NFC East Report Card: Giants on Top as Eagles, Cowboys Maintain Rosters

Philadelphia has the best quarterback and a strong draft strategy, but talented rosters crowd the division after big offseason moves from the Giants.

The days of NFL fans complaining about the NFC East hogging the prime-time schedule might be over with a loaded group of teams heading into the 2023 season.

The Eagles and Cowboys will be fun to watch after the offseason moves they made to maintain talented rosters. Philadelphia prioritized the draft, while Dallas visited the trading block.

Expect the Giants to be in the race for the division title after making several impressive offseason moves, including a promising draft class and a new cast of pass catchers for quarterback Daniel Jones.

Also, the Commanders are serious about Sam Howell as their QB1. But did they do enough this offseason to help Howell compete in the crowded division?

Let’s take a closer look at the NFC East by grading the offseason moves made by the four teams.

New York Giants

Key additions: CB Deonte Banks, WR Parris Campbell, WR Jalin Hyatt, S Bobby McCain, C John Michael Schmitz, LB Bobby Okereke, DT A’Shawn Robinson, TE Darren Waller

Key subtractions: OG Jon Feliciano, S Julian Love

Where they stand: The Giants took care of business by agreeing to long-term contract extensions with Jones and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, while also retaining running back Saquon Barkley for at least one more season with the franchise tag. Many question whether Jones deserved a contract worth $40 million per year, but the Giants clearly had no regrets after adding a handful of weapons for the QB, including the trade for Waller. New York is still in search of a true No. 1 wideout, but the receiving corps is drastically better than last year’s crew with the arrivals of Campbell and Hyatt, two downfield threats to go with Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard. The Giants also delivered a promising draft class, headlined by the first-round selection of Banks, a lengthy 6'1" outside cornerback who clocked an impressive 4.35 in the 40-yard dash during the combine. Schmitz, a second-round pick, will be counted on to make an immediate impact as the starting center. The Giants’ best free-agency addition might be Okereke, who had more than 130 total tackles in each of the past two seasons with the Colts.

Projected win total: 8.5

Odds to win the NFC East: +561

Final grade: B+

The Giants had the best offseason in the division, but they’re still a tier below the Eagles and Cowboys when it comes to rosters. Jones will need to build off his promising 2022 season and build quick chemistry with his new targets and center. New York failed to address its holes at offensive guard and will need right tackle Evan Neal to take steps forward in his second season. On the defensive side, the team has plenty of talent and could receive consistent play from edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari. The Giants’ many notable offseason moves should keep them in the mix for a playoff spot. 

Philadelphia Eagles

Key additions: S Sydney Brown, DT Jalen Carter, S Terrell Edmunds, RB Rashaad Penny, OLB Nolan Smith, RB D’Andre Swift

Key subtractions: LB T.J. Edwards, S Marcus Epps, DT Javon Hargrave, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, RB Miles Sanders, OG Isaac Seumalo, LB Kyzir White

Where they stand: The Eagles’ biggest offseason move was locking down quarterback Jalen Hurts with a massive contract extension. GM Howie Roseman followed it by making a splash in the first round of the draft, with the selections of Carter and Smith, two defenders who will likely make an impact for years to come. The loss of Hargrave to the 49ers will hurt, but Philadelphia should be O.K. with Carter, Jordan Davis and Fletcher Cox. The Eagles continue to maintain winning rosters by planning ahead and hitting on draft picks. Cam Jurgens, a 2022 second-round pick, will take over for Seumalo on the starting offensive line before possibly moving to center next year if Jason Kelce retires. Brown and Edmunds will be tasked with filling the void of Gardner-Johnson and Epps. Also, the backfield duo of Swift and Penny could offset the loss of Sanders to the Panthers.

Projected win total: 10.5

Odds to win the NFC East: +104

Final grade: B

Philadelphia lost many key players in free agency, but retaining cornerbacks James Bradberry and Darius Slay will keep this team in position to return to the Super Bowl. There might not be a glaring hole on the Eagles’ roster, but they’re gambling on inexperienced players, such as second-year linebacker Nakobe Dean, Jurgens, Davis and Brown, to fill the void of key departures. With a veteran corps of Cox, Kelce and defensive end Brandon Graham, the younger players should flourish under their guidance to make the Eagles a dominant force once again in the NFC.

Dallas Cowboys

Key additions: WR Brandin Cooks, CB Stephon Gilmore, OLB DeMarvion Overshown, TE Luke Schoonmaker, DT Mazi Smith

Key subtractions: WR Noah Brown, RB Ezekiel Elliott, OG Connor McGovern, TE Dalton Schultz

Cooks acquired Cooks from the Texans in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-round pick in ’24.

Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports

Where they stand: The Cowboys had a unique approach to the offseason by avoiding free-agent signings and instead adding outside help with the trades for Cooks and Gilmore. Cooks is coming off a subpar season with the Texans in which he had 57 receptions, 699 yards and three touchdowns, but he should still be a standout No. 2 wideout behind CeeDee Lamb. Last season, the Cowboys missed the production that Amari Cooper provided before he was traded to the Browns. Dallas might also miss Elliott’s presence, but they have running back Tony Pollard, who had a breakout 2022 season and was named to the Pro Bowl. The Cowboys also said goodbye to Schultz in free agency and drafted Schoonmaker out of Michigan. They might have reached for Smith in the first round, but they desperately needed another run stopper to add to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Projected win total: 9.5

Odds to win the NFC East: +175

Final grade: B-

The Cowboys might be expecting too much from Gilmore and Cooks, two players who are in the back end of their prime years. If the two veterans don’t play at a high level, this roster probably doesn’t have enough depth at wide receiver and cornerback to keep pace with the Eagles in the division. Also, the Cowboys might have waited too long to draft a replacement for Schultz—they will need Schoonmaker to develop quickly or rely on a committee approach at tight end. Dallas will be an NFC contender again, but this group might be headed for another exit in the divisional round.

Washington Commanders

Key additions: LB Cody Barton, QB Jacoby Brissett, CB Emmanuel Forbes, DB Jartavius Martin, C Ricky Stromberg, RT Andrew Wylie

Key subtractions: QB Carson Wentz, QB Taylor Heinicke, S Bobby McCain

Where they stand: The Commanders had a questionable draft and a quiet free agency heading into a critical fourth season for coach Ron Rivera. The team’s biggest free-agent addition was Wylie, who will help at right tackle, but that won’t solve all the problems on the offensive line. Forbes displayed standout instincts and ball skills with 14 career interceptions in college, but his 6'1", 166-pound frame is a concern, and Washington took him over other top cornerback prospects, such as Christian Gonzalez, Joey Porter Jr. and Banks. Also, the Commanders are banking on Howell to be the real deal after not drafting a quarterback last month. Howell, a 2022 fifth-round pick, could benefit from the arrival of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and a talented receiving corps of Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. And if Howell isn’t the answer at quarterback, Washington can also lean on the experienced Brissett, who did a serviceable job filling in for Deshaun Watson last season in Cleveland.

Projected win total: 6.5

Odds to win the NFC East: +977

Final grade: C-

The Commanders’ impressive defensive roster might be enough to carry them if Howell struggles in his second season, but they could still be kicking themselves for not drafting a quarterback like the Lions did with Hendon Hooker in the third round. The selection of Forbes fills a need at cornerback, but he has high expectations for his rookie season and will probably need time to get acclimated to the physicality of the NFL. Washington also needed help at safety and used a second-round pick on Martin, who might be more of a nickel cornerback. The Commanders deserve credit for hiring Bieniemy and re-signing defensive tackle Daron Payne, but this roster needed more, especially at quarterback.