2014 NFL Draft Grades: NFC East

In 2013, Chip Kelly took his up tempo, high octane offense to the top of the standings in the NFC East, but in a tightly bunched division, a good draft can make a big difference as to who goes to the playoffs and who stays home. Dallas Cowboys: B Best Pick: Zack Martin Late Round Sleeper: Anthony Hitchens and Ahmad Dixon Dallas resisted the temptation of drafting Johnny Manziel and took the highly regarded and versatile offensive lineman in Zack Martin. Martin can slip into the left guard position between their last two top picks in Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick to form a solid offensive line to protect Tony Romo and open holes for DeMarco Murray. The Cowboys traded up to pick Demarcus Lawrence, who is expected to fill the hole left my Demarcus Ware as their top pass rusher. Hitchens and Dixon both have the opportunity to play for a defense that was one of the worst statistically in the NFL last year. New York Giants: B Best Pick: Weston Richburg Late Round Sleeper: Andre Williams The Giants could not overcome an 0-6 start and are looking to regain their footing at the top of the NFC East. 1st Round Pick Odell Beckham gives Eli Manning a new target and Beckham is an explosive kick returner. Richburg looks to anchor the offensive line for years to come. Third Rounder Jay Bromley looks to plug the middle on defense. Late Round Sleeper Williams looks to move into the backfield rotation and add depth to the running game. Philadelphia: C+ Best Pick: Jordan Matthews Late Round Sleepers: Ed Reynolds and jaylen Watkins The Eagles perhaps reached a bit in the first round for Marcus Smith, but Chip Kelly knows that you have to get to the quarterback in the NFL, and Smith can do just that. But they may have been able to get him later in the draft. Matthews, along with third round pick Josh Huff, look to fill the hole left by the departure of Desean Jackson. A late round sleeper looks to be Ed Reynolds at the safety position along with Jaylen Watkins at cornerback. The Eagles defense spends a lot of time on the field because the offense scores so quickly and both players could move into the rotation in the secondary. Washington: B Best Pick: Morgan Moses Late Round Sleeper: Lache Seastrunk The Redskins did not have a first round pick because of the trade for Robert Griffin III two years ago, and after trading down Washington was able to get a first round talent in DE/LB Trent Murphy. Murphy plays along the lines of Ryan Kerrigan and Brain Orakpo, and he is as tough minded pass rusher off the edge. Moses fall to their laps in Round 3 and he could move into the starting lineup on the right side of the offensive line. Seastrunk could be a late round sleeper pick as a change of pace back paired up with Alfred Morris, who can take a lot of pressure off Griffin and keep the franchise quarterback healthy.

TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades: NFC East

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, my vacation is over and it's time to hand out grades to the teams. I posted in a blog earlier this draft season that without the big names at the top, with loads of depth and with players at 15-35-55 that would wind up having similar talent and value, that it would be tough for any team to really screw up their draft. I was right on that point. I was wrong on my very early prediction that 5 quarterbacks would go in the first round. For this year, Panic In The Draft Room did not take over. But it did hit in Round 4. The quarterbacks in this draft may end up being quality players, but teams went for what they saw as the moer sure thing and waited to take the signal callers. When Round 4 came around, the quarterbacks went off the board. But 2013 was all about The Big Uglies. 6 offensive lineman taken in the first 11 picks. 3 defensive lineman in the first 6 picks. Even Travis Frederick, seen by many as a third round pick, went in Round 1 to Dallas. No running backs selected in the first round, and only one quarterback. What in the name of Russell Erxlaben is going on here? My team draft grades will be followed by key selections and sleeper picks. So here is the TMG DraftZone team grades for the 2013 NFL Draft, starting with the NFC East: NFC East Dallas: C Gavin Escobar (TE) Joseph Randle (RB) Frederick will move into the center position and plug up the revolving door there, but he could have been gotten in late Round 2 or even Round 3. Escobar will give Tony Romo an excellent target, and Randle could get his chance to carry the ball if the Dallas backs keep getting injured. NY Giants: B+ Johnathon Hankins (DT) Damontre Moore (DE) New York looked to shore up their offensive line with the pick of Justin Pugh. His running mate from Syracuse, quarterback Ryan Nassib, may not get much of a chance to play but he gives the Giants a solid backup to Eli Manning. Hankins is a load who can tie up the middle of the defensive line and free up the Giants pass rush from the ends. And if Moore plays like the one who racked up 12 sacks last year at Texas A&M instead of the player who looked like he took his future for granted at the combine, he could have a big impact down the road. Philadelphia: A- Matt Barkley (QB) Jordan Poyer (CB) The Chip Kelly Era starts with the building block of the most athletic tackle in the draft with Lane Johnson. Zack Ertz will give the Eagles quarterback a big target down the middle, and I believe that the quarterback who will be throwing the ball to Ertz, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and others will be Barkley. I don't believe he will begni the year as the starter, but I can see Barkley finishing the year taking snaps. Jordan Poyer was seen as an early round pick, and he fell all the way to the seventh round. With the Eagles porous pass defense, Poyer could get a chance early. Washington: B David Amerson (CB) Phillip Thomas (S) Washington surrendered their first round pick last year to move up and take Robert Griffin III, and that move worked out very well as the Redskins won the NFC East. Washington beefed up their pass defense early and often with the picks of David Amerson in Round 2 and later on with Phillip Thomas in Round 4. Jordan Reed gives Griffin another target to throw to when he finally learns that he will last a lot longer in the NFL by not running as much as he did last year.

NFC East Draft Grades: New York Giants

The New York Giants missed out on the 2010 NFL Playoffs by the slimmest of margins. Looking back, if they had punted away from DeSean Jackson and defeated the Eagles, they would have had the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC. The team that claimed that spot-Green Bay.

With the 19th pick, the Giants were looking to upgrade the running game or offensive line. But one of the top players in the draft fell to them, so it was a no-brainer to select Prince Amukamara in the first round. With the emphasis on the passing game, you can't have enough good cover corners. Amukamara was seen as a Top 10 talent, and the Giants got a gift in the first round.

Then New York got another in Round 2, when Marvin Austin was sitting there for the taking. Despite not playing at North Carolina in 2010 due to NCAA Violations, Austin was seen as a late first round pick, and I think more people were surprised that he was the 52nd pick than what would have been if he had been the 25th pick. Austin is a great fit for the Giants defensive scheme, and I can see him moving into the starting lineup by the end of the season.

The Giants got a speed receiver in Round 3 by selecting Jerrel Jernigan out of Troy. Small but very quick, Jernigan looks to be an excellent complimentary receiver to line up with Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith.

Two late round sleepers for the Giants look to be James Brewer, a tackle selected in the fourth round out of Indiana, and Greg Jones, a middle linebacker taken in Round 6 out of Michigan State. Brewer is an athletic giant of a right tackle, standing 6'8 and weighing 330 pounds. Jones is a productive player in the middle of the defense, and his leadership qualities can not be overlooked.

Draft Grade: A

Draft Grades: New York Giants

The hallmark of the New York Giants has been defense. In 2009, the defense fell apart and ranked near the worst in the league. A 5-0 start was wasted and the Giants were left looking in when the playoffs came around.

The pass rush was addressed with the selection of Jason Pierre-Paul, the defensive end out of South Florida. His athletic skills have drawn comparisons to Jevon Kearse, but he is far from a finished product and will need work. The interior of the defensive line was the focus in the second round, as the Giants picked Linval Joseph, a big run stuffer at defensive tackle.

The only offensive player selected was Nick Petrus, a guard with the athletic ability to move across the line and get downfield to block.

Chad Jones, a safety out of LSU, was taken in the third round, and he is also a valued special teams player. A late round sleeper can be found in Phillip Dillard, a linebacker out of Nebraska. His role was limited in college, but he has the chance to blossom with the Giants.

Draft Grade: B-