2023 NFC East Preview

2023 NFC East Preview

This division should be pretty competitive even with the defending NFC Champions in it. The Eagles are the best team in the NFC for now but the Cowboys are going to be nipping at their heels. The Giants aren’t going to be pushovers either. Brian Daboll may be working with a bunch of slot receivers but if anyone can make that work, it’s him. Washington is looking for a fresh start and they are going to let Sam Howell take a shot at the QB job, if he fails, they pivot in the off season, no harm, no foul.

Philadelphia Eagles

            The Eagles made the Super Bowl last season after Jalen Hurts balled out all year.  Then he continued his great play in the Super Bowl even though the Eagles lost to Kansas City.  They have their QB and they have surrounded him with an excellent team on offense and defense.  They need to take advantage while they can because teams like this are expensive and can’t last forever. 

            The Eagles have the best offensive line in football even with second-year man Cam Jurgens replacing veteran Isaac Seumalo at RG.  LT Jordan Mailata is a mountain of a man who moves way better than a man his size should.  LG Landon Dickerson is quickly becoming one of the better guards in football.  C Jason Kelce is 35 but he’s still arguably the best center in the NFL.  RT Lane Johnson is still the best in the game.  The team is clearly counting on this unit to enhance their running game.  They signed Rashad Penny and traded for D’Andre Swift at RB.  Neither one is the picture of health but they are complementary backs.  Hurts is probably still their most effective runner but they also have Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott, it’s probably a committee approach.

            The passing game is where this team really developed last year.  AJ Brown was in his first year with the Eagles and he was outstanding.  He teamed with Devonta Smith to be a deadly duo.  Both players are elite talents and they really allowed Hurts the chance to show his development as a passer.  TE Dallas Goedert is also a fantastic safety valve and a good all-around TE.  If there is one problem it’s the fact that the depth isn’t great.  They signed WR Olamide Zaccheaus at WR and they still have Quez Watkins but it’s not a deep receiving group.  TE isn’t deep behind Goedert either. 

            The Eagles’ defense is definitely starting to transition from an older group to some of their younger players and their younger players have lots of potential.  Up front they have two longtime veteran stalwarts; DE Brandon Graham and DT Fletcher Cox.  Both of them will be used heavily in rotations but the younger guys are going to get more time.  At DE, they have Josh Sweat, who will start opposite Graham, Derek Barnett, who is fine but not great, and Janarius Robinson, a raw prospect.  At DT, Jordan Davis will likely start next to Cox but Jalen Carter is going to play a lot.  Carter could start just to lessen Davis’s workload.  Milton Williams will also rotate in.  They have a lot of bodies to work with.

            The LB corps is in even more transition as Nakobe Dean steps in at MLB.  Hassan Reddick returns as their outside guy who doubles as an elite pass rusher.  Reddick is the major playmaker on this defense but they need Dean to step in and stabilize this unit.  The team signed veterans Nick Morrow, Zach Cunningham, and Myles Jack to give them some options and some depth.  However, Jack announced his retirement halfway through camp and Morrow didn’t make the roster, leaving Cunningham as the third LB.  They need Dean to be his best self so Reddick can make plays. 

            The team kept their top CBs together as they re-signed James Bradberry and kept Darius Slay happy.  Avonte Maddox returns as the nickel guy, that’s the good news.  The bad news is they have two new starting safeties.  Terrell Edmunds comes in from Pittsburgh, he’s fine but he’s not great.  Reed Blankenship played in ten games last year but wasn’t a full-time starter.  The free safety job is his unless he loses it to rookie Sydney Brown, I won’t be surprised if Brown eventually takes the job.  I also wouldn’t be shocked if Justin Evans takes Edmunds’ job.  The Eagles are the best team in the NFC until someone proves otherwise.  They will get some competition within their own division. 

Dallas Cowboys

            The NFC isn’t a deep conference overall and the Eagles will find some of their toughest competition right here with them in the East.  The Cowboys have some flaws but they aren’t going to roll over and let the Eagles steamroll to a division title.  One major issue is Kellen Moore was let go as offensive coordinator and head coach Mike McCarthy will be calling plays, that’s worrisome (hiring Brian Schottenheimer as the “offensive coordinator” does not help one not worry).  McCarthy has never been seen as an innovative offensive mind and it’s been a while since he called plays. 

            Dak Prescott has been a good QB his entire career, at times it felt like he was on the cusp of being elite but he’s never quite gotten there.  The team hasn’t won anything of significance since he’s been there but then again, they haven’t won anything of significance since the mid-90s so it’s hard to fault Prescott alone.  I’m pretty sure McCarthy’s play calling isn’t the thing that will “unlock” Prescott’s greatness so he’ll have to rely on a healthier offense.  The team turned the page on the Ezekiel Elliott era and it’s Tony Pollard’s backfield now.  He’s coming off an injury and he’s only on a one-year franchise deal but he’s got more juice than Elliott had and now he’ll get the bulk of the carries, they don’t have many choices behind him. 

            For Dak and Tony’s sake they have to hope for better help up front and health would go a long way to accomplishing that.  LT Tyron Smith got hurt last year and then when he did return he ended up moving to RT out of need.  He’ll turn 33 at the end of the season and they need to squeeze one more year out of him.  LG Tyler Smith was a rookie who ended up mostly playing LT when the elder Smith got hurt and then stayed there when RT Terrence Steele was hurt and Tyron Smith had to play RT.  He was actually pretty good at LT and he is the eventual starter there but the team is better off if everyone is healthy and he can play LG.  C Tyler Biadasz isn’t great but he’s better than the alternative.  He had a high ankle sprain to end last year but should be fine now.  RT Terrence Steele can be solid but he’s also coming off an injury.  RG Zach Martin is a Hall of Fame guard who held out for the first three weeks of camp but finally got a new deal.  He’s a month older than Tyron Smith but he’s been healthy for almost all of his career.  He’s still one of the best guards in the league and they need him to stay that way. 

            One reason to feel optimistic about the Cowboys offense besides Tony Pollard’s ascension to the top RB spot is CeeDee Lamb finally has some help at WR.  Lamb is a legitimate #1 WR but he’s mostly been working without a partner to take pressure off of him.  Michael Gallup returns and he should be better another year removed from injury but that’s not who I’m talking about.  Brandin Cooks joins the Cowboys from Houston.  Cooks is on his fifth team in ten years in the league but he’s been productive everywhere he’s been.  In nine previous seasons he has six 1000-yard seasons.  He’s had productive years playing with Drew Brees and Tom Brady but he’s also had productive seasons with Jared Goff and Davis Mills as his QB.  Cooks is a talented guy and he’s going to actually be someone who takes some coverage off of Lamb.  At TE, the team has Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, and rookie Luke Schoonmaker, they aren’t great but they’ll do. 

            The defense should be excellent once again under the direction of interim-coach-in-waiting Dan Quinn (I don’t have a lot of faith in McCarthy).  This defense has been elite since Quinn took over two years ago and their plan to play Micah Parsons as a pass rusher even more should continue that trend.  Parsons is an elite play maker and he makes the rest of the front four even better.  DeMarcus Lawrence hasn’t been an elite pass rusher in a few years but he’s solid and the team has some depth with Dorace Armstrong and Sam Williams so they are fine.  First-round DT Mazi Smith is the big bodied interior presence they have needed for a few years and he should help.  Jonathan Hankins, Osa Odighizuwa, and Neville Gallimore give them a solid rotation. 

            With Parsons making the full-time move to DE they need some youngsters to step up at LB.  Leighton Vander Esch is the veteran they hope to lean on but Damone Clark and Devin Harper are guys who must step forward.  They had high hope for rookie DeMarvion Overshown but he’s out for the year with a knee injury.  Vander Esch has stayed relatively healthy the last couple of years so they hope that trend continues, they need his leadership at LB. 

            The secondary has counted on Trevon Diggs’ big play reputation in the past but he sometimes gets beat going for those big plays.  He needs to just be steady at times.  They finally might have a solution opposite him with Stephon Gilmore coming over in a trade after having a bounce back year last season.  It would be good if Jourdan Lewis could return from injury to be the nickel corner but if not, DaRon Bland played pretty well there as a rookie last year.  The safety spots aren’t elite but Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, and Jayron Kearse are a solid rotation who won’t get you beat.

New York Giants

            Brian Daboll did a masterful job making something out of this offense last year and allowing Wink Martindale to cut this defense loose.  I’m not sure how Daboll is planning on using Isaiah Hodgins and five slot receivers to make a passing offense but it should be fun watching him try.  He figured out how to make Daniel Jones and effective QB with a bunch of practice squad receivers last year so who am I to doubt him (I question the personnel more than Daboll).  Jones isn’t elite at anything as a QB but he’s a solid passer, a good runner, and he seems to know how to run Daboll’s offense pretty well.

            Okay, the easy part of the offense, RB Saquon Barkley signed a one-year deal to return and remain the mainstay of this offense.  Barkley is one of the most talented RBs in the NFL as both a runner and a receiver.  He’s the engine of the offense and they need him to stay healthy.  He’s running behind what should be an improving offensive line.  LT Andrew Thomas took a step towards being one the elite LTs in football last year, that’s a great place to start.  The team drafted John Michael Schmitz in the second-round and he’s an immediate starter and an upgrade at center.  Hopefully his presence will be a stabilizing force on the inside and make Ben Bredeson and Mark Glowinski at least passable at guard.  RT Evan Neal had a rough rookie year.  He was making the transition from college LT to pro RT and while it’s easy for some people, it was quite difficult for Neal and it showed.  He has the talent and size to excel at RT and the truth is, they don’t have anyone else truly worth trying at RT in his place.  He should be better this year. 

            TE Darren Waller was the headliner of the offensive players the team brought in to help this offense move forward.  They traded for him and he should become a Daniel Jones favorite if he can stay healthy.  They found Isaiah Hodgins on the Bills practice squad halfway through last year when they were desperate for bodies and now, he’s their top returning WR.  He’s the only big body they have so he gets one of the outside spots.  When I said they had five slot receivers I wasn’t joking.  Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Parris Campbell; all guys who are probably best suited playing from the slot.  And that’s after cutting two other ones in Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder.  Slayton can give them some snaps outside and perhaps Hyatt but he’s not great if he gets jammed at the line. 

            The defense was better last year than I think most thought they would be.  Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale unleashed his usual aggressive style and made the most of the guys he had.  Dexter Lawrence is one of the best DTs in the league and he played great ball last season.  Leonard Williams’ sack production has declined the past several years but he’s still a tough matchup up front.  They signed A’Shawn Robison to be the third guy on the three-man front and he can be a solid player. 

            Martindale’s defense can take another step forward if he can harness the pass rushing skills of Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari.  They both flashed at times last season but Ojulari missed some time and Thibodeaux was a rookie.  They both have top pass rushing skills and they could be a deadly combo.  The team signed Bobby Okereke to come in to play ILB, they gave him quite a bit of money for a guy who’s solid but unspectacular, perhaps Martindale can raise his game.  Micah McFadden won the other ILB job. 

            The secondary is in for some change this season.  Adoree’ Jackson returns at CB but he might be making the move inside to the slot.  Deonte Banks was the Giants first round pick this year and he will get every opportunity to be one of the starters on the outside.  The Giants haven’t had a lot of luck drafting CBs lately but rookie sixth rounder Tre Hawkins III was making a play early in camp and getting some time with the first team.  Xavier McKinney returns at FS while Jason Pinnock is the starting strong safety for now.  They have some other players to try at both CB and safety so there could be some movement here. 

Washington Commanders

            To say this team is in a state of transition would be a massive understatement.  The team has a new owner, Josh Harris (and his group of investors).  They are going with a new QB that no one is sure about, and my guess is the Commanders name will not be sticking around forever.  Forget Harris and the name change, those are franchise issues, how about this team.  Sam Howell was a fifth-round pick last year, sat on the bench until he started the last game and now it’s his job.  Howell has talent, he’s got a good arm and can run.  New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy comes over from the Chiefs and he will try to squeeze everything he can out of Howell. 

            The good news is this team has legitimate NFL talent at the skill positions, especially the pass catchers.  Terry McLaurin is one of the best WRs no one talks about because he’s spent most of his career with QBs who weren’t very good.  Jahan Dotson was a first round pick last year for a reason, he’s a true talent.  Curtis Samuel has always been a productive player when he can stay on the field.  TE Logan Thomas has been a very productive player when he’s healthy and usually regardless of who the QB is.  If Howell can figure out how to operate the scheme and get the ball to the play makers, this offense can be solid. 

            The running game has Brian Robinson Jr, a year removed from the gunshot wounds in his leg.  He’s a good running back and he gets the tough yards.  Antonio Gibson is still a guy who can be an offensive weapon out of the backfield.  He can run and catch the ball, they should use him for that.  The offensive line was not great last year so they made some changes.  They brought in C Nick Gates and RT Andrew Wylie.  Neither one of them are making the Pro Bowl but they are steady veterans who can be upgrades at their positions.  Charles Leno returns at LT, he’s not great but he’s serviceable.  Saahdiq Charles moves to LG and Sam Cosmi moves from RT to RG, that should help on the interior. 

            The defensive line has the potential to be incredible.  Daron Payne was re-signed to a megadeal at DT and he joins Jonathan Allen as a impressive pair inside.  Montez Sweat is an emerging player at DE and he could breakout this year.  Chase Young is the wildcard.  He’s been hurt and ineffective the last two years and they really need him to regain his promise.  If these four guys play to their potential this line is dominate, if not, this defense falls apart fast. 

            The LBs are questionable.  Jamin Davis had a productive season in his second year but some of that was because he was the only guy doing anything of note at LB.  He’s a talented guy but he needs some help.  They signed Cody Barton from Seattle to be the new MLB.  Barton is a guy you like and he was productive last season but again, that may have been a product of his environment.  Barton and Davis are young guys who could be just coming into their own or guys who aren’t as good as the stats say.  If they play a third LB it’s probably David Mayo, they shouldn’t play a third LB very often. 

            CB Kendall Fuller has been a mainstay for this team and he gets a new running mate this year.  The team drafted Emmaual Forbes in the first round of the draft and while he’s thin as a rail, he’s a playmaker.  Benjamin St.-Juste got plenty of playing time last season but he’ll be the third corner this year.  Kamren Curl is a pretty good safety and he could be even better if he gets some help on this defense.  Derrick Forrest is the other starter, for now he’s just a guy.