Risen Star
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http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/i...-class-all-32-nfl-teams-grades-picks-analysis
NFC East only here....
Philadelphia Eagles
Post-draft grade: B+
Here's what I wrote to close out the Eagles' grade last year: "It's not a home run class, but the Eagles got better."
Well, yeah. Did anyone last April think that these Eagles could win Super Bowl LII? But they made some really smart free-agent signings and trades, their sophomore quarterback took a huge leap (and their backup starred in clutch time) and the rookie class produced a few guys who helped push them over the line.
Pass-rusher Derek Barnett had six total sacks (one in the playoffs), cornerback Rasul Douglas chipped in with two interceptions and seven pass breakups, and wide receiver Mack Hollins added 16 catches, including one for a touchdown, and will likely play a much bigger role in 2018. Undrafted running back Corey Clement played his way onto the field and had six regular-season touchdowns. We also have to count kicker Jake Elliott, the fifth-round pick by the Bengals who was cut and picked up by Philadelphia. He only went on to make some clutch kicks in the Super Bowl (and miss an extra point, to be fair).
This is a solid class, and it could be in the A territory at this time next year if cornerback Sidney Jones sees more playing time after sitting out most of 2017 with an Achilles injury.
New grade: B+
1/14 Derek Barnett DE TENNESSEE
2/43 Sidney Jones CB WASHINGTON
3/99 Rasul Douglas CB WEST VIRGINIA
4/118 Mack Hollins WR NORTH CAROLINA
4/132 Donnel Pumphrey RB SAN DIEGO STATE
5/166 Shelton Gibson WR WEST VIRGINIA
5/184 Nathan Gerry S NEBRASKA
6/214 Elijah Qualls DT WASHINGTON
-
Dallas Cowboys
Post-draft grade: B-
I wrote at the time that I would have gone with a defensive back over Taco Charlton at No. 28 because Charlton isn't a premier pass-rusher. He wasn't even a Day 1 pick on my board. He had three sacks for the Cowboys but didn't pop on the tape, and I don't think that need opposite DeMarcus Lawrence is filled.
I did like Dallas' Day 2 picks, however, and cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are both big parts of the Cowboys' future. Awuzie injured his hamstring in training camp and started slowly but was much better down the stretch, finishing with an interception, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in six starts. Lewis, who also had a hamstring issue, finished with an interception and seven pass breakups over seven starts.
Dallas also got solid snaps from sixth-round pick Xavier Woods (one INT and 40 tackles in four starts), who might replace former first-round pick Byron Jones as starting safety. Utility man Ryan Switzer was a reach early on Day 3, and he didn't play many offensive snaps, though he did have a punt return touchdown and was decent on kickoffs.
I wrote last year that "seven of nine picks on defense show that Dallas knows it has to improve there to be a true Super Bowl contender." Well, the Cowboys' defense is still an issue, and it showed in a disappointing season.
New grade: B-
1/28 Taco Charlton DE MICHIGAN
2/60 Chidobe Awuzie CB COLORADO
3/92 Jourdan Lewis CB MICHIGAN
4/133 Ryan Switzer WR NORTH CAROLINA
6/191 Xavier Woods S LOUISIANA TECH
6/216 Marquez White CB FLORIDA STATE
7/228 Joey Ivie DT FLORIDA
7/239 Noah Brown WR OHIO STATE
7/246 Jordan Carrell DT COLORADO
-
New York Giants
Post-draft grade: C+
The bottom fell out on the Giants in 2017, as they went from a wild-card team in 2016 all the way to 3-13, costing Ben McAdoo his job. Losing Odell Beckham Jr.and Brandon Marshall for most of the season was a killer, but the defense also regressed big-time.
One bright spot was Evan Engram, who led all rookies in targets (111) and caught 64 passes for 722 yards and six touchdowns (though he had six drops, too). Is he a tight end or a receiver? The Giants didn't ask him to block toomuch, and at 6-3, 240, Engram has a long ways to go until he's a competent blocker in the running game. With Beckham back in 2018, the Giants' offensive outlook looks much better. Now what are they going to do with the No. 2 overall pick?
Elsewhere, Wayne Gallman showed promise, averaging 4.3 yards per rush on his 111 carries and catching 34 passes. He'll have to fight for snaps with new signing Jonathan Stewart and Paul Perkins in 2018, though. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson started every game, finishing the season with 50 tackles. He's a two-down run-stuffer. Undrafted free agents Calvin Munson and Chad Wheeler combined to start 10 games.
Ultimately this class might be judged on whether third-round quarterback Davis Webb, who didn't see the field in Year 1, pans out. Will he be Manning's long-term replacement? Will new GM Dave Gettleman take a quarterback in 2018 who passes up Webb? The former Cal QB has some talent, but I didn't see him as a surefire NFL starter -- he was my eighth-ranked signal-caller.
New grade: B-
1/23 Evan Engram TE OLE MISS
2/55 Dalvin Tomlinson DT ALABAMA
3/87 Davis Webb QB CALIFORNIA
4/140 Wayne Gallman RB CLEMSON
5/167 Avery Moss DE YOUNGSTOWN STATE
6/200 Adam Bisnowaty G PITTSBURGH
-
Washington Commanders
Post-draft grade: B+
Injuries really hurt this class, but I like the outlook overall. Top pick Jonathan Allen, the No. 2 overall player on my board, dropped all the way to Washington at No. 17, and he was starting to come on before a Lisfranc injury in October ended his season. Safety Montae Nicholson flashed in six starts before injuring his shoulder and then suffering from concussion symptoms, and he missed most of the second half of the season.
I liked Day 2 picks Ryan Anderson and Fabian Moreau, but they barely saw the field. Moreau, who put up elite numbers at the combine (4.35 40, 38-inch vertical) was seen as a project, so maybe he will see more time in Year 2. Running back Samaje Perine had almost 200 touches but averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. At 5-10, 236, he's never going to be a big-play threat, but he has to be better at the goal line.
This Washington class has a lot to prove in 2018.
New grade: B-
1/17 Jonathan Allen DT ALABAMA
2/49 Ryan Anderson OLB ALABAMA
3/81 Fabian Moreau CB UCLA
4/114 Samaje Perine RB OKLAHOMA
4/123 Montae Nicholson S MICHIGAN STATE
5/154 Jeremy Sprinkle TE ARKANSAS
6/199 Chase Roullier C WYOMING
6/209 Robert Davis WR GEORGIA STATE
7/230 Josh Harvey-Clemons S LOUISVILLE
7/235 Josh Holsey CB AUBURN
NFC East only here....
Philadelphia Eagles
Post-draft grade: B+
Here's what I wrote to close out the Eagles' grade last year: "It's not a home run class, but the Eagles got better."
Well, yeah. Did anyone last April think that these Eagles could win Super Bowl LII? But they made some really smart free-agent signings and trades, their sophomore quarterback took a huge leap (and their backup starred in clutch time) and the rookie class produced a few guys who helped push them over the line.
Pass-rusher Derek Barnett had six total sacks (one in the playoffs), cornerback Rasul Douglas chipped in with two interceptions and seven pass breakups, and wide receiver Mack Hollins added 16 catches, including one for a touchdown, and will likely play a much bigger role in 2018. Undrafted running back Corey Clement played his way onto the field and had six regular-season touchdowns. We also have to count kicker Jake Elliott, the fifth-round pick by the Bengals who was cut and picked up by Philadelphia. He only went on to make some clutch kicks in the Super Bowl (and miss an extra point, to be fair).
This is a solid class, and it could be in the A territory at this time next year if cornerback Sidney Jones sees more playing time after sitting out most of 2017 with an Achilles injury.
New grade: B+
1/14 Derek Barnett DE TENNESSEE
2/43 Sidney Jones CB WASHINGTON
3/99 Rasul Douglas CB WEST VIRGINIA
4/118 Mack Hollins WR NORTH CAROLINA
4/132 Donnel Pumphrey RB SAN DIEGO STATE
5/166 Shelton Gibson WR WEST VIRGINIA
5/184 Nathan Gerry S NEBRASKA
6/214 Elijah Qualls DT WASHINGTON
-
Dallas Cowboys
Post-draft grade: B-
I wrote at the time that I would have gone with a defensive back over Taco Charlton at No. 28 because Charlton isn't a premier pass-rusher. He wasn't even a Day 1 pick on my board. He had three sacks for the Cowboys but didn't pop on the tape, and I don't think that need opposite DeMarcus Lawrence is filled.
I did like Dallas' Day 2 picks, however, and cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are both big parts of the Cowboys' future. Awuzie injured his hamstring in training camp and started slowly but was much better down the stretch, finishing with an interception, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in six starts. Lewis, who also had a hamstring issue, finished with an interception and seven pass breakups over seven starts.
Dallas also got solid snaps from sixth-round pick Xavier Woods (one INT and 40 tackles in four starts), who might replace former first-round pick Byron Jones as starting safety. Utility man Ryan Switzer was a reach early on Day 3, and he didn't play many offensive snaps, though he did have a punt return touchdown and was decent on kickoffs.
I wrote last year that "seven of nine picks on defense show that Dallas knows it has to improve there to be a true Super Bowl contender." Well, the Cowboys' defense is still an issue, and it showed in a disappointing season.
New grade: B-
1/28 Taco Charlton DE MICHIGAN
2/60 Chidobe Awuzie CB COLORADO
3/92 Jourdan Lewis CB MICHIGAN
4/133 Ryan Switzer WR NORTH CAROLINA
6/191 Xavier Woods S LOUISIANA TECH
6/216 Marquez White CB FLORIDA STATE
7/228 Joey Ivie DT FLORIDA
7/239 Noah Brown WR OHIO STATE
7/246 Jordan Carrell DT COLORADO
-
New York Giants
Post-draft grade: C+
The bottom fell out on the Giants in 2017, as they went from a wild-card team in 2016 all the way to 3-13, costing Ben McAdoo his job. Losing Odell Beckham Jr.and Brandon Marshall for most of the season was a killer, but the defense also regressed big-time.
One bright spot was Evan Engram, who led all rookies in targets (111) and caught 64 passes for 722 yards and six touchdowns (though he had six drops, too). Is he a tight end or a receiver? The Giants didn't ask him to block toomuch, and at 6-3, 240, Engram has a long ways to go until he's a competent blocker in the running game. With Beckham back in 2018, the Giants' offensive outlook looks much better. Now what are they going to do with the No. 2 overall pick?
Elsewhere, Wayne Gallman showed promise, averaging 4.3 yards per rush on his 111 carries and catching 34 passes. He'll have to fight for snaps with new signing Jonathan Stewart and Paul Perkins in 2018, though. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson started every game, finishing the season with 50 tackles. He's a two-down run-stuffer. Undrafted free agents Calvin Munson and Chad Wheeler combined to start 10 games.
Ultimately this class might be judged on whether third-round quarterback Davis Webb, who didn't see the field in Year 1, pans out. Will he be Manning's long-term replacement? Will new GM Dave Gettleman take a quarterback in 2018 who passes up Webb? The former Cal QB has some talent, but I didn't see him as a surefire NFL starter -- he was my eighth-ranked signal-caller.
New grade: B-
1/23 Evan Engram TE OLE MISS
2/55 Dalvin Tomlinson DT ALABAMA
3/87 Davis Webb QB CALIFORNIA
4/140 Wayne Gallman RB CLEMSON
5/167 Avery Moss DE YOUNGSTOWN STATE
6/200 Adam Bisnowaty G PITTSBURGH
-
Washington Commanders
Post-draft grade: B+
Injuries really hurt this class, but I like the outlook overall. Top pick Jonathan Allen, the No. 2 overall player on my board, dropped all the way to Washington at No. 17, and he was starting to come on before a Lisfranc injury in October ended his season. Safety Montae Nicholson flashed in six starts before injuring his shoulder and then suffering from concussion symptoms, and he missed most of the second half of the season.
I liked Day 2 picks Ryan Anderson and Fabian Moreau, but they barely saw the field. Moreau, who put up elite numbers at the combine (4.35 40, 38-inch vertical) was seen as a project, so maybe he will see more time in Year 2. Running back Samaje Perine had almost 200 touches but averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. At 5-10, 236, he's never going to be a big-play threat, but he has to be better at the goal line.
This Washington class has a lot to prove in 2018.
New grade: B-
1/17 Jonathan Allen DT ALABAMA
2/49 Ryan Anderson OLB ALABAMA
3/81 Fabian Moreau CB UCLA
4/114 Samaje Perine RB OKLAHOMA
4/123 Montae Nicholson S MICHIGAN STATE
5/154 Jeremy Sprinkle TE ARKANSAS
6/199 Chase Roullier C WYOMING
6/209 Robert Davis WR GEORGIA STATE
7/230 Josh Harvey-Clemons S LOUISVILLE
7/235 Josh Holsey CB AUBURN
