Twitter: Kiper draft grades

[Risen Star]

For the rest of the league...

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/...s-sleepers-favorite-2021-classes-all-32-teams


Dallas Cowboys: B

Top needs: CB, DL, OL, TE

1/12 Micah Parsons ILB Penn State
2/44 Kelvin Joseph CB Kentucky
3/75 Osa Odighizuwa DT UCLA
3/84 Chauncey Golston DE Iowa
3/99 Nahshon Wright CB Oregon State
4/115 Jabril Cox ILB LSU
4/138 Josh Ball OT Marshall
5/179 Simi Fehoko WR Stanford
6/192 Quinton Bohanna DT Kentucky
6/227 Israel Mukuamu CB South Carolina
7/238 Matt Farniok G Nebraska

The Dallas defense was awful last season, even before Dak Prescott was lost for the year in Week 5. This couldn't be another CeeDee Lamb situation, where they went with an offensive playmaker even with massive holes on the other side of the ball. They had to get the best defender on the board with their pick, ideally a cornerback. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, though, the top two corners went in the two picks before them at No. 10, so give them credit for trading back two spots, adding an extra third-rounder and still getting the guy they say they wanted all along.

The questions now are ... where does Micah Parsons (12) fit, and what does it mean for 2018 first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch and 2016 second-rounder Jaylon Smith? I didn't peg off-ball linebacker as a need for Dallas, but the organization didn't draft Parsons to sit on the bench. So maybe it will move on from Vander Esch and plant Parsons at middle linebacker. He'll improve a porous run defense; the Cowboys allowed a woeful 1,758 rushing yards before first contact last season, by far the most in the league. With Rashawn Slater still available, I thought he would have filled a need at guard. (They added to the off-ball linebacker group on Day 3 with Jabril Cox (115), who has some coverage traits.)

The Cowboys continued their attempt to improve the defense on Day 2 and ended up using all five of their first picks on defenders. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph (44) has lock-down traits, and the team will hope that he can make the same sort of impact that second-rounder Trevon Diggs did a year ago. Defensive linemen Osa Odighizuwa (75) and Chauncey Golston (84) were lower on my board, but they'll help against the run.

I had a late-Day 3 grade on Nahshon Wright (99), but he's a big 6-foot-3 corner who fits the mold of what new coordinator Dan Quinn likes outside. He's quite confident in his skills, but I didn't see an NFL starter on tape. Israel Mukuamu (227) is another rangy corner, as Dallas showed its commitment to finding guys for Quinn. Simi Fehoko (179) has some speed for a 6-foot-4 wideout, though this team's receiver room is crowded.

In total, the Cowboys added eight defenders in this class, though they reached for a couple of them. If Quinn's corner picks work out, though, they could have a couple of steals.

-

Giants: B+
Eagles: B+
Commanders: B

 

[big dog cowboy]

Getting a B grade with all the pics the Cowboys had means they added a lot of talent. Will push the talent to put up or move out. Definitely got a couple of steals.

 

[Vanilla2]

I can’t wait for training camp to start

 

[DuncanIso]

Getting a B grade with all the pics the Cowboys had means they added a lot of talent. Will push the talent to put up or move out. Definitely got a couple of steals.

no help for the OL.

the Marshall kid is raw.

We passed on Slater.

 

[Corso]

I care very little for immediate Draft grades, but whatevs.

Just get the kids on the field and let's get it on.

 

[Rockport]

The defensive players chosen were all Quinn. He has a vision. He has insight on what is defensively successful. CZ haters will not get it and are crapping on the picks as we speak. But Quinn has been able so far to implant his vision on the defensive team. Excited to see how this plays out.

 

[Risen Star]

How many starters? Over their careers, I mean.

Parsons is a starter. Joseph should be. Osa Odighiwhatever could be a starter but not a good one. Same with Bohanna. Cox might. I have no use for those corners on stilts.

I'll go conservative and say 2 with the possibility of 1 more true starter.

 

[Risen Star]

The defensive players chosen were all Quinn. He has a vision. He has insight on what is defensively successful. CZ haters will not get it and are crapping on the picks as we speak. But Quinn has been able so far to implant his vision on the defensive team. Excited to see how this plays out.

Me too, bro.

Having the architect of those Falcon defenses here rebuilding our own excites me.

 

[Rockport]

Me too, bro.

Having the architect of those Falcon defenses here rebuilding our own excites me.

HC vs DC do your homework Wentz.

 

[Techsass]

I care very little for immediate Draft grades, but whatevs.

Just get the kids on the field and let's get it on.

True, but it's nice to know somebody thinks we did OK.

I can't say I was thrilled with all of our picks, but that's mainly because of all the angst I kept reading. Earlier I had said they seemed to have a plan, but I was starting to doubt myself.

 

[Techsass]

Me too, bro.

Having the architect of those Falcon defenses here rebuilding our own excites me.

Stop it. This is serious stuff & i don't want to laugh right now.

 

[Risen Star]

HC vs DC do your homework Wentz.

Good point. His track record for building quality defenses as a coordinator speaks for itself.

Which is a good thing since no one else can speak for it because it never happened.

 

[Rockport]

How many starters? Over their careers, I mean.

Parsons is a starter. Joseph should be. Osa Odighiwhatever could be a starter but not a good one. Same with Bohanna. Cox might. I have no use for those corners on stilts.

I'll go conservative and say 2 with the possibility of 1 more true starter.

You have no damn clue who will be starters, 2nd teasers or busts so quit acting like you do. Just let it play out and then you can come back and say, “see I told you Parsons was not a starter”.

 

[Hardline]

How does Kiper give grades?
Not a single one of them has played a single snap yet,

 

[Risen Star]

How does Kiper give grades?
Not a single one of them has played a single snap yet,

This is always an intelligent take.

It's called having an opinion. Like everyone does when they watch the draft.

I'll never understand why you're supposed to follow the prospects, target your favorite players, do your own mocks to get those players to your team but then once the draft takes place completely empty your mind, shrug your shoulders and go to hell if I know who can play or not. All these classes look the same to me until further notice.

There's nothing wrong with draft grades. There's just something wrong with those that complain about draft grades.

 

[Hardline]

This is always an intelligent take.

It's called having an opinion. Like everyone does when they watch the draft.

I'll never understand why you're supposed to follow the prospects, target your favorite players, do your own mocks to get those players to your team but then once the draft takes place completely empty your mind, shrug your shoulders and go to hell if I know who can play or not. All these classes look the same to me until further notice.

There's nothing wrong with draft grades. There's just something wrong with those that complain about draft grades.

These grades are based on name recognition and college careers.
The real grading comes in three years.

 

[gimmesix]

With Rashawn Slater still available, I thought he would have filled a need at guard. (They added to the off-ball linebacker group on Day 3 with Jabril Cox (115), who has some coverage traits.)

You have to wonder about Kiper when he makes a statement like this. We have Martin, Williams and McGovern at guard. We could have improved the position, but there's not really a need. I also heard that we may be moving Brandon Knight inside. I think he has a chance to shine there, but even if he doesn't, we're covered at starter this year and next year. Slater absolutely would have been an upgrade, but if you are always just upgrading positions, you can't fix true needs.

Of course, I think it's fair to argue that Parsons wasn't a true need, either.

 

[RS12]

Kiper finally starting to age. McShay starting to chunk up.

 

[America's Cowboy]

no help for the OL.

the Marshall kid is raw.

We passed on Slater.

We don't need any Oline help, other than at Tackle. I'm not sold on this Josh Ball kid at O-Tackle, much less with a costly 4th round pick, but I hope he can develop well enough and soon to come in and cover for either Tyron Smith or La'el Collins in case either one goes down with an injury once again. Our Guards positions already have decently good backups. The greater concern is at Center. I hope Looney agrees to come back at Center since he did well there last season but is currently an unsigned free agent.

By the way, I give the Cowboys draft grade a C+ which can improve depending on how some of these obviously overreached draft picks pan out.

 

[plasticman]

I care.

I'm not interested in getting the best players. I'm interested in getting the players that will make this team the best.

With that said, getting good players only matter if the coaches know how to utilize them, teach them their system, and prepare them so they will succeed when they play.

The real grades come at the end of the season in the form of a regular season record and level of success in the playoffs.

The draft gets an "A" if the Cowboys go deep in the playoffs this season.