NFL Draft Grades: NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Round 1
1 - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas(22)
2 - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida (25)
Round 2
3 - TE Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M (61)
Round 3
/ -
Round 4
4 - RB Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech (122)
Round 5
5 - CB Orlando Scandrick, Boise St. (143)
Round 6
6 - DE Erik Walden, Middle Tennessee St. (167)
Round 7
/ -

There is no arguing that the Cowboys used the 2008 NFL Draft as a tool to add a few key pieces to their roster for a Super Bowl run, and for the second consecutive year, they not only managed to get the guys they wanted, but also worked the phones welll, making many deals; both moving up and down.
Round 1 was no surprise, landing Arkansas running back Felix Jones. Just about every mocker that has even a mediocre background on the draft knew that Felix Jones was going to be wearing a star this year. He was second fiddle to Darren McFadden in college, but is a top talent that deserves respect. He has excellent speed and elusiveness, which made him a perfect fit in Dallas, as the lightning to Marion Barber's thunder; also a very good kick returner. Only 3 picks later at pick number 25, Dallas made USF senior cornerback, Mike Jenkins, a Cowboy. With Jacques Reeves bolting in free agency to Houston, Dallas needed some help at the position. The pickup of Adam Jones could work out very well, as he has excellent talent, but surely can't be depended on, so factor that in, along with Anthony Henry getting a bit long in the tooth, they made a nice pick. In round 2, their third selection was used on a replacement at tight end for Anthony Fasano, taking A&M's Martellus Bennett. Bennett has the talent that regards him as a round 1 talent, but playing in the offense that he did, hindered his ability to show that talent off. After taking a break in round 3, the Cowboys brass came back in round 4 to select the prolific bruising runner, Tashard Choice of Georgia Tech. The former Oklahoma transfer who looked elite at times over the course of his collegiate career, was selected as a safety net in case starter Marion Barber did not return. Moving on, the Boys', in round 5 made another nice selection with that of Boise St. corner, Orlando Scandrick. Scandrick had a very good combine and should have went much higher, in all honesty. He will provide Dallas with more depth at cornerback. Finally in round 6, with their last selection, Mid Tennessee OLB/DE pass rushing tweener Erik Walden. Just a one dimnesional specialist that should get some reps in the rotaion on passing downs in his rookie season, provided he makes the roster.
In retrospect, the only mistake Dallas made, was not selecting a receiver. After Terrell Owens, Dallas has an average Patrick Crayton, and an oft injured Terry Glenn, followed by a number of backups in Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, and Isaiah Stanbach. Outside of said issue, the Cowboys had a very productive draft, bringing in a few key depth players that should all contribute in some way during their first season.

Grade: B
_________________________________________________________________


New York Giants

Round 1
1 - FS Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL) (31)
Round 2
2 - CB Terrell Thomas, Southern California (63)
Round 3
3 - WR Mario Manningham, Michigan (95)
Round 4
4 - LB Bryan Kehl, Brigham-Young (123)
Round 5
5 - LB Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt (165)
Round 6
6 - QB Andre Woodson, Kentucky (198)
7 - DE Robert Henderson, Southern Mississippi (199)
Round 7
/ -

The Super Bowl champs pulled off a very nice overall draft that features some talented players throughout; starting with thier first pick, Kenny Phillips. The very talented Phillips obtains a skill set along the lines of former Miami safeties Ed Reed and Sean Taylor; however, whether he is able to hone that skill set, is what will decide how good he will be in the NFL. Along with great size, and a need at safety followign the loss of Gibril Wilson, it makes for a sound selection. The Giants went back to the secondary, and addressed a need for a young cornerback, with with Terrell Thomas of USC. Sam Madison & R.W McQuarters are both up there in the age category, and adding a good sized, and experienced Terrell Thomas should pay dividents in the future. Continuing the trend of high profile picks, the Giants picked up Michigan reciever Mario Manningham, who felt the effects of lying to teams about certain issues during combine interviews. He is talented none the less and adding some more youth to the receiving group should give the offense a spark. With their next two picks, the Giants picked up a pair of linebackers. Bryan Kehl, a talented and athletic outside backer. Jonathan Goff, an intelligent, and run stopping middle man. Everyone team likes to have that young developmental guy playing the pivot, and Andre Woodson fits that bill. Once thought of as a first round talent at quarterback, Woodson's decision making, and accuracy make him a solid guy to watch develop over time.
To conclude, the boatmen did a decent job in adding players in positions of need (Phillips, Kehl, Goff), along with going best available (Mario Manningham, Andre Woodson).

Grade: B-
__________________________________________________________________


Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1
/ -
Round 2
1 - DT Trevor Laws, Notre Dame (47)
2 - WR DeSean Jackson, California (49)
Round 3
3 - DE Bryan Smith, McNeese St. (80)
Round 4
4 - OG Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh (109)
5 - FS Quentin Demps, Texas El-Paso (117)
6 - CB Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin (131)
Round 5
/ -
Round 6
7 - OG Mike Gibson, California (184)
8 - LB Joe Mays, North Dakota St. (200)
9 - LB Andy Studebaker, Wheaton (203)
Round 7
10 - OT King Dunlap, Auburn (230)

With Andy Reid set to coach his final year, the Eagles needed to kick off their 2009 season by having a big 2008 draft.
Having traded their first round pick to the Carolina Panthers for their 2009 first round selection, the Philadelphia Eagles found themselves holding two second round picks. With their first, they chose Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws. Laws who posted an outstanding 100 tackles in his senior season, has good size, and is a very balanced tackle that can put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, and also stop the run, and man a wide area of the offensive line. With their second pick of the round, the Eagles took their receiver; DeSean Jackson of Cal. Wide reciever was arguably their top need, and although most would have prefered a larger, big bodied target, then the 5'10" / 165 lbs. Jackson, he has elite speed, and can turn a simple screen play or drag play to the house, and displayed his explosiveness this past season quite often. Bryan Smith, adds to their solid group of pass rushers on defense, walong with guard Mike McGlynn, who was a late riser, but had a good senior year. Picking up Brian Dawkins possible replacement in UTEP safety Quentin Demps, who had an excellent senior bowl, and a possible steal in Wisconsin corner Jack Ikegwuonu with a compensatory fourth round selection. In round six, the Eagles went with a guard and two defenders again; this time with Cal guard Mike Gibson. The two defenders? Inside backer Joe Mays, who happens to be a personal favorite of mine; along with outside rusher Andy Studebaker from little known Wheaton.
It is difficult to fault a team for taking "their guy(s)" as that is what the Eagles did often in the draft. Adding to their defensive line's rotational group with Laws and Smith, and picking up a pair of players in the secondary and for the linebacking core should do wonders in regards to depth and bringing in three offensive lineman as well. They added key players that can contribute in certain situations.

Grade: B-
________________________________________________________________


Washington Redskins

Round 1
/ -
Round 2
1 - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan St. (34)
2 - TE Fred Davis, Southern California (48)
3 - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma (51)
Round 3
4 - OG Chad Rinehart, Northern Iowa (96)
Round 4
5 - CB Justin Tryon, Arizona St. (124)
Round 5
/ -
Round 6
6 - P Durant Brook, Purdue (168)
7 - S Kareem Moore, Nicholls St. (180)
8 - QB Colt Brennan, Hawai'i (186)
Round 7
9 - DE Rob Jackson, Kansas St. (242)
10 - S Chris Horton, California-Los Angeles (249)

For rookie head coach Jim Zorn, this was a chance to begin shaping the team the way he feels fit to make up his system, and he did a good job at that, picking up many young players that should fit into his offense well.
After trading out of round one, the Skins still managed to get the guy they coveted in the form of Devin Thomas, a wide out from Michigan State. Considered to be a legitamate risk as a first round pick due to only a single year of production, he fell right into the early stages of round one. Good size, and above average speed make him an ideal fit. Later going for two big targets with USC's Fred Davis, who is primarily a receiving threat at tight end, along with once the top wide out in the draft, Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma. Kelly, a very big target, with likely the best hands in the draft, having only dropped two passes in the previous two years, fell because of off field concerns, and problems with his 40 yard dash time. Continuing the offensive picks, Washington took Northern Iowas guard Chad Rinehart in round three, who has good potential, and solid run blocking ability. A round later taking Arizona St.'s Justin Tryon to add some youth to their group of cornerbacks.
The Redskins later returned in round six to select three players; big footed punter Durant Brooks of Purdue, to compete with uncumbent Derrick Frost, safety Kareem Moore of lowly Nicholls st., and a perfect fit for Jim Zorn's west coast system at quarterback with the prolific Colt Brennan. All three players fancy themselves a good shot to make the team, with Brennan being the developmental pivot, Moore due to the loss of the late Sean Taylor, as well as Brooks due to a very poor year from Frost. Washington capped off their seventh round by adding a pair of Pac-10 player in Kansas St. defensive end Rob Jackson, and UCLA thumping safety, Chris Horton to the mix.
Overall, it was a good draft for Zorn and the Skins, but tarnished with the fact that they didn't find a suitable replacement for suffering the loss of Sean Taylor, and that was the only let down from this class.

Grade: B-
__________________________________________________________________
Coming up next...the NFC North!