On Draft:
NFC East
By Matt Meier and John Scott Gibney
April 18, 2012
Happy Draft season football fans! To celebrate the annual April relevancy of the best sport in the land, Talk Sports / Drink Beer will be examining the needs and projected picks of EVERY SINGLE TEAM, one division per day, until Draft Day on April 26. Matt will play GM, detailing the needs of each club, and John Scott will play Scout, suggesting which prospects would be best, and where to draft them.
April 18: NFC East
April 19: AFC South
April 20 (hee-hee): AFC North
April 21: NFC West
April 22: AFC West
April 23: NFC North
NFC EAST
Divisional Drink: Long Island Iced Tea
New York Giants (9-7, Superbowl Champions)
Team Microbrew: Old Howling Bastard (Blue Point)
Draft Picks: 1(32), 2(32), 3(32), 4(32), 5(32), 6(32), 7(32)
Top Needs: Offensive Line (essentially all of it)
Other Considerations: Slot CB, RB & WR (depth)
They say champions are made on the line of scrimmage. The Giants have arguably the best D-line in the game, but the other side of the ball is whole different story. Big Blue desperately needs to upgrade their aging and porous offensive line if they hope to return to champion status next year. Left tackle Will Beatty is the youngest of the crew at 27 (the rest of the line is 30+) and the top performer at this Special Olympics of O-linemen. Aside from Beatty, however, every position along New York’s line is up for grabs. They’ve already released seven-year veteran Kareem McKenzie, making right tackle the most glaring hole to fill; but the return of Dave Diehl, David Baas, and Chris Snee to the interior gives ample reason for concern. The Giants could also use a tackling cornerback to play the slot, and GM Jerry Reese will likely look to draft a RB and/or WR to replace departed free agents Brandon Jacobs (still unsigned) and Mario Manningham (now with the Niners) if a solid prospect falls far enough, but upgrading the o-line should undoubtedly be the Giants top priority going into this draft.
John Scott Recommends:
Mike Adams OT – Ohio State
Not a sexy draft for the New York Giants. Mike Adams might the best option for them at pick number 32. Although his past is riddled with injuries, which could make the Giants think twice.
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Jonathan Martin OT – Stanford
Many expect him to go earlier than the Giants can grab, but if he falls, it’s a sure thing
Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
Team Microbrew: Brawler (Yards)
Draft Picks: 1(15), 2(14), 2(19), 3(25), 4(19), 5(18), 6(2), 6(25), 6(31)
Top Needs: WR (big, possession type), SS
Other Considerations: OLB, DT, QB, TE, FB
At the risk of sounding biased, the Eagles’ trade for DeMeco Ryans may likely prove to be the most significant defensive acquisition of any team this off-season. Through 2011, the team formerly known as “Dream” acutely lacked defensive leadership and a Pro Bowl-caliber MLB to back up d-line coach Jim Washburn’s wide-9 technique. They now have both in Meco, arguably one of the best 4-3 linebackers in the game through the first four seasons of his career (2006-2009). It wouldn’t hurt to draft another OLB to compete with Brian Rolle and Jamar Chaney (the current projected starters at WILL and SAM, respectively), though considering the Meco acquisition and that the Eagles have not drafted a linebacker in the first round in over thirty years, I doubt they will be selecting one in the first round.
As for the rest of the defense, the largest question mark right now is at safety. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman are the incumbent starters. Allen showed tremendous upside through his rookie campaign of 2010 until landing on the IR with a torn patellar tendon, the effects of which ostensibly hampered his performance throughout his sophomore season, but he should bounce back. Coleman has certainly outperformed his expectations as a seventh round selection (same draft class as Allen), but his potential peaks as a solid back-up and special teams player. There’s the chance that Jaiquawn Jarrett (last year’s second round selection out of Temple University) will bounce back and at least prove not to be a total bust, but I’m sure the Eagles are already looking for suitable alternatives to at least make a push for next year’s starting SS position. Other than adding a stellar talent at DT (though not a position worth reaching for) and some depth at CB (especially presuming that Asante Samuel will be traded), the Eagles’ D looks to be in good shape for next year. Ironically, offense currently appears the more pressing concern.
What Philly truly needs is to enhance their red zone productivity with a big possession receiver like PLAXICO BURRESS—please, please sign him—or perhaps a large Gronk-like TE. In the case of the latter, this would also allow them to address their current vacancy at FB by moving Brent Celek over when necessary in a role similar to that of Chris Cooley in Washington (a role they occasionally used him in last year). But more importantly, the Eagles need a QB. There’s little reason to doubt that a full off-season as starter will allow Michael Vick to bounce back from one of the worst seasons of his career, but there’s every reason to doubt his ability to stay healthy for the entire season (which he has only done once). The Eagles can do all they want to make Vick a better QB when he’s playing, but they should be equally concerned about their game plan for when he isn’t.
John Scott Recommends:
Luke Knechley MLB – Boston College
I know you want a receiver Matt, I know you do. But the Eagles can snag value in the second. If Knechley is still around when the Eagles first pick comes around, it is a no brainer in my opinion. Even with the addition of DeMeco Ryans, Knechley has proven himself to be too good of a player for the Eagles to pass on. Maybe I’m just high on the fact that he has finished first or second in tackles every season that he was on a roster!
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Michael Brockers DT – LSU Brockers is a brick house, and was fun to watch dominate last year. He could bring some stability to the Eagles’ line.
Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
Team Microbrew: Ugly Pug (Rahr & Sons)
Draft Picks: 1(14), 2(13), 3(19), 4(18), 4(40), 5(17), 6(16), 7(15)
Top Needs: Interior Line, SS
Other Considerations: DE (3-4 style), TE & WR (depth)
Much to the delight of myself and other Philadelphians, “America’s Team” has epitomized “underperforming” for the last decade or so, and I see little reason why that should change going into 2012. Their most dire need unquestionably lies in their interior line, particularly the center position. Pro Football Focus ranked Phil Costa as the third worst center in the NFL last year, and it seems pretty unfathomable that the Cowboys can make a run for playoffs next year by bringing back a starter who can barely snap the ball let alone pass or run block. The ‘boys did sign guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings in free agency; while both could theoretically be considered upgrades from last year’s roster, only Bernadeau seems a realistic first day starter (albeit an underwhelming one), and Dallas should look at the very least to add some competition and or depth at the guard position with some of their second day picks (or first if the right guy presents himself).
Dallas was smart to take care of needs at CB and ILB in the offseason with the signings of Brandon Carr and Dan Connor, respectively, both of which were major needs that now can be addressed as depth selections in the later rounds. The loss of Martellus Bennett and Laurent Robinson will hurt more than most Dallas fans anticipate (especially the former), and it would behoove Dallas to find their replacements in the middle rounds. Additionally, adding a DE/DT or NT (or both) would dramatically enhance Rob Ryan’s blitz-heavy 3-4 defense, and they will certainly have at least a few options available at pick 14—Combine-sensation Dontari Poe is the current favorite, which would be a classic big risk/reward selection for Jerry Jones.
John Scott Recommends:
Mark Barron SS – Alabama Barron is the right guy and will fall perfectly to the right team at pick at 14. Cowboys need help at safety and Barron is without a doubt the best in the draft. Size, speed, and great in the box.
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Riley Reiff OT – Iowa If there is any chance they will address their o-line here, Reiff would be the guy to get at pick 14. But OT is not flashy enough of a first round pick for Jerry Jones. All the glitters, Jerry. All that glitters.
Washington Redskins (5-11)
Team Microbrew: In-Heat Wheat (Flying Dog)
Draft Picks: 1(2), 3(6), 4(7), 4(14), 5(6), 6(3), 6(7), 7(6)
Top Needs: QB (obviously), OT, G
Other Considerations: Can RG3 play defense too?
The depth chart listed on the Redskins’ official website is currently empty—I’d say that’s a pretty accurate summation of where the team currently stands.
The Redskins are one of those teams that technically have some viable starters at a few different positions but overall are in shambles. Starting with offense, Washington gave up the farm for the Rams’ 2nd overall pick, which they will undoubtedly use to select Robert Griffin III (who I predict will prove entirely worth the asking price). They also have two great TE options for RG3’s arsenal in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis, and have used this year’s free agency class to assemble the oddest hodgepodge of b-squad receivers in the NFL, so that’s cool… I’m not even going to address RB since Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle appear set on fucking Fantasy rosters everywhere by starting a new RB seemingly every other week (even when guys like Tim Hightower and Roy Helu and Ryan Torrain—remember him?—perform well). Of course protecting their rookie stud and creating holes for whomever will be running the ball is of the utmost importance. OT Trent Williams has potential and center Will Montgomery is far from the worst center in the NFC (see Dallas); but their other tackle (Jamaal Brown) has major injury issues, and I couldn’t even tell you who their starting guards are.
As for their defense: Brian Orakpo is an atrocious Geico spokesperson but a decent enough outside linebacker. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall is a proven Pro Bowler (despite a mediocre 2011 campaign) and they brought in Cedric Griffin to start opposite him, which I guess is good (if good is starting a player that even Minnesota didn’t want on its roster). They also have Pro Bowler/steroid-junky LaRon Landry—wait, just kidding: they lost him in free agency to the Jets. So yeah…that’s about it.
Cam Newton demonstrated last year with Carolina what an amazing playmaking QB can bring to an abysmal team: some amazing highlight reels and a few more wins and close games than last year, but not a complete one-eighty of the franchise. We will likely witness some variation of the same scenario with the 2012 Redskins.
John Scott Recommends:
Robert Griffin III QB - Baylor Did anyone see this guy on camp Gruden? He’s nothing short of impressive. I also have to admit, a replay of last year’s Baylor-Oklahoma game was on ESPNU a couple weeks ago… I may or may not have watched the whole thing. He’s electrifying and he’s exactly what Washington needs.
John Scott's Sleeper pick:
Get out of here!
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