Line of Scrimmage: Inside the 2009 Draft - The NFC East (only)
Source: Sports Network
NFC EAST
Dallas (9-7)
First Pick: No. 51
Number of Selections: 11 (2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7)
Summary: Jerry Jones won't show his surgically-altered face until midway through the second round, as a result of the team's acquisition of wideout Roy Williams from Detroit last fall. But with 11 picks, Dallas will be busy, a good thing for a team requiring depth. Neither the offensive nor defensive lines have been anything close to dominant of late, and any and all bodies the team can add to those areas will be welcomed. The secondary also has some holes following the exit of safeties Roy Williams and Keith Davis along with cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Pacman Jones. If the team seeks to make an early pick at a skill position, look for it to come at wide receiver, where the release of Terrell Owens has created something of a void.
N.Y. Giants (12-4)
First Pick: No. 29
Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: Much was made of the Giants' failings at the wide receiver position following the Plaxico Burress incident last year, though at No. 29 in the Draft, you can pretty much forget the team finding a field-stretching talent like Burress. New York will probably try to upgrade that spot first via trade or free agency, while attempting to find receiver value later in the Draft. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see the team use its first-round pick on defense for the fourth straight year, with a linebacker or corner looking like decent possibilities. In addition to wideout, the Giants might want to add a running back prospect following the departure of Derrick Ward to the Buccaneers. Also, Kevin Boss didn't set the world on fire at tight end a year ago, and the Giants might at least seek someone to push him.
Philadelphia (9-6-1)
First Pick: No. 21
Number of Selections: 12 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7)
Summary: The Eagles have two of the first 28 picks thanks to a draft-day trade with Carolina last year, and Philly supporters are eager to see the team have a presence in the first round for the first time since 2006. The obvious need area is at tackle, where Tra Thomas defected to the Jaguars, Jon Runyan comes off microfracture surgery and may not be re-signed, and free agent pickup Stacy Andrews (ex-Bengals) comes off a knee injury of his own. It would be surprising if one of the team's two first-rounders isn't used on an o-lineman. The Birds don't have a great track record with early-round skill players, but there is a need for another running back to take the pressure off of the aging Brian Westbrook, and a wideout to help free things up for the emerging DeSean Jackson. The team also needs tight end depth following L.J. Smith's departure, though Brent Celek looks ready to step in from a pass-catching perspective.
Washington (8-8)
First Pick: No. 13
Number of Selections: 5 (1, 3, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: The silver lining for the Redskins after failing to land Jay Cutler is that the team will not surrender its first-round pick for the third time in the last four years. The focus at No. 13 will likely be either a tackle to help prop up an inconsistent offensive line, or a playmaker to help once-and- future quarterback Jason Campbell and the team's flagging offense. The Skins should have some good choices in both the tackle (Michael Oher, Andre Smith) and playmaker (Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno) realms. On defense, after waving goodbye to the likes of Jason Taylor, Marcus Washington, and Shawn Springs, Washington can effectively take its pick of the best available defender. The Redskins are a perennially poor pass rushing team, so it would be a surprise of one of the club's five picks isn't used on a defensive end.
NFC EAST
Dallas (9-7)
First Pick: No. 51
Number of Selections: 11 (2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7)
Summary: Jerry Jones won't show his surgically-altered face until midway through the second round, as a result of the team's acquisition of wideout Roy Williams from Detroit last fall. But with 11 picks, Dallas will be busy, a good thing for a team requiring depth. Neither the offensive nor defensive lines have been anything close to dominant of late, and any and all bodies the team can add to those areas will be welcomed. The secondary also has some holes following the exit of safeties Roy Williams and Keith Davis along with cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Pacman Jones. If the team seeks to make an early pick at a skill position, look for it to come at wide receiver, where the release of Terrell Owens has created something of a void.
N.Y. Giants (12-4)
First Pick: No. 29
Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: Much was made of the Giants' failings at the wide receiver position following the Plaxico Burress incident last year, though at No. 29 in the Draft, you can pretty much forget the team finding a field-stretching talent like Burress. New York will probably try to upgrade that spot first via trade or free agency, while attempting to find receiver value later in the Draft. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see the team use its first-round pick on defense for the fourth straight year, with a linebacker or corner looking like decent possibilities. In addition to wideout, the Giants might want to add a running back prospect following the departure of Derrick Ward to the Buccaneers. Also, Kevin Boss didn't set the world on fire at tight end a year ago, and the Giants might at least seek someone to push him.
Philadelphia (9-6-1)
First Pick: No. 21
Number of Selections: 12 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7)
Summary: The Eagles have two of the first 28 picks thanks to a draft-day trade with Carolina last year, and Philly supporters are eager to see the team have a presence in the first round for the first time since 2006. The obvious need area is at tackle, where Tra Thomas defected to the Jaguars, Jon Runyan comes off microfracture surgery and may not be re-signed, and free agent pickup Stacy Andrews (ex-Bengals) comes off a knee injury of his own. It would be surprising if one of the team's two first-rounders isn't used on an o-lineman. The Birds don't have a great track record with early-round skill players, but there is a need for another running back to take the pressure off of the aging Brian Westbrook, and a wideout to help free things up for the emerging DeSean Jackson. The team also needs tight end depth following L.J. Smith's departure, though Brent Celek looks ready to step in from a pass-catching perspective.
Washington (8-8)
First Pick: No. 13
Number of Selections: 5 (1, 3, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: The silver lining for the Redskins after failing to land Jay Cutler is that the team will not surrender its first-round pick for the third time in the last four years. The focus at No. 13 will likely be either a tackle to help prop up an inconsistent offensive line, or a playmaker to help once-and- future quarterback Jason Campbell and the team's flagging offense. The Skins should have some good choices in both the tackle (Michael Oher, Andre Smith) and playmaker (Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno) realms. On defense, after waving goodbye to the likes of Jason Taylor, Marcus Washington, and Shawn Springs, Washington can effectively take its pick of the best available defender. The Redskins are a perennially poor pass rushing team, so it would be a surprise of one of the club's five picks isn't used on a defensive end.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:59 PM
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