NFC Draft Performance Assessments

These are not draft grades. They are Draft Performance Assessments (DPAs). They are like draft grades, but 3000% better because they accurately reflect how subjective and superficial this whole process is they have a fancy name and a scientific veneer. Plus sub-categories; some readers actually find those helpful.

The AFC DPAs will be published on Tuesday.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Improved Roster: A

Used Resources Well: A-

Met Needs: A

The Cowboys are always at their nimblest in the early rounds of a draft, when Jerrah can drink Scotch, hobnob with dignitaries and grandstand while Stephen Jones and long-suffering functionaries like Todd Williams and Will McClay do all the real work.

Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence represent an outstanding talent infusion for the Cowboys defense. The Cowboys also used a pair of first-round trades to jockey themselves into some extra fourth-round picks, which they turned into Drew Shelton (developmental offensive lineman who struggled against top B1G edge rushers), Devin Moore (your basic Tall Guy seventh defensive back) and LT Overton (a rugged rotation piece on the D-line who was highly rated on some media boards).

Veteran LB Dee Winters, acquired for a fifth-round pick, will be an immediate starter at a position of desperate need. Third-round pick Jaishawn Barham could be a fun, toolsy project; Winters’ arrival gave the Cowboys the luxury of getting a little cute.

This was a solid draft weekend that could catapult the Cowboys defense from last in the NFL into the middle of the pack, which in turn could make them a serious playoff team. Keep taxing the Cowboys for the Micah Parsons trade if you like, but they have enjoyed some healthy ROI. (Remember: Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams are among the Parsons dividends.)

Those seeking the usual Cowboys incompetence/hilarity should check back in throughout the summer for George Pickens updates. Final DPA: A

New York Giants

Improved Roster: A+

Used Resources Well: C

Met Needs: C-

The Giants didn’t need another edge-rusher-shaped defender like Arvell Reese, and the condition of their offensive line is no longer critical. But Reese, one of the best players in this draft class, can play linebacker while John Harbaugh sorts out an incumbent logjam, while Francis Mauigoa, the safest plug ‘n’ play lineman, can start out at guard before eventually replacing Jermaine Eluemunor. A lesser team, like the Giants for much of the last decade, would have drafted for need. (Though, in fairness, former GM Dave Gettleman would totally have also selected a Reese/Mauigoa Hog Mollie sandwich.) CB Colton Hood is a high-upside addition to a work-in-progress secondary.

Trading up for Malachi Fields was a blunder. The cost was steep (fourth- and fifth-rounders this year, a fourth-rounder next year), and Fields is a lumbering jump-baller who will soon be seen on Sundays running stride-for-stride with Quinyon Mitchell as footballs sail over their heads. With Malik Nabers on a longer-than-expected injury timetable and already chirping like a true WR1, the Giants should have invested in their receiver corps sooner and more judiciously. They also could have used those extra Day Three picks on some Harbaugh Guys.

The Giants also traded Dexter Lawrence, of course, weakening a run defense that ranked 32nd in DVOA last year. Reese and Hood won’t help the run defense much.

This was a two step forward, one step backward weekend for the Giants, who are thoroughly remodeling their roster and culture and would like everyone to postpone any “playoff sleeper” notice until 2027. Final DPA: B

Philadelphia Eagles

Improved Roster: A-

Used Resources Well: B

Met Roster Needs: C+

Met Emotional Needs: Impossible.

Soon after joining the Eagles on Friday night, trade acquisition Jonathan Greenard attended a 76ers game with Big Dom, Philly’s designated problematic uncle. Greenard then kissed Gritty, ran up the art museum steps, ate a Dalessandro’s cheesesteak and signed the Declaration of Independence. Soon he will move to Washington Township and start complaining that he cannot find good Italian rolls at the local supermarket. The Philly Initiation Ritual gets more complicated every year.

Greenard may also have been given A.J. Brown’s parking space. Meeting Nick Sirianni, however, was put off until the last possible moment to prevent any second thoughts.

I’m not sure what Greenard offers that departed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips didn’t; it may have been a matter of having fewer HowieBucks on hand in March than now, when you-know-who has been secretly traded to you-know-where. Howie Roseman has spent a lot of money and mid-round picks on securing a marquee edge rusher. Maybe the Eagles should have just paid Josh Sweat.

The Eagles gave Jalen Hurts a bouquet of slot receivers as a condolence/celebration gift for losing Brown. The message behind the Makai Lemon/Eli Stowers selections and the Dontayvion Wicks trade is clear: start throwing underneath to slot receivers with some consistency or else start pricing real estate around Phoenix in 2027. But it’s not like the Eagles poked their franchise quarterback by drafting some Ty Simpson or Drew Allar. Right???