential.
WR Dezmin Lewis, Buffalo Bills
Drafted: 7th round (234th overall)
Why he's a bargain: The Bills might not have had a big need for a receiver, but Lewis could thrive in this offense as a tall playmaker who can line up outside. He's still raw and needs to add some polish, but it's not hard to see the team bringing him along as a big target. There's plenty of upside here, and all it took was a seventh-round pick.
DT Malcom Brown, New England Patriots
Drafted: 1st round (32nd overall)
Why he's a bargain:Brown was dominant for stretches with the Longhorns and was being projected as high as the middle of the first round. Teams might end up with some regrets about letting him slide down to the defending Super Bowl champs, who landed a three-down player who will quickly assume a role in the middle of the defense. The Pats are known for trading out of the first round, but they knew Brown was too good to pass on at pick No. 32.
DT Jordan Phillips, Miami Dolphins
Drafted: 2nd round (52nd overall)
Why he's a bargain:Phillips was another player who garnered consideration as a late first-round pick, but he fell to the back end of the second. While he doesn't fill a huge need for the team, he has plenty of talent and will be in good position to excel on a D-line that features Ndamukong Suh. Phillips can rush the passer, and it's always a nice bargain to get a first-round talent in Round 2.
NFC East
OLB Randy Gregory, Dallas Cowboys
Drafted:2nd round (60th overall)
Why he's a bargain:Some mock drafts projected Gregory to the Cowboys in the first round, but he fell to them at pick No. 60. That's great value no matter how you look at it. Gregory's off-the-field issues make him a risk, but ultimately, the Cowboys landed a top-10 talent late in the second round. Most important, Gregory appears to understand the issues at hand and says he's committed to making better decisions.
DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, New York Giants
Drafted: 3rd round (74th overall)
Why he's a bargain:Odighizuwa has all the physical tools to turn into a terror off the edge, and he landed on a team with a history of cranking out terrific defensive linemen. Medical concerns might have scared some teams, but when healthy, Odighizuwa can turn into a starter as he refines his pass-rush moves. At the very least, he'll be an A-plus special-teams player.
S Landon Collins, New York Giants
Drafted: 2nd round (33rd overall)
Why he's a bargain:The Giants paid a big price (three picks -- second-, fourth-, and seventh-rounder) to move up to draft Collins, but given their glaring need at safety, he was worth it. Collins will be a physical presence, and his skills as a center fielder in coverage are probably underrated. Getting a starter in the second round is always a nice value.
CB JaCorey Shepherd, Philadelphia Eagles
Drafted: 6th round (191st overall)
Why he's a bargain:You wouldn't want him to cover a speedster like DeSean Jackson right away, but Shepherd has tremendous ball skills and was among the most instinctive corners in this year's draft. The Eagles need plenty of help in the secondary, and Shepherd has a chance to contribute early while becoming a solid special-teams player.
WR Jamison Crowder, Washington Redskins
Drafted: 4th round (105th overall)
Why he's a bargain:Crowder was among the ACC's most productive wideouts, and in the fourth round, he offers great value as a slot receiver option. He's neither the fastest nor the biggest, but he is a savvy route-runner who can rack up catches for first downs. Add in his ability to contribute on special teams, and Washington might have added a rookie who will enter training camp ready to contribute.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
