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Gosselin's grades: Cowboys' draft average


03:19 AM CDT on Monday, May 1, 2006


With the 2006 NFL draft in the books, The Dallas Morning News' NFL beat writer Rick Gosselin got out his red pen to mark up the selections, team-by-team. Following are his annual grades, based on the weekend's picks:


NFC EAST
Dallas: The Cowboys addressed all their needs: size in the front defensive seven, a tight end, safety, kick returner plus depth on the offensive line. The player who could have the quickest impact is Green, the kick returner.
C

N.Y. Giants: The Giants are big-school drafters, believing big-school players become quicker contributors. Moss gives the Giants speed to complement Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey, and Peprah and McPhearson fortify a depleted secondary.
C

Philadelphia: The Eagles had the best fourth round, landing Jean-Gilles and then trading up to get Avant. Jean-Gilles started 40 games in the SEC, and Avant finished third in Michigan history with 169 catches.
B

Washington: With only one pick in the first four rounds, it was tough for Washington to build up any momentum. The draft for the Redskins is just a light exercise on the calendar between Presidents Day and the Fourth of July.
F



NFC NORTH
Chicago: The Bears reached at least a half a round on each of their three picks in the first day. Chicago was the first team to claim a kick returner (Hester) in the second round, which drove the value up for specialists every round thereafter.
D

Detroit: Matt Millen has finally figured it out – stop drafting wide receivers in the first round. Sims and Bullocks both should be walk-in starters on a defense built by new head coach Rod Marinelli to feature speed players.
C

Green Bay:The Packers enjoyed the best first day, starting with Hawk. He had the fewest holes of any player on this board and arguably the best intangibles. Colledge, Jennings, Hodge and Spitz all have the ability to start in the NFL.
C

Minnesota: The Vikings slowed down an impressive first day by reaching for quarterback project Tarvaris Jackson at the end of the second round – and trading up to do it. Greenway and Griffin should become instant starters.
C



NFC SOUTH
Atlanta: The lack of a first-round pick gave the Falcons a slow start, but they found quality with every pick thereafter. Norwood was a good grab in the third round, and Jennings can have an impact as a kick returner.
C

Carolina: The Panthers like Virginia Tech almost as much as Virginians do, drafting three players off the Hokies. Three good players, too. DeAngelo Williams and Richard Marshall were steals where Carolina found them.
B

New Orleans: The best player in the draft fell into the Saints' lap when the Texans went defense on the first pick. So Bush brings his Heisman to the Bayou. The Saints had one of the better second days in landing Ninkovich, Hass and Strief.
B

Tampa Bay: Joseph and Trueblood with the first two picks will toughen up the offensive line and open bigger holes for Cadillac Williams. Stovall will give quarterback Chris Simms another solid downfield option.
C



NFC WEST
Arizona: Leinart, Lutui, Pope and Watson were all first-day values that slid right to the Cardinals. Leinart couldn't pick a better situation. The perfect weather conditions won't challenge his arm and he has two great wideouts.
A

San Francisco: The 49ers started fast with Davis and Lawson in the first, but the lack of a second-round pick slowed things down. San Francisco took a kick returner in the third and reached for a Slash-type weapon in the fourth.
C

St. Louis: The Rams had three third-round picks and reached a round on all three of them to fill needs. And what's with all the tight ends in the first day? Adeyanju, McGarigle and Setterstrom were second-day gifts.
C

Seattle: The Seahawks didn't have enough picks to make an impact. But as NFC champions, Seattle was looking for backup help anyway. Jennings walks in as the nickel corner, and the best punter in the draft could be a steal in the seventh.
C



AFC EAST
Buffalo: Juniors 'R' Us – the Bills used all three of their first-day picks on underclassmen. So there could be some maturity issues in their rookie seasons. The Bills had a superb second day in landing Simpson, Williams, Butler and Pennington.
B

Miami: When half your picks are in the seventh round, it's hard for the quality to match the quantity in your draft. Allen was a medical risk, having missed the last two months of the 2005 season with a dislocated hip.
D

New England: Maroney and Jackson make the Patriots faster on offense overnight, and O'Callaghan was a wonderful find in the fifth round. Keep an eye on Andrews. He's from Texas and the Pats hit on another Texas corner in 2005 (Ellis Hobbs).
C

N.Y. Jets: The Jets had the best first round, selecting the draft's top left tackle (Ferguson) and center (Mangold) as walk-in starters on one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. Eric Smith brings attitude and toughness to the defense.
C



AFC NORTH
Baltimore: Ray Lewis has been squawking about not having enough protection at middle linebacker. The Ravens addressed that by selecting the biggest defensive tackle on the board in Ngata.
C

Cincinnati: Rucker and Nicholson were each drafted a round too early and McNeal is a project because he must learn a new position. Kilmer and Brazell are both special teams aces, and Brazell also was an Olympic sprinter.
C

Cleveland:The Browns found quality in every round. They took Pac-10 rushing champion Harrison in the fifth and the draft's best fullback in the sixth. Wimbley and Jackson give Romeo Crennel starting linebackers in his 3-4 defense.
A+

Pittsburgh: The Super Bowl champs were the only team afforded the luxury of drafting for need. They replaced the free-agent defections of Chris Hope at safety (Smith) and Antwaan Randle El as a wideout (Holmes) and punt returner (Reid).
C



AFC SOUTH
Houston: The Texans had the best third round, finally addressing the weakest element of their team with offensive tackles Winston and Spencer. Both players carried second-round value into the third round.
B

Indianapolis: With the departure of Edgerrin James in free agency, the Colts were in dire need of a running back in this draft and found him in Addai. The Colts historically draft for need and annually make too many second-day reaches.
D

Jacksonville: Hard to believe a head coach from Southern California (Jack Del Rio) would use his first two picks on UCLA products. The Jaguars had a solid draft with six players who should all make the team in 2006 and contribute.
C

Tennessee: The Titans got the player they coveted at the top of the draft in Young. White was a surprise find in the second round as was Lowry in the fourth. Nande could bolster the pass rush and Tulloch the run defense.
B



AFC WEST
Denver: Cutler could be the Ben Roethlisberger of 2006. He has the best arm of the three elite quarterbacks in this draft and, like Roethlisberger, inherits the best situation of the three with the Super Bowl-contending Broncos.
C

Kansas City: The Chiefs reached at least a round for Pollard in the second but rebounded to grab their quarterback of the future in the third. The Chiefs love UCLA players and took another one in the seventh.
C

Oakland: The Raiders were in dire need of a playmaker at the back end of their defense and landed the best one in the draft in Huff. It had to be tough for Al Davis to pass on Matt Leinart, though. Bing was a bonus in the second day.
C

San Diego: The first two picks are outstanding talents if they are medically sound. But Cromartie missed the 2005 season with a knee injury and McNeill has back concerns. If the Chargers are right, these could be Pro Bowl players.
C




E-mail rgosselin@dallasnews.com