NFC East free agency analysis: Did Dallas Cowboys come back to pack? Are the Eagles back on top?
The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat champion since the Philadelphia Eagles won three straight division titles from 2002-2004.
And if the first two weeks of free agency are an indication, that streak will continue for a 20th season.
It’s been well chronicled that the defending champion Dallas Cowboys have taken a step back in talent since the end of the 2023. Every other team in the division has made improvements to its roster and the Philadelphia Eagles are perched as most likely to claim the title in 2024.
The start of the NFL season is seven months away and there are still moves to be made in the upcoming NFL Draft as well as free agency.
But there is no question the Cowboys have had the least amount of activity and are left with more holes to fill.
Here is a look at NFC East in free agency:
COWBOYS (12-5 in 2023)
Players added: LB Eric Kendricks (Los Angeles Chargers)
Players resigned: DT Carl Davis, LS Trent Sieg, CB Jourdan Lewis, CB C.J. Goodwin and RB Rico Dowdle.
Players lost: RB Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans), DE Dorance Armstrong Jr. (Washington Commanders), C Tyler Biadasz (Washington Commanders), DE Dante Fowler Jr. (Washington Commanders), DT Neville Gallimore (Miami Dolphins), T Tyron Smith (New York Jets), CB Noah Igbinoghene (Washington Commanders), DT Johnathan Hankins (Seattle Seahawks), WR Michael Gallup (released) and LB Leighton Vander Esch (released).
Comment: The best thing the Cowboys did, and the only move of note, was the signing of Kendricks. He will plug in at middle linebacker. The team still has holes at center, left tackle, running back and defensive tackle in addition to major depth needs at defensive, receiver and cornerback. The Cowboys can’t replace all that in the draft. The Cowboys still have the best quarterback, receiver, pass rusher and starting cornerback duo in the division to make them contenders.
EAGLES (11-6 in 2023)
Players added: RB Saquon Barkley (New York Giants), S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Detroit Lions), LB Oren Burks (San Francisco 49ers), LB Devin White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LB Zack Baun (New Orleans Saints), OG Matt Hennessey (Atlanta Falcons), Edge Bryce Huff (New York Jets), WR DeVante Parker (New York Giants), QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers), and DT P.J. Mustipher (New Orleans Saints)
Players resigned: OG Landon Dickerson, DE Brandon Graham, K Jake Elliott, LS Rick Lovato, P Braden Mann, and TE Albert Okwuegbunam
Players lost: S Kevin Byard (Chicago Bear), QB Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders), TE Jake Stoll (New York Giants), LB Nicholas Morrow (Buffalo Bills), RB D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears), DT Fletcher Cox (retired) and C Jason Kelce (retired)
Comment: The Eagles continue to make things happen in the offseason and the signing of Barkley away from the Giants could be a major difference maker for the offense. If Barkley can stay healthy, he could prove to be lethal combination with quarterback Jalen Hurts on the zone read. Huff was a strong edge signing. Burks, White and Braun upgrade a woeful linebacker corps and Gardner-Johnson is a natural prickly fit at safety. The Eagles will miss Fletcher and Kelce. And they still need help at cornerback.
GIANTS (6-11 in 2023)
Players added: QB Drew Lock (Seattle Seahawks), DE Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers), TE Chris Manhertz (Denver Broncos), RB Devin Singletary (Houston Texans), OT Jermaine Eluemunor (Las Vegas Raiders), CB Jalen Mills (New England Patriots), LB Aaron Stinnie (Tampa Buccaneers), C Austin Schlottman (Minnesota Vikings), Wr Isaiah McKenzie (Indianapolis Colts), LG John Runyon (Green Bay Packers) and TE Jack Stoll (Philadelphia Eagles)
Players resigned: LB Carter Coughlin, Edge Benton Whitley, CB Nick McCloud, WR Lawrence Cager, WR Gunner Olszewski and LS Casey Kreiter,
Players lost: RB Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles, QB Tyrod Taylor (New York Jets), DT A’Shawn Robinson (Carolina Panthers), S Xavier McKinney (Green Bay Packers), LB Jihad Ward (Minnesota Vikings), RT Matt Peart (Denver Broncos) and LB Ben Bredeson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Comment: The Giants got much needed offensive line help with Eluemunor and Runyon. And they pulled off a solid trade for Burns, who will pair with Kayvon Thibodeaux to give them a strong pass rush. McKinney remains a huge loss for the defense and Singletary doesn’t have the same explosiveness as Barkley. The bigger question is what the Giants are going to do at quarterback. Could Lock replace Daniel Jones?
COMMANDERS (4-13 in 2023)
Players added: DE Dorance Armstrong Jr. (Dallas Cowboys), C Tyler Biadasz (Dallas Cowboys), DE Dante Fowler Jr. (Dallas Cowboys), CB Noah Igbinoghene (Dallas Cowboys), RB Austin Ekeler (Los Angeles Charges), LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks), CB Michael Davis (Los Angeles Chargers), QB Marcus Mariota (Philadelphia Eagles), DE Frankie Luvu (Carolina Panthers), DE Clelin Ferrell (San Francisco 49ers), LG Nick Allegretti (Kansas City Chiefs), K Brandon McManus (Jacksonville Jaguars), S Jeremy Chinn (Carolina Panthers), LS Tyler Ott (Baltimore Ravens)and LB Anthony Pittman (Detroit Lions)
Players resigned: S Jeremy Reaves, WR Jamison Crowder and DE Efe Obada.
Players lost: QB Sam Howell (Seattle Seahawks), Edge Casey Toohill (Buffalo Bills), S Kamren Curl (Los Angeles Rams), OT Saahdiq Charles (Tennesses Titans), RB Antonio Gibson (New England Patriots), K Joey Slye (Jacksonville Jaguars), LB Cody Barton (Denver Broncos), QB Jacoby Brissett (New England Patriots), CB Kendall Fuller (Miami Dolphins) and WR Curtis Samuel (Bufalo Bills)
Comment: There is no question that Washington need the most help and then orchestrated the biggest overhaul for new head coach Dan Quinn, who poached four players from his former squad in Dallas. Overall, the Commanders got three new starters on offense and five on defense in free agency to form a nice corp of veterans to build around whatever rookie quarterback they take in the draft.
