2020 NFC East Offseason Survival Guide
The beasts of the east feature two bottom dwelling teams slotted in the top 5 of April 23rd’s NFL Draft and two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. The coming weeks will decide who is going to be a contender or be picking at the top of the draft for years to come. Decisions in Big D’ are coming for Dak Prescott; is he really worth $35 million per season? Is Carson Wentz healthy enough to carry Philly’ to a serious title run? Who is the worse run team… The Giants or Redskins? Salary cap projections, expected draft picks, and a fully analyzed offseason plan for all four teams below ⬇️
Dallas Cowboys
Outlook
In Jerry World, the Dallas Cowboys had an extremely disappointing 2019 season. With title hopes coming in, Dallas embarrassingly lost a week 16 matchup against the Eagles only putting up 9 points against a beat up Philly team to eliminate themselves from playoff contention. The loss has left Dallas in limbo as their team is near the top of the league in talent alongside the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers but with questions about their on field leader. Dak Prescott has been franchise tagged and while a contract extension has been talked about, nothing has come to fruition. For Dak, this team has more than enough talent to compete, leaving questions about whether he will become the Quarterback that he was destined to be after taking over for Tony Romo. A LeBron James-esqu decision is incoming from Steven and Jerry Jones about the former Mississippi State star and 4th round pick. Dak Prescott’s cap hit is $31.5 million because of the franchise tag. Will Dallas commit to Dak Prescott, lower his cap hit, and go all in on this season cleaning up in free agency and bringing in players via trade? Edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen are still available leading me to believe that the Cowboys could make a run at available players and preparing for title contention.
Key Departures: Robert Quinn DE, Byron Jones CB, Randall Cobb WR, Jason Witten TE (what?), Jeff Heath S, Cam Fleming OT, Maliek Collins DT
Additions: Ha-Ha Clinton Dix S, Gerald McCoy DT, Dontari Poe DT, Aldon Smith EDGE, Mike McCarthy Coach.
Team Cap Space:$13,574,843
Needs: CB, Edge, WR, TE
Picks: Round 1: 17 Round 2: 51 Round 3: 82 Round 4: 123 Round 5: 164 & 179 Round 7: 231
Offseason Strategy:
Their most recent free agent signing, the much-beleaguered Aldon Smith, tells a lot about where the Cowboys are in terms of needs. They know that Edge rushers are a huge hole on their roster and they also know that they need to find a replacement for Byron Jones who departed for Miami in free agency. Aldon Smith was drafted in the first round by the 49ers back in 2011 and was the fastest player to get to 30 sacks in NFL history passing Reggie White. Smith has been in as much legal trouble as any NFL star in in recent history. The Edge rusher position is not filled by any means so expect Dallas to swing for a defensive lineman to replace Robert Quinn whether its a free agent or draft pick. If they go the route of free agency, they would have to extend Dak, lower his cap hit to the low to mid 20s and tempt Jadeveon Clowney to America’s team.
Here is a list of names, D.J. White, Chris Westry, C.J. Goodwin, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Maurice Canady, Saivion Smith, and Anthony Brown. Those are the Cornerbacks on the Cowboys roster currently all of whom rank average or below according to PFF. To say the Cowboys, need a top corner would be underselling it. If CJ Henderson is available at pick 17, expect Cowboys front office execs to chug their beer, do six backflips, type in each letter of “H-e-n-d-e-r-s-o-n” on their computer very carefully to avoid any Roger Goodell missteps and laugh about the pick from their luxury box during the playoffs next season. If he’s not available, which no slam dunk, crazier things have happened than drafting CBs Jaylon Johnson Kristin Fulton, or Noah Igbinoghene at 17. Their pivot if those other CBs do not fit their criteria would be AJ Espensa who makes a lot of sense as an edge rusher.
Philadelphia Eagles
Outlook
The city best known for their cheesesteaks (and yes, they are that good) has also been synonymous with injuries as the Eagles have been held back severely from injuries the past few seasons. With guys like Desean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery injured throughout the season, Carson Wentz was able to carry this team to a 9–7 season which was nothing short of amazing. In week 16 versus the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles defense came up huge shutting down the Cowboys offense and beating them in a game that few expected them to lose and a big underdog on most gambling websites. After losing in the first round of the NFC playoffs, the Eagles have already addressed their most glaring need which is an overhaul in the secondary. One of the worst groups of corners in the NFL, the Eagles are preparing themselves with the depth needed to withstand a 17-week schedule and repeat as the NFC East champs.
Key Departures: Malcom Jenkins S, Jordan Howard RB, Darren Sproles RB, Nelson Agholor WR, Jason Peters OT, Halapoulivaati Vaitai DT, Ronald Darby CB.
Additions: Darius Slay CB, Javon Hargrave DT, Jatavis Brown LB, Will Parks S, Nickell Robey Coleman CB.
Team Cap Space: $27,138,654
Needs: WR, S, LB, RB, DB
Picks: Round 1: 21 Round 2: 53 Round 3: 103 Round 4:127, 145, 146 Round 5: 168 Round 6: 190
Offseason Strategy:
With one of the worst secondaries in football, the Eagles badly needed to address their defensive backfield and were able to bring in a star cover corner Darius Slay from Detroit. The addition of Slay leaves the Eagles no longer needing the star corner that many expected them to draft in round 1. With an aging Desean Jackson who was brought back last season and Alshon Jeffery constantly injured, expect the Eagles to draft a receiver with their early draft capital. There is also some cap flexibility for the Eagles to bring in a running back in free agency. The Eagles biggest issue is depth, their starters on paper on quite strong on the offensive line, at tight end, and quarterback. They let Melvin Gordon sign with the Broncos on a two-year deal which would have been an excellent fit in Philly. Miles Sanders is not ready to carry the load as an every down running back so expect someone to be brought in to compete.
As for the NFL Draft, the wide receiver class is so deep, and the Eagles have such a serious need at the position, they will take one at 21 who will be a plug and play starter from day one. The hope for this draft is it is a repeat of 2015 which featured Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, and Odell Beckham Jr. Their decision is going to be based on whoever goes through their process the best and with projections all over the map for who is the best player. Laviska Shenault Jr. is a physical specimen with elite tools to become a top-level receiver so he would be very high on my list to grow with Carson Wentz. Justin Jefferson is a very talented receiver as well who worked with Joe Burrow extremely well this past season. And Tee Higgins has been uber productive with Trevor Lawrence the past two seasons. All three of these WRs will be there for the Eagles so whoever impresses them and gets the nod from Carson Wentz will be the pick.
New York Giants
Outlook
It seems like a lifetime ago that the Giants were in a race for any sort of December relevancy. They made the playoffs back in 2015 and before that they won the Super Bowl in 2012. They have not won a playoff game since then. The Giants have been through three coaches since then with Tom Coughlin being begrudgingly taken into the back barn and put down Old Yeller style in 2016, Ben McAdoo was ostracized for benching Eli Manning leading to his dismissal before the season was even over, and Pat Shumur was fired with his 19–46 record, one of the worst in NFL history. So, where do they go from here? They have the fourth pick in the draft this season and are not in the market for a quarterback, Daniel Jones showed strong flashes as a rookie from Duke University. The defense was 30th in the league in points allowed this past season so there is a clear need for defensive talent throughout. They also need to build their roster around Daniel Jones who will be going into his sophomore season. Keeping DJ upright is huge to their success before they run into another lost season where guys like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields chomping at the bit to take their seat as the “next big thing” in the NFL.
Key Departures: Antoine Bethea, Alec Ogletree, Kareem Martin, Eli Manning, Rhett Ellison, Markus Golden.
Additions: James Bradberry, CB, Blake Martinez LB, Levine Toilolo TE, Kyler Fackrell EDGE, Cameron Fleming OT, Colt McCoy QB, Nate Ebner S. Coach- Joe Judge.
Team Cap Space: $17,100,292
Needs: Edge, OL, DB, LB
Picks: Round 1: 4 Round 2: 36 Round 3: 99 Round 4: 110 Round 5: 150 Round 6: 183 Round 7: 238, 247, and 255.
Offseason Strategy:
The last thing that the Giants want is another bottom dwelling season where they have sat in the top two and draft Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. The Giants need to build their roster around Daniel Jones and put him in the best position to succeed. Their offensive line was one of the worst in football last season and their defense continues to struggle immensely to even slow down opposing offenses. They have spent big in free agency this season in attempt to bring their defense up to speed and have a competitive season. There is not much left to do in free agency for them unless they decide to bring in another defensive back to compete at safety or at corner with Deandre Baker and Sam Beal.
This draft is crucial to the Giants success and can go many different directions depending on what happens in front of them. Tua Tagovailoa is not going to be drafted by the Giants at four. He can go anywhere between two and six putting the Giants in prime position to land an elite prospect at four or trade back and get a haul. An ideal Giants scenario goes something like this, the Redskins trade out of two for a team looking to land Tua. Jeff Okudah lands with the Lions at three leaving all world EDGE rusher Chase Young to the Giants at four. Would be nice right? They could also land themselves a chance to trade out of four and get handsomely compensated by a team looking to jump ahead of Miami at five. These seem unlikely however, for one Dave Gettleman does not trade back in drafts. Expect the Giants to sit at four and draft their left tackle for years to come. I would expect the pick to be Mekhi Becton who had one of the best combines we have seen from a 300-pound offensive lineman. Andrew Thomas from Georgia, Jedrick Wills from Alabama and Tristan Wirfs from Iowa are all going to be considered as well. This will be whoever goes through their interview process the best and lord knows Dave Gettleman does not have the conventional thought process of draft experts. Fans will be dismayed when Isaiah Simmons is sitting there at four and the Giants don’t even consider it.
Washington Redskins
Outlook
“James Dolan and Daniel Synder are the two most hated owners in all of sports”- The Ringer NFL Show. This is not a joke; the Redskins are at the bottom of league in stability and success in the NFL and every Redskin fan is waiting for owner Daniel Synder to sell the team. Perhaps James Dolan and Dan Synder hangout a lot because Mr. Dolan has been starting Knicks press conferences “I am not selling.” It does not seem like a sale of the football team from Washington is going to happen any time soon so the Redskins will just have to try to build up the roster they have put together. They scored 266 points last season…. worst in the league. There is not a team in worse shape than Washington with a Quarterback who looked totally overmatched after being drafted in round one last season. Trent Williams, their star left tackle who every team has begged to acquire is refusing to play for the sorry excuse for an NFL organization, is still being dangled in trade offers. The need for competent, responsible, and professional NFL players is what has been lacking for them since he purchased the team in 1999. Their 3–13 record last year is what Ron Rivera is hoping to turn around as one of the top head coaches available this offseason.
Key Departures: Chris Thompson RB, Donald Penn OT, Colt McCoy QB, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB, Michael Burton FB.
Additions: Kyle Allen QB, Kendall Fuller CB, Peyton Barber RB, Ronald Darby CB, Sean Davis S, Thomas Davis LB, Richard Rodgers TE, Cody Latimer WR, Wes Schweitzer OG, JD McKissic RB. Coach- Ron Rivera
Team Cap Space: $23,836,427
Needs: QB, WR, TE, OL, everything?
Picks: Round 1: 2 Round 3: 66 Round 4: 108 & 142 Round 5: 154 Round 7: 216 & 229
Offseason Strategy:
The Redskins have been hunting for value all offseason bringing in guys like Peyton Barber, Ronald Darby, and Richard Rodgers. Their big splash was Kendall Fuller whom they reluctantly traded to the Chiefs for Alex Smith who quickly had a career threatening (and probably ending) leg injury. Sitting at two with a ton of holes on their roster, the Redskins will assuredly not listen to the advice that experts give them, which is why they are consistently picking in the top five every season. At two, Chase Young is the future all-pro player they need to pair alongside Montez Sweat. They should do anything they can to trade out of two or even draft Tua Tagovailoa at two, but do we really expect Dan Synder to admit he made a mistake last year? Not likely.
Drafting Tua Tagovailoa at two and sitting him for a season is the move here as you can let Dwayne Haskins play out this season. If he is good he has value and you can move him, if he struggles they will probably be near the top of the draft next year where teams will mortgage their entire draft to bring in Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, two of most anticipated QBs to come out since Andrew Luck in 2012. If they pass on all of that and truly believe Haskins is their guy to compete for a Super Bowl, they should trade back and add multiple players to a team in need of talent. Trading back to six and adding a second rounder and an additional one (maybe more) is what smart teams like the Dolphins have been doing. Alas they are expected to stay at two, pair Chase Young with Sweat and hope that this is the right combination to create a strong defense. Developing Haskins with next to no offensive personnel and a left tackle who refuses to play is a tall task at best.
