Just like that, the 2019 NFL Draft is in the rear view mirror. How do the Redskins stack up with the rest of the NFC East?
General consensus holds that the Washington Redskins had a very solid outing at the 2019 NFL Draft. But what the Redskins did isn’t the only thing that matters. They’re competing for the NFC East title with three other teams, after all.
So how did the Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles fare in the 2019 NFL Draft? Did the Cowboys do enough to maintain their hold on the NFC East? Did the Eagles capitalize on their opportunity to rise back to the top? And did the Giants make the most out of their three first-round picks? Turn the page, and see how the Redskins compared.
Dallas Cowboys Draft Grade
Round 2 – UCF DT Trysten Hill (B-)
Round 3 – Penn State OG Connor McGovern (B+)
Round 4 – Memphis RB Tony Pollard (B)
Round 5 – Miami CB Michael Jackson (B)
Round 5 – Miami EDGE Joe Jackson (B-)
Round 6 – Texas A&M S Donovan Wilson (B)
Round 7 – Ohio State RB Mike Weber (C+)
Round 7 – Oregon EDGE Jalen Jelks (B-)
The cost of trading for Amari Cooper doesn’t factor into this draft grade, as Cooper is not part of the draft class. But it does need to be mentioned that the Cowboys seem to have gotten excellent value out of their deal for Cooper. It cost a first-round pick, but Cooper rejuvenated the Cowboys offense in 2018, and he figures to be a catalyst for their unit for years. He’s a free agent in 2020, but the Cowboys should be motivated to lock him down long-term.
Outside of the Cooper deal, the Cowboys put together a solid, if unspectacular draft class in 2019. On Day 2, they nabbed a defensive lineman with good upside in Trysten Hill, then drafted a potential starter at offensive guard in Connor McGovern.
On Day 3, the Cowboys had six picks, and they added solid depth and good value for the most part. Tony Pollard has a chance to be a dynamic compliment to Ezekiel Elliott, and Michael Jackson and Joe Jackson should both make their defensive depth chart a bit stronger. In addition, Donovan Wilson should contribute on special teams.
In Round 7, the Cowboys’ value wasn’t as structured, as Mike Weber’s outlook in Dallas’ offense is unclear, and Jalen Jelks has a lot of development to undergo. But if the Cowboys were looking to solidify a playoff-caliber roster, they did just enough to do just that in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Dallas Cowboys Draft Grade: B-
New York Giants Draft Grade
Round 1 – Duke QB Daniel Jones (D-)
Round 1 – Clemson NT Dexter Lawrence (D-)
Round 1 – Georgia CB Deandre Baker (C+)
Round 3 – Old Dominion EDGE Oshane Ximines (B-)
Round 4 – Notre Dame CB Julian Love (A)
Round 5 – Wisconsin LB Ryan Connelly (B)
Round 5 – Auburn WR Darius Slayton (A-)
Round 6 – Washburn CB Corey Ballentine (B+)
Round 7 – Kentucky OT George Asafo-Adjei (B)
Round 7 – Syracuse DT Chris Slayton (C+)
In Gettleman we trust.
The New York Giants had three first-round picks, and they were almost impressive, in the way they failed to capitalize on that opportunity.
With the No. 6 overall pick, the Giants picked Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, a signal caller with a relatively low floor and limited developmental upside (When they could’ve gotten Drew Lock at No. 30). With the No. 17 overall pick, they selected Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence, a good run-stopping nose tackle who provides terrible positional value for a team that already has B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson.
With their third first-round pick, the Giants at least addressed a need, picking solid press corner Deandre Baker, although he also has limited athletic upside. With three first-round picks, the Giants didn’t add any blue-chip players, and in a few years, the gravity of the value they missed could be monumental.
If it’s any consolation, the Giants did stumble upon some nice value gets on Day 3. Julian Love is a steal with a productive starter’s upside in Round 4, and Darius Slayton has the potential to be a gem in the rough for the Giants from Round 5. Some of the more obscure picks will develop in time, but for now, the Giants’ draft class is far too underwhelming at the top to warrant a high grade.
New York Giants Draft Grade: D+
Philadelphia Eagles Draft Grade
Round 1 – Washington State OT Andre Dillard (A-)
Round 2 – Penn State RB Miles Sanders (B-)
Round 2 – Stanford WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (B-)
Round 4 – Penn State EDGE Shareef Miller (B+)
Round 5 – Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson (D)
The Eagles only had five selections in the 2019 NFL Draft, but they did a good job getting a mix of immediate contributions and developmental upside.
In the first round, the Eagles made a savvy move by trading up ahead of the Houston Texans to grab Washington State tackle Andre Dillard. Dillard might not be ready to start right away, as he’s fairly raw, and has less experience as a run blocker. But he’s perfect for the Eagles’ situation; he can learn from Jason Peters, and with his excellent athletic upside, he can be a high-level starter in due time.
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In Round 2, with two selections, the Eagles selected Penn State running back Miles Sanders and Stanford wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, attaining modest value with both. They could have waited to pick a running back, but the Eagles are high on Sanders’ athletic ability and change-of-direction skills. Arcega-Whiteside, meanwhile, isn’t the versatile weapon the Eagles might have needed, and his snaps will be sapped by the presence of Alshon Jeffery. But he provides value nonetheless, as a very dangerous red zone threat.
In Round 4, with a lacking amount of late-round picks, the Eagles made the smart decision to pick a toolsy edge rusher in Penn State’s Shareef Miller. Miller has great size and adequate bend and burst, and if he can add more physicality to his game, he can be a decent contributor.
With their last pick, the Eagles submitted a head-scratcher, picking Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson. Thorson, a quarterback with general inaccuracy and bad mechanics, joins a room with Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld, and Luis Perez. Thorson faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, and with that fifth-round pick, the Eagles could have gotten far better value. Still, it’s a later pick, so the inherent risk is lower. For the most part, the Eagles submitted a productive, albeit quaint, draft class.
Philadelphia Eagles Draft Grade: B
Washington Redskins Draft Grade
Round 1 – Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins (B+)
Round 1 – Mississippi State EDGE Montez Sweat (A-)
Round 3 – Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin (A-)
Round 4 – Stanford RB Bryce Love (C)
Round 4 – Indiana OG Wes Martin (B)
Round 5 – Alabama OL Ross Pierschbacher (B)
Round 5 – North Carolina LB Cole Holcomb (B+)
Round 6 – North Carolina State WR Kelvin Harmon (A+)
Round 7 – James Madison CB Jimmy Moreland (A)
Round 7 – Oklahoma State EDGE Jordan Brailford (B-)
Honestly, what a draft by the Redskins.
Multiple team sources said that college scouting director Kyle Smith set the Redskins draft board, and facilitated their draft process. If that’s the case, then he might have a promotion on the way.
The Redskins started out the 2019 NFL Draft on a high note, letting patience win out as Dwayne Haskins fell to the No. 15 overall pick, getting a potential franchise quarterback without having to give up assets trading up. Haskins does have some questions surrounding his physical upside, but he’ll give the team a chance to compete, at the very least.
Even after picking Haskins, the Redskins weren’t done in Round 1. At pick No. 26, the Redskins traded up and picked Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat, nabbing a potential upgrade from Preston Smith opposite from Ryan Kerrigan, and then on Day 2, they grabbed another starter in Terry McLaurin, who has the athletic quickness and football I.Q. to create his own separation with ease.
In Round 4, the Redskins grabbed a potential offensive weapon in Bryce Love, albeit too early, and they also added a potential starter at guard in Wes Martin, although his best function might be depth. They did the same in Round 5, adding Ross Pierschbacher out of Alabama, and then with their second fifth-round pick, they drafted an athletic linebacker with some potential in Cole Holcomb.
The Redskins early picks on Day 3 were decent, but their later picks were stellar. In Round 6, they grabbed one of the best steals in the draft in Kelvin Harmon, a relatively slow receiver who wins with vertical ability, toughness, and attention to detail. They then added Jimmy Moreland, a potential steal at cornerback who offers impressive ball skills and fluidity, even if he’s a bit undersized.
On all three days of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Redskins attained impressive value at a consistent rate, and the Redskins were able to fill several needs as well. It’s a draft that should, on paper, speed up their timeline to compete. If the Redskins wanted to win now, they gave themselves as good a chance as they could.