NFC East Draft Grades

Dallas Cowboys

Round 1: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Round 3: Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State
Round 4: Kyle Wilber, OLB, Wake Forest
Round 4: Matt Johnson, S, Eastern Washington
Round 5: Danny Coale, WR, Virginia Tech
Round 6: James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma
Round 7: Caleb McSurdy, ILB, Montana

Grade: B

The Cowboys moved up seven spots in round one to leapfrog the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and select Morris Claiborne, a player who they had never spoken to throughout the pre-draft process. However, it did not require conversation for the Cowboys’ brass to recognize Claiborne’s ability to cover, an ability that the team’s defensive backs did not possess when it mattered last season. Terence Newman, a starter for ten seasons in Dallas, is gone now and though the Cowboys signed Brandon Carr in March, the team needed another bonafide starter. Mike Jenkins has struggled big-time since going to the Pro Bowl a couple seasons ago. However, Dallas parted with its second-round draft pick to move up and took a player in Crawford who was viewed as a reach by most pundits. Lots of good corners fell in this draft, so you can question the move considering the number of holes the team has on defense. The pick that intrigues me here is Danny Coale, a solid route runner who may fill the shoes left behind by Laurent Robinson in the slot. The Cowboys lack receiver depth behind Miles Austin and Dez Bryant so Coale may be called upon early and often next season.

New York Giants

Round 1: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
Round 2: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
Round 3: Jayron Hosley, WR, Virginia Tech
Round 4: Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati
Round 4: Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn
Round 6: Matt McCants, OT, UAB
Round 7: Markus Kuhn, DT, North Carolina State

Grade: B-

There’s really no questioning Jerry Reese’s knack for drafting; he’s now the architect of two Super Bowl champion teams. In the end, this draft could keep the Giants a contender for the next decade. However, I do have my set of doubts. Wilson came as a bit of a surprise at the end of the first round, especially considering the Buccaneers traded in front of the Giants to grab Doug Martin. Wilson has playmaking ability and serious speed, but there are questions about his blocking ability and size as an every-down back. Considering the Giants history in successfully finding running backs late (think Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw as examples) and failures in previous first-round running backs (like Tyrone Wheatley and Ron Dayne), it was widely assumed the Giants would go elsewhere. The Giants did not draft a linebacker at all, opting to trade for Keith Rivers and develop from within. I really like the picks of Randle, Hosley and Mosley, however. Hosley gives the Giants another talented playmaker in the secondary, one with game-changing ball instincts. He should improve his tackling, learning from two of the best tackling defensive backs in the league in Terrell Thomas and Antrel Rolle.

Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Round 2: Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California
Round 2: Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
Round 3: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
Round 4: Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
Round 5: Dennis Kelly, OT, Purdue
Round 6: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
Round 6: Brandon Washington, G, Miami (FL)
Round 7: Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas State

Grade: A-

The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best drafts in the league, addressing key positions across the defensive side of the ball. Cox gives Andy Reid the versatility and talent he craves on the defensive line and solidifies an already terrific rotation with Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson. Cox can play both the end and tackle positions. The Eagles also found tremendous value in the later rounds. McNutt wowed scouts at the Senior Bowl and was thought to go in the middle rounds; as was Washington who was on Mel Kiper’s Best Available list in Round 3. Boykin may be one of the best picks in the entire draft if you ask me. Foles is really the only question mark, but with Michael Vick’s injury history, Reid made the right decision in addressing the quarterback position and trying to find a young arm.

Washington Redskins

Round 1: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Round 3: Josh LeRibeus, G, SMU
Round 4: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
Round 4: Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas
Round 5: Adam Gettis, G, Iowa
Round 6: Alfred Morris, RB, Florida Atlantic
Round 6: Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota
Round 7: Richard Crawford, CB, SMU
Round 7: Jordan Bernstine, CB, Iowa

Grade: C

Look, there’s no doubt the Redskins made the correct pick in taking RG3 as the franchise quarterback. The QB play was horrific in the nation’s capital for the majority of 2011. However, Daniel Snyder gave up a ton to get him, handing over two more first-rounders to the Rams and a second-round pick this season. After Griffin, the Redskins did not really address their needs particularly well. Also, I do not understand the rationale of taking a second quarterback inside the first four rounds. Cousins may have been the best player on Washington’s board, but they should have given Griffin more weapons at his disposal. Griffin alone saves this draft from being utterly forgettable.

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