This week we are going to look at the NFC East, a Division full of rivalries and traditions, and I see a two teams battle this year. The Eagles and Cowboys will fight for the Division, as the Giants and Redskins will struggle, but let’s go and review each team situation:
DALLAS COWBOYS
Key Departures
NONE
Key Arrivals
TE Jason Witten, DT Christian Covington, WR Randall Cobb, EDGE Robert Quinn
Best Draft Picks
DT Trysten Hill, UCF (Rd 2)
OG Connor McGovern, Penn State (Rd 3)
RB Tony Pollard, Memphis (Rd 4)
CB Michael Jackson, Miami (Rd 5)
NFC East Analysis
The Cowboys have not signed a lot of free agents this offseason and they didn’t have a good draft either, however, there is something very important to consider, so far they have not let a single player go, they are retaining their people and the continuity pays dividends in the NFL. The only change they have made is to cut off their Offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan and give the job to the Ex-QB Kellen Moore, who served last season as QBs Coach. For this season the defense looks solid with DE Demarcus Lawrence and the young LB Vander Esch and at the Offense the look very strong with a very powerful O-line and his offensive trident of Prescott, Elliott, and Cooper. I think they have everything they need to compete for the leadership of the Division this season.
*2019 Projection: 10-6
NEW YORK GIANTS
Key Departures
S Landon Collins, CB B.W. Webb, EDGE Mario Edwards , WR Odell Beckham Jr., EDGE Olivier Vernon
Key Arrivals
S Antoine Bethea, WR Golden Tate, EDGE Markus Golden , OG Kevin Zeitler , S Jabrill Peppers
Best Draft Picks
QB Daniel Jones, Duke (Rd 1)
NT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson (Rd 1)
CB Deandre Baker, Georgia (Rd 1)
EDGE Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion (Rd 3)
CB Julian Love, Notre Dame (Rd 4)
NFC East Analysis
The Giants are making a splash this offseason, unfortunately, not for good reasons. They traded his best player WR Odell Beckham JR to Cleveland, and later, in the Draft, they selected QB Daniel Jones 6th Overall. A selection that right now doesn’t look like a great one. This season I do not expect great things for the Giants who are in full reconstruction mode starting with the generational change at QB. Where this season Manning will try to teach everything he knows to the young Daniel Jones in order to pass him the staff next season they have a good core of young players. Starting with his star RB Saquon Barkley and aside of the Jones selection they had a good draft this year, but his future will depend on the success that Daniel Jones can have as their starting QB, meanwhile, this year definitely do not see them competing for a place in the Playoffs.
*2019 Projection: 6-10
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Key Departures
DB Elie Bouka, DB Chris Maragos, OL Steven Wisniewski, LB Jordan Hicks, WR Golden Tate, WR Jordan Matthews, DL Michael Bennett
Key Arrivals
DT Malik Jackson, LB L.J. Fort, S Andrew Sendejo, EDGE Vinny Curry, WR DeSean Jackson
Best Draft Picks
OT Andre Dillard, Washington State (Rd 1)
RB Miles Sanders, Penn State (Rd 2)
WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford (Rd 2)
EDGE Shareef Miller, Penn State (Rd 4)
QB Clayton Thorson, Northwestern (Rd 5)
NFC East Analysis
Last year the Eagles sneaked into the Playoffs once again with their substitute QB, Nick Foles, however, Foles will no longer be able to save them if Carson Wentz goes down again, so their season depends a lot on Wentz finally being able to play all season for the first time in his young career. They have reinforced their defense in free agency and it looks like a very strong unit with the arrival of Malick Jackson, Andrew Sendejo and Vinny Curry and in the offensive side. They have brought back veteran DeSean Jackson and selected the versatile RB Miles Sanders and offensive lineman Andre Dillard in the Draft. I think this season the Eagles will compete hand by hand with the Cowboys for the leadership of the Division.
*2019 Projection: 10-6
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Key Departures
WR Jamison Crowder, EDGE Preston Smith, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Key Arrivals
S Landon Collins, OT Erek Flowers, QB Case Keenum
Best Draft Picks
QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State (Rd 1)
EDGE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State (Rd 1)
WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State (Rd 3)
RB Bryce Love, Stanford (Rd 4)
NFC East Analysis
The Redskins enter this season with a big question mark in the most important position in football. They don’t know who their starting QB will be, last year’s starter, Alex Smith, has shown some hope that he may be ready to start the season, however, it’s not a sure thing. They have brought in Case Keenum from Denver and they selected rookie QB Dwayne Haskins in the first round of this year draft, so we still don’t know who it’s going to be their starting QB. They had a great draft this season and have reinforced well via free agency. In my opinion, if Smith manages to start the season they can do well, but if they start Keenum or Haskins I think the team will be rather irregular, as Smith’s injury was very serious and had too many complications. He’s not going to be able to start and so, therefore, I don’t see them qualifying for the playoffs this season.
*2019 Projection: 8-8
That’s all for this week…keep reading all the Belly up content and be ready next week for another division analysis!
