2015 NFC East Draft Grades

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Dallas Cowboys

Grade: B-

Best Pick: Round One-Byron Jones-Cornerback-Connecticut

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Byron Jones

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2015 National Football League Draft expected to select a running back after watching running back DeMarco Murray leave in free agency to join the Philadelphia Eagles. With running backs Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon off of the board by the time that the Cowboys selected in the first round, the Cowboys turned their attention to cornerback Bryon Jones. At 6’1″, Jones is an athletic cornerback from the University of Connecticut who will more than likely be a starter when the regular season rolls around. Jones joining the Cowboys lets you know how the team feels about cornerback Morris Claiborne. In 2012, the Cowboys traded up to draft Claiborne who has not been as good as advertised.

In the second round, the Cowboys decided to roll the dice on defensive end Randy Gregory. Gregory was a dynamic edge rusher at the University of Nebraska, but off-the-field issues including testing positive for marijuana hurt his draft stock. Gregory can be coached up in the NFL, it is just a matter of him showing the maturity that comes along with being a professional.

But the main question mark for the Cowboys in regards to the 2015 NFL Draft is the fact that they decided to pass on selecting a running which means that they are content with Darren McFadden being their feature back next season.

Philadelphia Eagles

Grade: B-

Best Pick: Round Two-Eric Rowe-Cornerback-Utah

The Philadelphia Eagles only had five picks at the 2015 NFL Draft as there wasn’t a great opportunity for them to add depth. The Eagles reached in the first round when they used the 20th overall pick on wide receiver Nelson Agohlor. To me Agohlor didn’t have first round talent and at this point he was not the best wide receiver available. But for Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, Agohlor will be a system player for him. The second round saw the Eagles select cornerback Eric Rowe. Rowe is a versatile cornerback that can be a safety as well as Kelly loves to have versatile players.

After parting with so much talent this off-season such as running back LeSean McCoy, the Eagles didn’t replace them as Kelly is attempting to build a team in his own image.

New York Giants

Grade: A+

Best Pick: Round Two-Landon Collins-Strong Safety-Alabama

This was the first time since 2004 that the New York Giants would be picking in the top ten of the NFL Draft and they were out to find an impact player there. By most draft observers, the Giants were expected to select Brandon Scherff in the first round, but the Washington Redskins beat them to it. Instead the Giants opted for another offensive tackle in Ereck Flowers. As the Giants set out to protect their franchise quarterback in Eli Manning, Flowers is expected to be the big body that will protect his blind side.

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Landon Collins

The Giants got a huge steal in the second when they selected strong safety Landon Collins. Collins had first round talent, but he fell to the second round. Giants general manager Jerry Reese traded up with the Tennessee Titans to use the first pick of the second round on Collins. This off-season has seen the Giants lose strong safety Antrel Rolle and free safety Stevie Brown to free agency and they had a huge void in the secondary. Collins is a safety that isn’t afraid to come down into the box and play the run, but teams were scared off of his ability in pass coverage.

Like Collins, the Giants got another steal in the third round when they selected defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa had first round potential, but he slipped and Reese was able to find him in the third round. Reese loves to stock up on pass rushers and Odighizuwa should see significant snaps in the Giants defensive end rotation.

The fifth round saw the Giants take another safety in Mykkele Thompson from the University of Texas while they finished up their draft by adding more depth on the offensive line by selecting offensive tackle Bobby Hart in the seventh round.

The Giants have failed to make the playoffs since they won the Super Bowl in 2011 and they are hopeful that this draft class will be a part of their potential turnaround.

Washington Redskins

Grade: B

Best Pick: Round Three-Matt Jones-Running Back-Florida

Too often we’ve seen the Washington Redskins picking early at the NFL Draft and that was the same case last week. The Redskins had the fifth overall selection which they used on offensive tackle Brandon Scherff as they appear to be all in on building around quarterback Robert Griffin III. This was a draft that was based solely off of adding depth as Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is working to change the Redskins image.

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