Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are never satisfied with anything but success and with the spotlight always bright for the Cowboys, there is almost always a focus on the skill positions.  I was very happy to see that Dallas was able to recognize their needs on the offensive line and front seven of their defense.  In the first round, with the 9^th overall pick, Jason Garrett grabbed a new franchise left tackle to protect Romo and bolster their running game which was their Achilles heel all last season.  Tyron Smith is 6’5’’ 307lbs and while he has some weaknesses in his game, he is a freakish athlete that should be able to play in this league for more than a few years.  In round two, Dallas took what many believe to be among the biggest steals of the draft.  Bruce Carter, LB from UNC, is 6’2’’ 241 lbs and is a very quick, explosive player.  I expect him to start out as the weak-side ILB for his first few seasons, but look for him to transition to the strong side (or even OLB) depending on team need and scheme in the future. Personally, I was not too high on Carter but I do think that the Cowboys benefited from him sliding into the 2^nd round, where even I agree he was a bargain despite his injury.  I did not get the 3^rd round selection of DeMarco Murray, because a team with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice shouldn’t really need to take a change of pace back this early in the draft. The 4^th round pick of David Arkin was their best in my opinion.  Arkin was a standout player for Missouri St. and is able to play at either guard spot or center.  He may need some time to develop into a reliable starter, but he will add depth and stability to the interior of their offensive line for years to come. The Cowboys got better at the positions they needed to most, in the trenches.  They needed to address their inability to run the ball last season given all the talent and depth they have at the RB position and with two offensive lineman taken in the first four rounds they have done that.

My Grade: B+

New York Giants

The Giants won round one of this year’s draft when they took Prince Amukamara with the 19^th overall pick.  I have written about how big of a mistake it was for Houston to ignore this guy and will do the same for Detroit when I grade their division, but the Giants were able to land this future lock-down corner.  This is the perfect place for Prince to mature as there is MUCH less pressure for him to be an immediate success amidst the formidable defensive secondary that New York already had.  He will see less playing time, but should benefit from having veterans around him to show him the ropes.   In the second round, the Giants again took the best player available at a position of strength for the team.  Marvin Austin has the talent to be drafted in the top half of round one, but fell due to being a part of the group of UNC players who were suspended for last season.  He is an extremely large and dominant player on the interior of the offensive line and while he, like Amukamara, will become part of a rotation, Austin should make an immediate impact as well.  In the third round, the Giants took Jerrel Jernigan as a slot receiver and kick returner.  Jernigan is a shift route runner that should develop into a very solid possession receiver for Eli.  His impact might not be felt on offense this season, but expect this scrappy player to make an impact on a lot of special teams plays in his rookie season.  Jerry Reese and the Giants did a great job of sticking with the best players available and because of that, the Giants will be a FAR more competitive team this coming season.

My Grade: A+

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles had 2 picks in every round after the third (and one in rounds one through three as well of course) and made the most of this chance to add some quality depth at key positions.  In round one, Andy Reid stayed true to his usual standard of drafting his lineman with his high draft picks to take Danny Watkins from Baylor.  Watkins played tackle in college, but will likely be transitioning to guard for Philly who is trying to protect Michael Vick and open up holes for LeSean McCoy in the run game. Watkins is a big physical and relentless blocker that fits the Eagles style of play perfectly.  This was a great pick and exactly what the Eagles needed most in my opinion with two guards entering the free agent market.  Round two was more of a head scratcher for me as they reached pretty far up to select Jaiquawn Jarrett from Temple.  Jarrett is a great fit for the Eagles as he is a very physical and hard hitting safety, which they were looking for. However, most scouts had a 3^rd or 4^th round projection for him and I would have liked to see the Eagles move back in the second round and try and acquire an extra pick in the later rounds.  In round three, the Eagles selected Curtis Marsh from Utah State.  Marsh is a press-coverage cornerback with great mobility and fluid hip-movement.  He is a developmental project, but could very well start contributing in dime and nickel packages right away.  They got considerably better on their o-line and secondary in this draft and with a team full of playmakers already on the roster, they were able to pick up some key players in needed positions.

My Grade: B

Washington Redskins

The Redskins are in rebuilding mode and despite having a QB situation that is murky at best; Shanahan selected two defensive linemen in the first two rounds.  Ryan Kerrigan was taken with the 16^th overall selection after Washington traded down to pick up an additional 2^nd round selection.  Kerrigan was a highly disruptive pass rusher during his career at Purdue and should make an immediate impact paired with Bryan Orakpo.  The 9^th pick of the 2^nd round was spent selecting Jarvis Jenkins out of Clemson.  Jenkins is a very large interior defensive lineman who can play in either the three of five techniques.  He is especially gifted at defending the run by eating up blockers without surrendering his gap.  Many times throughout his college career, a third blocker was needed to move this guy.  The Redskins traded back 4 times in the 2^nd round with their extra selection and were able to get an additional 4 picks in the later rounds.  In round three the Skins took Leonard Hankerson from Miami, who is a big physical WR that has the skill set to be a #1 receiver for this offense.  He isn’t the fastest guy on the field, but neither is TO and he has caught his fair share of touchdowns. In the fourth round Shanahan drafted himself a running back that fits the style of runner that he has worked so well with, in the past.  Roy Helu from Nebraska is a one-cut runner that excels between the tackles and could earn a starting job for Shanahan by the end of his rookie season.  Like I said, the Skins are rebuilding and they are bringing 12 rookies onto their roster to compete for a spot on the squad.  When you need to make a lot of changes, sometimes the best thing you can do is clean house.

My Grade: A-

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The NFL draft is coming up quickly now and its time I release my first mock draft of the year.  I have spent a lot more time agonizing about how the top 10 picks will go, since my Bills hold the number 3 pick overall and I truly think (unless free agency gets started after the April 6^th court date) I have a pretty decent grasp as to how it will go:

Blaine Gabbert, 1^st overall pick, Carolina - It is time to tear it all down and rebuild in Carolina.  Their new coach, Ron Rivera, has just left an offense with Phillip Rivers and I don’t think he has any interest in trying to further develop Jimmy Clausen.  Cam Newton has been talked about as having the talent to go here, but there is too much to risk with the number 1 pick and Gabbert is the safest QB on the board. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Panthers take Patrick Peterson with this pick either, but their biggest need (QB) would still need to be addressed and when you have the top pick, it becomes very difficult to pass on someone as well-rounded as Gabbert.

Marcell Dareus, 2^nd overall pick, Denver – The Broncos rush defense has been a mess for the past few seasons.  They still have a pretty good secondary, but have fallen short of the playoffs due to abysmal d-line play for two seasons now.  Marcell Dareus is a beast of a DT and can play in just about any technique the Broncos could dream to use him in.  When looking at tape on Dareus, I can’t help but be reminded of Warren Sapp.  To me, Dareus is the best prospect available in the draft and considering DT is hands down the biggest need for the Broncos, I just don’t see him going anywhere else.

Cam Newton, 3^rd overall pick, Buffalo – As a native to Buffalo and a die-hard Bills fan, believe me when I say that the Bills need to find a way to excite their fan base.  The search for Dick Jauron’s replacement was cut short when GM Buddy Nix and owner Ralph Wilson found Chan Gailey.  Time has shown to me that this was the correct move, but at the time it was a bit of a let-down to not see Buffalo make a serious bid for a headline coach.  Now that Gailey is running the show, I expect him to get his QB with the number 3 pick due to the immense upside that comes with Newton. Gailey used to coach Kordell “Slash” Stewart in Pittsburgh and is widely known for building a scheme around the talents of his QB.  While I am not convinced that Cam is destined for greatness, there are few Coaches out there better suited to maximize his potential.  QB is not the only need Buffalo has, but with no sure-fire left tackle at the top of the draft, Chan will take his franchise QB while he still has time to develop him left on his contract.

Robert Quinn, 4^th overall pick, Cincinnati – Despite the uncertainty at QB and WR for the Bengals, they are about to embrace their identity as a run-first offense. On the other side of the ball, the Bengals could use some help rushing the passer.  With medical issues still encircling Da’Quan Bowers, the Bengals will take a compliment to Carlos Dunlap and solidify both DE spots with Robert Quinn from UNC.  This could change easily if Dareus, Gabbert or Newton are still on the board… but as I see things, the Bengals will not have a crack at those three guys and they don’t have much need for Vonn Miller or Patrick Peterson.

Vonn Miller, 5^th overall pick, Arizona – The Cardinals are a team that is built to win now.  They are in the softest division in the league and have no one capable of playing the Quarterback position.  I expect them to attack the free agent market and find a more seasoned QB like Vince Young, Donovan McNabb, or even Marc Bulger… which leaves them free to take the best player available for their defense.  I still can’t quite decide if that will be Patrick Peterson or Vonn Miller, but the best pure pass rusher in the draft is difficult to pass up.

A.J. Green, 6^th overall pick, Cleveland – The Browns have been in need of a playmaking WR since losing Braylon Edwards.  They have had bigger needs (like at QB) the past few years, but with Colt McCoy ready to take the starting job… he is going to need a decent target.  Green is the big playmaker that McCoy will need in order to flourish as a starting QB in a division with the Steelers and Ravens defenses.  Other possibilities are Robert Quinn (if he falls this far) or Da’Quan Bowers (if he is able to alleviate injury concerns at his pro day).

Patrick Peterson, 7^th overall pick, San Francisco – The 49ers have a new head coach, who will be looking to rebuild the team in his own image.  With the 7^th pick in the draft there are a lot of options for Jim Harbaugh.  But, with the elite QB talent gone, look for San Fran to take the best player available in LSU’s Patrick Peterson. Peterson is a shut down corner and by adding him, the 9ers maintain the best defense in their division (at least in my opinion). As far as other options, look for San Fran to take the top player available at the time… regardless of position.

Nick Fairley, 8^th overall pick, Tennessee – The Titans need a QB, but without an elite option left on the board I expect the Titans to fill the hole left by the departure of Albert Haynesworth.  Few head coaches understand the importance of offensive and defensive line play better than Mike Munchak and with a talent like Fairley available at a position of need for his team, expect the Titans to take their new DT.  Other possibilities include a QB or DE, but if the top 10 picks go at all like I expect, Fairley will be a great bargain.

Anthony Castonzo, 9^th overall pick, Dallas – The Cowboys have a pretty substantial need for a right tackle and Castonzo is, in my opinion, the only top 10 talent at the position.  I always envisioned him more at left tackle, but if they can figure out their offensive line issues, the Cowboys should go straight back to being a playoff team next season.  Other possibilities are fellow tackles Tyron Smith, Gabe Carimi, or CB Prince Amukamara.

Julio Jones, 10^th overall pick, Washington – The Redskins confuse the hell out of me at the moment.  I am unsure why Shanahan does not like Donovan McNabb, but assuming there is a QB he is comfortable with in place by the start of the season… he is going to need someone to throw to.  Santana Moss had a nice run, but it is time to pick the new long term deep threat for this offense.  Other options are DE Aldon Smith or any QBs that Shanahan decides he can mold into a starter in the NFL.

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Well, week 3 of the preseason is where we get the best look at the fantasy players from each team (if healthy) before the season.  And while many people don’t like to use the preseason to impact their rankings, I feel this week is one of the best indicators you can find before your draft.

Packers vs. Colts

Well this was a hell of a game to watch.  You usually don’t get to see quite so many sparks fly in the preseason, but with these two high powered offenses playing for around 3 quarters… It was bound to be a fun one to see.  Since all the insanity with Favre and now Sidney Rice being out half the year I have to think the Packers are now the favorite to win their division.  Rodgers looks like an MVP candidate so far, and Jennings has been much more active in the passing game than last year. He (Jennings) could rack up 1400 yards and 10 TDs no problem this year.

As for the Colts, no need to be concerned.  They had some rough spots caused by, what seemed to me, deliberately pushing the limits of the new ball spotting system.  I hope that the Reggie Wayne doubters have been paying attention, because I think he has had a VERY strong preseason and he will remain my number 3 WR.  Garcon has done a good job separating himself from Collie and Gonzalez and in doing so he earned a bump in my rankings.  Also I am starting to have some concerns about Addai.  He is in a contract year, and the Colts drafted Donald Brown for a reason.  I think if Addai misses just one game he will lose his job permanently to Brown.  The Colts will not want to pay to re-sign a back in his decline.

Cowboys vs. Texans

It is no surprise that the offensive line is the biggest area of concern for the Cowboys offense this year, but even so, Romo spent too much time on his back this week.  If they play this poorly during the season Romo will not be able to stay healthy.  Austin and Witten will maintain their production through these issues, but I am concerned for Felix Jones who seems to get injured a lot as is.

Arian Foster became the first Houston Texan to break 100 yards rushing in a preseason game this week and moved up quite a bit in my ranks as it is becoming clear he will see the vast majority of the carries.  Seeing Slaton back to return kicks shows that they don’t intend to use him like they used to by any means.  Jacoby Jones also had a strong showing in this game, helping his cause for becoming the #2 guy over Kevin Walter.

Bears vs. Cardinals

So far this preseason we really hadn’t seen a glimpse of last year’s Jay Cutler, until this week that is.  The bottom line is with this guy, is he is a gunslinger that makes some bad choices.  You need to expect around 20 interceptions from Cutler this year but you can also expect 30 TDs and around 4,000 yards.  Johnny Knox and Chester Taylor both looked very strong in this game as well but I don’t quite give anyone a bump in the rankings.

Oh Arizona… I thought you were finally going to be a good team, but now there are rumors flying around about them trading away Matt Leinart or cutting him altogether.  It is definitely time to downgrade all the Cardinals in our rankings. Beanie Wells can’t be productive in an inconsistent offense that can’t convert on third downs and between the injury and the QB situation I am afraid that Fitzgerald will have a very bad season (at least by his standards).  Tim Hightower is falling too far in the drafts that I have seen, he will still be their third down guy and if he is hot they will certainly not be afraid to let him get some carries.

Chiefs vs Eagles

First thing first, Jamaal Charles is fine, no worries for fantasy owners here.  He is not supposed to miss any time in the regular season.  After he left the game Thomas Jones did a great job filling in for him, but I still think he will be inconsistent behind a worse offensive line and might actually be more productive as the number 2 with fewer carries and hits taken.  It was good to see Dwayne Bowe get involved a bit more too, he remains a sleeper of mine for the middle rounds.

I remain convinced that the success of the Eagles offense hinges on DeSean Jackson.  So, it was not much of a surprise to me that they did not do well without him after he left very early.  As with Charles, no concern here for fantasy owners… he will be back by week 1.  LeSean McCoy ran well, but did not see a lot of carries.  No adjustments to my rankings for any of these guys.

Other Notable Performances

LaDainian Tomlinson – Gotta start calling him a sleeper.  Watching Hard Knocks may be tainting my reaction here, but I just keep hearing Rex Ryan say “I love being right”.

Pierre Thomas

Reggie Bush

Joe Flacco

Frank Gore

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The Dallas Cowboys are a very well balanced team. Tony Romo showed that he is capable of playing at a high level late in the season and if they can find a running back that is capable of handling the primary workload they will be a force to be reckoned with.  Defensively the team is solid, they are always giving their offense a chance at the end of the game and that is all that is fair to ask.  Dallas is my favorite to win the division this year and they can make a deep run into the playoffs if they can answer for a few of their shortcomings (mainly replacing Flozell Adams at left tackle).

Top Fantasy Players

Miles Austin – Almost no one knew this guys name at the time of last year’s fantasy football drafts. He didn’t even start until week 5 and finished 3^rd in receiving yards and 4^th in touchdowns. I know I’m not the only one excited to see how he’ll do with a full season. Personally I expect him to finish in the top 5 of fantasy wide receivers at the end of the season.

Tony Romo – I was wrong about him last year that is for sure.  I needed Romo to prove to me that he could keep his level of play up for the duration of an entire season and he did just that in 2009.  Romo is part of an incredibly deep quarterback pool but is a more than adequate starter for your team.

Felix Jones – At the end of last season Jerry Jones was vocal about wanting Jones to see more carries. Jones is an explosive runner with home-run potential; also he should be the feature back this year if he stays healthy.

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Traditionally the NFC East is one of parity and fierce competition.  Oddly enough the way I see this going is exactly the way it went last year, the Cowboys win the division title but the Eagles manage a wild card spot.  Also one of the two most interesting stories of the year unfold from this division, the first being McNabb’s return to his old home and the second being the success of the Eagles with Kevin Kolb at QB.

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

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