Dallas Cowboys
4. Ezekiel Elliott RB Ohio St.
34. Jaylon Smith OLB Notre Dame
67. Maliek Collins DT Nebraska
101. Charles Tapper DE Oklahoma
135. Dak Prescott QB Mississippi St.
189. Anthony Brown CB Purdue
212. Kavon Frazier FS Central Michigan
216. Darius Jackson RB Eastern Michigan
217. Rico Gathers TE Baylor
Immediate Impact: RB Ezekiel Elliott, DT Maliek Collins
I didn’t agree with the decision to draft Elliott because the Cowboys have bigger needs but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to dominate in Dallas. Behind the Cowboys offensive line he is going to be a beast and while he has to beat out some competition it won’t be a problem for him because he is so good at everything. The Cowboys needs on the defensive line are more acute at DE but that doesn’t mean DT wasn’t a need. Collins will push the pocket and create some pressure along with stuffing up the middle.
Best Value: OLB Jaylon Smith (if he fully recovers)
There is zero value in this pick for 2016 because the Cowboys need to give Smith the time to recover from his horrific knee injury. If he can fully recover between now and the 2017 season he’s an incredible talent. Before his injury he was one of the three best defensive players in this draft (Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack are the other two) and they got him at #34. His recovery might be a long shot but if he makes it back he’s the foundation of their defense for the next 6-8 years.
Sleeper: DE Charles Tapper
He could also be an immediate impact player considering the Cowboys need at DE given the situation with Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence being sidelined to start the year. Tapper has some good athleticism and he can make a difference. Even once Gregory and Lawrence are back Tapper should give them some nice depth.
Overall Analysis
The only way a GM gets away with drafting a RB when the defense needs so much help is if that GM is also the owner. Jerry Jones wanted a shiny new toy and he got his precious RB. Ezekiel Elliott is a special RB because he’s fantastic all-around and he’s going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in a walk but the Cowboys better hope they can win every game 42-35 because the defense is going to be rough. I like Collins and Tapper on the defensive line but they aren’t transforming the defense, Jaylon Smith might do that in a year but who knows. Dak Prescott was a nice pickup at QB and they certainly needed to get a youngster, he upgrades the backup spot right now and while I’m not sure he’s Romo’s heir apparent he’s better than anything they have been working with lately behind Romo. CB Anthony Brown may surprise but I wouldn’t count on it and taking former Baylor basketball power forward Rico Gathers is an interesting experiment but he’s farther away from contributing than Smith.
New York Giants
10. Eli Apple CB Ohio St.
40. Sterling Shepard WR Oklahoma
71. Darian Thompson FS Boise St.
109. BJ Goodson ILB Clemson
149. Paul Perkins RB UCLA
184. Jerell Adams TE South Carolina
Immediate Impact: WR Sterling Shepard, FS Darian Thompson
The Giants have Odell Beckham and then not much else at WR since Reuben Randle wasn’t re-signed and Victor Cruz has been injured a lot lately. Sterling Shepard is a great route runner and will immediately contribute in the slot and can bring some help on the outside too. Thompson was a lower round pick but the Giants safety position is pretty thin after second year man Landon Collins. Thompson has learning to do but he will be the best option coming out of training camp to pair with Collins.
Best Value: RB Paul Perkins
Good RBs are not hard to come by in the draft (don’t tell Jerry Jones) and getting a guy as accomplished as Perkins in the fifth round is why you wait. The Giants have Rashad Jennings but he’s just a guy and Perkins gives them another option. He’s a good back with plenty of skills and he may make either Jennings or more likely Andre Williams expendable. He’s a starting caliber RB.
Sleeper: LB BJ Goodson
The Giants LB corps is filled with mediocrity including free agent addition Keenan Robinson. Goodson is more run-stuffer than coverage backer but he’s solid tackler inside and might just steal a job because he’s too good to keep off the field.
Overall Analysis
I’m not wild about Eli Apple and certainly not at #10 overall but he has potential and with Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie around he has some time. Shepard and Perkins could pay immediate dividends and even 7th round pick TE Jerell Adams has some athletic upside. Adams has a ways to go but he’s worth the investment. Thompson and Goodson are good backups at the worst. My only issue here is with what they didn’t do and that is they didn’t address the offensive line, at all, not one pick. I know Laremy Tunsil has some issues come up but when he dropped to them they should have taken a chance that they could keep him on the straight and narrow. If it’s Tunsil with the 10th pick and the rest of this draft after that this is a homerun, Apple lessens my enthusiasm for this group.
Philadelphia Eagles
2. Carson Wentz QB North Dakota St.
79. Isaac Seumalo OG Oregon St.
153. Wendell Smallwood RB West Virginia
164. Halapoulivaati Vaitai OT TCE
196. Blake Countess CB Auburn
233. Jalen Mills DB LSU
240. Alex McCalister DE Florida
251. Joe Walker ILB Oregon
Immediate Impact: Umm…I hear crickets.
They traded away a lot of high draft picks to move up to grab Carson Wentz and since there is no guarantee Wentz will be the starting QB it is tough to see anyone making a major contribution. Isaac Seumalo is a nice OG but they have veterans and he’s most likely just good inside depth this year because he can play all three interior positions.
Best Value: DB Jalen Mills
Mills is a bit skinny but he’s a very experienced player at both safety and corner meaning he won’t be overwhelmed stepping into the NFL. He’s not great but he’s very good value coming in the 7th round. The Eagles secondary isn’t loaded with Pro Bowl talent so Mills might make some noise.
Sleeper: RB Wendell Smallwood
Darren Sproles isn’t getting any younger and Smallwood has a similar skillset. Head Coach Doug Pederson comes from the Andy Reid school of offense and they like their backs to be multi-skilled and Smallwood is. He may look small because he’s a bit short but he’s well-built and well balanced. Ryan Mathews is never healthy for long either and may not be sticking around.
Overall Analysis
I’m a bit concerned about the Eagles approach because they had to rid themselves of Chip Kelly’s players which means they needed roster turnover but then they sacrificed picks to move up to get a QB that might spend the season as the #3 guy on the depth chart. It could be a long tough year in Philly and this draft isn’t likely to produce much hope this season. It will all eventually be judged by Carson Wentz’s career but there are going to be some major growing pains.
Washington Redskins
22. Josh Doctson WR TCU
53. Su’a Cravens LB USC
84. Kendall Fuller CB Virginia Tech
152. Matt Ioannidis DT Temple
187. Nate Sudfeld QB Indiana
232. Steven Daniels OLB Boston College
242. Keith Marshall RB Georgia
Immediate Impact: WR Josh Doctson, LB Su’a Cravens
Doctson doesn’t look like an immediate need but Pierre Garcon was hanging on to his roster spot by a string and it may have just snapped. Doctson can make a nice complement to DeSean Jackson and can become a favorite target of Kirk Cousins. Cravens doesn’t exactly have a defined position just yet because he can be a LB but he isn’t an exact fit in the Redskins defense but he can cover like a safety so he’ll likely play some sort of hybrid LB/S role which will suit him just fine. He can make plays all over the field and in coverage.
Best Value: CB Kendall Fuller
Like a lot guys in this draft Fuller is coming off a knee injury which dropped his value but I haven’t heard that he’s had any significant issues and he’s expected to be back. When healthy he’s a starting CB with significant upside. I think Fuller can be a top notch CB and he would pair quite nicely with Josh Norman and they make a deadly duo.
Sleepers: QB Nate Sudfeld, RB Keith Marshall
I really like the upside on Sudfeld because he’s an excellent passer with solid accuracy and a great arm. He’s really big and doesn’t move much but Jay Gruden could do some good things with him with a little time to develop. RB Matt Jones is a big, powerful back at 6’1 231 lbs. and while Keith Marshall isn’t small his game is predicated on his speed so he should make a nice complement to Jones. He’s a terrific athlete that just wasn’t able to stay healthy and played behind some really good RBs at Georgia (Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb).
Overall Analysis
Doctson and Cravens should get plenty of playing time to start out and if Fuller’s knee is recovered he’ll give Greg Toler and Bashad Breeland a run for their money opposite Norman. DT Matt Ioannidis is the kind of guy that does all the dirty work and doesn’t get a lot of credit and his ability to play all over the Redskins 3-man front means he’s a valuable piece for the defense. LB Steven Daniels should play on the inside of the 3-4 LB corps and they need the help. I really like this draft top to bottom, it is amazing what a real GM like Scott McCloughan can do compared to a meddling owner.
The Hott Read 