The Giants.com crew looks at the state of the NFC East following the start of free agency:
John Schmeelk: It is hard to argue that the Dallas Cowboys didn't take some kind of step back given their losses of Amari Cooper, La'el Collins and Randy Gregory. Those were probably three of their top 10 players last season and will be very difficult to replace. The salary cap is a real thing and the Cowboys showed how difficult it can be to become cap compliant with a talented roster that's making a lot of money.
The Eagles brought back some of their own players in free agency but weren't extremely active otherwise. They have three picks between the 15th and 19th overall selections and will likely find talented players in the draft at those spots. You can expect the Eagles to move around the draft, likely moving down to pick up extra draft capital in future seasons.
The Commanders lost Brandon Scherff in free agency but brought in Andrew Norwell to replace him, which will be a downgrade. They also traded for Carson Wentz, who should be an upgrade at quarterback. Washington is going to have to get their defense playing more like it did in 2020 than it did in 2021 if they want to be a factor in the division.
The Giants as we have written about here, are in a transition period with Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen coming in to build the roster in their image. If Jalen Hurts can continue to progress as a passer, the Eagles could challenge the Cowboys for the division. But right now, the benefit of the doubt still goes to the team with the best quarterback and that's the Dallas Cowboys.
Dan Salomone: The division doesn't matter if the Giants don't take care of their house first. While the Giants were recording double-digit losses in five consecutive seasons, they went 9-21 against their NFC East rivals in that span, including 1-5 this past year. So, as much as you want to talk about the comings and goings in Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington, the Giants' focus should be at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. And it has been. As team president John Mara said in January, they needed to hit the reset button. Three months later, general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll head into the draft with nine picks, including two in the first round, and a handful of new veterans on relatively modest deals due to the cap situation.
"I don't think it's a very high bar to improve over last year, but we've got some draft capital," Mara said Sunday at the NFL Annual Meeting. "I think we've signed some pretty good players so far. I really like the staff that Brian has put together. I do think we'll be a much better team. But I know those words are shallow right now until we actually start playing."
Lance Medow: It's been a relatively quiet free agency period for the NFC East as the main focus for the Cowboys, Eagles and Commanders has been to retain their notable players. Dallas re-signed wide receiver Michael Gallup, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, safeties Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse as well as defensive lineman Carlos Watkins while also giving tight end Dalton Schultz the franchise tag. They added complementary players in former Steelers wideout James Washington and linebacker Dante Fowler, who played for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in Atlanta. Dallas is trying to maintain continuity after an impressive defensive turnaround in 2021 and on offense, the Cowboys will look to fill the voids left behind by Amari Cooper, who was traded to the Browns and tackle La'el Collins, who joined the Bengals.
The Eagles re-signed defensive lineman Derek Barnett and Fletcher Cox, safety Anthony Harris and running back Boston Scott. Their biggest addition was linebacker Haason Reddick, who spent last season with the Panthers and is a consistent threat to get after the quarterback. The Commanders had a similar approach bringing back running back J.D. McKissic, wide receiver Cam Sims and defensive back Bobby McCain. They bolstered their offensive line by signing former Jaguars guard Andrew Norwell, who will help to make up for the loss of Brandon Scherff, who coincidentally signed with Jacksonville, and acquired quarterback Carson Wentz from the Colts.
Given the Giants are the only team in the division with a new coaching staff, they added more new faces on the offensive line, and brought in several players with ties to new defensive coordinator Don Martindale. That's expected when you implement different schemes from the previous year but as far as the outlook of the division goes, a lot will be dictated by performance of the quarterbacks. Dallas' Dak Prescott is clearly the most experienced and polished, Jalen Hurts is trying to build off his first full season as the Eagles' starter, Carson Wentz has returned to the division but it will be his third offense in as many seasons and along with Daniel Jones, the question surrounding both will be durability and comfort with yet another new scheme. So nothing has drastically changed within the division following the first two waves of free agency – and considering no one has won consecutive NFC East titles since the Eagles claimed four straight crowns from 2001-04 - no one should feel too comfortable.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2022 offseason.
K Ryan Santoso - Waived
S Yusuf Corker - Waived
DB Olaijah Griffin - Waived
WR Keelan Doss - Waived
WR Travis Toivonen - Waived
OL Josh Rivas - Waived
T Eric Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Travis Toivonen - Free Agent Signing
K Ryan Santoso - Free Agent Signing
S Andrew Adams - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Bailey Gaither - Waived, Failed Physical
TE Tanner Hudson - Free Agent Signing
C Chris Owens - Waived
DB Harrison Hand - Claimed (off Waivers from MIN)
WR Jaylon Moore - Claimed (off Waivers from BAL)
WR Collin Johnson - Reserve/Injured
WR Marcus Kemp - Reserve/Injured
TE Jordan Akins - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical
LB Darrian Beavers - Reserve/Injured
TE Andre Miller - Reserve/Injured
TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Reserve/Injured
T Matt Peart - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
C Nick Gates - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
OL Chris Owens - Free Agent Signing
OL Josh Rivas - Free Agent Signing
WR Robert Foster - Reserve/Injured
DL Christopher Hinton - Waived
DB Gavin Heslop - Waived
TE Jeremiah Hall - Waived
WR Austin Proehl - Waived, Injured
DB Olaijah Griffin - Claimed (off waivers from BUF)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Passed Physical
Michael Jacquet III - Waived
OL Josh Rivas - Waived
DB Jarrod Wilson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
T Eric Smith - Free Agent Signing
T Matt Gono - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
G Marcus McKethan - Reserve/Injured
T Will Holden - Free Agent Signing
DE Niko Lalos - Waived
DB Nate Meadors - Claimed (off waivers from CLV)
LB Austin Calitro - Free Agent Signing
LB Justin Hilliard - Waived
OT Garrett McGhin - Free Agent Signing
OT Kamaal Seymour - Waived
TE Daniel Bellinger - Passed Physical
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
T Matt Peart - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
C Nick Gates - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
LB Azeez Ojulari - Declared Non-Football Injury
DB Andrew Adams - Free Agent Signing
DE Nick Williams - Free Agent Signing
WR Marcus Kemp - Free Agent Signing
OT Kamaal Seymour - Free Agent Signing
DB Maurice Canady - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Travis Toivonen - Waived, No Recall
DT Jabari Ellis - Waived, No Recall
DB Henry Black - Waived, No Recall
DB Gavin Heslop – Free Agent Signing
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury
TE Daniel Bellinger - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
DB Dane Belton - Selection List Signing
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selection List Signing
TE Daniel Bellinger - Selection List Signing
WR Keelan Doss - Free Agent Signing
G Joshua Ezeudu - Selection List Signing
CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selection List Signing
DB Michael Jacquet - Free Agent Signing
S Henry Black - Free Agent Signing
CB Maurice Canady - Free Agent Signing
CB Khalil Dorsey - Free Agent Signing
DE Jalyn Holmes - Free Agent Signing
OLB Kavyon Thibodeaux - Selection List Signing
T Evan Neal - Selection List Signing
LB Micah McFadden - Selection List Signing
DT D.J. Davidson - Selection List Signing
OL Marcus McKethan - Selection List Signing
LB Darrian Beavers - Selection List Signing
DE Ryder Anderson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
RB Jashaun Corbin - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
LB Tomon Fox - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
TE Austin Allen - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Darren Evans - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
G Josh Rivas - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DT Jabari Ellis - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
FB Jeremiah Hall - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DT Christopher Hinton - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Trenton Thompson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Zyon Gilbert - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Yusuf Corker - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 5) of 2022 NFL Draft
OT Evan Neal - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 7) of 2022 NFL Draft
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 43) of 2022 NFL Draft
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 67) of 2022 NFL Draft
CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 81) of 2022 NFL Draft
TE Daniel Bellinger - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 112) of 2022 NFL Draft
S Dane Belton - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 114) of 2022 NFL Draft
LB Micah McFadden - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 146) of 2022 NFL Draft
DL D.J. Davidson - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 147) of 2022 NFL Draft
OL Marcus McKethan - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 173) of 2022 NFL Draft
LB Darrian Beavers - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 182) of 2022 NFL Draft
TE Jordan Akins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OT Roy Mbaeteka - Free Agent Signing
OL Max Garcia - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
RB Sandro Platzgummer - Free Agent Signing
WR Richie James - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
DT Justin Ellis - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
RB Matt Breida - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
LB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Jamil Douglas - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
LS Casey Kreiter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Mark Glowinski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
QB Tyrod Taylor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OT Korey Cunningham - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Jon Feliciano - Free Agent Signing
DB Jarren Williams - Exclusive Rights Signing
WR Robert Foster - Free Agent Signing
WR C.J. Board - Signed, Prior to becoming a Free Agent
OL Matt Gono - Free Agent Signing
WR David Sills V - Signed
TE Chris Myarick - Free Agent Signing
WR Austin Proehl - Free Agent Signing
QB Davis Webb - Reserve/Future Signing
P Jamie Gillan - Reserve/Future Signing
RB Antonio Williams - Reserve/Future Signing
WR Alex Bachman - Reserve/Future Signing
DE Niko Lalos - Reserve/Future Signing
WR Travis Toivonen - Reserve/Future Signing
DT David Moa - Reserve/Future Signing
OT Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing
LB TJ Brunson - Waived, No Recall
DT Antonio Valentino - Waived
QB Brian Lewerke - Waived
DE Raymond Johnson III - Waived
DB Jordan Mosley - Waived
LB Trent Harris - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
LB Omari Cobb - Waived
OL Wes Martin - Waived
TE Jake Hausmann - Waived
TE Rysen John - Waived
CB James Bradberry - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
DB Logan Ryan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
TE Kaden Smith - Waived
P Riley Dixon - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
RB Devontae Booker - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
TE Kyle Rudolph - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
