Cowboys Offseason Grade: Worst in NFC East?

FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys imagine their NFL Draft outcomes will permit them to maintain tempo within the NFC East, despite the fact that the defending division champs sustained losses when it comes to veterans from the 2021 playoff roster.

In the meantime, the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants all assume they improved by way of the draft and are on tempo to make the division extra aggressive than it was a yr in the past …

Our NFC East offseason grades …

NFC EAST

DALLAS COWBOYS

Key additions: Dalton Schultz, TE (franchise tag); Leighton Vander Esch, LB (re-signed), Malik Hooker, S (re-signed); Dorance Armstrong, DE (re-signed); Michael Gallup, WR (re-signed); James Washington, WR (FA); Jayron Kearse, S (re-signed); Tyler Smith, OT (draft)

Key losses: Amari Cooper, WR (commerce), La’el Collins, OT (launched); Connor Williams, OL (FA); Cedrick Wilson, WR (FA); Randy Gregory, DE (FA)

Offseason grade: C. The theme of the Cowboys’ offseason has been dropping extra gamers than they’ve gained. Key items from final season are gone from each side of the ball together with Cooper and Collins on offense, and Gregory on protection.

The offensive line was bordering on questionable standing final season with age and accidents catching up with long-time staple Tyron Smith and the sub-par efficiency of middle Tyler Biadasz. Dallas drafted Smith at No.24 however that’s generally regarded to be a stretch. Whereas it’s potential Smith works out, the choose appeared like a attain.

Dallas traded away Cooper and many of the receiver expertise with him. It is going to depend on CeeDee Lamb—in simply his third professional season—to take over. Tolbert was taken within the third spherical but when he can’t contribute instantly, this workforce is in bother. Michael Gallup received’t be out there to start out the season due to his Week 17 ACL harm final season.

Greatest query: Can Dak Prescott keep wholesome? Prescott began final season making an early case for MVP till he suffered a calf harm whereas throwing the game-winning time beyond regulation landing to Lamb towards the Patriots. Prescott was by no means the identical. Prescott must return to his early 2021 type and that may largely rely upon the well being and efficiency of the offensive line in entrance of him, which can also be an enormous query. — Timm Hamm

Fantasy truth: Ezekiel Elliott completed seventh in fantasy factors amongst operating backs final season, and he’s now completed no worse than ninth on the place in each NFL season through which he’s performed a minimum of 15 video games. Nonetheless, his second-half struggles and the emergence of Tony Pollard have Elliott’s 2022 ADP within the third or fourth spherical. He may very well be a steal. — Fabiano

Cowboys Nation: Extra on Dallas’ offseason

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Key additions: A.J. Brown, WR (commerce); Haason Reddick, EDGE (FA); James Bradberry, CB (FA); Kyzir White, LB (FA), Zach Pascal, WR (FA); Jaquiski Tartt, S (FA); Jordan Davis, DL (draft); LB Nakobe Dean, LB (draft)

Key losses: Brandon Brooks, G (retired); Rodney McLeod, S (FA); Steven Nelson, CB (FA); Alex Singleton, LB (FA); Hassan Ridgeway, DT (FA); Genard Avery, LB (FA)

Offseason grade: A. Considerably surprisingly, the Eagles went all-in on difficult for a Tremendous Bowl this yr, bulking up the protection and buying Brown, who is likely one of the high go catchers within the recreation. They might have gone the draft route once more for an additional receiver to pair with DeVonta Smith and waited for the event to occur however determined to deal for Brown and signal him to a $100 million extension.

Similar factor on protection. The Eagles might have been content material with placing a second-year CB reminiscent of Zech McPhearson or Tay Gowan reverse Professional Bowler Darius Slay and dwelling with the rising pains. As an alternative, they signed veteran Bradberry to provide the Eagles a pair of potential shutdown corners. The addition of Reddick and the return of veteran Brandon Graham from a torn Achilles that price him his 2021 season ought to assist a go rush that completed subsequent to final within the league with simply 29. Davis can also be anticipated to develop right into a three-down participant and can be a key piece in the course of defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s odd-man fronts.

Greatest query: Will all the brand new items match and might second-year head coach Nick Sirianni, who has been handed a workforce that appears prefer it might contend on paper, be capable of handle expectations, that are off the charts in Philadelphia in the intervening time?

Except proper guard, the place Brooks’ retirement will open a battle to start out between Isaac Seumalo and Jack Driscoll, the beginning spots are principally solidified, so camp can be spent figuring out depth behind the starters, particularly at receiver, tight finish and linebacker. — Ed Kracz

Fantasy truth: Within the first six weeks of final season, the Eagles offense ranked tenth in go share and twenty third in rush share. Over their remaining 11 video games, nonetheless, they ranked lifeless final in go share and had been tops within the league in rush share. With the addition of Brown, fantasy followers should hope the workforce makes use of a extra balanced assault in 2022. — Fabiano

Eagles Immediately: Extra on Philadelphia’s offseason

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Key additions: Carson Wentz, QB (commerce); Jahan Dotson, WR (draft); Andrew Norwell, OL (FA); Trai Turner, OL (FA)

Key losses: Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB (retired); DeAndre Carter, WR (FA); Brandon Scherff, OL (FA); Landon Collins, S (launched)

Offseason Grade: B-. Washington didn’t do a complete lot with its offseason, choosing one giant transfer quite than many small ones. With Wentz including $28 million to the cap area, there wasn’t a complete lot of wiggle room to make any extra strikes. Whereas there have been different potential quarterback upgrades to make this offseason, Washington opted to make an reasonably priced one when it comes to property, buying and selling two third-round picks for his or her new quarterback. Wentz has one yr to show himself. If he doesn’t, the Commanders can faucet into 2023’s loaded QB class.

Greatest query: Will the Commanders signal a veteran linebacker? Ron Rivera has alluded quite a few occasions this offseason about wanting so as to add a veteran linebacker. The workforce drafted Jamin Davis within the first spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft, however he has migrated to his extra pure place on the surface. Cole Holcomb has gotten the lion’s share of the first-team reps, but it surely doesn’t seem as if he’s received the beginning job. He’ll have to take action in coaching camp, in any other case the workforce could look outdoors the group at a linebacker like Anthony Barr or Deion Jones. — Jeremy Brener

Fantasy truth: Antonio Gibson completed tenth in fantasy factors amongst operating backs final season, however he was terribly inconsistent. In truth, he scored fewer than 12 factors seven occasions and was restricted to single digits in six of these video games. With J.D. McKissic within the combine and the number of Brian Robinson within the draft, Gibson’s 2022 contact share might decline. — Fabiano

Washington Soccer: Extra on Washington’s offseason

NEW YORK GIANTS

Key additions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge (draft); Evan Neal, OT (draft); Daniel Bellinger, TE (draft), OC Jon Feliciano (UFA), G Mark Glowinski, G (UFA)

Key losses: Austin Johnson, DT (UFA, Chargers), Logan Ryan, S (launched), Evan Engram, TE (FA), Keion Crossen, DB/STs (UFA, Miami)

Offseason Grade: B-. New GM Joe Schoen was considerably hamstrung, due to the prior regime’s daring but unsuccessful gamble to stretch the wage cap to amass veteran assist. Schoen did stockpile draft picks, filling them with prospects that tackle quite a few holes on the roster. He additionally weeded out veterans reminiscent of Ryan who had been not within the workforce’s long-term plans to straighten out the cap shifting ahead. It’s going to take time for every little thing to return collectively, however the early emotions are that Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have a long-term imaginative and prescient much like how the Payments, their former workforce, had been constructed from the underside up.

Greatest query: Can Daboll and Schoen save Daniel Jones? After co-owner John Mara admitted the earlier regime did every little thing potential to screw up Jones, Schoen and Daboll have finished every little thing potential to strengthen what’s round him to provide him the absolute best likelihood at success. That features a system that Jones himself additionally contributed to growing, a greater offensive line and the liberty to return to his rookie-season gunslinging methods. However can Jones take that long-awaited step ahead and be the quarterback the group has at all times envisioned him turning into? If he can, he’ll land a pleasant payday, and the Giants can be set shifting ahead. If he can’t, the Giants are probably beginning once more with a brand new franchise quarterback in 2023. — Patricia Traina

Fantasy truth: In his first two seasons within the NFL, Saquon Barkley averaged 4.8 yards per rush and produced a mixed 3,169 scrimmage yards in 29 video games. In his final two seasons, he has averaged a mere 3.5 yards per rush with a mixed 950 scrimmage yards in simply 15 video games. Barkley continues to be going within the high three to 4 rounds in most fantasy drafts. — Fabiano

Giants Nation: Extra on New York’s offseason

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