rest of the NFC East grades:
NEW YORK GIANTS
1 (6). Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
1 (17). Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
1 (30). Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
3 (95). Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion
4 (108). Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
5 (143). Ryan Connelly, LB, Wisconsin
5 (171). Darius Slayton, WR, Auburn
6 (180). Corey Ballentine, CB, Washburn
7 (232). George Asafo-Adjei, T, Kentucky
7 (245). Chris Slayton, DT, Syracuse
Giants fans have been griping for years that the team should find an heir for Eli Manning. And when the Giants finally do,
drafting Daniel Jones with the No. 6 overall pick, the response is,
“No, not THAT guy, not with the sixth pick!” There will be plenty of time to hash out that argument and watch it quickly get old, as Jones will be heavily scrutinized from now until the day Eli finally
IS dismissed. (Then, Jones will be scrutinized even more after that.) Keep in mind, fans’ and media’s reaction to the Jones pick would be more tempered if GM Dave Gettleman were a polished, diplomatic public speaker. Gettleman’s gruff, semi-patronizing tone naturally provoke rebuttals and arguments.
With their next two picks, the Giants did what everyone agreed they most needed to do for 2019: replenish the defense. The Dexter Lawrence choice, however, was befuddling—not just because Lawrence, a potentially dominant gap-clogger, might prove to be only a first and second down player, but because the Giants already had two good young defensive tackles in B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson. Gettleman has always had an affinity for drafting talented interior defensive linemen.
Deandre Baker was a more understandable choice, though trading back into the first-round made him extra expensive. Baker must contribute right away since defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s blitz-intensive scheme demands outside corners who can cover one-on-one. Entering the draft, New York had only one such corner, Janoris Jenkins, and he is coming off an erratic season. The cornerbacking unit is thin enough that Baker’s fellow rookie, fourth-rounder Julian Love, might also warrant a big role early on.
Because of the emphasis on blitzing, the Giants are less dependent than most teams on natural edge rushers, which is why, despite this being a rich edge-rusher draft, they didn’t take one until Oshane Ximines at the end of Round 3.
GRADE: C-
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
1 (22). Andre Dillard, OL, Washington State
2 (53). Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
2 (57) J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
4 (138). Shareef Miller, DE, Penn State
5 (167). Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern
Every pick made sense for the Eagles, especially when you look a few years down the road. Andre Dillard is a project for Jeff Stoutland, one of football’s highest-regarded offensive line coaches. The hope is the Washington State product can step in at left tackle next year when 37-year-old future Hall-of-Famer Jason Peters likely retires. Dillard was not asked to execute NFL-style run-blocks much at WSU, and his progress there is crucial because Philadelphia’s offense is predicated on having a schematically diverse ground game. Injuries in the backfield prevented that last year, which is why, even after trading a conditional sixth-round pick for
Bears zone-running ace Jordan Howard, the Eagles spent a second-rounder on Miles Sanders, a smooth three-down back who, unlike Howard, has the lateral agility to create his own space. Sanders will contribute right away and probably earn the top role in 2020.
At wideout, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside offers the detailed mechanics and steady possession traits to consistently capitalize on opportunities created by Doug Pederson’s two-and three-receiver route combinations. His presence makes it easier to trade Nelson Agholor this year or let him walk next year. Also helping for next year is Shareef Miller, who adds options at defensive end, where veterans Chris Long and/or Vinny Curry might depart. (It’s possible Long could even be gone before this season.)
GRADE: A-
WASHINGTON Commanders
1 (15). Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
1 (26). Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
3 (76). Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
4 (112). Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
4 (131). Wes Martin, OL, Indiana
5 (153). Ross Pierschbacher, OL, Alabama
5 (173). Cole Holcomb, LB, North Carolina
6 (206). Kelvin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State
7 (227). Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison
7 (253). Jordan Brailford, DE, Oklahoma State
That sound you hear is Jay Gruden’s seat sizzling. Washington went offense with five of its first six picks, including QB Dwayne Haskins with Pick 1 (15th overall). Gruden is an offensive wizard, and if that wizardry doesn’t make immediate magic, owner Dan Snyder (who some believe was behind the Haskins pick) could hastily declare that it’s the right time to bring in a fresh coaching staff. You can bet the possibility of this scenario has already unfolded in the back of Gruden’s mind. He knows that the pressure to play Haskins will begin with Case Keenum’s first interception—nay, Keenum’s first incompletion. Gruden also knows that Haskins is a project, needing refinement in his pocket poise and precision accuracy. It’s a tough spot for a coach, but such is life in the NFL.
Giving Haskins a familiar target like Terry McLaurin was wise. The addition of tailback Bryce Love in Round 4 makes you really wonder about the health of last year’s second-round pick Derrius Guice, whose rehab from last August’s torn ACL was reportedly delayed by an infection. Perhaps the Commanders, who have now drafted a running back nine years in a row, saw Love as simply great value considering he was taken before the team addressed its most immediate need, left guard. That was done by picking Wes Martin, who will compete with flamed-out ex-Giants left tackle Ereck Flowers. The more agile zone-blocker will get the job.
As for the one pick that did not go offense—Washington traded back into Round 1 to snatch pass rushing dynamo Montez Sweat, who fell because of a
heart condition. The hope is Sweat will correct the defense’s deficiency off the right edge, where 2017 second-rounder Ryan Anderson has not developed and where veterans Preston Smith and Trent Murphy have been lost in free agency each of the last two years.
GRADE: B