NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
The selection of Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback in the fourth round is an experiment. They want to see if Stanback can use his athletic ability to make it as a wide receiver. Big offensive tackle Doug Free from Northern Illinois plays with great strength and could make a decent contribution as a run blocker. Illinois cornerback Alan Ball is a willing player with decent athletic ability, but may be too skinny to survive in the NFL because he is rail thin.
Grade: C

N.Y. Giants
After a great first day, the Giants made another solid selection in the fourth round when they took Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie. Forget about the Ivy League pedigree, DeOssie will be a special teams demon from the start and will eventually make a big contribution as a linebacker. Safety Michael Johnson of Arizona has fine ball skills and the long arms needed to make plays to make last minute deflections. He’s not much help in run support but he could become a role player for Coughlin.
Grade: A-

Philadelphia Eagles
This appears to be the most ordinary of drafts for Andy Reid and they didn’t appear to gain much in terms of need or athleticism. The best selection was probably the choice of Penn State running back Tony Hunt in the third round. Tight end Brent Celek of Cincinnati has fine receiving skills. However, the fifth round choice may have a hard time getting off the bench because he is a major liability as a blocker.
Grade: C-

Washington Redskins
After taking hard-hitting safety LaRon Landry in the first round, the Redskins had no picks at all until the fifth round when they selected USC outside linebacker Dallas Sartz. The Redskins came up with three winners in rounds six and seven. Linebacker H.B. Blades is a knockout hitter reminiscent of his father, former Lion Bennie Blades. Texas-El Paso quarterback Jordan Palmer is the younger brother of the Bengals’ Carson Palmer. While he does not have his older brother’s gun, he has the skills to be a solid NFL cornerback. Tight end Tyler Ecker of Michigan has good receiving skills and desire but lacks size.
Grade: C+

NFC North
Chicago Bears
After hitting a home run with tight end Greg Olsen in the first round — Chicago’s only first-round tight end since Mike Ditka was picked in 1961 — general manager Jerry Angelo got into his element on Day Two. Angelo has been quite successful with his late-round picks and he has some intriguing picks this year. Fourth-round choice Josh Beekman of Boston College is an aggressive guard who is on the short side but very powerful and would appear to have a good chance at winning the battle. New Hampshire cornerback Corey Graham understands the position and has very good speed and size. He has the talent to become a productive player but his technique needs quite a bit of work.
Grade: B

Detroit Lions
The Lions came out with the best athlete and most talented player in the draft with the selection of Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. However, Matt Millen passed on Brady Quinn and the feeling here is that it will be yet another decision that the Lion general manager comes to regret. Millen’s second-day picks were ordinary with the exception of Texas Tech offensive guard Manuel Ramirez, a huge man who handled Louisville’s Amobi Okoye at the senior bowl.
Grade: C

Green Bay Packers
The Packers may have done more on the second day than any other team in the league. They had seven second-day picks and they may be able to get contributions from all of them Offensive tackle Allen Barbre of Missouri Southern dominated defensive ends in Division II and has excellent size and instincts for the position. Making the jump to the NFL will be a major challenge. Boise State inside linebacker Korey Hall has average size and isn’t very quick but simply does not miss tackles. Florida running back Deshawn Wynn looks like a stud NFL running back because he has the strength and 4.49 speed. However, he has not played to that level.
Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings
The selections of big-play specialists Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice in the first two rounds were impressive, but the Vikings failed to address their needs at quarterback. Drafting Tyler Thigpen of Coastal Carolina in sixth round simply isn’t enough. Rufus Alexander was selected in the sixth round out of Oklahoma and he is an interesting prospect who has quickness and instincts to make plays on the ball. However, he lacks size and may not be strong enough.
Grade: C+

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