This is the first installment of an eight part series where I am going to go division by division and review how each team did in the draft. I am not going to spend too much time talking about any of the first rounders, as I already dedicated an entire article to that subject. We begin with the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1 – 19 (19) – LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
Round 2 – 18 (50) – OL Connor Williams, Texas
Round 3 – 17 (81) – WR Michael Gallup, Colorado State
Round 4 – 16 (116) – Edge Dorance Armstrong, Kansas
Round 4 – 37 (137) – TE Dalton Shultz, Stanford
Round 5 – 34 (171) – QB Mike White, Western Kentucky
Round 6 – 19 (193) – LB Chris Covington, Indiana
Round 6 – 34 (208) – WR Cedrick Wilson, Boise State
Round 7 – 18 (236) – RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
A lot is being made of the Cowboys bypassing a receiver with their first two picks. While I had Ridley higher than Vander Esch, I’ve already talked about why I am ok with the pick. The difference of this defense when Sean Lee is and is not on the field is staggering, and he can’t be counted on to play 16 games.
I also don’t mind Dallas bypassing receiver again in the 2nd round since Connor Williams fell to them at 50. This will end up as a steal. If Dallas took him at 19 people may have thought it was a slight reach but no one would have freaked out. If Williams had come out last year he would have been a top 12 pick. I’ve read Williams will play guard instead of tackle, and I can’t say I love that decision, but Williams will be a good player.
And when Dallas did finally address receiver in round 3, they got another potential steal. Michael Gallup is a PFF darling as his statistical profile is fantastic, he has extremely reliable hands, and he had a strong performance during Senior Bowl week.
If there is one pick for Dallas I don’t much like it is the Dorance Armstrong selection. Armstrong is much more a run stopper than a pass rusher, as he doesn’t offer much as a rusher. Perhaps Dallas sees some potential but you can color me skeptical. I thought they would have looked to bring in a pass rusher opposite DeMarcus Lawrence at some point and as insurance incase they cannot come to an agreement on a contract after next season (although they could tag him for a second straight year). 14 picks later the division rival Eagles swung for the fences with Josh Sweat, and I’ll get to that in a minute.
Dalton Shultz shouldn’t be viewed as someone to replace Witten. Really no one should, since Witten is a HOFer. However, Shultz is viewed more as a blocking tight end and not a receiving threat, although his combine numbers coupled with the Stanford QB play gives one hopes for upside.
I really like taking Mike White as a guy to develop behind the scenes. Most people thought White would find a home on day two of the draft. If he gets a shot to start it will most likely not be in Dallas. But there is a chance in a few years the Cowboys can trade him to a quarterback needy team for a higher round draft pick than they invested.
Cedric Wilson is another PFF darling at receiver, as they had him as a top 10 option in this class. Dallas was able to grab him in the 6th round which is just ludicrous. This pick also keeps the “Dallas tapping into the Boise State pipeline” pattern going.
I really want to know why Bo Scarbrough fell to the 7th round. Even if there are durability concerns and he plays a devalued position, no one wanted him in the 5th or 6th round? He was 18 picks away from going undrafted, and he seems a good bet to be able to walk onto a roster and be an effective bruiser.
Overview:
Dallas’ first pick was fine and then they grabbed great values with both day two picks. For a team with a need at receiver they really nailed addressing the position without taking a receiver in the first two rounds. Time and again Dallas got quality value with their selections.
Overall Grade: B+
New York Giants
Round 1 – 2 (2) – RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Round 2 – 2 (34) – OG Will Hernandez, UTEP
Round 3 – 2 (66) – Edge Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
Round 3 – 5 (69) – DT B.J. Hill, N.C. State
Round 4 – 8 (108) – QB Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
Round 5 – 2 (139) – DT R.J. McIntosh, Miami
At this point everyone knows my feelings on the Giants taking Barkley. For the record, had the Giants selected a quarterback or traded the pick they would have had one of the best drafts.
Will Hernandez is a fantastic selection. Going into Thursday night the common belief is Hernandez would be off the board within the first 32 picks. Not only is Hernandez a plug and play guy, he addresses a major need and was excellent value.
Taking a shot on Lorenzo Carter is another great pick by Gettleman. Most of Carter’s pass rushing production came in a single game, but the athletic traits are there and Georgia deployed him all over the field last season.
B.J. Hill is basically the perfect compliment to add to run stuffers Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson. Neither provides much pass rush and Hill has the ability to be a pocket pusher in the passing game.
Taking Kyle Lauletta is a very interesting decision. For what it’s worth, Erik Galko sees a lot of Jimmy Garoppolo in Lauletta. The reason I call the pick interesting is because 1. Does this mean the brass of the organization in fact does not like Davis Webb? and 2. How are the reps among Lauletta and Webb going to be split in practice?
I like the McIntosh pick, as Miami utilized him in different positions along their line, and he adds more pass rushing depth to this team.
Overview:
After blowing the 2nd pick, the Giants rebounded very nicely with some good value picks and emphasized their pass rush. I just can’t get over them taking Barkley though.
Overall Grade: C+
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 2 – 17 (49) – TE Dallas Goedert, South Dakota
Round 4 – 25 (125) – CB Avonte Maddox, Pittsburgh
Round 4 – 30 (130) – Edge Josh Sweat Florida State
Round 6 – 32 (206) – OT Matt Pryor, TCU
Round 7 – 15 (233) – OT Jordan Mailata, Australia
The Eagles took advantage of Baltimore wanting secure a 5th year option for Lamar Jackson’s rookie contract, so they dropped back from #32 to #52, and in the process added a 2019 second round pick in addition to #125 in 2018.
Philadelphia then made a small move up the board, from #52 to #49, to jump the Cowboys in order to draft Dallas Goedert. I’ve heard the Cowboys weren’t going to take Goedert anyway, but I can see why the Eagles felt the need to get in front of the team that just had Jason Witten retire, and found the 169th pick as an acceptable price to pay to consummate the trade.
I’m not the biggest fan of the pick however. It just seems like a luxury to me. I know the Eagles are a deep and stacked roster, but their entire philosophy on defense is to load up in the trenches and at corner. To this point, only two offensive tackles and four corners had gone off the board. Starting four picks later, a run on corners happened where five came off the board before the end of the round. Two of those corners were Donte Jackson and Duke Dawson, who I have heard different people refer to each as the best slot corner in the draft. Oh yea, Patrick Robinson left in free agency.
When the drafts, arguably, best tight end fell this far the Eagles decided to pounce, but keep in mind Goedert is going to replace Burton as Ertz’s backup. The value is outstanding, as you have to keep in mind this is basically the pick involved in trading down, and the price they paid to move up isn’t the end of the world. But I feel like they would have been better served replacing Robinson or bringing in competition at left tackle.
And with the pick acquired in the Lamar Jackson trade, the Eagles did address the corner position with Avonte Maddox. The traits are there for Maddox to become a slot corner, but he has limited experience playing inside, yet does add a dimension as a blitzer.
After the Cowboys chose Dorance Armstrong, the next edge off the board was Josh Sweat. If you just watch Sweat play, he belongs in the first round. He fell due to injury concerns. He is now in a situation where the Eagles will only play him on obvious passing downs where he can be unleashed as a pass rusher, which is where he excels as a football player. He doesn’t need to come close to being an every down player. Of course it was Howie Roseman that decided to swing for the fences with this pick. If Sweat stays healthy, I fully expect the Cowboys to really, really regret not taking Sweat instead of Armstrong.
The Eagles did finally throw two darts at the tackle position at the end of the draft with Matt Pryar and Jordan Mailata. Todd McShay likes Pryor better than his teammate Noteboom, and Noteboom went three rounds higher. Mailata is a massive human being who was a rugby star in Australia, so that’s just really cool.
Overview:
Between Goedert falling to #49 and the fact the Eagles traded down and still landed him, the pick itself is incredible value as most thought Goedert would go in round one. I still think the pick is a little luxurious given that even the Eagles still have needs more prominent than back up tight end.
I love the Sweat pick and the Eagles took shots at nickel corner and offensive tackle with their other picks. They must be rather confident in either Peters’ ability to come back at his pre-injury level, or that they really have something in Halapoulivaati Vaitai. I don’t share that level of confidence, but I’m also not around these players every day.
Overall Grade: C+
Washington
Round 1 – 13 (13) – DT Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
Round 2 – 27 (59) – RB Derrius Guice, LSU
Round 3 – 10 (74) – OT Geron Christian, Louisville
Round 4 – 9 (109) – S Troy Apke, Penn State
Round 5 – 26 (163) – DT Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
Round 6 – 23 (197) – S Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
Round 7 – 23 (241) – CB Greg Stroman, Virginia Tech
Round 7 – 38 (256) – WR Trey Quinn, SMU
I really want to know if Washington was just crushed when Vita Vea went one pick ahead of them.
I’m not a huge fan of the Payne pick as he offers very little as a pass rusher. Washington basically proved why you don’t take one dimensional run stuffers this early in the draft since they landed Tim Settle in the 5th round. Both are good players, and Settle was supposed to go much higher so that pick is fantastic value. They doubled up on addressing their need at NT, and if you read any of my mock drafts, you can see why I expected Washington to invest significant resources in their run defense.
Derrius Guice toward the end of the second round is excellent value. He was, at one point, seen as clearly the second best running back in this class. He still has that type of talent, but he fell for other reasons. I’m not convinced how much he can help in the passing game, but given the presence of Chris Thompson, I don’t think Washington cares.
Washington also obtained this pick in a trade with the 9ers where Washington received the 59th and 74th picks, and sent San Francisco the 44th and 142nd picks. Washington profited 1.9 points worth of draft capital in the deal.
Washington clearly sees right tackle as a need area, and addressed that with Geron Christian in the 3rd round. There really isn’t a tackle I would advocate Washington needed to take over Christian at that juncture, and Christian was expected to be selected earlier on day two.
I think Troy Apke was a reach where he was selected, but Washington must have viewed him as the best remaining cover safety in the draft. He does have the ability to drop down and cover the slot, and he absolutely blew up the combine with a 4.34 40, 41″ vertical, 10’11” broad jump, and 6.53 3-cone drill.
Shaun Dion Hamilton is a a great lotto ticket in the 6th round. He has sustained two major knee injuries, but prior to the first one he was fantastic at Alabama. Most importantly, he excelled in coverage, which has never been more important at the linebacker position. In a division that has Ertz, Goedert, and Engram, Washington needs a linebacker that can cover. He is also another piece to help fix the run defense.
I thought Washington might address cornerback earlier in the process after having shipped out Kendall Fuller in the Alex Smith trade. I guess they are comfortable with the guys they have, but Greg Stroman is another great lotto ticket late in the draft. Stroman is a PFF darling, ranking in the top 12 at the corner position on their board, and he fell to the 6th round. Stroman allowed a 26.8 passer rating on targets in his coverage in 2017. If you throw the ball in the dirt, it’s a passer rating of 39.9.
I think this is the best Mr. Irrelevant of all time. I expected Trey Quinn to go much, much higher than this. Given how low Quinn went, and the type of production I think he can provide, this may be the steal of the draft. I really do believe Quinn can be as good as Copper Kupp.
Overview:
Washington got great value or better with six of their eight picks. I’m also confident in seven out of eight of their selections to contribute to their roster, which is a home run of a draft. The other pick, Apke, does have a lot of potential. I know this was a free agency maneuver, so it doesn’t factor into my grade, but signing Quin Blanding as an undrafted free agent was a nice move.
Overall Grade: B+
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