NFC EAST
The Cowboys answered one of their primary concerns with the No. 9 overall in USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith. While Smith's athletic upside is limitless, I have reservations about his ability to provide the physicality needed to play at right tackle immediately or transition quickly to the left side - a position he never started at while at USC. The Cowboys took a similar gamble on pure athleticism in the second round with workout wonder Bruce Carter (who is coming off a torn ACL). When healthy, Carter has shown the speed and explosiveness to be a playmaker in every phase of the game, but his lack of instincts is a concern. One Day Three prospect who could surprise is East Carolina wideout Dwayne Harris. Unlike the Cowboys' first two selections, Harris isn't a phenomenal athlete. He was very productive, however, and is a tough, versatile player who could surprise as a target in the slot. This was a typical Jerry Jones draft - heavy on flashy athletes, but lacking the game-to-game consistency that translates into NFL victories.
New York Giants: A-
The Giants allowed the draft to come to them, exercising the "best player available" strategy to perfection. Cornerback wasn't a primary area of concern, but Prince Amukamara at No. 19 was simply too good to pass up. His lack of flashy plays as a senior caused him to slip, but he'll prove well worth the pick in the long run. Though I have reservations about Marvin Austin's work ethic, at No. 52, the first-round caliber athlete from North Carolina certainly made sense - especially considering how much the Giants value defensive linemen. Possessing electric speed and the versatility to contribute in the slot and as a punt returner, Jerrell Jernigan will quickly emerge as a fan favorite. If you're looking for a candidate to emerge as the biggest steal of the draft, keep Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones in mind. Playing heavier as a senior than he did earlier in his previous three seasons as a starter, Jones wasn't as effective in 2010 and dropped much further than he should have. He'll emerge as a starter for the Giants early in his career - quite a value considering he was the No. 185 overall pick of the draft. Only my reservations about Austin's dependability keeps the Giants from getting an elite grade.
The Eagles' selection of a 26-year-old guard with the No. 23 overall pick will be criticized by some, though certainly not by me. Danny Watkins stepped in immediately for former No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith (Rams) at left tackle in 2009 for Baylor, demonstrating great toughness and competitive fire despite it being only his third season of playing the game. What was most impressive, however, was how quickly he acclimated inside at guard at the Senior Bowl despite having never played the position. He'll provide toughness inside for Philadelphia. Physicality is one of the key elements that Temple safety Jaiquawn Jarrett brings to the defense. He'll provide some pop in the secondary and is a reliable open-field tackler. Similarly, the Eagles took another instinctive, reliable tackling defender in Oregon's Casey Matthews in the fourth round. Though not as athletic as his older brother, the former Duck's ability to make big plays in critical moments could make him a surprise early contributor. Perhaps the most important contributor for the Eagles could wind up being their other fourth-round selection, former Nebraska kicker Alex Henery - one of only two kickers drafted this year.
Historically known for aggressively trading up in the draft, the Redskins took the opposite strategy in 2011, deftly moving down the board, picking up more selections and still addressing keys area of need. Having run a 3-4 defense for the past few seasons despite fielding a team largely built on 4-3 personnel, the Redskins added a prototypical edge-rusher in Ryan Kerrigan to pair with Brian Orakpo. While many characterized the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year as strictly a 4-3 defensive end, Kerrigan actually projects better as an OLB as he doesn't use his hands particularly well, but has burst, agility and great instincts. The Redskins added a classic five-technique defensive end in Clemson's Jarvis Jenkins in the second round and addressed their need for receivers with size in Miami's Leonard Hankerson and Nebraska's Niles Paul in the third and fifth rounds. No head coach has enjoyed as much success with late-round running backs as Mike Shanahan, and he could have worked his magic again with Roy Helu (Nebraska) and Penn State's Evan Royster in the fourth and sixth rounds. Helu, in particular, is an ideal fit in a zone-scheme, as he can plant his foot and accelerate downhill explosively. In terms of adding multiple players who fit their scheme and will improve the overall talent of their club, no team was more effective this year than the Redskins.
