NFC East Team Grades

NFC East Team Grades

 

New York Giants

1-6 Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

1-17 Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

1-30 Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

3-95 Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion

4-108 Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame

5-143 Ryan Connelly, LB, Wisconsin

5-171 Darius Slayton, WR, Auburn

6-180 Corey Ballentine, CB, Washburn

7-232 George Asafo-Adjei, T, Kentucky

7-245 Chris Slayton, DT, Syracuse

The Giants started the draft off with a disappointment taking Daniel Jones with the sixth pick. It was surprising that this was the Giants guy as he has trouble stretching the field. Dexter Lawrence was another miss as he has plenty of power but does he have the athleticism to be a starter right away? It looks like they are going to start him on the 3-5 tech. Deandre Baker is probably the best player they drafted. He is a pure man cover corner but that is what teams need in today’s NFL. Ximenes is a guy who brings regular pressure and is a good hand fighter. I do think he rushes too upright but this was a decent pick toward the end of the third round. Julian Love is a pick I like because he has good speed and physicality in coverage. This is good value for the fourth round. Ryan Connelly is another pick I like. He has great instincts, good coverage skills, physicality in coverage and open field tackling ability. Corey Ballentine can make for a nice special teams player but I think he is limited to the slot on defense. Asafo-Adjei is an interesting name. He was probably drafted on measurables. Chris Slayton is quick for a 300- pound guy but needs better moves as a pass rusher and I would like to see him be more physical with his hands.

Grade: C+

 

Washington Redskins

1-15 Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

1-26 Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State

3-76 Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State

4-112 Bryce Love, RB, Stanford

4-131 Wes Martin, G, Indiana

5-153 Ross Pierschbacher, C/G, Alabama

5-173 Cole Holcomb, LB, North Carolina

6-206 Kelvin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State

7-227 Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison

7-253 Jordan Brailford, DE, Oklahoma State

The Redskins stayed home and took the quarterback with the most upside in the first round. I expect Case Keenum to be the QB but for Dwayne Haskins to take over a month into the season. Montez Sweat is another interesting name as he is a freak of an athlete with freakish measurables. He will probably start on the edge for the Redskins. I’m not a fan of Terry McLaurin as a wide receiver but I do think he will be a good special teams player in the NFL. Bryce Love tore his ACL but might be the best runner in this draft class. He also is an accomplished student who could very well end up a doctor. Ross Pierschbacher is a decent pass blocker but needs more power in the running game. He could probably play that interior lineman role where he subs at center and both guard positions. Kelvin Harmon is a good pick in the sixth round. I assume he has an injury because he deserved to go a lot higher based on his height and route running. Jimmy Moreland is a ballhawk who did well in the East-West Shrine Game. I think he is more of a slot guy.

Grade: A-

 

Philadelphia Eagles

1-22 Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

2-53 Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State

2-57 JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford

4-138 Shareef Miller, DE, Penn State

5-167 Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern

The Eagles made a good pick at 22 taking Andre Dillard. I think with Jason Peters getting up there in age it was an appropriate time to draft a left tackle. Miles Sanders is a speedy back in the mold of Darren Sproles. JJ Arcega-Whiteside is a nice option as a tall wide receiver who can high point the ball. Shareef Miller is a good scheme fit but I have some questions about his bend and run defending ability. Clayton Thorson is a system quarterback with good mechanics who will be in the mix for the backup job to Carson Wentz.

Grade: B+ 

 

Dallas Cowboys

2-58 Trysten Hill, DT, Central Florida

3-90 Connor McGovern, C/G, Penn State

4-128 Tony Pollard, WR, Memphis

5-158 Michael Jackson Sr., DB, Miami (FL)

5-165 Joe Jackson, DE, Miami (FL)

6-213 Donovan Wilson, S, Texas A&M

7-218 Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State

7-241 Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon

Trysten Hill went higher than most people thought but he was a good value pick in the second round. He has the quickness you want in your defensive linemen. Connor McGovern is kind of disappointment for me. I think he is overrated and that there were better linemen available on Day Two. Tony Pollard is a versatile player who could help you as a back and in the slot as a receiver. Michael Jackson Sr. is a good pick in the fifth round as he has all the tools to be a good cover guy to go with a good open field tackling ability. The worry with him is his run support. Joe Jackson fell more than the media thought. He does need to get quicker and stronger as a pass rusher and that is why I think he went where he deserved to go. Mike Weber has decent vision and can be elusive. Jalen Jelks needs to get stronger as a pass rusher but is a good flier in the seventh round because of his aggressiveness.

Grade: B-