by Bill Young
NFC East:
New York Giants draft picks: Round 1 Pick 15 DE Jason Pierre-Paul
Round 2 Pick 46 DT Lindval Joseph
Round 3 Pick 76 S Chad Jones
Round 4 Pick 115 ILB Phillip Dillard
Round 5 Pick 147 OG Mitch Petrus
Round 6 Pick 186 OLB Adrian Tracy
Round 7 Pick 221 P Matt Dodge
The Giants missed their chances to land a solid LB in the first round and passed on offensive lineman early in the draft in what was a top heavy OL draft. Pierre-Paul and Joseph will greatly improve a less than stellar run defense. Grade: C+
Dallas Cowboys draft picks: Round 1 Pick 24 WR Dez Bryant
Round 2 Pick 55 ILB Sean Lee
Round 4 Pick 126 CB Okwasi Owusu-ansuh
Round 6 Pick 179 OT Sam Young
Round 6 Pick 196 CB Jamar Wall
Round 7 Pick 234 DT Sean Lissemore
The Cowboys got great value with their first round pick in Dez Bryant. Unfortunately, the rest of the draft wasn't nearly as kind. Sean Lee isn't nearly the LB that was needed and they passed on the solid cornerbacks available with their first round slot while wasting two of their later round picks on CBs. Lissemore could turn into a great backup DT. Grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles draft picks: Round 1 Pick 13 OLB Brandon Graham
Round 2 Pick 37 CB Nate Allen
Round 3 Pick 86 DE Daniel Te'o-nesheim
Round 4 Pick 105 OLB Keenan Clayton
Round 4 Pick 122 QB Michael Kafka
Round 4 Pick 125 TE Clay Harbor
Round 5 Pick 134 DE Ricky Sapp
Round 5 Pick 159 WR Riley Cooper
Round 6 Pick 200 RB Charles Scott
Round 7 Pick 220 ILB Jamar Chaney
Round 7 Pick 243 DT Jeffrey Owens
Round 7 Pick 244 S Kurt Coleman
The Eagles successfully found great linebackers early in the draft while finding a solid cover corner in Nate Allen. In addition, they found a good backup for Kevin Kolb who could potentially become a starter in the NFL some day. Last but not least, the Eagles finally found a short yardage back in LSU bruiser Charles Scott. Grade: A-
Washington Redskins draft picks: Round 1 Pick 4 OT Trent Williams
Round 4 Pick 103 OLB Perry Riley
Round 6 Pick 174 TE/FB Dennis Morris
Round 7 Pick 219 WR Terrence Austin
Round 7 Pick 229 OG Erik Cook
Round 7 Pick 231 OT Selvish Capers
The Redskins used the draft to improve its beleaguered offensive line. In addition, they found a good linebacker for the new 3-4 scheme. In the end, the Redskins failed to find a replacement for the depth they lost on the defensive line and are still left looking for help at the safety position. Grade: C+
AFC South:
Houston Texans draft picks: Round 1 Pick 20: CB Kareem Jackson
Round 2 Pick 58: RB Ben Tate
Round 3 Pick 81: DT Earl Mitchell
Round 4 Pick 102: ILB Darryl Sharpton
Round 4 Pick 118: TE Garret Graham
Round 5 Pick 144: CB Sherrick McManis
Round 6 Pick 187: OG Shelley Smith
Round 6 Pick 197: RS Trindon Holliday
Round 7 Pick 227: TE Dorin Dickerson
The Texans greatly improved its secondary by adding Kareem Jackson. RB Ben Tate is a reach given the gimmicky offense imployed by Auburn. Other good RBs were still available in the second round. Other picks added much needed depth on the D-line and LB core. Other offensive addition gave depth to the TE position where Houston struggled to find production after Owen Daniels got injured last season. Speed demon Trindon Holliday could add a new dimension to this already potent offense. Grade: B+
Indianapolis Colts draft picks: Round 1 Pick 31: OLB/DE Jerry Hughes
Round 2 Pick 63: ILB Patrick Angerer
Round 3 Pick 94: CB Kevin Thomas
Round 4 Pick 129: OG Jacques McClendon
Round 5 Pick 162: TE Brody Eldridge
Round 7 Pick 238: DT Ricardo Mathews
Round 7 Pick 240: OLB Kavell Conner
Round 7 Pick 246: CB Ray Fisher
The Colts focused on improving their pass rush. In addition, they got much needed depth at cornerback after David Macklin left via free agency. The complaints about the offensive line were addressed at a cursory level. The safety position, given the amount of injuries Bob Sanders has, should've been a point of emphasis. Grade: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars draft picks: Round 1 Pick 10: DT Tyson Alualu
Round 3 Pick 74: DT D'anthony Smith
Round 5 Pick 143: OLB Larry Hart
Round 5 Pick 153: DE Austen Lane
Round 6 Pick 180: RB Deiji Karim
Round 6 Pick 203: CB Scotty McGee
The story of the draft for the Jaguars is missed opportunities. First, they missed an opportunity to add an elite pass rusher to their anemic pass rush in the first round and went with Alualu who might have second round talent at best. Then, they chose Smith who has character issues. Finally, they chose a RB to go alongside Jones-Drew in the 6th round before choosing a kickreturner in Scotty McGee. Other needs couldve been addressed like the WR and DE positions. Grade: D
Tennessee Titans draft picks: Round 1 Pick 16: DE Derrick Morgan
Round 3 Pick 77: WR Damian Williams
Round 3 Pick 97: OLB Rennie Curran
Round 4 Pick 104: CB Alterraun Verner
Round 5 Pick 148: S Robert Johnson
Round 6 Pick 176: QB Rusty Smith
Round 6 Pick 207: S Myron Rolle
Round 7 Pick 222: WR Marc Mariani
Round 7 Pick 241: DT David Howard
The Titans got a steal when DE Derrick Morgan fell to them in the first round. LB Rennie Curran will help improve the tackling of a Titans team that declined last year after the departure of Albert Haynesworth. The Titans also picked up a corner and a DT to solidify the defense. Finally, the Titans got two WRs in an attempt to improve one of the league's weakest passing attacks. Unfortunately, more wasn't done to address the glaring need for CBs. Grade: B+
Nate Allen is a Free Safety.
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