Domo's NFC East Draft Report Card
Eagles
Grade: B-minus
The Eagles wound up with just six picks, which is as few as they've had since the league went to a seven-round draft in 1994. While they spent three of those six picks on a major need area – the secondary – they failed for the second straight year to add any offensive line depth.
That's the bad news. The good news is they appear to have done well with their first two picks – Agholor and Rowe. After losing Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles needed a WR who could step in and help them immediately and Agholor, who can play inside or outside, fits the bill.
Breshad Perriman, who went six picks later to the Ravens, may have more upside, but Agholor is more NFL-ready and is an ideal fit for Chip Kelly's system. He also was one of the country's top punt returners, so he gives them depth there in case Darren Sproles gets hurt or needs a blow.
Rowe is a big, fast combo DB who could be a Day 1 starter at either CB or S. But those two are the only draft picks likely to make an immediate impact on offense or defense.
Hicks is a smart coach-on-the-field type player with excellent physical traits. But the ILB field is a bit crowded at the moment and Hicks will be earning his keep as a rookie on special teams. Kelly said he was their highest-rated player on the board at No. 84, which probably is true. But they might've been better served trading down a few spots, picking up an extra pick and selecting an offensive lineman later in the third round or early in the fourth.
As it turned out, there was a run on offensive linemen right before they were scheduled to pick in the fourth round and they were shut out.
Cowboys
Grade: B
The Great Rehabilitator, Jerry Jones, has struck again. A month after signing Greg Hardy, who has been suspended by the league for the first 10 games this season for domestic violence, he rolled the dice in the second round on Gregory, the best pot-using pass-rusher in the draft.
Gregory is a boom-or-bust pick. If Jones can keep him away from weed and Hardy away from women, the Cowboys could have a helluva pass rush come December. But that's a big if at this point. Gregory talks like giving up marijuana might be only slightly easier for him than scaling Mt. Everest in bare feet and a Speedo.
Byron Jones was a solid pickup at 27. Former first-round CB Morris Claiborne has been a bust and Brandon Carr has underachieved. So Jones could be a Day 1 starter. Green has a chance to push Doug Free for the starting RT job right out of the gate.
Giants
Grade: B-minus
Like the Eagles, the Giants had only six picks. They desperately needed to upgrade their offensive line and had targeted Brandon Scherff at 9, but the Redskins threw them, and everybody else, a curve by taking him at 5. They settled for Flowers, who was a bit of a reach that high, but still should compete for a starting job right away.
They traded up in the second round and grabbed Collins, who many felt was the best safety in the draft. With Antrel Rolle gone, he addresses a glaring defensive need, and like Flowers, should be a Day 1 starter. Odighizuwuga is an impressive physical specimen, but has marginal pass-rush skills.
Redskins
Grade: C-plus
I didn't really agree with GM Scot McCloughan's decision to pass on possibly the draft's best player, DE Leonard Williams, at 5, and take Scherff. I know their offensive line is a mess and Scherff will be a Day 1 starter at either RT or one of the G spots. But when a guy with Williams' ability falls into your lap, you grab him.
The 6-5, 271-pound Smith spent his entire college career with his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 DE, and the Redskins are going to try to convert him to a 3-4 OLB. Maybe it'll be a rousing success, maybe it won't. And the selection of the 5-8, 185-pound Crowder seems to indicate that McCloughan didn't get the league memo about teams going to bigger receivers.