Dallas Cowboys
Help added: Once it became known the Cowboys wouldn't be using their first-round pick on a cornerback, the focus shifted to both sides of the line. They had a major need at defensive end with three unsigned players there. They also had a major need at right tackle, where Marc Colombo has seen his better days and is expected to be released. They opted to address the latter, selecting USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith. While he made a name for himself at right tackle with the Trojans, he has the athletic ability necessary to eventually make the switch to the left side.
Both of their starting inside linebackers -- Bradie James and Keith Brooking -- will be free agents next year, and Sean Lee is the only backup of consequence. They opted to address the situation in the second round, taking Bruce Carter, who lacks big-play ability, but when healthy is someone who will make a very favorable impression on you. The concern there is he's coming off a torn ACL. But he can be a nice fit for the Cowboys as a 3-4 inside guy. With Marion Barber expected to be let go, Dallas got a replacement in the third round in DeMarco Murray. While no one questioned Murray's ability entering his senior year, there were concerns surrounding his durability.
Elsewhere, I'm not sold on fourth-round pick David Arkin, but he could start at guard soon. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see late pick Josh Thomas stick as a fourth cornerback, and Shaun Chapas could be a solution at fullback, a decent value late.
Questions that remain: When you take a tackle at No. 9, you have to believe he'll end up on the left side. Dallas clearly does with Smith, and he has the skill set to land there, but there's no certainty that he's an immediate help. He'll need some time to develop further. As far as picks that weren't made, the big question is whether the Cowboys can get help on the defensive line, particularly at defensive end. This was the league's 23rd-ranked defense, and I think it started up front.
I didn't mind the pick of Smith at No. 9, particularly if the Boys didn't have a player such as Prince Amukamara rated high on their board, but safety and corner are still average-to-worse positions for Dallas. They should be looking for help.
Next year's help now: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
The Cowboys are soft in the back of the secondary, and Barron is well-schooled and physical. He can help immediately.
Philadelphia Eagles
Help added: It wasn't a surprise to see the Eagles go for an offensive lineman in the first round. The surprise came when they bypassed Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi in favor of Baylor's Danny Watkins. Watkins' stock was on the steady rise -- the oldest player in the draft, he possesses the technique, physical tools and aggressiveness to develop into a very good pro.
Philly then targeted a suspect secondary. With Nate Allen returning from a knee injury and Quintin Mikell not expected to be re-signed, the safety position was a definite need area. Temple's Jaiquawn Jarrett is someone who the Eagles were obviously very familiar with. He possesses good instincts for the position and is solid in run support. With CB Dimitri Patterson unsigned and suffering through his fair share of struggles last season, the Eagles were in need of a reinforcement. Utah State's Curtis Marsh has an impressive combination of size and speed with cover skills. But he's a work in progress. I didn't have a third-round grade on him. Casey Matthews (fourth round) definitely has great bloodlines. While not the athlete that his older brother, Clay, is, he's always around the action and made a number of big plays for Oregon during his college career. David Akers can't feel good about his job security after watching the Eagles use a fourth-round pick on Nebraska's Alex Henery. Along with being very accurate, Henery possesses a very strong leg.
Fifth-round pick, Pittsburgh RB Dion Lewis, wasn't as impressive as a sophomore as he was the previous year, but I remain high on him. He lacks size, but runs effectively between the tackles and is very adept at catching it coming out of the backfield. With Jerome Harrison currently unsigned, he may be given every chance to show he can be a solid backup. The Eagles addressed the offensive line with their next two selections.
Questions that remain: I actually think the Eagles did a really good job in terms of targeting needs, the question for me is the upside of the players selected. Are the guys they landed for the secondary going to help immediately? Maybe. This team may need to look for some free-agent help there and at defensive tackle to shore up the defense. Remember, the big question involves what they can get for Kevin Kolb. Can they add some help, or will it only be picks?
Next year's help now: Tydreke Powell, DT, North Carolina
The defensive line is one area this draft didn't target, but it could use some help next year, and Powell should be a riser among seniors.
New York Giants
Help added: Weeks before the draft, Amukamara was almost a certain top-10 pick. On draft day, he fell to the Giants at pick No. 19. In today's age of pro football, you can never have enough quality cornerbacks. When you combine his physical ability and cover skills, it should equate to a very good starter in the league.
With the Giants facing the possibility Barry Cofield could depart in free agency, they were in the market for some depth at DT. Had North Carolina's Marvin Austin been on the field as a senior and played up to his potential, he would have been a first-round pick. The Giants were able to get him in the late-second round. He needs to make more plays, but there is no questioning his talent. If Austin doesn't become a starter, he should be able to at least make the grade as a top-flight backup.
New York's third-round pick, Troy wideout Jerrel Jernigan, possesses blazing speed and puts it to very good use as a receiver, a returner and on reverses. He's a guy that defenses have to find when he steps on the field. Fourth-rounder James Brewer (OT) looks the part but needs better results; a definite coach-him-up shot. While Michigan State LB Greg Jones wasn't the prospect his stats in college would lead you to believe, in the sixth round he had definite value. I would not be the least bit surprised to see him become a solid backup. Iowa S Tyler Sash wasn't the ball hawk as a junior that we witnessed the previous two years, but he still graded out as a good starter. When projecting him to the NFL, you're looking at a decent backup type.
Questions that remain: The two spots that stick out for me are at outside linebacker and on the offensive line. I really expected to see the Giants go for a linebacker earlier, and I think they may have if they hadn't been blown away by the value they got in Amukamara and Austin. But the question remains: How long will this aging offensive line hold together? We saw it struggle last year, so expect the G-men to do some scouring for starting help in free agency, or at least add some depth. Same situation at linebacker, where the team was frankly terrible in 2010.
Next year's help now: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
He could add size to his frame, but Kuechly seems to make every tackle and is the kind of active, tackling-machine presence this team needs at linebacker.
Washington Redskins
Help added: This was like a different team this draft. What happened? The Redskins entered the draft without a third- or fourth-round pick and had just eight overall. Same ol' story. But when it was all said and done, they made 12 selections -- four in the first four rounds. After working out a trade with Jacksonville, in which they swapped first-rounders, and dropping six spots, the redskins were thrilled to see Purdue LB Ryan Kerrigan still available. After making a name for himself at defensive end with the Boilermakers, he'll operate at OLB in the Redskins' 3-4 base. Kerrigan has natural big-play ability that can't be taught.
I'm not as high on DE Jarvis Jenkins as the Skins are, but the second-round pick out of Clemson could be productive. Miami wideout Leonard Hankerson was a very nice pick in the third round and gives them the type of physical presence at the position that was lacking last season. A fourth-round pick, Nebraska RB Roy Helu is made to order for their offense. He has excellent speed and is the type of one-cut runner that excels in Mike Shanahan's offense. They obviously scouted Nebraska very thoroughly as their next two picks were teammates of Helu.
I had a free-agent grade on safety DeJon Gomes; they saw fit to take him in the fifth round. We'll see. Wideout Niles Paul struggled with some drops and wasn't much of a factor in the offense last season due in large part to the quarterback situation, so taking a chance on him in the fifth round is well worth it. The sixth-round pick, Penn State RB Evan Royster, has limitations but can catch the ball. I really liked their other selection in the sixth round of SMU wideout Aldrick Robinson. He took over for Emmanuel Sanders as the Mustangs' feature receiver in 2010 and had a very good year.
Questions that remain: As I wrote in my 2011 NFL draft grades, "We know the Redskins need help at quarterback, but I'll give them credit: They realized there wasn't a quarterback in this draft who can help them in 2011, and they moved out of the spot that became the Blaine Gabbert pick." I'll stand by that now, meaning that's a question that remains. And for whoever is taking the snaps, the offensive line will need to continue to progress, and Hankerson will need to quickly add an element in the passing game. Obviously, the biggest questions all start on the offensive side of the ball, where you have to hope Shanahan can get the running game he made famous untracked with some new talent.
Next year's help now: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
This isn't a prediction that the Skins will be in place to land Luck, it means he'd be the best QB on their roster now.
