NFC East

Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals had a fine draft from top to bottom and got their man in runner Thomas Jones of Virginia in the 1st round. Jones gives them a complete back with the ability to open up their offense. In the 2nd round, they selected LB Raynoch Thompson of Tennessee. Thompson is a fine addition for the weakside position and could win a starting job this summer. In the 3rd round, they added DT Darwin Walker of Tennessee for their depleted front four. He is a quality athlete who will contribute immediately on the inside. They added DE Mao Tosi of Idaho on the second day and he was a steal at that point and a player who will play a role in their line rotation.
Grade: A

Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys did not have a No .1 pick as a result of the trade for wideout Joey Galloway. In the 2nd and 4th rounds, they selected cornerbacks Dwayne Goodrich of Tennessee and Kareem Larrimore of West Texas A&M. Goodrich fell off a poor senior season but has the ability and experience to play as a rookie. Larrimore is one of the best small college prospects this year. He can challenge for the nickel job this season and may be the best cover man in the Cowboys group of cornerbacks. In the 6th round, they again selected a cornerback with the addition of Mario Edwards from Florida State. Edwards also had a poor senior season after being rated among the top corners entering the '99 season. He has the tools to be a fine pro and has a nice upside if he can prove to be more consistent in coverage.
Grade: C

New York Giants
The Giants addressed their biggest need with the selection of runner Ron Dayne of Wisconsin in the 1st round. Dayne is a workhorse runner with the power and quickness to be a surprise. In the 2nd round, they chose DT Cornelius Griffin of Alabama. Griffin is a versatile lineman who came on strong as a senior. He has the explosiveness in the middle to be a fine 4-3 tackle. In the 3rd round, they chose small college wideout/returner Ron Dixon of Lambuth (Tn). He has the game-breaking speed to be a factor as a kickoff returner while he develops further as a receiver. In the 4th round, they quickly selected LB Brandon Short of Penn State. Short is a big athletic defender who was excellent value in the second day. He can play either inside or outside and may get a first look on the strong side in camp.
Grade: B

Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles chose DT Corey Simon of Florida State in the first round to anchor their front four. Simon gives them a strong run stuffer in the middle, a definite major need on their defense. In the 2nd round, they added wideout Todd Pinkston of Southern Mississippi and guard Bobby Williams of Arkansas. Pinkston is a slender, smooth wideout with polished receiving skills. He gives them a legitimate deep threat. Williams is a physical lineman who will push for time on the inside. They added another wideout in the 4th round in Gari Scott of Michigan State. Scott is a fine open field runner with good punt return skills.
Grade: C

Washington Redskins
The Redskins were loaded with premier picks, holding the No. 2 & 3 overall picks. They selected LB LaVar Arrington of Penn State and OT Chris Samuels of Alabama. Arrington is the best athlete in this draft and has the ability to be an instant impact player in the 'Skins scheme. Samuels is a natural left tackle with all the skills to excel at the line's most demanding position. He will be a fine bookend to last year's OT Jon Jansen. In the 3rd round, they selected CB Lloyd Harrison of North Carolina State. Harrison has well developed cover skills to play the nickel corner as a rookie.
Grade: A

NFC Central

Chicago Bears
The Bears landed their man in the 1st round when LB Brian Urlacher of New Mexico fell to them at the 9th overall pick. They did not hesitate to select the talented defender who should earn a starting outside 'backer job in camp. In the 2nd round, they chose safety Mike Brown of Nebraska. He is a smart safety with fine instincts and the run-support skills to eventually start. He was a slight reach here. In the 3rd round, they jumped at the chance to select wideout Dez White of Georgia Tech. White is a big fast wideout who fell on his inconsistent hands. He was outstanding value in the 3rd round. LB Dustin Lyman of Wake Forest in the 3rd round was a fast-rising defender who has starting ability on the inside and was another excellent addition for their front seven.
Grade: B

Detroit Lions
The Lions chose the biggest player in the draft for the second consecutive year with the selection of OT Stockar McDougle of Oklahoma in the 1st round. McDougle is a massive right tackle who has come on strong as a senior and could form a dominant right side with Aaron Gibson. In the 2nd round, they selected linebacker/safety Barrett Green of West Virginia. Green is a fast defender with the hitting power and speed to be a fine playmaker. He will be tried at either the weakside LB spot or strong safety first in training camp. In the 3rd round, they added RB Reuben Droughns of Oregon. Droughns is an aggressive runner with the speed to get outside and the power to run through tacklers. He will be a fine No. 2 runner behind free agent addition James Stewart.
Grade: B

Green Bay Packers
The Packers selected TE Bubba Franks of Miami with their 1st round pick. He gives QB Brett Favre an excellent weapon in the middle zones, something that was missing last season. In the 2nd round, they selected OL Chad Clifton of Tennessee. Clifton has experience at several positions along the line and will compete for a starting job at guard early in his career. In the 3rd round, they added Steve Warren of Nebraska, a tough run stuffer in the middle. He was excellent value at that point of the draft and he is a well-developed prospect who could surprise and earn a starting job as a rookie.
Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings surprisingly focused solely on their defensive line with their first three picks. In the 1st round, they chose DT Chris Hovan of Boston College who is a tough experienced lineman with the ability to play as a rookie. He can play either inside or outside and has the ability to start as a rookie. In the 2nd round, they added Fred Robbins of Wake Forest and DE Michael Boireau of Miami. Robbins is a big physical tackle with good run stuffing skills but he was a slight reach here. Boireau is an athletic pass rusher with the frame to get bigger. He was a major reach this early in the draft with many better athletes on the board. In the 3rd round, they added runner Doug Chapman of Marshall. Chapman is a well rounded back with the toughness to run inside and the sure hands to be a reliable receiver.
Grade: C

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs traded their two No. 1 picks prior to the draft for wideout Keyshawn Johnson. He addresses their biggest need, a go-to receiver in the intermediate zones. In the 2nd round, they traded up for guard Cosey Coleman of Tennessee. Coleman is a big athletic lineman with the talent to be the best pure guard in this class. In the 3rd round, they drafted LB Nate Webster of Miami, a fast defender with sure tackling skills. He has the ability to play both inside and outside in the standard 4-3 set. In the 4th round, they added TE James Whalen of Kentucky, a well developed receiver. He will give the Bucs a reliable weapon in the middle with the ability to make yardage after the catch.
Grade: B

NFC West

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons did not have a No. 1 pick due to an ill-advised trade during last spring's draft that brought them TE Reggie Kelly. In the 2nd round, they selected OT Travis Claridge of USC. Claridge will challenge for the right tackle job in camp and has the ability to also start at guard early in his career. In the 3rd round, they chose LB Mark Simoneau of Kansas State. Simoneau is a cagey defender who makes plays. He is best suited for the weakside in their scheme. In the 4th round, they chose OT Michael Thompson of Tennessee State. Thompson is an agile left tackle prospect with a huge upside with further strength and technique development.
Grade: D

Carolina Panthers
The Panthers addressed their battered secondary with their top two picks. They selected CB Rashard Anderson of Jackson State in the first round and safety Deon Grant of Tennessee in the 2nd round. Anderson is a big athletic corner with nice cover skills and the ability to match up well in coverage. He has a huge upside and the prototypical skills necessary to excel on the corner. Grant is a top athlete who fell on a sub-par workout. He has fine ball hawking skills and excellent cover skills to play early in his career. Guard Leander Jordan of Indiana (Pa.) was a solid addition in the 3rd round. He has the tools to start on the inside early in his career.
Grade: B

New Orleans Saints
With no first round pick due to the disastrous Ricky Williams trade during last spring's draft, the Saints did not select until the 2nd round when they selected DE Darren Howard of Kansas State, one of the best value picks on the first day. He is a fine two-way defender and has the ability to win a starting job as a rookie. In the 3rd round, they selected FB Terrelle Smith of Arizona State. Smith is a powerful blocker who will challenge for a starting job as Ricky William's lead blocker.
Grade: C

San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers moved back twice in the 1st round and selected LB Julian Peterson of Michigan State and CB Ahmed Plummer of Ohio State. Peterson gives them a much needed pass rusher with the well-rounded skills to be an every down defender. Plummer is a well-developed cover man with the ability to play as a rookie and possibly even start. DE John Engelberger of Virginia Tech and CB Jason Webster of Texas A&M were chosen in the 2nd round. Engelberger is a hard-nosed defender who fills a definite need area. He will compete for a starting job as a rookie. Webster is a quick cover man who will push for the starting job in camp. With two 3rd round picks, they chose QB Giovanni Carmazzi of Hofstra and LB Jeff Ulbrich of Hawaii. Carmazzi is a nice fit for their offense and has excellent upside to develop into a starter down the road. Ulbrich needs a definite need area with the versatility to play either inside or outside.
Grade: B

St. Louis Rams
The Rams made a surprise pick with the last selection in the first round when they chose runner Trung Canidate of Arizona. Canidate had great late workouts which pushed into the top round. He will backup Marshall Faulk and was a definite reach here. They were set to choose K Sebastian Janikowski with the last pick in the 1st round, but Oakland spoiled those plans by selecting him at No. 17. In the 2nd round, they chose CB Jacoby Sheppard of Oklahoma State, a big raw cover man with nice athletic skills. He was a slight reach here, though he has a big upside with further experience. In the 3rd and 4th rounds they addressed their offensive line with the addition of center John St.Clair of Virginia and G Kaulana Noa of Hawaii. St. Clair was an excellent value as the last pick on the first day. He can play either center or guard. Noa is a tough competitor with extensive experience to challenge for a starting job early in his career.
Grade: C

Coyle, a full-time NFL scout, has published Draft Insiders' Digest, an NFL Draft and free agency publication for the last 9 years.

He attends practices, games and individual workouts across the country as well as breaking down game films to study the nation's top players. He writes for numerous pro weeklies on the NFL Draft and free agency in addition to game matchups and player profiles.

Coyle attends NFL mini-camps in May and June and numerous training camps throughout the summer. He is a frequent guest on sports talk shows from coast-to-coast, and has also been a personnel consultant to several NFL teams in recent years.