Cowboys In NFL's Toughest Division; Can Defense Win NFC East? Minicamp Preview
Plenty has been written about just how good the Dallas Cowboys will be on paper this season. They are, of course, fresh off back-to-back 12-win seasons and boast one of the NFL's deepest rosters.
In some instances, a team with that track record would be runaway favorites to win the division. However, that is not the case here, as they reside in the NFC East - the division that CBS Sports labeled the best in the NFL.
It is easy to see why, as the division had three playoff teams last season, with the Cowboys joined by the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. All three teams won at least one playoff game, with the Eagles representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.
While we live in an offense-emphasized time in the NFL, we might theorize that the divisional difference might be on defense ... and as a three-day minicamp launches on Tuesday inside The Star, young team leader Micah Parsons suggests the same.
“You just feel it in the room,” Parsons said. “Everybody’s like, ‘This has got to be the year.'''
Dallas has difference-makers at every level, starting with DeMarcus Lawrence at defensive end, Micah as the "pass-rushing linebacker'' and then a secondary stocked with ballhawks, featuring cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore. (Do both corners really rank individually in the league's top 10? That's a talent load.)
Additional help? We'll keep an eye today on one more guy at each level: First-round rookie Mazi Smith at defensive tackle, rising standout Damone Clark at linebacker and budding star DaRon Bland in the secondary.
Are the Cowboys "loaded''? Maybe. But even with a roster boasting those defensive names plus Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard, the Cowboys are a popular pick to finish in second place once again behind Philadelphia. ... again, justifiable, as the Eagles also have a stacked roster.
Led by Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown, as well as offseason addition D'Andre Swift, the Eagles are once again locked and loaded in pursuit of their second straight NFC championship.
Maybe not far behind the Cowboys come the Giants, who rode a career year from Daniel Jones to their first playoff berth since 2016. With second-year coach Brian Daboll at the helm, and a team that picked up steam as the season went on, the Giants can certainly contend for a division title.
Last and probably least, the Washington Commanders were not exactly a pushover in 2022. Finishing with an 8-8-1 record, they hung around in the playoff conversation deeper into the season than some likely expected.
An offense with plenty of young talent in Terry McLaurin, Sam Howell and the running back duo of Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson has the potential to make life difficult for even the best defenses.
Can Dallas' defense handle the challenges of Hurts and Barkley and McLaurin and company? It's worth noting that since 2016, the Cowboys have been the dominant team inside the division … and seem to have the personnel to do that again.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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