NFC East | Offseason Biggest Winners and Losers

New York Giants - Dallas Cowboys - Washington Football Team - Philadelphia Eagles

New York Giants

Winner: Daniel Jones

The New York Giants entered the 2021 off-season with a clear vision, one that would improve an offense that finished last season 28th in total points scored. The Giants were 31st in red-zone trips, 30th in passing, 30th in total plays, and 27th in sacks allowed. Part of the problem was likely starters Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, and Golden Tate all missing time due to injury. While Barkley, Slayton, and Shepard are all set to return, improvements were still needed to fix the Giants' offensive unit. The franchise managed to sign a few key free agents to improve their secondary to cap off an already solid defense.

One of the biggest moves made during the free agency period was the addition of WR Kenny Golladay. Kenny G gives Daniel Jones a true No. 1 outside receiving threat who can make tightly contested catches, and when healthy is one of the best receivers in the league. Kenny G ranks fourth in receiving yards on 20-plus yard throws since 2018 (1,072) and fourth in contest catch percentage since 2019 (67%). The Giants are hoping that Kenny G’s signing can impact Daniel Jones the same way that Stefon Diggs elevates the play of Josh Allen in Buffalo. It was just two years ago when Kenny G was a top-10 fantasy WR and the force behind Stafford’s MVP-level start to the 2019 season. In Golladay’s four healthy games last year, he averaged 16 fantasy points per game. However, the Giants were not done adding to the wide receiver room. They also took a flyer on deep threat sprinter John Ross and drafted Kadarius Toney in the first round.

It will be interesting to see how the Giants deploy 3-WR sets given all the talent on the roster. One concern for Daniel Jones is how creative OC Jason Garrett will be when calling plays since historically he’s been conservative. To maximize a player like Toney’s strengths, the Giants must find creative ways to get the ball in his hands and make cornerbacks miss with his incredible quickness and tackle-breaking ability.

Pro Bowl TE Evan Engram struggled with drops but cashed in on nine touchdowns. One of his biggest, most consistent issues has always been run-blocking. The Giants went out and signed veteran Kyle Rudolph from Minnesota who is one of the most effective run-blocking tight ends and red zone threats in the NFL. With all the moves made this offseason it would be surprising if Daniel Jones did not improve this season. One thing is for certain, if he cannot show signs of advancing under center, this may be his final season as the starter for Big Blue.

Loser: Offensive Line

The offensive line is the biggest question mark heading into the 2021 season. The shape of the offensive line could ultimately derail any plans of these talented players hitting their ceilings. While Jones must improve on his decision-making, one thing that can make or break him is the fortitude of the offensive line. The Giants' young unit improved over the second half of the season but still finished 31st overall in pass and run-blocking.

Dave Gettleman made it no secret that the Giants had eyes on DeVonta Smith before begrudgingly watching the Eagles move up to snipe the Giants just one pick. In turn, the Giants traded down and acquired the Chicago Bears' 2021 fifth-round pick, 2022 first-round pick, and 2022 fourth-round pick. It will be a transaction that will follow them as they had the opportunity to acquire LT Rashawn Slater.

Dave Gettleman and the Giants front office remain very high on the three players they chose in last year’s draft: tackles Andrew Thomas and Matt Peart, and interior lineman Shane Lemieux. They also have a lot of faith in C Nick Gates and veteran G Will Hernandez, who was Gettleman’s second draft pick as the Giants’ general manager. The Giants signed veteran G Zach Fulton in free agency and have tackle Nate Solder coming back fresh after a year off due to his opt-out. They also brought in former Jets C Jonotthan Harrison to compete/backup Gates, and they're still paying C Spencer Pulley.

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Dallas Cowboys

Winner: Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott kicked off the free agency period by signing a four-year $160M contract. Dak returning to Dallas was his best landing spot. In the past two seasons, the only quarterbacks to score more points than him were Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. The Cowboys' offense was insane with him in the lineup, averaging 32 ppg. Despite injuries to the offensive line and one of the worst defenses in the league, Dallas managed to go 2-3 with Dak under center. When Dak fractured his ankle in Week 5, both his season and the Cowboys' season were over immediately. With Andy Dalton as the starter, the Cowboys plummeted to 28th in the league in rushing and 25th in passing. Although the offensive line is aging, it is healthy. As Dak returns to the lineup, he should be able to mask any deficiencies that the Cowboys may have on their roster. With Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Ezekiel Elliot, Tony Pollard, and a healthy Blake Jarwin, this unit has top-5 fantasy football production within its range of outcomes. It's not out of the realm of possibility that each receiver goes for over 1,000 receiving yards in 2021.

Loser: Secondary Unit

Dallas had many glaring statistical weaknesses on defense last season, which in reality actually benefited fantasy football production by the offense. The Cowboys finished 28th in passing defense and 4th in most 40-yard plays allowed. Teams were putting up points through the air left and right which in turn pushed the pace of play of the Cowboys on offense. They also struggled defensively to stop the run, finishing 20th worst in the league.

Dallas was mocked to draft Patrick Surtain Jr. in almost every mock draft this off-season. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, CB Jaycee Horn was selected by Carolina, and immediately after, the Broncos selected CB Patrick Surtain. Dallas went to their second option and traded down to take the first linebacker off the board, a speedy Micah Parsons out of Penn State. Dallas continued to try to improve the historically bad defense by selecting defensive players in six out of the first seven team selections in this year’s draft. Dallas selected a cornerback in the second and third round, who they hope can offer immediate impact to the roster. The Cowboys have also hired a brand new defensive coordinator, former Atlanta Falcons HC Dan Quinn.

Dallas rosters a brand new defense, with at least seven or eight new starters. Now, they're faced with the daunting task of opening up the 2021 season by squaring up with the Super Bowl banner-raising Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. While Dallas can certainly improve with a new defensive coach, scheme, and players, it's important to remember that in a shortened off-season, it may take time to learn the new system with so many new pieces. Leaving the draft and free agency without many obvious upgrades to either cornerback or safety, the Dallas secondary is the loser of the 2021 off-season.

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Washington Football Team

Winner: Terry McClaurin

After being one of our most highly sought-after picks in fantasy football drafts last season, Scary Terry has a lot of people excited again going into 2021. Coming off an off-season in which Washington acquired Ryan Fitzpatrick and several other offensive weapons, Terry McClaurin may have only scratched the surface and could very well finish next season as a top-10 fantasy wide receiver.

You wouldn’t have guessed it by watching his game film, but Terry suffered two separate high ankle sprains throughout the 2020 season. This actually may explain some of his struggles down the stretch. The list of healthy players who can play at the level of Terry McClaurin is short. Throughout the first nine weeks of the season, he was fantasy football WR12 in PPG. The deep ball gun-slinging playing style of Ryan Fitzpatrick should only benefit Terry who has posted unbelievable numbers with Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith under center. One of the most interesting tidbits about Fitzpatrick is his tendency to lock into his big-play WR1s. In years past, Fitzpatrick has boosted DeVante Parker in Miami and Brandon Marshall in New York, both of whom finished with career seasons.

Loser: Offensive Line

We had many thoughts and several different options to select a skill position player to nitpick potential downfalls. However, the most concerning thing for Washington this season isn't a specific player, but rather the fortitude of the offensive line. This unit certainly overachieved last season, finishing as a middle-of-the-pack unit. Still, depth plus the glaring hole left by the departure of Trent Williams were needs that Washington should've addressed in free agency or in the draft. Washington did just that by franchise-tagging Brandon Scherff, a key to the success of the team last year. The Football Team also traded for Ereck Flowers who has been inconsistent but fared well in Washington two years ago. Flowers gives them depth at the guard/right tackle position.

So, you're probably thinking, this all sounds pretty good. Why is the offensive line the biggest loser on this team? The reason why is because Washington drafted a linebacker who only started for one year, Jamin Davis. While linebacker was a position of need for this dominant defense, we feel Washington could've secured a talented offensive lineman at the position they were drafting at. Washington did select a tackle in the second round in Samuel Cosmi. They also signed former Pro Bowler LT Charles Leno who was surprisingly released from the Bears after starting all 5 years for them. Leno turns 31 this year so maybe Washington is looking for depth in case he does not pan out. Cornelius Lucas was very solid last year and could slide into the backup left tackle position. Wes Schweitzer could start at left guard, paired with top-10 grades from C Chase Roullier and RG Brandon Scherff. RT Morgan Moses has been cut.

The Football team passed on a potential stud tackle/guard in Christian Darrisaw who was selected four picks later by the Minnesota Vikings. While Davis's potential is huge, he could be a project with just one year in a full-time college role. He may need more experience to make an immediate impact on the already impressive defensive front. Adding Leno helps the team no doubt, but we'll have to wait and see how Washington passing on a left tackle in favor of a lineman will pan out.

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Philadelphia Eagles

Winner: Jalen Hurts

Very few quarterback stocks went up this offseason as much as Jalen Hurts after the Eagles traded Carson Wentz to the Colts. Hurts produced overall fantasy QB3 numbers in his three starts in his rookie year. With hype and shades of Lamar Jackson entering his second season, his rushing upside alone will make him a QB1 heading into fantasy football 2021 drafts. In Hurts' three starts, he had 106, 63, and 69 rushing yards, plus one rushing touchdown. If we magically plug those rushing yards over a 16-game season, he would have finished with 1,269 yards. That’s more than Lamar Jackson had in his record-breaking 2019 season. Hurts-doubters may point to his struggles as a passer in his inaugural campaign, but after firing Doug Pederson and improving their offensive line and skill position players, Jalen Hurts enters 2021 as a great late-round sleeper pick.

The Eagles were rumored to be selecting a quarterback at the sixth overall pick but showed commitment to Hurts for at least 2021 by trading down to the 13th overall pick and picking up a first from the Dolphins in 2022. A poor supporting cast limited what Hurts could accomplish, with TEs Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert missing for the majority of the season. The Eagles' injuries and lack of talent left them trotting out Jalen Reagor, Travis Fulgham, and Greg Ward who all traded turns as the Eagles' number one fantasy option throughout the season.

In order for Jalen Hurts to succeed, Philly knew they needed to upgrade the wide receiver room. After they unwisely choose to pass on Justin Jefferson when they needed a No. 1 option in the 2020 draft, they smartened up and selected former Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith in the 2021 draft. Despite being drafted as the third receiver in the draft, Smith is one of the most polarizing prospects of the 2021 class. This past season, he outright dominated with a nation-best 117 receptions, 1,856 yards, and 23 touchdowns in 13 games as a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award.

Still, draft analysts did have a few concerns about Smith. The first concern is his age and lack of talent surrounding him when he played his best football. Jaylen Waddle was hurt, and when Jerry Jeudy and Calvin Ridley were at Alabama, Smith was the clear second fiddle option. Smith is an older prospect who entered the league playing all four years and very few drafted receivers who have been selected in the first round historically have achieved success. The second concern for Smith is his weight and height. Listed at 6 feet tall and only 190 pounds, he is one of the smallest, yet best route runners in the NFL. Given his landing spot, a preexisting connection with former college teammate Jalen Hurts, there’s no doubt that Smith is a great player and immediately lands the role as the No. 1 receiving option in Philadelphia in 2021.

Loser: Miles Sanders

It’s not always sunny in Philadelphia, and the 2021 fantasy outlook for Miles Sanders appears to be cloudy, to say the least. While Sanders is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball, the Eagles continue to add to the Philadelphia running back room. With the 150th overall pick, the Eagles selected Memphis RB Kenny Gainwell. This on its own wouldn’t seem all that damaging, especially considering the fifth-round draft capital, but Gainwell emerges from this class as arguably the second-best receiving back behind Clemson’s Travis Etienne. This comes not long after they signed RB Jordan Howard to a one-year deal, and they signed Kerryon Johnson as well.

Some other concerns we can’t bypass when evaluating Sanders is new HC Nick Cirriani coming in from a Colts system that used an RBBC approach. Boston Scott also still remains on the roster, although his role is unclear at this time.

No matter who ends up getting the most opportunity at running back, they should have definite improvement on the offensive line; the Eagles are set to roster in 2021. Of all the issues that plagued the Eagles in 2020, none were as big as the revolving door that was the starting offensive line. The Eagles return three starters who were out in 2020 including All-Pro Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, and Isaac Seumalo. The Eagles will also see a return to C Jason Kelce who was mulling retirement, which made the Eagles select center/guard Landon Dickerson out of Alabama in the second round, just in case.