Draft Day Needs: NFC East by Chris Brophy 23/4/2008
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys are in a nice possible where no need is desperate but they do need to pick up people who can contribute for some of the spot starters they lost in free agency and they also have areas of the roster where age is becoming a concern. With that in mind, the three biggest ‘needs’ for Dallas appear to be WR, CB and RB. At wide receiver, TO is in the last year of his deal and Terry Glenn is aging and has injury concerns. 2009 could see both out of Big D so slowly blooding a newcomer a year early should appeal. A compliment to Marion Barber is needed too because of Julius Jones’s departure. Defensively, Jacques Reeves moved on in free agency so a corner who can be involved in the DB heavy packages would be a useful addition. Lower picks can be used on development projects and depth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a low round QB added given back-up QB Brad Johnson’s age. New York Giants: They are the Super Bowl Champs… what could they need? As it happens, they do have some serious needs. The secondary, which to be fair, played really well down the stretch, has seen some free agent losses and carries age/performance concerns. Only Aaron Ross looks to have a long-term future here so both corner and safety are areas that should see early action on from the Giants. Staying with the defense, linebacker also needs some attention, both Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor moved on so if an impact player is there early, it will certainly get the Giants attention. A lesser concern but one that could well be addressed is left tackle. David Diehl did a solid job but if an elite tackle prospect slipped to the bottom of the first round, the Giants might just think about taking a look. In the lower rounds, I expect to see a WR come on board at some point, someone who can spend a year learning from Amani Toomer before he possibly departs the NY scene. Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles don’t have needs that jump out and scream and people but they do have a number of ways to go so can allow the draft to develop and react how they see fit. I’m not one of these people who believes WR is a massive need, apart from the TO era, the Eagles have always managed with lots of bodies at the position rather than a standout dominating it. That said, WR is still an option. More likely is an addition on the lines. Offensively, both starting tackles (Runyan and Thomas) are high in mileage and defensively, they got rid of Jevon Kearse and have an ageing Darren Howard. Both lines should see an injection of youth by the Eagles on draft day. Linebacker is another position which will be considered for some early additions. They already have some good young players at the position but lack depth and also ended Takeo Spikes’s time with the team. Lower round picks could well be spent on a RB, giving an option behind Westbrook given Buckhalter has had injury problems in the past and at safety, where the great Brian Dawkins is getting closer to the end. Washington Redskins: The Redskins have to address age along both sets of lines and injury concerns at linebacker and cornerback. Every starter on the Skins OL is 30 or over and Jon Jansen is coming off another bad injury so replacements need to start being brought in and allowed to develop behind the aging vets. Both a tackle and interior OL prospect should be added. Defensively, age concerns aren’t quite as bad as they do have some younger contributors but an impact player would make this a better unit as it currently features a lot of solid or one-dimensional players. Rocky McIntosh and Carlos Rogers are both coming off serious knee injuries and even if they can go in 2008, they may not be 100% or able to go as many downs as the team would like so additions at either linebacker or cornerback are possible because of this. A physical presence at WR is also required but is a need I feel that is being made a meal of although a pick somewhere should be spent on the position. At the back end of the draft, expect Jim Zorn to want the team to add a QB project that he feels will fit his offensive style, just in case Jason Campbell can’t take the next step.
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