NFL Draft Grade 2021: NFC East

Washington Football Team

Pick 1.19: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky (A-)
Pick 2.51: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas (A)
Pick 3.74: Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota (A-)
Pick 3.82: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina (A)
Pick 4.124: John Bates, TE, Boise State (B)
Pick 5.163: Darrick Forrest, S, Cincinnati (B)
Pick 6.225: Camaron Cheeseman, LS, Michigan (B+)
Pick 7.240: William Bradley-King, DE, Baylor (C)
Pick 7.246: Shaka Toney, DE, Penn State (A)
Pick 7.258: Dax Milne, WR, BYU (C+)

The Washington Football Team did not get a quarterback for the future; however, they did set up their team to be the clear favorite in the NFC East. The Football team had holes at linebacker, offensive tackle, and maybe wide receiver and cornerback. Guess what? The first four picks were linebacker, tackle, corner, and receiver. The thing is, the team still got great value with each of these picks with some of the best players available. I genuinely love this draft class for Washington.

Jamin Davis was my second-rated linebacker in the class, and after it was released that JOK had medical red flags, he may very well be my first-rated linebacker. So, not only does Washington get my favorite linebacker on the board, but they get a perfect one for their scheme. Then, the team got a solid young tackle in Samuel Cosmi, who is good enough to start year one.

The third-round selections may be my favorite, as Benjamin St-Juste and Dyami Brown were both very high on my big board. St-Juste can be a startable asset in year one for Washington, and he will contribute on special teams. Meanwhile, Dynami Brown is the perfect number three wide receiver to compliment McLaurin and Samuel on this offense. His deep threat ability is going to give defenses nightmares with Fitzpatrick slinging the ball.

Weighted GPA of Selections: 3.55 (A-)
Overall Class Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles

Pick 1.10: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (A)
Pick 2.37: Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama (A+)
Pick 3.73: Milton Williams, DT, Lousiana Tech (A-)
Pick 4.123: Zech McPhearson, CB, Texas Tech (C-)
Pick 5.150: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis (A)
Pick 6.189: Marlon Tuipulotu, DT, USC (A+)
Pick 6.191: Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina (B)
Pick 6.224: JaCoby Stevens, S, LSU (B)
Pick 7.234: Patrick Johnson, OLB, Tulane (A)

The Eagles had a solid draft, getting value all over the place. The team traded up for Smith and jumped their division rivals. So, not only do the Eagles get a player at their weakest position, receiver, but they got my top-rated wide receiver in the class and stopped him from going to the Giants. Then, the team lands Landon Dickerson, maybe the best IOL in the class. If he stays healthy, then this guy is a 15-year starter at guard or center.

Later in the draft, the team got a ton of value with Gainwell in the 5th, a speedy running back who could have easily gone day two. The team also got Tuipulotu in the 5th, one of my favorite IDL prospects in this class.

The Eagles simply had a ton of needs and got BPA for those needs through the entire draft. I do not think it can get much better for Philadelphia.

Weighted GPA of Selections: 3.58 (A-)
Overall Class Grade: A-

New York Giants

Pick 1.20: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida (C-)
Pick 2.50: Azeez Ojulari, LB, Georgia (B+)
Pick 3.71: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF (B+)
Pick 4.116: Elerson Smith, LB, Northern Iowa (B)
Pick 6.196: Gary Brightwell, RB, Arizona (C-)
Pick 6.201: Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State (B)

I consistently see other experts saying that the Giants killed this draft. For me, they did okay. I was not blown away by reaching on Kadarius Toney at number 20. Toney is a dynamic playmaker, but do you really trust Jason Garrett to do anything with him? Toney is also not going to get the touches he deserves on this offense with Barkley, Golladay, Engram, and Slayton on the roster. This pick was not great, but at least the team got a first for trading back. Personally, I think that this pick should have gone to an EDGE or even offensive line talent. Then, If you were going to draft WR, Elijah Moore would have been the pick for me.

Azeez Ojulari and Aaron Robinson are both players I do not love as prospects, but the Giants got them at a value. So, I need to take that into consideration. I think this is where pundits fall in love with the draft. However, I believe that there was a reason both of these guys fell, as other scouts saw the same issues that I saw.

All in all, the best pick in this draft will probably be the first-rounder next year. I just did not personally like any of the players that the Giants brought in and thought there were better choices for them. Also, if the team was really in love with DeVonta Smith, then they should have traded up with the Cowboys and got him, as they should have known that the Eagles also wanted him. Smith would have massively changed how I viewed this class. For me, Smith is better than Toney and a next year first from the Bears.

Weighted GPA of Selections: 2.68 (C+)
Overall Class Grade: B-

Dallas Cowboys

Pick 1.12: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (B)
Pick 2.44: Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky (A)
Pick 3.75: Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA (C-)
Pick 3.84: Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa (C-)
Pick 3.99: Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State (D)
Pick 4.115: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU (A)
Pick 4.138: Josh Ball, OT, Marshall (B+)
Pick 5.179: Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford (C-)
Pick 6.192: Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky (B+)
Pick 6.227: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina (B+)
Pick 7.238: Matt Farniok, G, Nebraska (B+)

The Dallas Cowboys needed to address defense, but they consistently grabbed overrated players or even reached on players that were universally lower on big boards. The best pick for the team was Jabril Cox in the 4th, an absolute steal. However, my issue is the fact that the team has Parsons, Cox, LVE, and Smith, and the team is adamant that Keanu Neal will move to LB. How many linebackers can this team have?

Kelvin Joseph was another solid selection. However, other than him, all of the top-3 round selections were mediocre for me. Parsons is going to need a lot of coaching, something I am not sure he will get. Odighizuwa, Wright, and Golston are also raw prospects that I did not see a lot of potential in, and again, I do not trust the Cowboys’ coaching staff to fix their issues.

Weighted GPA of Selections: 2.68 (C+)
Overall Class Grade: C+