NFC East: Ryan Nassib
Breakfast links: Chip Kelly brings the noise
May, 14, 2013
May 14
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
Can't talk right now. Limbering up my chat muscles. Preparing to make today's the greatest May chat in ESPN.com NFL history. You don't want to miss it. Make sure and get all of your links.
New York Giants
Steve Tisch, one of the Giants' owners, theorizes that going to the Jets was a bad thing for Tim Tebow's career. Which, duh. But lest you think (as I did upon reading that headline) that even the Giants' owners can't find interesting things to discuss about the Giants this time of year, Tisch also says he liked the Aaron Curry signing and the draft.
Whatever becomes of Ryan Nassib, he'll always be able to say his first day on the field with the Giants went better than Eli Manning's did back in 2004.
Philadelphia Eagles
Monday's was the first Chip Kelly practice that was open to the media. The reporters who were there spent the morning live-tweeting the music that was blaring and trying to track who was playing quarterback for which play. Les Bowen says the pace and the atmosphere lived up to the hype.
And remember the other day when Michael Vick supposedly beat LeSean McCoy in a 40-yard dash? Well, McCoy isn't going down like that. He claims Vick started early and won't agree to a rematch.
Washington Redskins
In his weekly mailbag, Mike Jones says the Redskins don't appear to have any interest in bringing back Chris Cooley and discusses replacement options for London Fletcher.
The Redskins' secondary, however the pieces end up fitting, is going to have to come together quickly this season. Rich Tandler looks at the early tests the schedule poses.
Dallas Cowboys
Tim MacMahon believes that the plan to involve Tony Romo in the game planning and playcalling more than in prior years is the latest erosion of the authority of head coach Jason Garrett, and I can see where Tim MacMahon's coming from. Thing is, though, if it works, Garrett's not on the "hot seat" anymore, right?
With rookie minicamp over, Cowboys first-round pick Travis Frederick has returned to Wisconsin to continue working on the Android app he's helping to develop. You know. That old story. Heard it a million times. I think Ray Nitschke had to miss part of his rookie minicamp for the same reason, but Google's coming up blank on that.
New York Giants
Steve Tisch, one of the Giants' owners, theorizes that going to the Jets was a bad thing for Tim Tebow's career. Which, duh. But lest you think (as I did upon reading that headline) that even the Giants' owners can't find interesting things to discuss about the Giants this time of year, Tisch also says he liked the Aaron Curry signing and the draft.
Whatever becomes of Ryan Nassib, he'll always be able to say his first day on the field with the Giants went better than Eli Manning's did back in 2004.
Philadelphia Eagles
Monday's was the first Chip Kelly practice that was open to the media. The reporters who were there spent the morning live-tweeting the music that was blaring and trying to track who was playing quarterback for which play. Les Bowen says the pace and the atmosphere lived up to the hype.
And remember the other day when Michael Vick supposedly beat LeSean McCoy in a 40-yard dash? Well, McCoy isn't going down like that. He claims Vick started early and won't agree to a rematch.
Washington Redskins
In his weekly mailbag, Mike Jones says the Redskins don't appear to have any interest in bringing back Chris Cooley and discusses replacement options for London Fletcher.
The Redskins' secondary, however the pieces end up fitting, is going to have to come together quickly this season. Rich Tandler looks at the early tests the schedule poses.
Dallas Cowboys
Tim MacMahon believes that the plan to involve Tony Romo in the game planning and playcalling more than in prior years is the latest erosion of the authority of head coach Jason Garrett, and I can see where Tim MacMahon's coming from. Thing is, though, if it works, Garrett's not on the "hot seat" anymore, right?
With rookie minicamp over, Cowboys first-round pick Travis Frederick has returned to Wisconsin to continue working on the Android app he's helping to develop. You know. That old story. Heard it a million times. I think Ray Nitschke had to miss part of his rookie minicamp for the same reason, but Google's coming up blank on that.
Breakfast links: Giants look at Aaron Curry
May, 7, 2013
May 7
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
Hey, it's Tuesday! That means a chat, though no Power Rankings this week. Gonna have to wait a few more months for more of those. But we'll keep it worth your while, I promise. What do you say we start with some links?
New York Giants
Aaron Curry was the No. 4 pick in the entire NFL draft just four years ago, but he couldn't make it work with Seattle or Oakland and is now looking for work. The Giants are looking for linebackers. They will take a look at Curry, Ralph Vacchiano reports.
It's fascinating to me to talk to people around the league and learn about the different ways different teams evaluate quarterbacks. The Giants took Ryan Nassib in the fourth round of this year's draft not because he's some awesome physical specimen with a huge arm but because they like what he showed in college as a leader. This is remarkable because, in the Giants' ideal situation, Eli Manning remains healthy and productive for several more years and Nassib never has to lead them out of a huddle before a meaningful play. But teams view quarterbacks as commodities, and Nassib has what the Giants think are the makings of a good one.
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles guard Evan Mathis recently had a minor ankle surgery that will keep him out of action through the OTAs and minicamps. Mathis and the Eagles believe he'll be fine in time for training camp.
This likely means more practice reps this summer for disappointing former first-round pick Danny Watkins, who would take Mathis' first-team reps at left guard with Todd Herremans likely moving from right tackle to right guard to make room for first-round pick Lane Johnson. More reps are a good thing for Watkins, since the Eagles will need depth and would like to be able to count on him more than he's allowed them to so far.
Washington Redskins
People ask sometimes about suspended Redskins safety Tanard Jackson and whether he might serve as the answer for the team this year at free safety. But as Mike Jones writes in his recent mailbag, the earliest the Redskins can even get a look at Jackson is Sept. 1, and that's if his indefinite drug suspension is lifted on the earliest possible date. They need to move on to other options, and Jackson is not likely to play for them.
It may have been a head-scratcher to see the Redskins draft another tight end, given what they have on the roster at that position. But from the Redskins' standpoint, especially in the third round, Jordan Reed is not just another tight end.
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo will be playing less golf this offseason, which Calvin Watkins and I agree is bigger news than it should be to those who have operated under the unsubstantiated belief that Romo cares more about golf than football.
There was some concern that the Cowboys needed to take a defensive lineman in the recent NFL draft and didn't. But a deeper look shows that they have more defensive line depth than you might think.
New York Giants
Aaron Curry was the No. 4 pick in the entire NFL draft just four years ago, but he couldn't make it work with Seattle or Oakland and is now looking for work. The Giants are looking for linebackers. They will take a look at Curry, Ralph Vacchiano reports.
It's fascinating to me to talk to people around the league and learn about the different ways different teams evaluate quarterbacks. The Giants took Ryan Nassib in the fourth round of this year's draft not because he's some awesome physical specimen with a huge arm but because they like what he showed in college as a leader. This is remarkable because, in the Giants' ideal situation, Eli Manning remains healthy and productive for several more years and Nassib never has to lead them out of a huddle before a meaningful play. But teams view quarterbacks as commodities, and Nassib has what the Giants think are the makings of a good one.
Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles guard Evan Mathis recently had a minor ankle surgery that will keep him out of action through the OTAs and minicamps. Mathis and the Eagles believe he'll be fine in time for training camp.
This likely means more practice reps this summer for disappointing former first-round pick Danny Watkins, who would take Mathis' first-team reps at left guard with Todd Herremans likely moving from right tackle to right guard to make room for first-round pick Lane Johnson. More reps are a good thing for Watkins, since the Eagles will need depth and would like to be able to count on him more than he's allowed them to so far.
Washington Redskins
People ask sometimes about suspended Redskins safety Tanard Jackson and whether he might serve as the answer for the team this year at free safety. But as Mike Jones writes in his recent mailbag, the earliest the Redskins can even get a look at Jackson is Sept. 1, and that's if his indefinite drug suspension is lifted on the earliest possible date. They need to move on to other options, and Jackson is not likely to play for them.
It may have been a head-scratcher to see the Redskins draft another tight end, given what they have on the roster at that position. But from the Redskins' standpoint, especially in the third round, Jordan Reed is not just another tight end.
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo will be playing less golf this offseason, which Calvin Watkins and I agree is bigger news than it should be to those who have operated under the unsubstantiated belief that Romo cares more about golf than football.
There was some concern that the Cowboys needed to take a defensive lineman in the recent NFL draft and didn't. But a deeper look shows that they have more defensive line depth than you might think.
Going big: A look at the Giants' draft
April, 29, 2013
Apr 29
12:19
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
If you follow the New York Giants regularly, you can't honestly sit there and say you're surprised they didn't take a linebacker in this year's draft. Whether you agree with them or I agree with them or any other team agrees with them is immaterial. They just don't think it's that important of a position.
What the Giants do like -- and what they were after in this year's draft -- is size and toughness on the lines, both offensive and defensive. They used their first three picks on linemen a month after their owner spoke publicly about needing to toughen up on the lines. And while it's entirely possible that no one from this year's draft makes a significant impact in 2013, the Giants don't generally draft for immediate impact anyway. They use the draft as part of their perpetual commitment to a deep roster, especially at high-priority positions.
So they used their first-round pick on Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh. He's likely not going to come in and start right away at right tackle, as some may have hoped the Giants' first-round pick would. By pick 19, those guys were gone. Pugh played tackle in college but is more likely a guard (or maybe even a center) at the NFL level. With Kevin Boothe on a one-year deal and Chris Snee showing some signs of age, Pugh is likely more of a factor in 2014 and beyond. Yes, he could push for playing time at one or more spots this year. And yes, he could turn out to be a good NFL tackle. But the Giants took him because they like the player and person and believe he has the ability to fill more than one role. Since they don't know yet what their specific offensive line needs will be after 2013, he's a nice fit because he can help them go a number of different ways.
Second-round pick Johnathan Hankins, the massive defensive tackle out of Ohio State, could well be a part of the interior defensive line rotation this year. But again, he doesn't have to be. The Giants signed veterans Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson and Shaun Rogers and have returning starter Linval Joseph, among others, to fill those roles if the rookie isn't ready to play right away. But all of those new veterans come with question marks, and Joseph has one year left on his deal, so Hankins is yet another hedge against future needs at an important position. He's a run-stopping defensive tackle, and the Giants' run defense was near the bottom of the league last year.
It's easy to see what the Giants like about Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, and why they were so pleased to find him still sitting there when their turn came in the third round. He was a sack machine in college, and with Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck coming off a disappointing year, they need to be thinking about the future of their pass rush. Moore dropped due to some off-field and character concerns, but he's 20 years old and the Giants believe strongly in their program and their coaching staff when it comes to developing and getting the best out of young players. He could produce right away in the pass rush if the attitude and work ethic concerns turn out to be overblown or immediately correctable, and if he does he could be one of the steals of the draft.
I didn't personally love the trade-up to get Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib in the fourth round. But quarterback is in the eye of the beholder, and as Mike Shanahan and the Redskins will tell you, the chance to get one you like in the fourth round is worth taking even if you feel set at the position. No quarterback in the league is as durable as Eli Manning, but should the unthinkable happen the Giants feel they have a quality young backup behind him in addition to David Carr. And even if Nassib never plays for the Giants, quarterbacks are valuable commodities in this league.
Fifth-rounder Cooper Taylor is a small-g giant as well as a capital-G Giant, a tweener-kind of player who's kind of a safety, kind of a linebacker and could develop into a useful piece in three-safety looks. Seventh-round guard Eric Herman is a seventh-round guard with a reputation for an on-field mean streak, and seventh-round running back Michael Cox is a worthwhile flyer for a team that just parted ways with a very successful seventh-round running back in Ahmad Bradshaw.
All in all ... well, it's generally hard to get overly excited about a Giants draft, because of the way the Giants draft doesn't lend itself to big dreams and excitement about how much better it made the team right away. Giants fans tend to trust GM Jerry Reese, and while they might have felt better this weekend if a linebacker or a top-flight cornerback had been one of the early-round picks, you have to respect the Giants for doing things their way. They contend every year, and once in a while they mix in a Super Bowl title. They must be doing something right.
What the Giants do like -- and what they were after in this year's draft -- is size and toughness on the lines, both offensive and defensive. They used their first three picks on linemen a month after their owner spoke publicly about needing to toughen up on the lines. And while it's entirely possible that no one from this year's draft makes a significant impact in 2013, the Giants don't generally draft for immediate impact anyway. They use the draft as part of their perpetual commitment to a deep roster, especially at high-priority positions.
[+] Enlarge
Jason O. Watson/USA TODAY SportsThe Giants are hoping that former Syracuse star Justin Pugh can provide some needed toughness up front.
Jason O. Watson/USA TODAY SportsThe Giants are hoping that former Syracuse star Justin Pugh can provide some needed toughness up front.Second-round pick Johnathan Hankins, the massive defensive tackle out of Ohio State, could well be a part of the interior defensive line rotation this year. But again, he doesn't have to be. The Giants signed veterans Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson and Shaun Rogers and have returning starter Linval Joseph, among others, to fill those roles if the rookie isn't ready to play right away. But all of those new veterans come with question marks, and Joseph has one year left on his deal, so Hankins is yet another hedge against future needs at an important position. He's a run-stopping defensive tackle, and the Giants' run defense was near the bottom of the league last year.
It's easy to see what the Giants like about Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, and why they were so pleased to find him still sitting there when their turn came in the third round. He was a sack machine in college, and with Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck coming off a disappointing year, they need to be thinking about the future of their pass rush. Moore dropped due to some off-field and character concerns, but he's 20 years old and the Giants believe strongly in their program and their coaching staff when it comes to developing and getting the best out of young players. He could produce right away in the pass rush if the attitude and work ethic concerns turn out to be overblown or immediately correctable, and if he does he could be one of the steals of the draft.
I didn't personally love the trade-up to get Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib in the fourth round. But quarterback is in the eye of the beholder, and as Mike Shanahan and the Redskins will tell you, the chance to get one you like in the fourth round is worth taking even if you feel set at the position. No quarterback in the league is as durable as Eli Manning, but should the unthinkable happen the Giants feel they have a quality young backup behind him in addition to David Carr. And even if Nassib never plays for the Giants, quarterbacks are valuable commodities in this league.
Fifth-rounder Cooper Taylor is a small-g giant as well as a capital-G Giant, a tweener-kind of player who's kind of a safety, kind of a linebacker and could develop into a useful piece in three-safety looks. Seventh-round guard Eric Herman is a seventh-round guard with a reputation for an on-field mean streak, and seventh-round running back Michael Cox is a worthwhile flyer for a team that just parted ways with a very successful seventh-round running back in Ahmad Bradshaw.
All in all ... well, it's generally hard to get overly excited about a Giants draft, because of the way the Giants draft doesn't lend itself to big dreams and excitement about how much better it made the team right away. Giants fans tend to trust GM Jerry Reese, and while they might have felt better this weekend if a linebacker or a top-flight cornerback had been one of the early-round picks, you have to respect the Giants for doing things their way. They contend every year, and once in a while they mix in a Super Bowl title. They must be doing something right.
Good Monday morning to you all. I trust we're all working to come down from the frenzy of the draft, sorting through grades and all of that. We'll spend today looking back on what happened at the tail end of last week and looking ahead to what it all might mean for 2013. And we'll start, as you might expect, with some links.
Dallas Cowboys
So, it turns out part of the new offensive playcalling plan for the Cowboys in 2013 involves quarterback Tony Romo, who will have more input and responsibility than ever in the meeting rooms and on the field. Interesting idea, for sure, and likely not a bad one. It also helps explain why the Cowboys focused the early part of their draft so much on offense. Romo had some input on that as well.
In explaining the Cowboys' fourth-round selection of cornerback B.W. Webb, Todd Archer looks ahead to some of the salary cap concerns Dallas has at that position in the coming seasons.
New York Giants
Eli Manning likes that the Giants found offensive line help in the draft, and he's fine with the idea of having rookie Ryan Nassib as his backup as well. It's tough to find too many things that bother Manning.
Justin Pugh, the Giants' first-round draft pick, didn't set out to be an offensive linemen. When he was a kid, he dreamed of stardom in a different sport. Yes, until he grew to the size he is now, Pugh thought he'd be a hockey player.
Philadelphia Eagles
Phil Sheridan writes that the success or failure of Matt Barkley, whom the Eagles picked in the fourth round, depends on the coaching he gets from Chip Kelly and his staff at the NFL level. Barkley did play better at USC earlier in his career than later, and a coaching change during his time there may have had something to do with it. So now we'll see how he clicks with Kelly.
And after the first non-Andy Reid Eagles draft in a decade and a half, Reuben Frank says his biggest takeaway was that everybody in the Eagles' braintrust seems to be pulling in the same direction for the first time in a while.
Washington Redskins
All the work the Redskins did this offseason to keep their division championship team intact -- as well as the fact that they drafted their franchise quarterback a year ago -- allowed the Redskins and Mike Shanahan to swing for the fences with their draft picks this year.
One of those swing-for-the-fences picks was third-round tight end Jordan Reed. John Keim takes a look at Reed and determines that he's not exactly a Fred Davis clone, mainly because he's not remotely a blocker.
Dallas Cowboys
So, it turns out part of the new offensive playcalling plan for the Cowboys in 2013 involves quarterback Tony Romo, who will have more input and responsibility than ever in the meeting rooms and on the field. Interesting idea, for sure, and likely not a bad one. It also helps explain why the Cowboys focused the early part of their draft so much on offense. Romo had some input on that as well.
In explaining the Cowboys' fourth-round selection of cornerback B.W. Webb, Todd Archer looks ahead to some of the salary cap concerns Dallas has at that position in the coming seasons.
New York Giants
Eli Manning likes that the Giants found offensive line help in the draft, and he's fine with the idea of having rookie Ryan Nassib as his backup as well. It's tough to find too many things that bother Manning.
Justin Pugh, the Giants' first-round draft pick, didn't set out to be an offensive linemen. When he was a kid, he dreamed of stardom in a different sport. Yes, until he grew to the size he is now, Pugh thought he'd be a hockey player.
Philadelphia Eagles
Phil Sheridan writes that the success or failure of Matt Barkley, whom the Eagles picked in the fourth round, depends on the coaching he gets from Chip Kelly and his staff at the NFL level. Barkley did play better at USC earlier in his career than later, and a coaching change during his time there may have had something to do with it. So now we'll see how he clicks with Kelly.
And after the first non-Andy Reid Eagles draft in a decade and a half, Reuben Frank says his biggest takeaway was that everybody in the Eagles' braintrust seems to be pulling in the same direction for the first time in a while.
Washington Redskins
All the work the Redskins did this offseason to keep their division championship team intact -- as well as the fact that they drafted their franchise quarterback a year ago -- allowed the Redskins and Mike Shanahan to swing for the fences with their draft picks this year.
One of those swing-for-the-fences picks was third-round tight end Jordan Reed. John Keim takes a look at Reed and determines that he's not exactly a Fred Davis clone, mainly because he's not remotely a blocker.
» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
The draft started off heavy in the NFC East, as the three teams with first-round picks this year used them on offensive linemen. And while there were a few little surprises and treats along the way, it never really got hot. All four of the division's teams had workmanlike drafts that balanced need and value and didn't stray into any of the juicy storylines. No Manti Te'o, Geno Smith or Tyrann Mathieu for us.
There was a trade-down in the first round, as the Dallas Cowboys moved out of a No. 18 spot they didn't like and still managed to get their first-round offensive lineman, while adding a third-rounder to the mix. There were two trade-ups in the fourth round, as the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants maneuvered to add quarterbacks in surprising moves. And there were the Washington Redskins, without a first-rounder but fine with it because they have Robert Griffin III, who waited it out and got two talented safeties in the late rounds for a secondary that needs rebuilding.
We'll be breaking this all down for days and weeks and months, but here's a quick early look at the way the 2013 draft went in the NFC East.
BEST MOVE
In the absence of any earth-shaking moves in the early rounds by NFC East teams, I'm going to have to go with the Eagles taking tackle Lane Johnson at No. 4. They probably could have traded down and out of the pick, but this was a draft in which six offensive linemen went in the first 11 picks, and the value of the third-best tackle with the fourth pick was worth hanging in there. After what happened to their offensive line with injuries in 2012, the Eagles were wise to load up there, taking an athletic player who can start at right tackle right away and maybe move to left tackle down the road once Jason Peters is done. It also helps that Johnson is the kind of lineman who can move. If Chip Kelly plans to run a lot of read-option, or even a lot of bubble screens, Johnson's ability to get out and block at the second level is going to be a big help.
Also considered: The Eagles' trade-up for quarterback Matt Barkley at the top of the fourth round. ... The Redskins' getting two quality safeties in the fourth and sixth rounds in Phillip Thomas and Bacarri Rambo. ... The Cowboys trading down in the first round and getting wide receiver Terrance Williams with the third-round pick they added in that deal.
RISKIEST MOVE
There weren't any real big risks taken by NFC East teams with their most valuable picks in the first and second rounds, I didn't think. So I'm going with defensive end Damontre Moore, who went to the Giants in the third round. Moore is a big-time talent with big-time production numbers in college -- 12.5 sacks last year, 26.5 over the past three. But there are good reasons a player as good as he is was still there at pick No. 81, and in Moore's case those reasons include a marijuana bust and a reputation as a young man who struggles with attitude and work ethic.
Now, Moore is just 20 years old, and it's wrong to assume anyone that age will always be what he has been so far. But Moore is the player from this draft whose job it is to bolster the future of the Giants' pass rush with Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck aging. If he's a solid citizen and produces the way he did at Texas A&M, he's going to be a steal. If he's an attitude case who doesn't take to coaching and causes problems, the Giants are going to have to keep looking for long-term solutions at defensive end in the next several drafts. A third-round pick isn't too much to risk on a player with Moore's potential, but it's a pick with which the Giants could have found help elsewhere. So if he does flop, they will regret it.
MOST SURPRISING MOVE
The Eagles pulled the surprise of Day 3, moving up three spots to the top of the fourth round, where they selected USC quarterback Matt Barkley. Most analysts were convinced Kelly would seek a fast, athletic, running quarterback when he finally pulled the trigger on that position, but Barkley was a pro-style pocket passer at USC and doesn't fit the "system" everyone seems to be assuming Kelly is determined to run now that he's in the pros. As you know if you read this blog regularly, I think that's hogwash and that Kelly is smart enough to know that the best way to coach is to find talented players and figure out the best way to coach them -- not come wading in with your own "system" and only look for players who fit it.
Kelly knows Barkley from coaching against him in college, and Barkley is a guy who a year ago was thought of as a possible No. 1 overall pick. If 2012 was just a bad year for him and he ends up being a good NFL quarterback, nobody's going to care that he can't run the read-option. For a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, which is what it cost the Eagles to move up and take him, it's a worthwhile risk. And it leaves Kelly with a lot of options at the most important position on his team as he begins his first offseason as an NFL coach.
The Giants pulled a surprise of their own later in the round, trading up six picks to select Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib to develop behind Eli Manning. The 32-year-old Manning hasn't missed a game since 2004, so it's unlikely Nassib sees the field anytime soon. But the Giants decided it was time to start thinking down the road at the position.
FILE IT AWAY
I liked the Cowboys' first round more than most people did, because I thought they absolutely needed to come out of that round with an offensive lineman, and they did. And while Travis Frederick may have been a reach at 31, reaching for an offensive lineman wasn't a bad move for this particular team in a draft in which eight offensive linemen went in the top 20 picks. They traded down from 18 and got the pick that netted Frederick and the third-round pick that netted wide receiver Terrance Williams, and they like that pair better than they liked what was available to them at 18.
But they won't have to look far to remember what might have been. The Giants took Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh at 19, which means the Cowboys could have stayed put and picked up a better-regarded lineman than Frederick (though, obviously, not also get Williams in the third). If Pugh turns out to be a great player for the Giants and Frederick flops in Dallas, the Cowboys could end up regretting the Day 1 trade-down in the long run.
The draft started off heavy in the NFC East, as the three teams with first-round picks this year used them on offensive linemen. And while there were a few little surprises and treats along the way, it never really got hot. All four of the division's teams had workmanlike drafts that balanced need and value and didn't stray into any of the juicy storylines. No Manti Te'o, Geno Smith or Tyrann Mathieu for us.
There was a trade-down in the first round, as the Dallas Cowboys moved out of a No. 18 spot they didn't like and still managed to get their first-round offensive lineman, while adding a third-rounder to the mix. There were two trade-ups in the fourth round, as the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants maneuvered to add quarterbacks in surprising moves. And there were the Washington Redskins, without a first-rounder but fine with it because they have Robert Griffin III, who waited it out and got two talented safeties in the late rounds for a secondary that needs rebuilding.
We'll be breaking this all down for days and weeks and months, but here's a quick early look at the way the 2013 draft went in the NFC East.
BEST MOVE
In the absence of any earth-shaking moves in the early rounds by NFC East teams, I'm going to have to go with the Eagles taking tackle Lane Johnson at No. 4. They probably could have traded down and out of the pick, but this was a draft in which six offensive linemen went in the first 11 picks, and the value of the third-best tackle with the fourth pick was worth hanging in there. After what happened to their offensive line with injuries in 2012, the Eagles were wise to load up there, taking an athletic player who can start at right tackle right away and maybe move to left tackle down the road once Jason Peters is done. It also helps that Johnson is the kind of lineman who can move. If Chip Kelly plans to run a lot of read-option, or even a lot of bubble screens, Johnson's ability to get out and block at the second level is going to be a big help.
Also considered: The Eagles' trade-up for quarterback Matt Barkley at the top of the fourth round. ... The Redskins' getting two quality safeties in the fourth and sixth rounds in Phillip Thomas and Bacarri Rambo. ... The Cowboys trading down in the first round and getting wide receiver Terrance Williams with the third-round pick they added in that deal.
RISKIEST MOVE
[+] Enlarge
Thomas Campbell/US PresswireDamontre Moore put up impressive numbers at Texas A&M, but he has to disspell concerns over his work ethic and attitude at the next level.
Thomas Campbell/US PresswireDamontre Moore put up impressive numbers at Texas A&M, but he has to disspell concerns over his work ethic and attitude at the next level.Now, Moore is just 20 years old, and it's wrong to assume anyone that age will always be what he has been so far. But Moore is the player from this draft whose job it is to bolster the future of the Giants' pass rush with Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck aging. If he's a solid citizen and produces the way he did at Texas A&M, he's going to be a steal. If he's an attitude case who doesn't take to coaching and causes problems, the Giants are going to have to keep looking for long-term solutions at defensive end in the next several drafts. A third-round pick isn't too much to risk on a player with Moore's potential, but it's a pick with which the Giants could have found help elsewhere. So if he does flop, they will regret it.
MOST SURPRISING MOVE
The Eagles pulled the surprise of Day 3, moving up three spots to the top of the fourth round, where they selected USC quarterback Matt Barkley. Most analysts were convinced Kelly would seek a fast, athletic, running quarterback when he finally pulled the trigger on that position, but Barkley was a pro-style pocket passer at USC and doesn't fit the "system" everyone seems to be assuming Kelly is determined to run now that he's in the pros. As you know if you read this blog regularly, I think that's hogwash and that Kelly is smart enough to know that the best way to coach is to find talented players and figure out the best way to coach them -- not come wading in with your own "system" and only look for players who fit it.
Kelly knows Barkley from coaching against him in college, and Barkley is a guy who a year ago was thought of as a possible No. 1 overall pick. If 2012 was just a bad year for him and he ends up being a good NFL quarterback, nobody's going to care that he can't run the read-option. For a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, which is what it cost the Eagles to move up and take him, it's a worthwhile risk. And it leaves Kelly with a lot of options at the most important position on his team as he begins his first offseason as an NFL coach.
The Giants pulled a surprise of their own later in the round, trading up six picks to select Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib to develop behind Eli Manning. The 32-year-old Manning hasn't missed a game since 2004, so it's unlikely Nassib sees the field anytime soon. But the Giants decided it was time to start thinking down the road at the position.
FILE IT AWAY
I liked the Cowboys' first round more than most people did, because I thought they absolutely needed to come out of that round with an offensive lineman, and they did. And while Travis Frederick may have been a reach at 31, reaching for an offensive lineman wasn't a bad move for this particular team in a draft in which eight offensive linemen went in the top 20 picks. They traded down from 18 and got the pick that netted Frederick and the third-round pick that netted wide receiver Terrance Williams, and they like that pair better than they liked what was available to them at 18.
But they won't have to look far to remember what might have been. The Giants took Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh at 19, which means the Cowboys could have stayed put and picked up a better-regarded lineman than Frederick (though, obviously, not also get Williams in the third). If Pugh turns out to be a great player for the Giants and Frederick flops in Dallas, the Cowboys could end up regretting the Day 1 trade-down in the long run.
Back to the secondary for Cowboys in 4th
April, 27, 2013
Apr 27
1:13
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
If ever the Dallas Cowboys were going to draft a quarterback and develop him behind Tony Romo, this year's fourth round would have been the time to do it. The Giants moved up to pick No. 110 to take Ryan Nassib. The Steelers took Landry Jones at No. 115. After only three quarterbacks went off the board in the first three rounds, four went in the first 18 picks Saturday.
But that's not part of the way the Cowboys operate, and so at No. 114 they decided not to join the quarterback run and instead took a cornerback -- B.W. Webb of William & Mary. Webb's a little undersized and may be best used as a nickel corner in the NFL, but that's OK because the Cowboys are set on the outside with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. Webb can contribute right away on special teams and has enough smarts, toughness and playmaking ability to potentially make an impact on defense as early as his rookie year. He's the second straight defensive back the Cowboys have taken (following third-round safety J.J. Wilcox) after they started the draft with three straight offensive players. And while he's not the defensive tackle or the running back for which some fans may have been hoping, he represents good value at a premium position, and continues a strong draft for Dallas.
But that's not part of the way the Cowboys operate, and so at No. 114 they decided not to join the quarterback run and instead took a cornerback -- B.W. Webb of William & Mary. Webb's a little undersized and may be best used as a nickel corner in the NFL, but that's OK because the Cowboys are set on the outside with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. Webb can contribute right away on special teams and has enough smarts, toughness and playmaking ability to potentially make an impact on defense as early as his rookie year. He's the second straight defensive back the Cowboys have taken (following third-round safety J.J. Wilcox) after they started the draft with three straight offensive players. And while he's not the defensive tackle or the running back for which some fans may have been hoping, he represents good value at a premium position, and continues a strong draft for Dallas.
Giants build Syracuse alumni club of N.J.
April, 27, 2013
Apr 27
1:03
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
The New York Giants made an interesting and uncharacteristic move in the fourth round of the NFL draft, trading up six spots and picking Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib with the 110th overall selection. Nassib is the second Syracuse player the Giants and Syracuse-alum head coach Tom Coughlin have taken in this year's draft, joining first-round offensive lineman Justin Pugh.
The pick seems odd, of course, because the Giants are set at quarterback with Eli Manning, who hasn't missed a game since becoming the starter in 2004 and has two Super Bowl MVP trophies. Nassib is not someone they need. But the Giants don't like to draft for need. They like to draft for value. And a potential NFL starting quarterback in the fourth round is a value pick.
Manning is 32 years old, and while there's no indication that he's anywhere near done, drafting a quarterback whose talent you like and developing him behind your secure 32-year-old Pro Bowler isn't a bad play. (The Steelers took Oklahoma's Landry Jones five picks later, in a similar move.) Nassib could compete with David Carr for the backup job right away, but more likely the Giants are looking well down the road with him as a potential Manning successor or someone they can develop in a backup role and maybe someday trade for something of significant value in a league in which quarterbacks are valuable commodities.
The Giants have yet to draft a linebacker or a cornerback -- two positions that were obvious areas of need for them when the draft began. But again, this is the fourth round, and they're not likely to find a starting linebacker or cornerback here. Nassib is a commodity for them, adding depth at the most important position, and could turn out to be a more important piece down the road.
Plus, he went to Syracuse. And the Giants clearly dig that.
The pick seems odd, of course, because the Giants are set at quarterback with Eli Manning, who hasn't missed a game since becoming the starter in 2004 and has two Super Bowl MVP trophies. Nassib is not someone they need. But the Giants don't like to draft for need. They like to draft for value. And a potential NFL starting quarterback in the fourth round is a value pick.
Manning is 32 years old, and while there's no indication that he's anywhere near done, drafting a quarterback whose talent you like and developing him behind your secure 32-year-old Pro Bowler isn't a bad play. (The Steelers took Oklahoma's Landry Jones five picks later, in a similar move.) Nassib could compete with David Carr for the backup job right away, but more likely the Giants are looking well down the road with him as a potential Manning successor or someone they can develop in a backup role and maybe someday trade for something of significant value in a league in which quarterbacks are valuable commodities.
The Giants have yet to draft a linebacker or a cornerback -- two positions that were obvious areas of need for them when the draft began. But again, this is the fourth round, and they're not likely to find a starting linebacker or cornerback here. Nassib is a commodity for them, adding depth at the most important position, and could turn out to be a more important piece down the road.
Plus, he went to Syracuse. And the Giants clearly dig that.
A little less than two hours remain before the resumption of the NFL draft with the second round, in which the Philadelphia Eagles hold the third pick. Only one quarterback went in Thursday's first round, and it was Florida State's E.J. Manuel, on whom the Eagles some thought the Eagles might have their eye as a second-round option. West Virginia's Geno Smith, who'd been projected as the top quarterback in this year's draft, remains on the board. And the Eagles, whose long-range quarterback situation is unsettled, could pick him if he's still there when it's their turn tonight.
But there are questions:
Most of the Smith-to-Philadelphia speculation has rested on the notion that Smith's speed and athleticism are a fit for the up-tempo offense everybody expects Kelly to run. But I don't really think Kelly works that way. I think, if Kelly picks Smith, it's because he thinks Smith has what it takes to be a long-term franchise quarterback -- not just a Kelly-style quarterback, but an NFL winner for years to come. Smith flashed that kind of ability in college, but the reason he didn't get to put someone's cap on Thursday night is because he didn't flash it consistently enough. If Kelly believes in Smith's ability and makeup, he could draft him, sit him for a year (or part of a year) behind Vick and trust in his and his staff's ability to develop and get the best out of him for the long-term.
But the same could be said for Matt Barkley or Ryan Nassib or any of the other quarterbacks who weren't taken Thursday night, and there's little reason for any of us to assume we know that Kelly likes Smith better than he likes one of those guys. So that's what I'm watching for with the Eagles tonight in the second and third rounds -- whether they like Smith or any of the other available quarterbacks well enough to spend a still-early pick on him or make a move to get him. If they do that, you'll know they consider the guy a possible cornerstone, and not a gimmick.
But there are questions:
- Can they? The Eagles might not get the chance to take Smith, as Jacksonville holds the first pick of the second round and also could stand to upgrade at quarterback. It's also possible that a team picking later in the round (Jets?) could try to trade up with either Jacksonville or San Francisco, which holds the second pick tonight, and take Smith before the Eagles have a chance. I doubt the Eagles will look to trade up one or two spots to make sure they get Smith, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't take him if he fell into their laps.
- Should they? Michael Vick looks like the 2013 starter. Nick Foles, who started six games last year after Vick got hurt, is still on the roster. And they also have veteran backup Dennis Dixon, whose final year at Oregon was Eagles coach Chip Kelly's first year as the Ducks' offensive coordinator. They don't need a quarterback for 2013, per se, and if Vick thrives under Kelly or Foles turns out to be the long-term answer, they may not need one at all. In that case, they'd be better off drafting a defensive starter this high.
- Will they? No way to know this, obviously, but I have a feeling that if Smith were that important to the Eagles they'd have traded back up into the tail end of the first round Thursday to jump Jacksonville and make sure to get him. I wouldn't be surprised to see Philadelphia pick Smith if he were there at No. 35, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see them pass on him and look to a later-round option like Arizona's Matt Scott for their quarterback pick this year.
Most of the Smith-to-Philadelphia speculation has rested on the notion that Smith's speed and athleticism are a fit for the up-tempo offense everybody expects Kelly to run. But I don't really think Kelly works that way. I think, if Kelly picks Smith, it's because he thinks Smith has what it takes to be a long-term franchise quarterback -- not just a Kelly-style quarterback, but an NFL winner for years to come. Smith flashed that kind of ability in college, but the reason he didn't get to put someone's cap on Thursday night is because he didn't flash it consistently enough. If Kelly believes in Smith's ability and makeup, he could draft him, sit him for a year (or part of a year) behind Vick and trust in his and his staff's ability to develop and get the best out of him for the long-term.
But the same could be said for Matt Barkley or Ryan Nassib or any of the other quarterbacks who weren't taken Thursday night, and there's little reason for any of us to assume we know that Kelly likes Smith better than he likes one of those guys. So that's what I'm watching for with the Eagles tonight in the second and third rounds -- whether they like Smith or any of the other available quarterbacks well enough to spend a still-early pick on him or make a move to get him. If they do that, you'll know they consider the guy a possible cornerstone, and not a gimmick.
Dallas Cowboys
After Jay Ratliff's DWI arrest -- in an incident that took place less than two months and just a few miles from where teammate Jerry Brown lost his life in a drunken-driving accident involving a car driven by Cowboy Josh Brent -- Todd Archer writes that the nose tackle "should not wear a Cowboys uniform again."
In his strongest comments yet about the Cowboys' play-calling situation, owner and general manager Jerry Jones implied to reporters at the Senior Bowl that coach Jason Garrett would no longer call the team's offensive plays and that offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Callahan would take over that role.
Callahan, meanwhile, responded to charges that, as their head coach, he "sabotaged" the Oakland Raiders' chances in Super Bowl XXVII, calling Tim Brown's allegations "ludicrous and defamatory."
New York Giants
Ohm Youngmisuk takes a quick look at the Giants' five biggest contracts.
At a charity event Tuesday night, Justin Tuck promised better things in 2013, and weighed in on the predicament of Manti Te'o, whom Tuck helped recruit to Notre Dame.
Philadelphia Eagles
At practices in Mobile, Ala., ahead of Saturday's Senior Bowl, new coach Chip Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman met with Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib -- who's from the Philadelphia area and is an Eagles season-ticket holder. Nassib's take, per the Inquirer: "That was cool as hell."
Kelly likes to play fast. How fast? Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News breaks it down. "The average NFL team ran 64 plays per game in 2012. The Eagles, the sixth-fastest team in the league, averaged 67 plays. The Patriots -- schooled by Kelly and, by far, the fastest-paced team in the NFL -- averaged 74 plays per game. Oregon last year? Try 81 plays per game."
Washington Redskins
Alfred Morris gets some love from the Examiner's John Keim after his breakout season in Keim's running back position review.
With all of the success Washington had on offense this past season, questions remain heading into the offseason because of Robert Griffin III's knee injury.
After Jay Ratliff's DWI arrest -- in an incident that took place less than two months and just a few miles from where teammate Jerry Brown lost his life in a drunken-driving accident involving a car driven by Cowboy Josh Brent -- Todd Archer writes that the nose tackle "should not wear a Cowboys uniform again."
In his strongest comments yet about the Cowboys' play-calling situation, owner and general manager Jerry Jones implied to reporters at the Senior Bowl that coach Jason Garrett would no longer call the team's offensive plays and that offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Callahan would take over that role.
Callahan, meanwhile, responded to charges that, as their head coach, he "sabotaged" the Oakland Raiders' chances in Super Bowl XXVII, calling Tim Brown's allegations "ludicrous and defamatory."
New York Giants
Ohm Youngmisuk takes a quick look at the Giants' five biggest contracts.
At a charity event Tuesday night, Justin Tuck promised better things in 2013, and weighed in on the predicament of Manti Te'o, whom Tuck helped recruit to Notre Dame.
Philadelphia Eagles
At practices in Mobile, Ala., ahead of Saturday's Senior Bowl, new coach Chip Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman met with Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib -- who's from the Philadelphia area and is an Eagles season-ticket holder. Nassib's take, per the Inquirer: "That was cool as hell."
Kelly likes to play fast. How fast? Rich Hofmann of the Philadelphia Daily News breaks it down. "The average NFL team ran 64 plays per game in 2012. The Eagles, the sixth-fastest team in the league, averaged 67 plays. The Patriots -- schooled by Kelly and, by far, the fastest-paced team in the NFL -- averaged 74 plays per game. Oregon last year? Try 81 plays per game."
Washington Redskins
Alfred Morris gets some love from the Examiner's John Keim after his breakout season in Keim's running back position review.
With all of the success Washington had on offense this past season, questions remain heading into the offseason because of Robert Griffin III's knee injury.
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