NFC East Draft Grades

Dallas Cowboys

1(16) Zack Martin (OT, Notre Dame)

2(34) Demarcus Lawrence (LB, Boise State)

4(119) Anthony Hitchens (LB, Iowa)

5(146) Devin Street (WR, Pittsburgh)

7(231) Ben Gardner (DE, Stanford)

7(238) Will Smith (LB, Texas Tech)

7(248) Ahmad Dixon (DB, Baylor)

7(251) Ken Bishop (DT, Northern Illinois)

7(254) Terrance Mitchell (DB, Oregon)

Best Pick: Zack Martin

This is the biggest no-brainer in the draft about best draft pick. The Cowboys resisted the urge to do something crazy and picked one of the safest guys in the draft. Martin has the Notre Dame school record for starts and may be the only guy in this draft that can play anywhere on the offensive line. He's durable as he never missed a game and started all 52. This guy was also dominant in the Senior Bowl during the entire week. The Cowboys could not have done much better.

Summary: If you take the Martin pick out of it, I hate what the Cowboys did in this draft. Cowboys fans should be furious. When your own front office is questioning whether another team beat you in a draft trade, there is a problem. I do not think Demarcus Lawrence comes close to the value that they traded to get him (Kony Ealy and Trai Turner). In fact, I think that Ealy and Turner will both be better pros than Lawrence. That is likely why the Cowboys questioned their move. The Panthers made a huge move and the Cowboys have to be disappointed in the return. Devin Street was good value in the 5th though. Really the Cowboys got nobody that can make an impact on this team other than Martin. Lawrence or Street could be decent role players, but in the deepest draft in my lifetime they got to get more. Especially a team like the Cowboys who are in such horrible salary cap position. I bump them up slightly for passing on Manziel and getting quality, but this was not a good draft for Dallas. It would surely have been an F if Dallas had got their wish and Ryan Shazier been available. Martin has a better pro career in his future than Shazier.

Grade: D

Undrafted Free Agents
Josh Aladenoye (OL, Illinois State)
Chris Boyd (WR, Vanderbilt)
Brian Clarke (OG, Bloomsburg)
JC Copeland (FB, LSU)
Andre Cureton (Cincinnati)
Casey Kreiter (LS, Iowa)
Cody Mandell (P, Alabama)
Glasco Martin (RB, Baylor)
Ben Malena (RB, Texas A&M)
Jordan Najvar (TE, Baylor)
Ronald Patrick (OG, South Carolina)
Jarrod Pughsley (OL, Akron)
Marvin Robinson (S, Ferris State)
Dontavis Sapp (LB, Tennessee)
Jocquel Skinner (DB, Bethel)
Keith Smith (LB, San Jose State)
Ryan Smith (S, Auburn)
Dustin Vaughan (QB, West Texas A&M)
L'Damian Washington (WR, Missouri)
Evan Wilson (TE, Illinois)
Joe Windsor (DE, Northern Illinois)

I like the Washington signing. He is better than the majority of players the Cowboys actually drafted. This guy is quality and adds depth to a weak WR crop that exists in Dallas. Dez Bryant is quite good, but I don't really like what else Dallas has. Ronald Patrick and Andre Cureton are good depth moves for the offensive line as well. I don't see any other players making the roster, but the Cowboys could really use it if they did.

New York Giants

1(12) Odell Beckham (WR, LSU)

2(43) Weston Richburg (C, Colorado State)

3(74) Jay Bromley (DT, Syracuse)

4(113) Andre Williams (RB, Boston College)

5(152) Nat Berhe (DB, San Diego State)

5(174) Devon Kennard (LB, USC)

6(187) Bennett Jackson (DB, Notre Dame)

Best Pick: Odell Beckham

Eli has to be thrilled with this pick. They get the best route runner in the draft and a guy that has sure hands. There were 4 wide receivers in this draft who I thought had all-pro potential and Beckham was one of them. He's not as big as Benjamin or Evans and not as fast as Watkins, but a better route runner than all and as good with his hands. All 4 will be studs and the Giants have got to be thrilled to have one.

Summary: The Giants had a very solid draft. This draft had a lot of quality picks and players who can contribute. Andre Williams is a workhorse back that they got in the 4th round. Richburg, Bromley, and Berhe all fell to provide great value. This was one of the better drafts and just below the top group. Great job by the Giants. They got a top 10 draft on their hands.

Grade: A-

Undrafted Free Agents
Justin Anderson (LB, Kansas State)
CJ Barnett (S, Ohio State)
Emmanuel Dieke (DE, Georgia Tech)
Dan Fox (LB, Notre Dame)
Thomas Gordon (S, Michigan)
Xavier Grimble (TE, Southern California)
Eathyn Manumaleuna (DT, BYU)
Kelcy Quarles (DT, South Carolina)
Kerry Wynn (DE, Richmond)

I like the Quarles signing as he was very underrated on that South Carolina front. He's great at getting into the opponents backfield. He needs to get better at making plays behind the line, but that is a skill that can develop.
I like the way that Manumaleuna plays the game. He has the desire and skillset to succeed in the pros. The one thing he needs to add is muscle and a lot of it. Manumaleuna needs to get stronger and fast to succeed.
Emmanuel Dieke is a guy I have seen play a lot the last three years and not once did he stand out or look impressive. He is an extreme longshot to make the roster. All the rest of these guys seem like longshots as well.

Philadelphia Eagles

1(26) Marcus Smith (DE, Louisville)

2(42) Jordan Matthews (WR, Vanderbilt)

3(86) Josh Huff (WR, Oregon)

4(101) Jaylen Watkins (CB, Florida)

5(141) Taylor Hart (DE, Oregon)

5(162) Ed Reynolds (DB, Stanford)

7(224) Beau Allen (DT, Wisconsin)

Best Pick: Marcus Smith

This was a solid, but unexciting pick towards the end of the 1st round. The reason he is their best pick is that he is a great scheme fit and they picked up extra picks. This guy was not anywhere close to the best player drafted in Round 1. However, the Eagles get extra picks in the process and he fits wonderfully in that defense. This pick is a win-win.

Summary: How they got Marcus Smith trading back and getting a great guy for their team is how it should be done. If you want a guy for your scheme take him when he holds value. Do not reach for a prospect. They got great value in Round 2 with Jordan Matthews as well. Jaylen Watkins will be a good special teams player and can develop into a solid nickel corner. I like a few guys in this draft, but no dominant players.

Grade: B-

Undrafted Free Agents
Josh Andrews (OG, Oregon State)
Blake Annen (TE, Cincinnati)
Karim Barton (OG, Morgan State)
Kadron Boone (WR, LSU)
Trey Burton (TE, Florida)
David Fluellen (RB, Toledo)
John Fulton (CB, Alabama)
Kevin Graf (OT, Southern Cal)
Donald Hawkins (OL, Texas)
Henry Josey (RB, Missouri)
Wade Keliikipi (NT, Oregon)
Daytawion Lowe (S, Oklahoma State)
Taylor Martinez (WR/DB, Nebraska)
Frances Mays (DE, Florida A&M)
Quron Pratt (WR, Rutgers)
Carey Spear (K, Vanderbilt)

Trey Burton is a sleeper to contribute in this offense. Chip Kelly is an offensive genius and a guy as versatile as Burton could create several matchup problems. I say he makes the team and Kelly finds a creative way to utilize his talents.
Josh Andrews was a good depth move.
Henry Josey is a guy that I am still quite surprised he wasn't picked. This guy was one of the fastest runningbacks in the nation last year and ran rather effectively. Although he is a smaller back, he simply gets the job done.
Kevin Graf also has a great chance at earning a spot as does Donald Hawkins. Hawkins is a better fit at guard, but played tackle in college.
Keliikipi is probably the most likely of this group to find a roster spot. He has the Oregon connection to Kelly, but more importantly is the best player of this group.
Taylor Martinez is the guy who was once thought of as a serious Heisman contender that never lived up to the potential. He is getting a shot to play at the NFL Level for the Eagles, but not as a QB. Much like Eric Crouch before him, Martinez is getting a shot at WR and DB. This should be an interesting one to watch with this well known longshot.

Washington Redskins

2(47) Trent Murphy (DE, Stanford)

3(66) Morgan Moses (OT, Virginia)

3(78) Spencer Long (OG, Nebraska)

4(102) Bahaud Breeland (CB, Clemson)

5(142) Ryan Grant (WR, Tulane)

6(186) Lache Seastrunk (RB, Baylor)

7(217) Ted Bolser (TE, Indiana)

7(228) Zach Hocker (K, Arkansas)

Best Pick: Morgan Moses

Moses had a first round grade on many boards. While I had him going in the 2nd round, he had a 1st round grade for me as well. I had him rated higher than some guys who were actually taken in the 1st round also. This was a great pick for the Redskins who didn't have many. I thought Washington would take him in the 2nd, so to get him in the 3rd has got to make the team ecstatic.

Summary: This was another above average draft. I really liked this draft outside the last two picks. The Moses pick was fantastic as was the other ACC guy they got. Bashaud Breeland was a projected 2nd rounder who fell to the Skins in the 4th. This guy is better than the guy they got in the 2nd last year (Amerson). Spencer Long is a solid pick and Mayock thinks Washington will start him immediately. I wasn't as high on him, but Mayock usually knows his stuff. I thought he was drafted around where he should have been picked. Trent Murphy being available in the 2nd round had to be very exciting for the Skins as well. Murphy instantly helps the Redskins put pressure on the Quarterback. Lache Seastrunk in Round 6 is ridiculous as well. That guy is a burner and a great fit in Jay Gruden's offense. The 1-2 punch of Morris and Seastrunk will be great. Helu is not going to see nearly as many carries next year.

Grade: B+

Undrafted Free Agents
Justin Blake (S, Hampton)
JR Carr (LS, Tennessee)
Chris Davenport (DT, Tulane)
Cody Hoffman (WR, BYU)
Rashad Lawrence (WR, Northwestern)
Silas Redd (RB, Southern Cal)
Tommy Rees (QB, Notre Dame)
Bryan Shephard (CB, North Dakota State)
Robert Thomas (DT, Arkansas)

I love the Davenport signing. I say he sticks with the team and by doing so gives the Redskins much needed depth on the defensive line. Thomas could do the same, but I think Davenport is the better player.
Lawrence doesn't have the elite speed you look for in an NFL receiver, but he runs fantastic routes. He also is fearless across the middle and has good size. This guy is one that can make the team.
Silas Redd of course is the player who transferred to USC from Penn State following the scandal. However, in the new offense and tougher conference, Redd was not as successful. The fact that he was more successful against weaker teams and a weaker schedule should be somewhat alarming.
Bryan Shephard isn't very physical on the outside, but he could help and would be great on special teams.

-Noland