Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbooks) - Below we take a brief look at the Draft day needs and probable strategies of each of the NFC's 16 teams (AFC capsules can be found in The Sportsbooks's NFL "news" section).
NFC EAST
Dallas (9-7)
First Pick: No. 51
Number of Selections: 11 (2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7)
Summary: Jerry Jones won't show his surgically-altered face until midway through the second round, as a result of the team's acquisition of wideout Roy Williams from Detroit last fall. But with 11 picks, Dallas will be busy, a good thing for a team requiring depth. Neither the offensive nor defensive lines have been anything close to dominant of late, and any and all bodies the team can add to those areas will be welcomed. The secondary also has some holes following the exit of safeties Roy Williams and Keith Davis along with cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Pacman Jones. If the team seeks to make an early pick at a skill position, look for it to come at wide receiver, where the release of Terrell Owens has created something of a void.
N.Y. Giants (12-4)
First Pick: No. 29
Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: Much was made of the Giants' failings at the wide receiver position following the Plaxico Burress incident last year, though at No. 29 in the Draft, you can pretty much forget the team finding a field-stretching talent like Burress. New York will probably try to upgrade that spot first via trade or free agency, while attempting to find receiver value later in the Draft. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see the team use its first-round pick on defense for the fourth straight year, with a linebacker or corner looking like decent possibilities. In addition to wideout, the Giants might want to add a running back prospect following the departure of Derrick Ward to the Buccaneers. Also, Kevin Boss didn't set the world on fire at tight end a year ago, and the Giants might at least seek someone to push him.
Philadelphia (9-6-1)
First Pick: No. 21
Number of Selections: 12 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7)
Summary: The Eagles have two of the first 28 picks thanks to a draft-day trade with Carolina last year, and Philly supporters are eager to see the team have a presence in the first round for the first time since 2006. The obvious need area is at tackle, where Tra Thomas defected to the Jaguars, Jon Runyan comes off microfracture surgery and may not be re-signed, and free agent pickup Stacy Andrews (ex-Bengals) comes off a knee injury of his own. It would be surprising if one of the team's two first-rounders isn't used on an o-lineman. The Birds don't have a great track record with early-round skill players, but there is a need for another running back to take the pressure off of the aging Brian Westbrook, and a wideout to help free things up for the emerging DeSean Jackson. The team also needs tight end depth following L.J. Smith's departure, though Brent Celek looks ready to step in from a pass-catching perspective.
Washington (8-8)
First Pick: No. 13
Number of Selections: 5 (1, 3, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: The silver lining for the Redskins after failing to land Jay Cutler is that the team will not surrender its first-round pick for the third time in the last four years. The focus at No. 13 will likely be either a tackle to help prop up an inconsistent offensive line, or a playmaker to help once-and- future quarterback Jason Campbell and the team's flagging offense. The Skins should have some good choices in both the tackle (Michael Oher, Andre Smith) and playmaker (Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno) realms. On defense, after waving goodbye to the likes of Jason Taylor, Marcus Washington, and Shawn Springs, Washington can effectively take its pick of the best available defender. The Redskins are a perennially poor pass rushing team, so it would be a surprise of one of the club's five picks isn't used on a defensive end.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta (11-5)
First Pick: No. 24
Number of Selections: 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6)
Summary: The Falcons' surprising run to the 2008 playoffs wasn't just about Matt Ryan and Michael Turner...the makeshift defense overachieved mightily in the team's first year under Mike Smith, but Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff know they can't stand pat there. Atlanta needs run-stopping help following the departure of safety Lawyer Milloy (not tendered), defensive tackle Grady Jackson (Lions) and linebackers Michael Boley (Giants) and Keith Brooking (Cowboys), and could also use quality defensive end depth given John Abraham's injury history and Jamaal Anderson's bust status. Rounding out the defensive needs is a cornerback to help offset the departure of the underrated Dominique Foxworth (Ravens). Offensively, the biggest need is line depth, and some tight end help would be a credit as well.
Carolina (12-4)
First Pick: No. 59
Number of Selections: 5 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Summary: Unless they deal Julius Peppers and move into the first or early second round, Carolina will be the last of the league's 32 teams to make its first pick. Whether or not they move the franchised Peppers, the Panthers have to select a pass rusher with one of their first two picks, given that the North Carolina product is unhappy and has been prone to bouts of on-field invisibility. Elsewhere on defense, a cover corner and a multi-purpose linebacker to complement Jon Beason would be nice. The elephant in the room from an offensive standpoint concerns Jake Delhomme, who could be gone after 2009. The Panthers probably won't find their quarterback of the future in this Draft, unless they trade Peppers in order to finance a first-round pick of Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez.
New Orleans (8-8)
First Pick: No. 14
Number of Selections: 4 (1, 4, 4, 7)
Summary: Barring a trade, it will be a quiet couple of days for the Saints, who forfeited their second- and third-round picks in deals for Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma, respectively. It's a cinch that the team's only selection in the first 115 picks will be used on a defender, and more help for Gregg Williams' new-look secondary would seem to be in order. Alternatively, another pass rusher could only help matters on the back end. If the Saints draft an offensive player, look for him to be a lineman.
Tampa Bay (9-7)
First Pick: No. 19
Number of Selections: 8 (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7)
Summary: Many Bucs fans would like to see a better option than Luke McCown, Brian Griese, or Josh Johnson at the quarterback position, but Tampa Bay figures not to make a huge splash with its only selection among the first 80 picks. The Buccaneers front four played very poorly down the stretch last year, and given where the team is selecting, a defensive tackle like Peria Jerry (Ole Miss) or Evander Hood (Missouri) could make the most sense. It would be hard to argue with the selection of an offensive lineman either. In the mid-rounds, look for Tampa to focus on pass rushing help, another cornerback, and perhaps a wide receiver or two following the departure of both Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard.
NFC NORTH
Chicago (9-7)
First Pick: No. 49
Number of Selections: 8 (2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7)
Summary: The Bears addressed two major needs during free agency, pulling off a blockbuster deal for quarterback Jay Cutler on April 2nd, and also adding former Pro Bowler Orlando Pace, along with Kevin Shaffer (ex-Browns) and Frank Omiyale (ex-Panthers), to bolster the tackle position. With picks No. 49 and No. 99, the team will likely target contributors at wide receiver and/or the secondary. Given Nathan Vasher's injury problems and Charles Tillman's general struggles last year, a cornerback would be nice. Next on the agenda should be adding some numbers to a front seven that neither rushed the passer nor stopped the run with much consistency a year ago.
Detroit (0-16)
First Pick: No. 1
Number of Selections: 8 (1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 6, 6, 7)
Summary: The first Draft of the post-Matt Millen era will have Lions fans hopeful that the team can take a major step towards being competitive. Whether that step will begin with Georgia QB Matthew Stafford is still anyone's guess, though the signal-caller's reported solid workout for team brass last week makes his selection a strong possibility. Plan B for Detroit would be selecting a left tackle such as Jason Smith (Baylor) or Eugene Monroe (Virginia). And no, it is not likely that the Lions would be able to trade the pick given league sentiment towards paying first-round signing bonuses. Even if the Lions take Stafford at No. 1, in some ways it will be the least important pick they make in the first three rounds. Detroit allowed 517 points last year, second-most in NFL history, and would be wise to use the majority of its first five picks, which come in the Draft's first 82 selections, on defense. Bulking up the front seven is the main priority, and the team can justify picking the best available interior lineman, pass rusher, or (preferably middle) linebacker among those selections.
Green Bay (6-10)
First Pick: No. 9
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7)
Summary: Job number one for the Packers as soon as their 2008 careened to a disappointing close was overhauling the defense. The team brought in new coordinator Dom Capers and a 3-4 scheme, though Green Bay was deathly quiet in free agency and still lacks the personnel to sufficiently fit the system. Green Bay must improve the front seven in every way, most notably in the area of the pass rush, which was horrible last year. The Pack also lack a true nose tackle to fit the 3-4, and are going to need to do better along those lines than when they selected bust DT Justin Harrell a couple of years ago. Another inside linebacker would be nice too. There are fewer needs on offense, though a quality tight end would be nice and the line requires depth.
Minnesota (10-6)
First Pick: No. 22
Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 7) Summary: Though there were whispers that the Vikings were sniffing around Jay Cutler, that doesn't necessarily mean the team feels desperate for a quarterback to add to a depth chart including Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson, and John David Booty. What would make more sense for the Vikes would be targeting an offensive lineman with its first-round pick, and if center Alex Mack (Cal) is there, it would be tough for the team, which watched Matt Birk defect to Baltimore, to let him pass by. There are other needs, including a solid right tackle, a true No. 2 receiver to offset Bernard Berrian, and a reliable cornerback to oppose Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield. Depth on the defensive line, especially given the advancing age and pending suspensions of Pat and Kevin Williams, would also be a prudent addition.
NFC WEST
Arizona (9-7)
First Pick: No. 31
Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7)
Summary: The Cardinals allowed the most touchdown passes in the league last year, though strangely enough, the team looks more or less set in the secondary. The attempt at turning around that stat will likely start within the pass rush, especially after Antonio Smith defected to the Texans via free agency. An upgrade at MLB over Gerald Hayes is in order as well. The biggest problem offensively is along the line, which has been a poor run-blocking group and could use some help on the interior. The running back position has not offered much either, and it's hard to imagine that the team thinks Tim Hightower, Jason Wright, or Edgerrin James can be a load-carrier in 2009. Finally, another quality target must be added to the roster given that Anquan Boldin's days in Arizona seem numbered.
St. Louis (2-14)
First Pick: No. 2
Number of Selections: 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Summary: With the Lions possibly set to select quarterback Matthew Stafford at No. 1, the Rams could have their pick of left tackles at No. 2. The focus there would seem to be on either Baylor's Jason Smith or Virginia's Eugene Monroe. After filling that glaring need, St. Louis and new head coach Steve Spagnuolo could go in a number of different directions, though Spagnuolo's defensive pedigree suggests that they'll look to that side of the ball first. The Rams didn't rush the passer, stop the run, or make big plays with anything resembling consistency last year, so they can probably take their pick of the best defensive player available at No. 35. The team probably won't be able to look to the Draft in order to immediately bulk up its o-line or add receivers following the departure of Torry Holt and Drew Bennett, but whatever bodies the Rams can secure there will be welcome. Finally, while some St. Louis fans have had it with Marc Bulger, the team (which also signed free agent Kyle Boller over the weekend) has too many other needs to worry seriously about the quarterback position in this Draft.
San Francisco (7-9)
First Pick: No. 10
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7)
Summary: Many expect the 49ers to select a quarterback with the No. 10 pick, but if Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez are both gone by the time they select, logic suggests the club will hold off and fill another need. San Francisco has long lacked a true No. 1 receiver and another tackle would be nice, but the first Draft of the Mike Singletary era could see the team focusing on a suspect defense. The only legitimate NFL starter in the secondary is cornerback Nate Clements, and the team could really use a menacing pass rusher as well. With the Niners' five picks in the fifth round and beyond, offensive and defensive line depth should be the focus.
Seattle (4-12)
First Pick: No. 4
Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7)
Summary: Would the Seahawks draft the heir apparent to Matt Hasselbeck at No. 4? Possible, but not likely. With Jim Mora taking over for Mike Holmgren, the focus will probably shift to defense, and the trade of Julian Peterson to the Lions last month makes pass rushing help a particular need. Texas hybrid end Brian Orapko would seem to be a fit for the Hawks, if they can't get Wake Forest's Aaron Curry, that is. Otherwise, Seattle has a need at tackle since the declining Walter Jones is coming off microfracture surgery. Apart from the offensive line, which should net at least three picks in the interests of depth, Seattle could use another playmaker at the wide receiver position, which was a revolving door last season. Also, the running back corps lost Maurice Morris and Leonard Weaver to free agency, so another body would be valuable there.
