A look at the NFC East drafts

Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:00pm
By the National Football Post

Yesterday I wrote the AFC East; today I will take a look at the NFC East -- in my opinion, always one of the best divisions in football.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles wanted to upgrade their defensive line and did an outstanding job doing it. First pick Fletcher Cox was perhaps the best defensive lineman in this draft. He has outstanding size to go along with being a very good athlete with strength and explosion. Cox improved with every game. He is a force versus both the run and pass and at 21 years old will keep getting better. He has the talent to be an eventual Pro Bowl player. In the second round Philly got Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry. Curry is the perfect complement to Cox. He is an athletic outside pass rusher with a very quick first step, he has strength at the point and does a good job stopping the run. Kendricks might be a little short (5111) but this is one good football player. He is strong and explosive with excellent instincts. With 4.46 speed he is the fastest linebacker in this draft. He is a big time playmaker and has the tools to play either Mike or Will linebacker. Many teams have over drafted quarterbacks the last couple of years. Philly got Nick Foles where he should have been taken…in the third round. Foles isn’t a finished product and still needs to develop but he has the tools to be a good pro. Georgia corner Brandon Boykin is similar to Kendricks in that he is a bit undersized but is an instinctive playmaker. He will be a nice replacement for Asante Samuel. The late pick that I liked the most is receiver Marvin McNutt from Iowa. McNutt is a former quarterback who is a very good route runner with soft hands. He ran faster than many thought he would clocking 4.49 at the Combine.

New York Giants

David WilsonICONDavid Wilson gives the Giants the fastest and most explosive back they have had in years.

Jerry Reese is “old school” in that he will always take the best available athlete. During the draft, the best available just happened to also fill a need. The Giants needed to get a replacement for Brandon Jacobs and in David Wilson they got the fastest and most explosive back they have had in years. There were reports that the Giants had Rueben Randle as a first round talent. I’m sure they did as did many other clubs. Randle is a speed receiver who should do well replacing Mario Manningham. He actually is bigger and faster than Manningham was. Jayron Hosley is a quick and athletic corner who fits in nicely with what the Giants do on defense. Why Cincinnati didn’t use Adrien Robinson much in their passing game is beyond me. His workout numbers were off the charts. This is a 6040, 263-pound tight end who ran 4.56, had a vertical of 39.5, an 11’3 long jump and a 7.10 3 cone. I don’t know if there is a tight end in the league with numbers that good! Brandon Mosley is an athletic offensive tackle who is still developing but has a lot of upside.

Washington Redskins

If the only person they drafted was RGIII they would have had a successful draft. Griffin III still needs to learn to play from under center, but he has all the tools to become a great pro. His deep ball accuracy is as good as I’ve seen in the last few years. Josh LeRibeus is a tough try hard guy who should be able to play guard or center. He is very strong with limited area quickness. The ‘Skins drafting Kirk Cousins was a surprise to me after already getting RGIII. I don’t see Cousins as having eventual starter type traits but I feel he can be a very good NFL backup. Tackle Tom Compton from South Dakota is a big strong left tackle who will probably have to move to the right side in the NFL. He should be a quality backup with a chance to start down the road.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys drafted the best corner and one of the top players in the draft in LSU corner Mo Claiborne. He will start immediately and be an upgrade. Tyrone Crawford is a high motor tough 5 technique with better than average pass rush skills. Kyle Wilbur is another high motor, good athlete 3-4 OLB. He has good instincts but still needs to develop his strength. He is a down the road starter for Dallas. Matt Johnson from Washington State may have been a bit of a reach at this point of the draft but he has the skills to develop. Will be a backup and special teams performer to start out. Danny Coale is a sure handed possession receiver. While he ran 4.45 at the Combine he doesn’t play to that speed. James Hanna from Oklahoma has excellent speed to go along with good hands. He will play the role of a move tight end as he is not much of a blocker.

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Fantasy Football Player Notes RSS FeedPLAYER NOTES

Zach ErtzMay 24 11:42a

Philadelphia Eagles TE Zach Ertz, the team's second-round draft pick, is unable to participate in organized team activities because of NFL rules until he graduates from college at Stanford.

Tramon WilliamsMay 24 10:52a

Green Bay Packers CB Tramon Williams' (shoulder) nerve damage in his shoulder has drastically healed due to a workout regimen that includes yoga and jump ropes.

Joseph MorganMay 24 10:32a

New Orleans Saints WR Joe Morgan said he'll have to work on his intermediate route running to win the No. 3 receiver spot. Six of his 10 receptions last [ More ]

Greg HardyMay 24 09:22a

Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy dropped 15 pounds in the offseason hoping to improve his speed rush. Hardy broke out with 11 sacks in 2012 after having seven combined in his first two years.

Mike WilliamsMay 24 08:42a

Free-agent WR Mike X. Williams (Seahawks) is attempting another comeback after signing with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Pierre GarconMay 24 08:22a

Updating previous reports, Washington Redskins WR Pierre Garcon (shoulder, foot) underwent minor labrum surgery in January. He has recovered from the surgery and should be ready for training camp.

Danario AlexanderMay 24 01:15a

San Diego Chargers WR Danario Alexander looked fluid in making back-shoulder catches in practice Monday, May 20. He claims he's at full speed, a contrast to his injured May [ More ]

Joe McKnightMay 24 01:15a

New York Jets RB Chris Ivory impressed in practice Wednesday, May 22, and is lining up to be the feature back. Mike Goodson's legal troubles are jeopardizing his future [ More ]

Jared AllenMay 24 01:02a

Minnesota Vikings DE Jared Allen (knee, shoulder), who's a free agent after this year, has 'absolutely no idea' where he'll wind up in 2014. 'Best-case scenario would have been [ More ]

Robert MeachemMay 24 01:02a

If San Diego Chargers WR Robert Meachem has a strong preseason, the club could see if there's an active trade market for him. His $6.875 million cap number, however, [ More ]

B. MeriweatherMay 23 10:02p

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said he expects FS Brandon Meriweather (knee) to be a full participant once training camp begins.

Pierre GarconMay 23 09:52p

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said WR Pierre Garcon (foot) is about 90 percent recovered from his foot surgery and that he expects Davis to sit out until training camp.

Fred DavisMay 23 09:52p

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said TE Fred Davis (Achilles') is about 90 percent recovered from his Achilles' tendon injury and that he expects Davis to sit out until training camp.

London FletcherMay 23 09:52p

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said he told LB London Fletcher (elbow, ankle) that he could sit out the rest of the organized team activities, but Fletcher told [ More ]

Brian OrakpoMay 23 09:42p

Washington Redskins LB Brian Orakpo (pectoral) and DT Chris Neild (knee) were able to fully participate in organized team activities Thursday, May 23.

Quentin GrovesMay 23 09:22p

Cleveland Browns LB Jabaal Sheard said he believes he can be part of an impactful outside linebacker rotation with LB Barkevious Mingo, LB Paul Kruger and LB Quentin Groves [ More ]

Dion LewisMay 23 09:22p

Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said the team is giving CB Buster Skrine and S Johnson Bademosi reps as kick returners during organized team activities. Tabor said [ More ]

Sam BradfordMay 23 09:12p

St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford has been working on routes and throws with WRs Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey during offseason workouts.

Matt JohnsonMay 23 08:52p

Dallas Cowboys FS Matt Johnson said he believes he suffered hamstring injuries last season because he was using too much weight while doing squats in the weight room and [ More ]

Roy MillerMay 23 08:42p

Jacksonville Jaguars DT Roy Miller (knee) was limited to individual drills during organized team activities Thursday, May 23, because of knee tendonitis.

Tony MoeakiMay 23 07:22p

Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki (knee) is unlikely to be on the practice field until training camp in July. Moeaki has been watching from the sidelines during organized team activities this week.

DeSean JacksonMay 23 06:32p

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly confirmed that he prefers larger and taller players at most positions on his team, but he's in favor of protecting his smaller players [ More ]

Pierre GarconMay 23 04:32p

Washington Redskins WR Pierre Garcon (shoulder) underwent minor labrum surgery in January but has fully recovered. He was held out of team drills during organized team activities Thursday, May 23, as a precaution.

Greg RomeusMay 23 03:43p

The New Orleans Saints have waived DE Greg Romeus.

Scott ChandlerMay 23 03:43p

Buffalo Bills TE Scott Chandler (knee) has been running well at offseason workouts and believes he could be ready for the start of training camp. Chandler has started running [ More ]

Brian UrlacherMay 23 03:32p

Retired LB Brian Urlacher said the Dallas Cowboys were one of the team's that intrigued him if he were to have signed with another team other than the Chicago [ More ]

Trent RichardsonMay 23 03:23p

Cleveland Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski said RB Trent Richardson (leg) will not participate in organized team activities next week and could sit out the team minicamp in early [ More ]

Stephen NicholasMay 23 03:12p

Atlanta Falcons LB Stephen Nicholas (hernia) and LB Sean Weatherspoon (knee) will not be able to participate in organized team activities next week because they are recovering from offseason [ More ]

Jon BeasonMay 23 03:02p

Carolina Panthers LB Jon Beason (knee, shoulder) was able to participate in individual drills during organized team activities Thursday, May 23.

Charles BrownMay 23 02:53p

New Orleans Saints OT Charles Brown (undisclosed) did not participate in organized team activities Thursday, May 23, because of an undisclosed injury. Head coach Sean Payton would not specify [ More ]

Maurice HurtMay 23 02:52p

Washington Redskins OG Josh LeRibeus (groin) and OT Maurice Hurt (groin) did not participate in organized team activities Thursday, May 23, because of groin injuries.

Keenan LewisMay 23 02:42p

New Orleans Saints CBs Keenan Lewis and Patrick Robinson worked with the first-team defense during organized team activities Thursday, May 23. Head coach Sean Payton said people should not [ More ]

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