Updated NFC East Team Needs
By Editorial Staff
One of the most important factors when preparing for the NFL Draft is knowing each and every NFL team. NFL Mocks keeps a very close eye on each team and will bring you an updated needs assessment at the end of each month. These needs will help as we prepare to make predictions for the 2011 NFL Draft. Continue to check out our team needs page to find the most recent assessments. Also after looking at the team needs move on over to the Big Board and see what prospects might fit your teams need. This NFC East Team needs was created by staff writer Paul Segal!
The Eagles are currently one of the hottest teams in the NFL, led by MVP candidate Michael Vick. Their biggest needs are at linebacker, cornerback, and offensive line. A guy who would fit at linebacker perfectly with the Eagles blitzing schemes and could fall to the late first round would be Akeem Ayers out of UCLA. Depth at cornerback is also an issue, with Ellis Hobbs’ injury and contract situation leaving Dimitri Patterson to start. Everyone knows that the Eagles like to bring in explosive players early in the draft, so if Ras-I Dowling or Curtis Brown are available at the Eagles pick, they are certainly a possibility.
The Cowboys started the 2010 season with huge expectations, only to start 1-7 and end up firing their head coach midway through the season. Other than a head coach, Dallas has many holes they need to fill, including offensive line, cornerback, and safety. If Dallas ends up with a top five pick or so, cornerback Patrick Peterson out of LSU may fall right into their lap. If Dallas decides to go in a different direction for their first round pick, Gabe Carimi, the offensive tackle out of Wisconsin, would be an excellent upgrade along their offensive line.
After a 3-8 finish to their 2009 season, the Giants have started this season 6-4 and are right in the middle of the playoff hunt. The biggest need for the G-Men right now is a center, where Mike Pouncey or Stefen Wisniewski should fall to their first round draft pick. The Giants have also been unhappy with the performance of their former 2nd round draft pick Clint Sintim, so expect the Giants to have a guy like Travis Lewis on top of their draft board.
Washington Redskins
The Redskins are a team that is currently 5-5 but it just seems as if they cannot find their identity. They desperately need a playmaker at wide receiver or halfback, as well as a nose tackle, though the nose tackle position in this draft class seems awfully slim. Going with a halfback in the first round does not seem like something Mike Shanahan would do, so expect a wide receiver like Michael Floyd out of Notre Dame or Jon Baldwin out of Pittsburgh to fall to the Redskins in the middle of the draft.