2014 NFL Draft Day Three Grades

Dallas Cowboys A

I like what the Cowboys were able to do on the final day of the NFL Draft, and they added a bevy of quality prospects. Devin Street was underrated going into the draft, and he has excellent tools; watch for him to compete for significant snaps during the regular season. Ken Bishop will beef up the Cowboys defensive line, Ahmad Dixon is a great pick as a project player at safety in the seventh, and Oregon Ducks CB Terrance Mitchell may be one of the biggest steals in the draft in the seventh round. Mitchell was a shutdown corner at Oregon who was overshadowed by the more athletic Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who has a first-round grade in the 2015 draft. The Cowboys are obviously weak in the secondary, and I think Mitchell will receive plenty of snaps as a rookie after being a lockdown CB in college.

Philadelphia Eagles B-

The Eagles made some big moves in undrafted free agency yesterday, and they also followed up a solid Friday with some good picks yesterday. Ed Reynolds was my favorite prospect at Stanford, but that might be because I didn’t like what I saw out of either Shayne Skov or Trent Murphy. Reynolds figures to be a capable backup at the next level, and his ability to start will depend on his consistency both in coverage and as a tackler. Taylor Hart was another steal from Oregon for Chip Kelly, and I’m surprised he made it to the fifth round. Jaylen Watkins has the versatility that the Eagles covet in the defensive backfield, and Sammy Watkins’s half-brother has plenty of athleticism and ball skills. The Eagles added another defensive lineman in the seventh round in Wisconsin’s Beau Allen, and he figures to be a decent enough body against the run as a deep depth on the inside.

New York Giants D

I loved Jerry Reese‘s first two selections in the 2014 NFL Draft, as Odell Beckham Jr. is a phenomenal wide receiver prospect and Weston Richburg is the best center in the class (I expect him to start over J.D. Walton). However, I wasn’t a fan of the Giants picks yesterday, as they basically added a few developmental prospects after the fourth round who have a couple of big flaws. While that sounds like most prospects, Bennett Jackson, Devon Kennard, and Nat Berhe weren’t the best trio. Andre Williams offers nothing as a receiver, but the Boston College Eagles RB was incredibly productive last year and could be a solid backup for the Giants this season. He helps give the Giants some insurance with David Wilson returning from a severe neck injury.

Washington Redskins B

Bruce Allen put in a strong day of work at the office yesterday, as the Redskins pounced on Bashaud Breeland in the fourth round after the Clemson Tigers DB slipped due to some character concerns. Breeland definitely slipped too far, as the long and athletic cornerback was initially a projected second-round pick. The Redskins also snagged a quality possession receiver in Ryan Grant in the fifth round, and I’m also a big fan of the other skill position player they landed. Baylor Bears change-of-pace RB Lache Seastrunk won’t be as dynamic as he was in college (obvious) and is a horrific pass blocker, but he gives the Redskins offense another dimension of explosiveness due to his shakes (or “wiggle”) and ability to make plays in the open field. Ted Bolser and kicker Zach Hoker were strange seventh-round picks, but it will be interesting to see if Hoker can give Kai Forbath a run for his money.