Draft Grades - NFC East: Redskins perform well despite not having GM
With the 2017 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared during all seven rounds.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Dallas Cowboys
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | DE Taco Charlton |
| 2 | CB Chidobe Awuzie |
| 3 | CB Jourdan Lewis |
| 4 | WR Ryan Switzer |
| 6 | S Xavier Woods |
| 6 | CB Marquez White |
| 7 | DT Joey Ivie |
| 7 | WR Noah Brown |
| 7 | DE Jordan Carrell |
The Cowboys' draft wasn't as flashy as their collection of 2016 picks, but the value and assets they accumulated should keep Big D as one of the top contenders again this season in the NFC. Charlton will jump into the rotation and help an already decent defensive line put quarterbacks under more pressure, while Awuzie and Lewis give Jason Garrett's team even more young talent in the secondary. Switzer and Brown were shrewd selections, as they will provide young quarterback Dak Prescott an instant upgrade to a receiving corps that desperately needed it.
Grade: B+
New York Giants
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | TE Evan Engram |
| 2 | DT Dalvin Tomlinson |
| 3 | QB Davis Webb |
| 4 | RB Wayne Gallman |
| 5 | DE Avery Moss |
| 6 | OT Adam Bisnowaty |
New York appeared to go with its best player on the board in the opening round instead of addressing a need, which is always a risky strategy. Engram is a solid receiving option, though he'll likely have to work his way up the pecking order in a stacked Giants passing game. Tomlinson should slide in nicely to replace the departed Johnathan Hankins and it's possible Webb could be a starter down the line when Eli Manning eventually retires. That being said, the Giants had major pass-protection issues last season and waiting until the sixth round to address it seems questionable.
Grade: C
Philadelphia Eagles
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | DE Derek Barnett |
| 2 | CB Sidney Jones |
| 3 | CB Rasul Douglas |
| 4 | WR Mack Hollins |
| 4 | RB Donnel Pumphrey |
| 5 | WR Shelton Gibson |
| 5 | S Nathan Gerry |
| 6 | DT Elijah Qualls |
The Eagles were in the middle of the pack last season when it came to sacks, but the addition of Barnett should move them up the charts quickly. Philly was clearly focused on the defensive side of the ball early, as they went with corners on their next two picks, including Jones, who would likely have been a first-round choice had he not been injured. Pumphrey could end up being a steal after becoming the NCAA's all-time leading rusher, though his size saw him slide down draft boards. The Eagles do have a history of utilizing smaller backs effectively, so Pumphrey has a chance to make a significant impact on the offense in Year 1.
Grade: C+
Washington Redskins
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | DE Jonathan Allen |
| 2 | LB Ryan Anderson |
| 3 | CB Fabian Moreau |
| 4 | RB Samaje Perine |
| 4 | S Montae Nicholson |
| 5 | TE Jeremy Sprinkle |
| 6 | C Chase Roullier |
| 6 | WR Robert Davis |
| 7 | S Josh Harvey-Clemons |
| 7 | CB Joshua Holsey |
The Redskins finished 28th in total defense last season and the Alabama duo of Allen and Anderson will be tasked with improving that immediately. Some reported concern of shoulder issues saw Allen fall to No. 17, but he certainly looked like a top-10 player for the Crimson Tide last fall. There's a good chance Perine will be the starter after a mediocre Washington rushing attack disappointed a year ago. If he's able to have early success, it should take some of the pressure off Kirk Cousins.
Grade: B+