It’s been a chaotic couple of years for the NFC East. We’ve had a rotating group of champions since 2005. The last team to win back-to-back division titles was the Philadelphia Eagles, who had a nice little streak of NFC East crowns from 2001-2004. It’s like Andy Reid knows that the hell was doing or something.
Every team has passed around the title since, with the Dallas Cowboys earning it last season with a 13-3 record. Of the NFC East teams, only the Philadelphia Eagles finished with a losing record and it was 7-9. This is going to be a crazy competitive group of teams next season. This draft could have given one team the upper hand.
Washington Redskins
Round 1: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama, Round 2: Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama, Round 3: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA, Round 4: Samje Perine, RB, Oklahoma, Round 4: Montae Nicholson, Safety, Michigan State, Round 5: Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas, Round 6: Chase Roullier, Center, Wyoming, Round 6: Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State, Round 7: Josh Harvey-Clemons, Safety, Louisville, Round 7: Joshua Holsey, CB, Auburn
Grade: A+
The modest goal of every team going into a draft is to get two immediate starters out of it. Usually, unless they really shit the bed, that can be done with first and second round picks. The Redskins didn’t just get two starters out of this draft. By my counting they got four.
The best part of this draft was grabbing Jonathan Allen at 17. Allen was, easy a Top Five pick, but with so many teams trading up for quarterbacks and drafting for need, he slipped right into Washington’s lap. The Redskins have been notorious wasters of draft capital (on top of everything else) and this should serve as an example to them that sometimes just sitting pat and playing your board can work out for the best.
Allen will take Cullen Jenkins’ job the second he picks up an ink pen to sign his deal. Anderson will move Preston Smith to a reserve role at right outside linebacker. Moreau, who had a first round grade all over the place, will probably start in the slot as the Redskins already have a solid outside left corner in Bashaud Breeland. Matt Jones and Chris Thompson shared carries in the backfield last season, Samaje Perine will eat most of those up this year.
The rest of the Redskins draft looks like back ups and role players. Picking Sprinkle in the fifth round probably spells the end for Niles Paul in a Redskins roster.
Dallas Cowboys
The Haul: Round 1: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan, Round 2: Chidobe Awuzi, CB, Colorado, Round 3: Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan, Round 4: Ryan Switzer, WR, UNC, Round 6: Xavier Woods, Safety, Louisiana Tech, Round 5: Marquez White, CB, Florida State, Round 7: Joey Ivie, DT, Florida, Round 7: Noah Brown, WR, Ohio State, Round 7: Jordan Carrell, DT, Colorado
Grade: A
The Cowboys had a desperate need for pass rushers and defensive backs and that’s exactly what they did with this draft. They got their two starters, Charlton and Awuzi and didn’t stop adding players and bodies at the defensive line and defensive backfield the rest of the way with the exception of a couple of wide receivers.
Dallas was so pleased with its draft they immediately started shopping Orlando Scandrick, which I don’t understand at all unless they see Lewis as their slot starter. None of the trades came to pass and, frankly, I don’t get what they put him on the block. I like the three-man set of Scandrick, Nolan Caroll and Awuzie a lot better than the alternative.
Switzer is another Cole Beasley type of wideout, which makes sense for Dallas. Brown is an underrated talent that just got lost at Ohio State playing with an Olympic track team. He’s raw, but could be a deep threat early.
New York Giants
The Haul: Round 1: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss, Round 2: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama, Round 3: Davis Webb, QB, California, Round 4: Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson, Round 5: Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown State, Round 6: Adam Bisnowaty, OT, Pittsburgh
Grade: B+
In my mock draft I had the Giants taking O.J. Howard with their first round pick, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him off the board about four picks ahead of New York. With Howard gone, they went with the next best pure offensive tight end weapon and that was Engram. Solid choice and one they needed to make. Eli Manning hasn’t had a legit tight end weapon since Jeremy Shockey.
Dalvin Tomlinson is a day one starter, but like I said earlier, you expect that with your first two round picks. What makes this a B+ draft is grabbing Wyane Gallman in the fourth round. Gallman was my No. 3 running back prospect right behind Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook. Manning is going to love having a guy in the backfield that can run in the I and out of the spread in addition to being able to catch the ball out of the backfield.
I have no problem at all with the Webb pick. Eli has about four years left in the NFL, if not more. It’s not a bad idea to draft a QB at this point with the idea of developing him down the road as a potential replacement or trade bait. Webb is the kind of third round pick the Giants can turn into a first round pick in a few years.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Haul: Round 1: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee, Round 2: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington, Round 3: Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia, Round 4: Mack Hollins, WR, UNC, Round 5: Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia, Round 5: Nate Gerry, Safety, Nebraska, Round 6: Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington
Grade: B-
If Sidney Jones wasn’t hurt, this would have been an A- draft all the way. The Eagles liked who they like and there’s no question Jones will be a starter down the road. There’s some conjecture he’ll be ready toward the end of this season, but I don’t see that happening.
Barnett, regardless of what anybody says, was the best defensive end in this draft. Rasul Douglas is probably a starter too, which makes him a doubly valuable get in the third round since Jones won’t be ready this year. Qualls in the sixth round is a great value pick. He’s a potential starter in a year or two and should be a factor in the defensive line rotation as a rookie.
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
