2021 NFL Draft Grades: NFC East Overall Grades
A review and ranking of each NFC East Franchise’s 2021 NFL Draft selections.
The exciting three-day 2021 NFL Draft event is now over and Franchises are moving one step closer to finalizing their rosters before the 2021 NFL season. The Draft provides an opportunity for teams to have young players come in and compete for a role and or a spot on the team. Drafting the right players who can eventually or immediately contribute is the key to building a solid foundation for every NFL Franchise’s future.
With all this in mind, we’ll be taking a look at the four teams in the NFC East division, and rank them all based on their draft grades that are given.
Please note, this will be the first of an 8-series review of the 2021 NFL Draft, so stay tuned for the other 7 NFL division reviews. The grading scale for this review will be 1–10 (10 being the best and 1 being the worst). Each Franchise in this article will be ranked from best to worst.
2021 NFL Draft Review:
1. Dallas Cowboys
Draft Picks:
Penn State LB Micah Parsons (12th Overall), Kentucky CB Kelvin Joseph (44th Overall), UCLA DT Osa Odighizuwa (75th Overall), Iowa DE Chauncey Golston (84th Overall), Oregon State CB Nahshon Wright (99th Overall), LSU LB Jabril Cox (115th Overall), Marshall OT Josh Ball (138th Overall), Stanford WR Simi Fehoko (179th Overall), Kentucky DT Quinton Bohanna (192nd Overall), South Carolina CB Israel Mukuamu (227th Overall), Wisconsin OG Matt Farniok (238th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 8.5/10
Summary:
The Cowboys got the best defensive player in the entire Draft. On that alone, they get the highest Draft Grade for the NFC East. However, their later picks are intriguing as well. Kelvin Joseph and Osa Odighizuwa should compete for Starting jobs right away.
Jabril Cox, Josh Ball, and Israel Mukuamu will all be solid contributors. I’m surprised Mukuamu dropped all the way down to the 6th Round. He’s a great late-round value pick and it wouldn’t surprise me if he develops into a Pro-Bowler.
2. Washington Football Team
Draft Picks:
Kentucky LB Jamin Davis (19th Overall), Texas OT Samuel Cosmi (51st Overall), Minnesota CB Benjamin St-Juste (74th Overall), UNC WR Dyami Brown (82nd Overall), Boise State TE John Bates (124th Overall), Cincinnati S Darrick Forrest (163rd Overall), Michigan LS Camaron Cheeseman (225th Overall), Baylor LB William Bradley-King (240th Overall), Penn State DE Shaka Toney (246th Overall), BYU WR Dax Milne (258th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 8/10
Summary:
Though Jamin Davis was a bit of a reach in the 1st Round, he’ll fit nicely in Ron Rivera’s Defensive Scheme. Washington added some solid receiving options in Dyami Brown and John Bates. Bates is a great value pick. He’s a 6'6 tough-built, pass-catching Tight End that can run-block as well.
Samuel Cosmi will add some stability to the Offensive Line. He’s better than where he was drafted. In almost any other Draft, Cosmi is a 1st Round pick, but because of the run on Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers, he fell out of Round 1.
Drafting a Long Snapper was a bit odd, but getting a developmental camp body like Shaka Toney to possibly compete for a backup Defensive End position was a great choice.
3. New York Giants
Draft Picks:
Florida WR Kadarius Toney (20th Overall), Georgia DE Azeez Ojulari (50th Overall), UCF CB Aaron Robinson (71st Overall), Northern Iowa OLB/DE Elerson Smith (116th Overall), Arizona RB Gary Brightwell (196th Overall), Oklahoma State CB Rodarius Williams (201st Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 7.5/10
Summary:
New York addressed all their needs on Draft night, but nothing too flashy. They traded down with Chicago in the 1st Round to get the 20th Overall Pick and selected Kadarius Toney. In theory, Toney is a future Pro-Bowl caliber Receiver that can play in the Slot or on the Outside.
Toney can also return punts and kickoffs. However, he has injury concerns and other red flags. If he can stay healthy, his speed and ability to get open will add a huge boost to New York’s Wide Receiver core and second-year Quarterback Daniel Jones.
The additions of Azeez Ojulari and Aaron Robinson are steals for where they were drafted. Ojulari is a 1st Round caliber Prospect that shockingly fell to the Giants in the middle of the 2nd Round. Elerson Smith is another solid Edge Rusher that will compete for playing time early and often in his Rookie season.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Draft Picks:
Alabama WR DeVonta Smith (10th Overall), Alabama OG Landon Dickerson (37th Overall), Louisiana Tech DT Milton Williams (73rd Overall), Texas Tech CB Zech McPhearson (123rd Overall), Memphis RB Kenneth Gainwell (150th Overall), USC DT Marlon Tuipulto (189th Overall), Coastal Carolina DE Tarron Jackson (191st Overall), LSU S JaCoby Stevens (224th Overall), Tulane LB Patrick Johnson (234th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 6.5/10
Summary:
Philly reached and foolishly traded up for the most overrated Wide Receiver Prospect in the Draft. Landon Dickerson is a mean and nasty inside Lineman that will be a starter and Kenny Gainwell at 150th Overall was a steal. There were some possible late-round gems as well.
Marlon Tuipulto is a run-stuffing D-Lineman that can drop back in coverage as well. JaCoby Stevens is a hard-hitting safety that can rush the Quarterback as well. He dropped in the draft because of his inconsistency in man coverage.
Jeffrey Genao is a Writer and Contributor for Top Level Sports, Basketball University, and Kitchen Tales. You can read more of his Content at Top Level Sports, Basketball University, Kitchen Tales, and the Official Basketball University website https://officialbballuniversity.com/author/jeffrey-genao/.
