The 2024 NFL Draft is within the books, that means groups have principally accomplished their most vital roster strikes for the season. With that in thoughts, this is a take a look at essentially the most and least upgraded place teams for every NFC East group.
Dallas Cowboys
Most improved place group: Offensive line
Right here’s what Cowboys government vp and COO Stephen Jones advised reporters after taking three offensive linemen within the 2024 NFL Draft:
“I feel from an offensive line standpoint, clearly if you lose two actually good soccer gamers in (middle) Tyler Biadasz and (left sort out) Tyron Smith, we got here in right here seeking to enhance the offensive line to associate with a superb younger group that we have already got.”
Dropping Professional Bowl gamers isn’t good, however the Cowboys did fairly properly in drafting their replacements. First-round choose Tyler Guyton is uncooked however extremely athletic. The 6-foot-7, 327-pound offensive lineman really took snaps as an H-back as a freshman at TCU and will play both sort out place in 2024.
Cooler Beebe, a third-round guard and two-time Large 12 Offensive Lineman of the Yr, can play all 5 positions and can doubtless be the group’s new middle. Dallas’ offensive line might not match final 12 months’s stats, nevertheless it’s mild years forward of its pre-draft mannequin.
Least improved place group: Working again
So the group changed Ezekiel Elliott with Tony Pollard in 2023 solely to switch Pollard with Elliott in 2024? Pollard had 1,005 yards for the Cowboys whereas Elliott had 642 yards and a career-low 3.5 yards per carry with the Patriots final season.
Texas RB Jonathan Brooks would have been a pleasant match however went sooner than anticipated to the Panthers earlier than the group’s second-round choose.
New York Giants
Most improved place group: Vast receiver
New York’s 2,886 passing yards had been second-fewest within the NFL final season. Darius Slayton, the group’s main receiver, ranked forty sixth amongst NFL pass-catchers with 770 yards in 17 video games.
The Giants’ passing recreation has nowhere to go however up, and first-round choose Malik Nabers ought to give them a lift.
In keeping with Professional Soccer Focus, Nabers averaged 3.64 yards per route run in 2023, tops amongst large receivers within the draft. He averaged 17.6 yards per catch whereas forcing 30 missed tackles to earn first-team All-SEC honors. He’ll earn his share of double protection subsequent season, however his 4.35 pace ought to open issues up for younger receivers like Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson.
Least improved place group: Quarterback
The addition of Nabers got here at a price, specifically J.J. McCarthy. Many thought New York would draft Michigan’s quarterback at No.6, however the group opted for Nabers as a substitute.
It did add former first-round choose Drew Lock to again up Daniel Jones, however neither strike concern into NFL defenses.
Philadelphia Eagles
Most improved place group: Cornerback
Philadelphia didn’t take each cornerback within the draft, nevertheless it certain appeared that manner.
After touchdown Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22, the group doubled down by buying and selling up for Iowa’s Cooper DeJean within the second spherical. Issue within the addition of Isaiah Rodgers who missed all of 2023 for a playing violation, and the Eagles’ secondary could possibly be in for a bounce-back 12 months.
Philadelphia led the NFL by permitting a league-low 179.8 yards per recreation in 2022 however gave up the second-most passing yards final season (4,296.) Cornerback James Bradberry struggled badly final season however could possibly be used sparingly with Mitchell and DeJean on the roster.
Least improved place group: Edge rusher
The Eagles signed linebacker Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51M contract however might have gotten worse within the pass-rush division. Huff had a career-high 10 sacks for the Jets final 12 months however had simply 7.5 in his earlier seasons when he missed a complete of 13 video games.
Haason Reddick by no means missed a recreation in two seasons as an Eagle whereas placing up 27 sacks. He’ll look to take Huff’s place after being traded to the Jets, whereas Philadelphia hopes linebacker and first-round choose Nolan Smith can enhance on an unremarkable rookie season that noticed him earn one sack and no begins in 18 video games.
Washington Commanders
Most improved place group: Quarterback
As a first-year starter and former fifth-round choice, Sam Howell’s ceiling was pretty low in 2023, though he did end because the NFL’s Twelfth-leading passer with 3,946 yards.
If his school stats are any indication, Jayden Daniels may have half as many yards on the bottom subsequent season.
Along with passing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2023, Washington’s first-round choose led all school quarterbacks with 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the bottom. With Daniels beneath the steerage of backup QB and fellow Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, there’s no cause to suppose Washington’s quarterback play received’t enhance.
Least improved place group: Vast receiver
Washington signed Olamide Zaccheaus in free company, drafted Luke McCaffrey within the third spherical and signed Georgia’s Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint as an undrafted free agent. That’s it.
Zaccheaus had 10 catches for 164 yards with the Eagles final season whereas McCaffrey was nonetheless adjusting to the large receiver place. Ed’s son and Christian’s brother performed quarterback with Nebraska earlier than altering colleges and positions with Rice in 2022.
Washington handed on extra polished receivers like Illinois’ Ja’Lynn Polk and Texas’ Adonai Mitchell in favor of defensive sort out Jer’Zhan Newton, cornerback Mike Sainristil and tight finish Ben Sinnott within the second spherical of the draft.
If both Terry McLaurin or Jahan Dotson miss any time with damage, McCaffrey and Zaccheus may battle to fill the void in 2024.
