How Did Giants Stack Up in Draft Against NFC East?

The 33rd Team is out with its post-draft grades, so let's see how the Giants did in their view as compared to the rest of the NFC East.

The New York Giants aren’t the only team among their closest competitors with an excellent draft in Kansas City last week.

Among the handful of media outlets assessing the selections of all 32 franchises in the aftermath of the 2023 NFL Draft, the 33rd Team has now come out with their grades for the league’s eight divisions. One of the groups they were most friendly to within their analysis happened to be in the Giants' immediate circle—the NFC East.

While other divisions barely managed to scrap upper-B range grades from the outlet, the NFC East was one of three divisions that the 33rd Team allotted at least one A grade to, and that team was the Giants, who received an A- for their bold, value-driven draft.

Here's a look at how the NFC East stacked up and my thoughts on each grade.

Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith after being selected by the Dallas Cowboys twenty-sixth overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys (B-)

What They Said:

Smith adds interior help for the Dallas Cowboys’ 22nd-ranked run defense. Smith has elite physical ability but needs to produce on a more consistent basis and must improve as an inside pass rusher (only a half-sack last season). Schoonmaker was a need pick to replace Dalton Schultz, and he went a bit earlier than many expected at No. 58.

Overshown (242 career tackles) and Fehoko are edge players/outside backers who bring great value where they were picked. Richards adds quality depth needed at offensive tackle, and Scott brings size and athleticism at cornerback.

My Take:

The Cowboys recruited some players who can fill voids in their roster and replace names that departed the franchise in the offseason, but they might not have earned the best value in those positions.

With their first-round selection of Smith, they selected the tenth-best prospect for the defensive line but have a good pass rusher who gets off the line with finesse moves and lateral quickness. He isn’t a player that will hold onto blocks and bull rush with strength, but he will use his hands, vision, and motor to slip past blockers and get to the quarterback in short order.

Their second-round pick, Schoonmaker, was a must-have after Dalton Schultz left via free agency. Yet, there are questions about whether Schoonmaker will be as dynamic of an asset as his predecessor. In three seasons with Michigan, only his third year saw over 200 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and he tallied just four scores overall.

Schoonmaker may end up as the run-blocking tight end, and the Cowboys will have to figure out a passing option from their combo of Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. The good thing is when the rookie does get targeted, he completes 88% of his targets and averages 2.6 yards after the catch.

Many of their other draft selections have their value highlighted above, but the best moment of the Cowboys’ newest class is arguably running back Deuce Vaughn, whose father (Chris) is a team scout, at No. 212.

Ranked fifth among incoming ball carriers, Vaughn’s speedy skill set will pair nicely with fellow running back Tony Pollard in the Cowboys’ outside zone and passing games. His small package lets him elude most interior defenders’ reach and turn short runs into long hauls down the field.

Don’t expect him to be a bulldozer down the middle like Ezekiel Elliot was because that’s where the team may rely on Pollard moving forward. However, he has excellent ball security and churned out two 1,000+ yard seasons with the Wildcats.

I give the Cowboys draft a B- grade.

Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Maryland defensive back Deonte Banks after being selected by the New York Giants twenty fourth overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants (A)

What They Said:

The Giants made a good move to trade up and take Banks, who has size and speed and did not allow a catch longer than 30 yards last season. He’s a good fit for Wink Martindale’s defense that had only six interceptions in 2022, although Banks needs to be more of a ball hawk after only two interceptions in college.

Schmitz will be a great addition at center and could have gone in the first round. Hyatt brings big-play ability as an explosive deep threat who had five touchdown catches against Alabama last season. Gray is a good cut-back runner and fine receiving back with excellent acceleration who will be able to spell Saquon Barkley when needed. Hawkins and Owens bring quality depth to the secondary and will help on special teams.

My Take:

I also thought the Giants did a solid job acquiring the best mix of talent, positional value, and need with the draft capital at their disposal. They had their contingency plans in place before the opening bell, figured out which picks they would shop if they wanted to move up, and did so accordingly to snag the prospects they sought to elevate the roster’s depth.

There were reports of the Giants actively trying to trade up in the first round even earlier than they did to make a run at Boston College receiver Zay Flowers, who ultimately found his home in Baltimore three picks earlier. However, the Giants re-signed Sterling Shepard, Isaiah Hodgins, and Darius Slayton and added free agents Parris Campbell, Jeff Smith, and Jamison Crowder while also acquiring tight end Darren Waller via trade.

It was the cornerback position for which prospects were starting to drop off the board in the first round. Thus, the Giants knew they had to jump on that first, and they made a rare move to trade up and grab Deonte Banks at 24. Banks was the No. 3 prospect at his position and will bring highly sought speed, physicality, and technique to the defensive backfield.

John Michael Schmitz was regarded as one of the top center prospects in the draft. He had arguably the best blocking grades in the class and is projected to be the new starting center. Even at face value, his experience playing the center position is valuable to the Giants, who have lacked true center depth over the past few seasons.

Receiver Jaylin Hyatt, selected during Day 2 in the third round, is a candidate for one of the draft's biggest steals. Hyatt is one of the crispest route runners and a true vertical threat. His size gave him a bad rap with some expert evaluations, but the film and stats from Tennessee showed a dynamic, speedy player that can attack the defense in the deep field.

I went a tad lower with my grade of (A-) than The 33rd Team because the rest of New York’s draft will need some time and development before they’re all weekly contributors. That said, watch for running back Eric Gray (Pick No. 172) to see some action in select rushing plays behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Brieda.

Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Georgia defensive end Nolan Smith after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles thirtieth overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles (A-)

What They Said:

The rich get richer with the Philadelphia Eagles’ selection of Georgia star defenders Carter and Smith, along with several other potential hits. Carter is a good fit in Philadelphia — for a problematic player with a lot of ability — because he comes to a team with veteran defensive linemen in Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham, who can be mentors.

He has to keep his weight in check and mature quickly. Smith is a Haason Reddick clone with amazing speed and a great pick late in the first round, despite weighing only 238 pounds. 

Steen can start at guard and also can play tackle. Brown is a productive defensive back, and Ringo was an excellent trade-up by GM Howie Roseman in the early fourth round for another Georgia with the size and speed to add to the secondary.

Picking up D’Andre Swift from the Lions for a fourth-round pick adds a quality running back at a cheap cost, assuming Swift can stay healthy. McKee will compete for the backup quarterback spot. Ojomo could become a seventh-round steal as a rotational defensive tackle.

My Take:

It was surprising to see the Eagles not focus more of their picks on the departures and aging pieces on the offensive side of the ball. Nevertheless, they drafted a few solid prospects to add to their dangerous defense.

Starting with the interior defensive line loaded with veteran talent, the Eagles added Georgia standout Jalen Carter. Carter doesn’t bring flashy statistics, but he was the No. 1 rated prospect by Pro Football Focus, and that’s because of his skill set.

The 22-year-old will jolt into contact and pummel blockers backward in the run game and will use his hands and explosive movements to cause trouble in the pass-rush attack. His crowning collegiate achievement was consecutive seasons as the best pass-rusher in Power-5 football in 2021 and 2022.

Nolan Smith was projected to go earlier than he did at 30th overall. Still, if he can offer Philadelphia a carbon copy of Haason Reddick, then their linebacking corps should be in good hands in 2023. Smith's best season came in 2021 with 55 tackles and 3.5 sacks, and he held three campaigns with at least two sacks as a Georgia Bulldog.

The key with Smith is getting bigger, and his injury history, which marred his season senior down south and likely impacted his draft value. Yet, he is an every-down player that can line up in front or outside of the tight end and beat them around the edge with a strong first step, flexibility, and angle speed.

The other prospect that stood out as a sneaky good pick was cornerback Kelee Ringo, selected in the third round. PFF describes him as “arguably the freakiest athlete in the 2023 NFL Draft,” with many tools that could help him excel at the professional level so long as he develops them. Those include his speed and reaction time which sometimes haunt him and cause him to over-anticipate where the offense is going.

Ringo’s opponent completion rate was its highest in 2022 at 53.8%, but he managed to cut down his touchdowns allowed while maintaining a positive grip on his interception tally. Ultimately, the 10th-best prospect can become a diverse linebacker-corner split and fit into any scheme the Eagles throw at him with some intangible work.

I give the Eagles draft an A- grade.

Nov 19, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) returns an interception for a touchdown against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field / Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Commanders (B-)

What They Said:

Forbes is a small corner at 166 pounds but was a big-time playmaker with 14 career interceptions (including six pick-6s). He should be a huge addition to a top-five defense that had only nine interceptions last season (fifth fewest in the league).

The Washington Commanders continued to build up the secondary with an athletic safety/nickel back in Martin. Stromberg is a quality center who was a bit of a reach in the third round. Daniels can play guard or tackle effectively, and Henry is a good fifth-round edge rusher. Rodriguez is an interesting prospect as a power back. Quarterback was not addressed in this draft and likely will continue to be a questionable spot that could be a target in the 2024 draft or free agency.

My Take:

The most disappointing aspect of their draft was not seeking a better solution at quarterback. After the team released Carson Wentz and let Taylor Heinicke migrate to Atlanta in free agency, all signs pointed to the quarterback of their immediate future being Sam Howell.

The problem with the UNC product and 2022 fifth-round pick is he has no real experience at the professional level to command an offense that wants to compete for a division crown this season. His one appearance last fall was in the Commanders’ Week 18 game vs. Dallas when he completed 11 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown in a shocking yet meaningless win for the franchise.

Howell’s collegiate career with the Tar Heels featured three 3,000+ yard seasons with at least 24 touchdowns in each and an 828 rushing yard campaign in his exit campaign. Still, there isn’t much there with the Commanders’ third-string gunslinger to show he’s ready to command the reins of the most important position in their offense.

The team could have moved up in the first round or stayed at 16 and had their choice of Will Levis or Hendon Hooker to develop into the next signal caller. Instead, they’ve elected to sign Jacoby Brissett in free agency and test out a few other young players, including Howell, for the presumed backup role.

Ultimately, the Commanders took cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16, which seemed somewhat of a reach given who was still available at the time. Forbes was the fifth-ranked cornerback prospect by PFF, but he was still one of the best ball hawks in college football last year. He played in 729 snaps, allowing a career-low 53.4% completion rate for 284 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions.

If there’s one prospect in Washington’s class that Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale might have appreciated, it’s Illinois safety Jartavius Martin. The third-round pick is a hybrid slot-corner player who excels in coverage yet loves to fly downhill and blow up plays in the interior run game. His technique is fairly sharp, missing only seven of 129 tackle attempts in 2022, and he forced 15 incompletions in the air, which was sixth-best among Power-Five cornerbacks.

There’s still depth on the roster for their remaining prospects to overcome, but it’s clear Washington wants to mimic the Giants in fortifying their defense to impact games when the offense isn’t. The only issue came with them reaching at times, hence my lower grade (C+) than the one the 33rd Team’s analysts assigned. 

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