2009 NFC East Draft Review

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were unable to package picks and get up to draft on the first day, but added competition and depth on day two. Free agency filled three starting positions and Jon Kitna can win games if Tony Romo gets injured. Jason Williams was drafted to compete at the right inside linebacker spot with the idea that he will eventually start over aging Keith Brooking and non-productive Bobby Carpenter. He will need more strength and bulk to hold up inside. Robert Brewster will compete with another Mid-American Conference alumnus, Doug Free, to replace aging Flozell Adams at left tackle. He has the long arms and athletic ability to redirect and control the defender. Stephen McGee is a developmental quarterback after playing in an option-oriented offense his first three years in college. A good athlete with an impressive skill set, he has a natural feel for the passing game. Victor Butler is a projection at right outside linebacker in the 3-4 system after playing defensive end in college. He has been productive over his career, particularly as a senior with twelve sacks and 21 ½ tackles for loss. Brandon Williams was one of four linebackers drafted to upgrade depth and special teams’ coverage. He had a productive senior year with thirteen sacks and 15 ½ tackles for loss. He needs to upgrade his playing fundamentals to make the 53-man roster. DeAngelo Smith is a physical and aggressive corner that is a limited athlete. He needs work in playing off man coverage but should contribute on special teams and as a run support player. Michael Hamlin may be the sleeper of the Cowboys’ draft. He was a productive playmaker in college with good athletic ability. He will push Pat Watkins for playing time. David Buehler was drafted to improve kickoffs. Nick Folk is a consistent field goal kicker with limited deep ball leg strength. Linebacker Stephen Hodge can run with backs and tight ends and is experienced in coverage. He is physical in run support and is likely a practice squad player that will need to make the team on special teams’ coverage. John Phillips is a dependable pass catching tight end that needs more upper and lower body strength as an inline blocker. He will compete with street free agent Scott Chandler for the third tight end position. Mike Mickens was a steal in the seventh round if he plays to his talent level. He was not able to work out this spring due to left knee surgery which dropped him down on draft boards. He will be a nickel/dime cover corner. Wide receiver Manuel Johnson is a practice squad candidate with fringe speed.

GRADE: AVERAGE.

FREE AGENCY: Three of the four Cowboy signings are projected starters on defense. Keith Brooking, an 11-year veteran, will plug a hole at one inside linebacker spot. Igor Olshansky replaces Chris Canty at defensive end who signed with the Giants. Gerald Sensabaugh takes over for coverage liability Roy Williams at strong safety. Veteran Jon Kitna gives Dallas a solid backup quarterback.

New York Giants

Jerry Reese has done a remarkable job since he was named the general manager of the Giants. He stuck to his guns on the big name receivers like Braylon Edwards and Anquan Bolden, knowing all along that this pair wanted an unrealistic amount of money in a future contract. Instead, he drafted Hakeem Nicks, a good sized receiver that may help take pressure off the running game. Nicks is the major player in the search to replace Plaxico Burress. Nicks has outstanding hands and long arms for the position. A good athlete with elite ball skills, he is physical enough to break a tackle and get run after catch yards. An excellent route runner, Nicks plays with solid footwork and body balance. Clint Sintim projects to the strong side (SAM) linebacker position and will compete with veteran Danny Clark and last year’s fourth round pick Zak DeOssie. Sintim is physical and explosive in his play over a tight end. He plays with good instincts and toughness at the point of attack. Will Beatty was at the top of the second tier of tackles drafted. He has all the raw tools to succeed with his outstanding athletic ability, long arms, and effort. He will need to improve his technique, strength, and violence in his play. Ramses Barden is the same size Plaxico Burress was coming out of college. He is a big target in the short, medium, and red zone areas. Ultra productive over his four year college career, he averaged over 20 yards per catch on 206 pass receptions. He plays even taller than his six foot-six height with his long arms (34 ½”) and good vertical jump (33 ½”). Travis Beckum is a pass catching tight end with a recurring injury history. As a junior he was a vertical threat with consistent hands and speed. He lacks bulk to drive block. He has the quickness and savvy to get open, an area where Kevin Boss struggles. Andre Brown is the sleeper of the Giants’ draft. He has a great opportunity to join Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw in Derrick Ward’s former role. Brown is a powerful north-south runner with good inside vision and deceptive speed. He combines good running skills with good open field agility and the ability to catch the ball. He is the total package with his running ability, blocking, and pass catching if he can stay healthy. Rhett Bomar is an athletic developmental quarterback that will compete with Andre Woodson for the third quarterback position. DeAndre Wright had post-season surgery on both shoulders and may be a PUP candidate. He has below average size for the cornerback position but has good hands and above average speed. He is a developmental player. Stoney Woodson is a developmental project at corner that is very athletic. More of a coverage player than a run support hitter, he is most likely headed to the practice squad.

GRADE: GOOD.

FREE AGENCY: The Giants signed Chris Canty away from division rival Dallas. Canty signed a six-year contract worth $42 million, $17.25 million guaranteed. New York sticks with its theme of having a strong, deep, and versatile front four. Rocky Bernard joins Canty as another defensive tackle presence to disrupt opponents’ blocking schemes. Michael Boley is a talented outside linebacker that fell out of favor in Atlanta. CC Brown will back up at safety.

Philadelphia Eagles

Andy Reid, a former offensive lineman, and his long time offensive line coach Juan Castillo, reloaded the offensive line positions in both free agency and the draft. Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews bring youth, size, and athletic ability to an aging offensive line. The Eagles also grabbed two massive road graders in Fenuki Tupou and Paul Fanaika to shore up their top need position. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was a steal at the 19th selection. LeSean McCoy has talent, but it is too much to ask of him to produce like a healthy Brian Westbrook. Victor Harris will get a shot at Brian Dawkins’ old job. The Eagles hope Jeremy Maclin can accomplish what DeSean Jackson did as a rookie and learn the nuances of the West Coast offense quickly. The electric playmaker is a natural hand catcher that snatches the ball on West Coast slant patterns and has an upfield burst. He has good open field instincts and elusiveness. LeSean McCoy had a chance to impress Andy Reid this spring in organized team activities, especially since Brian Westbrook is on the shelf recovering from ankle surgery. Even though McCoy was in shorts, he caught the ball well and displayed good cutting ability. Cornelius Ingram is a good athlete at the tight end spot but needs to refine every phase of his game. He lacks experience as an inline blocker or a featured receiver. A developmental project, he has physical traits for the position. Victor Harris is a physical cover two corner that can turn and run better than he can run a straight line forty time. The Eagles project him to safety because of his good instincts and awareness. He plays with confidence and attitude. Harris has good ball skills and will contribute on all special teams’ coverage units. Tackle Fenuki Tupou is a wide-bodied mauler that takes advantage of his strong hands and his strength. An explosive run blocker, he has the feet, quickness, and flexibility to dominate as a run blocker or pass protector. He is more physical than Winston Justice. Brandon Gibson is a possession receiver with soft hands. He can reach and pluck the ball away from his body. He has been productive over his career catching 185 passes. Gibson needs more strength to fight through press coverage and looks to be headed to the practice squad. Guard Paul Fanaika is a powerful road grader type blocker with long arms and big hands. A solid run blocker, he works to finish his blocks. He plays with attitude and aggression and has good functional play strength and balance. He may be headed to the practice squad with the stockpile of offensive linemen with the Eagles. Moise Fokou will battle for a weak side linebacker position. The undersized four year starter is instinctive and will contribute on special teams if he makes the 53-man roster. He has both redeeming qualities and major holes in his game.

GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.

FREE AGENCY: Jason Peters was acquired by trade to start at left tackle to replace the aging Tra Thomas. Stacy Andrews was signed to a six-year forty million dollar contract to play right guard next to his brother Shawn Andrews who was moved to right tackle. Leonard Weaver will start at fullback. Ellis Hobbs was acquired in a trade with New England and brings playmaking ability to the corner position and as a kickoff return specialist. Sean Jones will back up Quintin Mikell at strong safety.

Washington Redskins

After a year off from making noise in free agency by overspending for aging stars, the Washington Redskins signed Albert Haynesworth to a huge contract. Haynesworth is full grown and can be as dominant as he wants to be. A pass rush is needed opposite Andre Carter and first round selection Brian Orakpo has the ability to do just that. Help in the offensive line was a major need in the draft and no linemen were drafted, however Derrick Dockery was signed in free agency. Kevin Barnes, a third round pick, fills a need but the rest of the draft is filled with developmental players. Brian Orakpo is penciled in at the strongside linebacker position. He will need to improve his ability to stop the run by using his hands better to separate and stack the blockers. He has all the tools to star on Sunday but needs technique work. Kevin Barnes is a cover type corner with good athletic ability. He will be battling for a nickel cornerback position. He has good timing and leaping ability. Barnes was active in college on special teams. He has good ball skills but has some hip tightness in his turns. His slender build will always bring
durability into question. Athletic Cody Glenn moved to linebacker in his senior year after playing running back for three years. A developmental player, he is inexperienced and raw in all phases of linebacker play. He played in nine games before he was suspended for selling tickets. Robert Henson is an undersized middle linebacker that was a four year starter at TCU. He has sideline to sideline productivity. He has average athletic ability as well as some off field red flags. Eddie Williams is a developmental project that was productive as a pass catcher and blocker at tight end and H-back. He projects to a fullback because of fringe size. Marko Mitchell is an angular receiver with long arms and big hands. He set records at Nevada. Mitchell looks the part on the hoof, but struggles to catch the ball cleanly and had numerous drops in the East-West practices and game. He needs to improve his route running.

GRADE: BELOW AVERAGE.

FREE AGENCY: Albert Haynesworth signed a seven year, $100 million dollar contract with $41 million guaranteed. He won the free agent lottery for 2009. Haynesworth is a difference maker if he plays hard every down. He traditionally always played well in his contract year, but after he gets the money he has not been the player he was paid to be. Only time will tell. Guard Derrick Dockery returns to the Redskins after a stint with Buffalo. Hunter Smith promises to end the Redskins’ punting problems, but he has been punting in a dome for most of his career.