2009 NFL Draft Report Card-NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Round 3 #69 LB Jason Williams, Western Illinois
Round 3 #75 OT Robert Brewster, Ball State
Round 4 #101 QB Stephen McGee, Texas A&M
Round 4 #110 DE Victor Butler, Oregon State
Round 4 #120 DL Brandon Williams, Texas Tech
Round 5 #143 DB DeAngelo Smith, Cincinnati
Round 5 #166 S Michael Hamlin, Clemson
Round 5 #172 K David Buehler, USC
Round 6 #197 S Stephen Hodge, TCU
Round 6 #208 TE John Phillips, Virginia
Round 7 #227 DB Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
Round 7 #229 WR Manuel Johnson, Oklahoma

Overall Grade: B-

Fantasy Outlook: The Cowboys are working feverishly to get a contract extension done for DeMarcus Ware.  Consequently, Dallas opted to trade out of day one of the draft in favor of selecting reasonably priced rookies.  The Cowboys already have a very deep team, which afforded them the opportunity to select multifaceted players than can compete for a position as well as be stars on special teams.  Dallas has high hopes for Jason Williams and believe he will be an eventual starter as well as a disruptive force at linebacker.  They clearly had a plan to improve their secondary by picking players that have hands to make interceptions, which can only help to improve an already strong fantasy defense.   Manuel Johnson was a a flier they took in the final round, but after a couple years of development, he could end up being a No.2 or No.3 wide receiver for the Cowboys. 

New York Giants

Round 1 #29 WR Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
Round 2 #45 LB Clint Sintim, Virgina
Round 2 #60 OT Will Beatty, Connecticut
Round 3 #85 WR Ramses Barden, Cal Poly
Round 3 #100 TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin
Round 4 #129 RB Andre Brown, North Carolina State
Round 5 #151 QB Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State
Round 6 #200 CB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico
Round 7 #238 CB Stoney Woodson, South Carolina

Overall Grade: A

Fantasy Outlook: The Giants took Hakeem Nicks in the first round to make up for the loss of Plaxico Burress.  Nicks has all the tools to be a star in this league.  However, it would be foolish to think he will put up Burress-like numbers is his rookie campaign.  The G-Men also added a few other players on offense that should see significant playing time in Will Beatty, Ramses Barden, and Travis Beckum.   New York added Clint Sintim in the second round to an already productive fantasy defense.  However, they did not draft another player on that side of the ball until the final two rounds when they added secondary help. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1 #19 WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
Round 2 #53 RB LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
Round 5 #153 TE Cornelius Ingram, Florida
Round 5 #157 CB Victor Harris, Virgina Tech
Round 6 #194 WR Brandon Gibson, Washington State
Round 7 #213 G Paul Fanaika, Arizona State
Round 7 #230 LB Moise Fokou, Maryland

Overall Grade: A-

Fantasy Outlook: The Eagles gave Donovan McNabb the help he as been requesting when they took Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, and Cornelius Ingram with their first three picks of the draft.  Maclin will provide immediate help both at wideout and in the return game.   McCoy with his ability to run and catch will give Brian Westbrook some much needed rest.  Ingram is bit of a project, but if Philly can coach him up to his potential, he is a star in the making.  These new offensive weapons will bolster the fantasy value of McNabb and DeSean Jackson. The Eagles didn’t get much help on defense via the draft, but their defense is a perennial fantasy powerhouse.

Washington Redskins

Round 1 #13 DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
Round 3 #80 DB Kevin Barnes, Maryland
Round 5 #158 LB Cody Glenn, Nebraska
Round 6 #186 LB Robert Henson, TCU
Round 7 #221 TE Eddie Williams, Idaho
Round 7 #243 WR Marko Mitchell, Nevada

Overall Grade: B+

Fantasy Outlook: Brian Orakpo was one of the steals of the draft.  Orakpo instantly makes the Redskins possess a viable fantasy defense.  In fact, Washington devoted their first four picks to improve on that side of the ball.  Kevin Barnes and Cody Glenn will likely both be starters, and Robert Henson before the season ends could land himself some major minutes as well.   Marko Mitchell is a project wideout that has the speed to make big plays, which means he has a chance to make the team if he puts in the hard work.