NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
No surprise that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave new head coach Wade Phillips a present with the team’s first pick. The Cowboys took Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer in the first round and he is an outstanding all-around player who improved every year he played for Joe Tiller and the Boilermakers. He could be a difference maker in his rookie season. Offensive tackle James Marten is a typical Boston College lineman who has size and strength and a nasty streak.
Grade: B

New York Giants
New general manager Jerry Reese has his hands filled with this job, as he is inheriting a team that is loaded with holes. The selection of cornerback Aaron Ross in the first round was excellent. He is a great talent with all the measurables. The Giants had a desperate need at wide receiver and USC’s Steve Smith is a great choice. Penn State defensive tackle Jay Alford is a nice third-round addition with heart and relentlessness.
Grade: A-

Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles went for Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb way too early, but he does have the skill set to become a fine West Coast quarterback. Notre Dame defensive end Victor Abiamiri is not very quick, but he is powerful and dependable. Third-round running back Tony Hunt could become one of the great surprises of this draft. He is a tough inside runner with the power to break through arm tackles.
Grade: B-

Washington Redskins
Safety LaRon Landry was clearly the best at his position in the draft and he will form a stunning duo with hard-hitting Sean Taylor. If Landry can make a quick adjustment to life in the NFL, the Redskins have a chance to turn their defensive identity around. Owner Daniel Snyder won’t have another pick until the fifth round and that’s a major problem for this inconsistent team.
Grade: C

NFC North
Chicago Bears
The defending NFC champions broke form and drafted a tight end in the first round for the first time since they took Mike Ditka in 1961. Greg Olsen does not have much of a pedigree as a blocker, but he can stretch the defense and make the difficult catch. With a quarterback like Rex Grossman throwing him the ball, that’s just what he will have to do. Defensive end Dan Bazuin will give the Bears excellent depth on the line and could play a key role if Alex Brown is traded. Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe is the perfect complement to power back Cedric Benson. He could steal the job if Benson doesn’t play consistently.
Grade: B+

Detroit Lions
The selection of Calvin Johnson should give the Lions an elite receiver. Of course, they thought they had taken big-time playmakers when they selected Charles Rogers and Mike Williams. Johnson has the size, strength, speed and hunger to dominate. Drew Stanton can hop on the bus to get from East Lansing to Detroit. While he has size and athleticism, Stanton lacked consistency and great arm strength while playing for the Spartans. Defensive end Ikaika Alma-Francis of Hawaii and safety Gerald Alexander of Boise State are average at best.
Grade: C+

Green Bay Packers
Defensive tackle Justin Harrell is a solid run stuffer but anything he gives the Packers in the pass rush will be a bonus. Nebraska running back Brandon Jackson plays with effort and attitude, but lacks special characteristics. Green Bay appears to have reached quite a bit in taking him in the second round. On the positive side, third-round pick James Rouse of Virginia Tech is a big-time hitter who can make receivers sorry they went over the middle.
Grade: C-

Minnesota Vikings
Head coach Brad Childress may not have the skills to be a winning coach in the NFL, but he has given himself a chance to establish a powerful running game with Adrian Peterson. The speedy Oklahoma runner reminds some scouts of Eric Dickerson, but that upright style could leave him vulnerable to injury. WR Sidney Rice is a boom-or-bust type with speed and great leaping ability. He can make the difficult catch, but he also is known to drop a few easy ones.
Grade: B

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