2021 Day One Draft Grades: NFC East
How did your favourite NFC East team do one day one of the draft?
Dallas Cowboys: A+
Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State: The Cowboys probably wanted to draft a corner with the 10th overall pick. When both of the corners that corresponded with that range of picks were gone, they moved down only two spots and got a third-round pick out of it. Parsons is also a pretty versatile linebacker that can fit in nicely with Dallas’ defence. Parsons and Vander Esch could become one of the great linebacker duos in the league. I’m not sure what else you could ask for on day one.
Philadelphia Eagles: A+
Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama: The Eagles have been having receiver trouble for a few years now. Smith fixes that problem. The 2020 Heisman Winner is a guy that can win at every level and will help Jalen Hurts transition to the role of full-time starter. It also doesn’t hurt that the Eagles get to play the Cowboys and their notoriously weak secondary twice a year. Smith is going to be a problem.
New York Giants: A+
Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida: There’s no doubt that the Giants wanted Devonta Smith badly. After the Eagles hopped up to grab him though, the Giants made the best of a bad situation. They moved down 9 spots for a bunch of picks (including a first-rounder) and still got a very good pass-catcher in Toney. Daniel Jones probably would have been happier if Smith had been on his way to New York today, but Toney is not too shabby of a pick either.
Washington Football Team: C-
Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky: Almost had the queen sweep for the NFC East… It’s really too bad. Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t hate Davis. It’s just that there were so many other (better) directions they could have gone with this pick. Darrisaw, Jenkins and JOK were all still on the board, all of which would have been better options. Usually, this kind of random but not awful pick would be around a C or C+ in my books, but not when you could’ve addressed more glaring needs instead.
