NFL: 2022 NFC East Division Break Down

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Will not have the same debacle I had last week with my entire article not saving, smh.  Save as you go they say, lessoned learned.  On the positive side we are in my wheelhouse the NFC East.  Let’s break this thing down to project who will come out on top and find our best future bet!

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NFC EAST

Current Odds to win division, per Betonline.ag

Dallas Cowboys +120, Philadelphia Eagles +175, Washington Commanders +500,
New York Giants +750
Dallas Cowboys (+120):

Key Free Agency Additions: Bringing back Michael Gallup, Demarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Malik Hooker, Jayron Kearse, Carlos Watkins, and Leighton Vander Esch. Bringing in James Washington and Dante Fowler Jr.

2022 Draft Picks: Round 1: No. 24 – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa, Round 2: No. 56 – SamWilliams, LB, Ole Miss, Round 3: No. 88 – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama, Round 4: No. 129 – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin, Round 5: No. 155 (from CLE) – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakora, Round 5: No. 167 – DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State, Round 5: No. 176 – Damone Clark, LB, LSU, Round 5: No. 178 – JohnRidgeway, DT, Arkansas, Round 6: No. 193 (from CLE), Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State

Strength of Schedule:  Tied 31st per CBSsports

Dallas took the NFC East title in commanding fashion last season with a 12-5 record.  Nothing has been too flashy during Dallas’s free agency or draft, all business and all defense.  They put themselves in a tough spot which basically forced their hand to move number 1 receiver Amari Cooper to spread the wealth on the defensive side, re-uping 5 key players.  Can’t really blame them as their defensive play was really coming together in 2021 and drafting 5 more defensive players to build on this solid foundation for the future.

Offensively all of their weapons are intact with the exception of Cooper being traded to the Browns.  Is CeeDee Lamb ready to elevate to be that true number 1 receiver?  I’d like to think so, but he has to figure out those drops he tends to have in crucial situations.  With Cooper on the roster the Dallas’s WR Corps was extremely scary with Gallup rounding out the top 3.  Now with James Washington being brought in to take on the role, it doesn’t scare me as much.  Sure, James Washington has lightning speed and can stretch the field, but was never really happy in Pittsburgh wanting a bigger role.  Here is his chance,  but isn’t Pittsburgh the place where WR’s emerge; Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Diontae Johnson to name a few.  If he didn’t land a big role there… who say’s he’s really going to make a huge impact in Dallas?  They definitely took a huge step back in the WR department this off-season…but doesn’t mean they aren’t capable.

Like the Beauty and the Beast It’s a “Tale as old as time”, year in and year out for Dallas.  They beat up on the NFC East, get a nice record then fade out in the playoffs.  It’s almost comically predictable as we all know they have as many playoffs wins as Jacksonville does since 2000….3.  Let that sink in!  But the topic is the NFC East and there has not been a repeat champion of the NFC East since 2004.  But with all of the key returning defensive pieces and having one of the easiest projected schedules in the league Dallas value is fully in play.  My projected record for 2022: 12-5

Philadelphia Eagles (+175):

Key Free Agency Additions: Bring back Boston Scott, Derek Barnett, Anthony Harris.Bringing in Haason Reddick, Kyzir White, Zach Pascal, and Devon Allen.

2022 Draft Picks: Round 1: No. 13 (from HOU via CLE) – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia, Round 2: No. 51 – Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska, Round 3: No. 83 – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia, Round 6: No. 181 (from DET) – Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas, Round 6: No. 198 (from JAX via PIT) – Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU

AJ Brown (Draft Trade)

Strength of Schedule:  30th per CBSsports

As we all know Howie Roseman was beyond active this offseason.  Wheeling and dealing and able to bring in a true Number 1 WR in AJ Brown that Philadelphia has not seen in quite sometime.  The chatter is real in Philly and fans are ecstatic, going from rebuild in 2020 to lets win it all in 2022.  I say let’s pump the breaks a little.

Eagles soared above expectations last season finishing 9-8 and sneaking into the 3rd Wildcard playoff spot.  This was a great accomplishment for Rookie coach Nick Siriani and 2nd year QB Jalen Hurts, as this team was only expected to win 4-5 games.  Now coming into the 2022 season expectations are high not only from blockbuster trades, but grabbing a lot of young defensive talent in the draft with tremendous upside.

The pieces are there offensively and defensively, but my red flag is the key piece of the league; the quarterback.  Jalen Hurts checks so many boxes for me,  he is a leader on and off the field, beyond athletic and intelligent, and has a fight in him perfect for Philly.  The downside is his passing accuracy and touch with the football.  Philly made their name last season running the ball with not only their running backs, but QB as well.  Jalen Hurts in no way, shape, or form is a run first QB, but it was definitely a nice luxury/wrinkle to bail the Eagles out consistently to keep drives alive.  We now have a full season of film on Hurts and these defensive coaches are really good with their schemes….really good.  Hurts will need to elevate his passing abilities for Philly to truly take the reigns in this division and be able to go toe-to-toe with division rival/favorite Dallas.  They have all the pieces and WR’s running in the 4.2-4.3’s, but if we are airmailing passes it will not be effective stretching the field.  Eagles compete this year, but Wildcard has their name written all over it yet  again. My projected record has them at 10-7.

Washington Commanders (+500):

Key Free Agency Additions: Carson Wentz (Via Trade), Bringing back J.D. McKissic, Bobby McCain, Cornelius Lucas, Cam Sim, Troy Apke, Tyler Johnson, and Danny Johnson. Bringing in Andrew Norwell, Efe Obada,

2022 Draft Picks: Round 1: No. 16 (from NO via IND via PHI) – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State, Round 2: No. 47 (from IND) – Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama, Round 3: No. 98 (from NO) – Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama, Round 4: No. 113 – Percy Butler, S, Louisiana, Round 5: No. 144 (from CAR via JAX) – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, Round 5: No. 149 (from CAR) – Cole Turner, TE, Nevada, Round 7: No. 230 – Chris Paul, G, Tulsa, Round 7: No. 240 (from PHI via IND) – Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State

Strength of Schedule:  Tied 31st per CBSsports

I am a big believer for any organization to be successful it needs to be in-sync from top to bottom.  Washington is not that type of organization.  Way too many scandals and constant negative attention via the media at the top starting with owner Dan Snyder.  This will never bode well for a team and lead to sustainable success on the field.

The big move for Washington this offseason was bringing in former Super Bowl Champion QB Carson Wentz (lol).  Pretty crazy that is an accurate/absurd sounding statement.  This was a decent move for both Colts and Washington in my opinion.  Colts got out of dealing with Wentz who clearly clams up and can not take a team to the next level that is ready to win now.  While Washington improved their QB room for rather cheap.

There is a decent foundation with this team solid coaching staff, capable defense, talented receiving/ TE play, and a very good running game.  This team is going to give teams headaches, maybe not win record wise but will hang around.  I really think Washington will be a very good team ATS this season, so that is definitely something to keep an eye on.  Last season they finished at 7-10 and I have them pretty much staying in that realm, if not maybe taking a step back to a 6-11 projected record.  I am a sucker for value, but +500 for a team that has no real identity and a ton of franchise issues does not interest me at all.

New York Giants (+750):

Key Free Agency Additions: Bringing in Ricky Seals-Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Mark Glowinksi, Jamil Douglas, Jon Feliciano, and Matt Breida to name a few.

2022 Draft Picks: Round 1: No. 5 – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon, Round 1: No. 7 (from CHI) – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama, Round 2: No. 43 (from ATL) – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky, Round 3: No. 67  – Joshua Ezeudu, G, North Carolina, Round 3: No. 81 (from MIA) – Cordale Flott, CB, LSU, Round 4: No. 112 (from CHI) – Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State, Round 4: No. 114 – Dane Belton, S, Iowa, Round 5: No. 146 (from NYJ) – Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana, Round 5: No. 147 – D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State, Round 5: No. 173 (from KC via BAL) – Marcus McKethan, G, North Carolina, Round 6: No. 182 – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

Strength of Schedule: 29th per CBSsports

If I am a Giants fan I am absolutely ecstatic with the moves that have been made this offseason.  First bringing in new head coach Brian Daboll and some of his regime from Buffalo.  This move right here only as positive upside as we saw how Josh Allen was able to transition at the QB position in Buffalo.  Hoping perhaps now the right staff is what Daniel Jones needs to elevate his play.  The second thing I really liked is the commitment to Daniel jones by making a statement in the Draft grabbing Alabama’s OT Evan Neal in the first round, but also bringing 3 O-line men from free agency.  One being Guard Mark Glowinski who hasn’t missed a game in 3 seasons.  They are giving Daniel Jones no excuses, heres your line, heres your protection…. now let’s get it done.  Lastly, I still have hope for the upside in receivers like Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and Kadarius Toney.  This receiving corps is very capable if healthy, but that is a big if.  We know Giants have a solid running game when healthy with Saquon Barkley, adding Matt Brieda is a reliable change of pace back.

I like the upside on offense to do some things this season.  Defensively is where the struggles will ensue and cost the Giants their games.  There was a huge push in free agency for the offensive side of the ball, thus focusing more defensively in the draft.  They will have young talent to develop.  This season is all about seeing what they have with Daboll and  Daniel Jones progress to then develop the team around him going forward, or scrap the QB and start from scratch in the 2023 Draft.  Like the Washington Commanders I think the Giants could be a very good team ATS, but record wise I have them at 6-11.

Final Conclusion: Take Dallas +120

Even with all of the offseason moves that Philadelphia has made this offseason, Dallas is still the team to beat in this Division.  It is a QB league and Jalen Hurts still needs to prove he has the arm talent to take the Eagles to the next level.  Washington I think will trend in the opposite direction as New York takes positive steps for their future.