Team-by-team thoughts on the NFC draft picks

• Dallas made no picks on day one but has 12 tomorrow. Expect a lot of activity from the Valley Ranch.
• Outside of Hakeem Nicks, it’s hard to imagine Clint Sintim and William Beatty getting a lot of playing time for the Giants. For New York, its an average start to the draft.
• After the first day of the draft, Donovan McNabb should be smiling. The team got receiver Jeremy Maclin and running back LeSean McCoy. Great draft. The Eagles could strike out the rest of the draft and still be successful.

• Put Brian Orakpo at strong-side linebacker or defensive end and he should excel for the Redskins. The team was wise not to trade its whole draft to take Mark Sanchez.
• Chicago made no picks but picked up Carolina’s 2010 first-round pick. Good trade for the Bears.
• After selecting Matthew Stafford first overall, Detroit had something of odd draft. The team really needed a left tackle and middle linebacker. Instead, it got a tight end in Brandon Pettigrew and a safety in Louis Delmas. Still, all three will be starters this season.
• Green Bay did a great job of adding playmakers on defense in tackle B.J. Raji and outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Both will help the team’s transition to a 3-4 go easy.
• Boom or bust is the theme for Minnesota, which went with wide receiver Percy Harvin and offensive tackle Phil Loadholt. Loadholt will at least give the team a strong presence on the right side of the line.
• While Atlanta may have done well taking a defensive tackle, it’s odd that Peria Jerry was the choice. Safety William Moore will at least be able to help near the line of scrimmage or even shift to weak-side linebacker.
• The Panthers got a steal in round two with defensive end/outside linebacker Everette Brown. It’s uncertain, though, how much his ego is bruised after lasting all the way until pick 43. Sherrod Martin gives the team a good physical corner.
• New Orleans may have only had one pick on day one, but the team made the most of it by taking Malcolm Jenkins. He could play cornerback or safety and likely excel.
• Tampa trading up to select quarterback Josh Freeman was a reach. The fans hate it, but new head coach Raheem Morris loves it. It’ll be fun to see how the Buccaneers proceed with five quarterbacks.
• Arizona did the perfect job of filling its needs with running back Chris Wells and outside linebacker Cody Brown.
• St. Louis immediately made itself a contender for the NFC West title by taking a starting left tackle in Jason Smith and a defensive leader in middle linebacker James Laurinaitis. There are plenty of cornerbacks available on day two.
• With only one first day pick, the 49ers made the most of it by taking receiver Michael Crabtree. He’s a difference maker on offense, if someone can get him the ball.
• Seattle had the best draft of the day. Not only do the Seahawks get the best player in the draft with Aaron Curry, they get a starting offensive lineman in Max Unger and Denver’s 2010 first-round pick.