If you didn’t already know, the NFC East was a complete mess last season that was appropriately worthy of its nickname, the NFC Least. Philadelphia scratched out nine wins to claim the division title while Dallas underachieved in going 8-8. The Giants only won four games and although they did find their franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones, they’ll have a completely untested new head coach in 2020. Washington only won three games, but the direction of their franchise took a positive turn when Daniel Snyder decided to hire no-nonsense veteran head coach Ron Rivera. Now, let’s find out how all four NFC East residents fared in free agency with their NFL Odds and Super Bowl Odds Updated.
NFC East Free Agency Thoughts AFter Week 1
Philadelphia Eagles
Additions/players brought back:
- DI Javon Hargrave (signed for three years, $39 million, $26 million guaranteed)
- CB Darius Slay (via trade)
- S Jalen Mills (re-signed for one year, $5 million)
- S Rodney McLeod (re-signed for two years, $12 million)
- QB Nate Sudfeld (re-signed for one year, $2 million)
- S Will Parks (signed for one year)
Losses:
- T Jason Peters
- WR Nelson Agholor
- CB Ronald Darby
- RB Jordan Howard
- EDGE Vinny Curry
- T Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- S Malcolm Jenkins
While Philadelphia went a modest 9-7 last season, Carson Wentz showed he truly is a franchise quarterbacks as he finished out the 2019 campaign by throwing the ball to a bunch of guys named Big-Mac, Super CK, Hollywood, Dark Knight and Bird. (Yes, those are guys I actually grew up with in Philly). All jokes aside, Philadelphia needs to address their wide receiver position, which they failed to do in free agency. The Birds did address their porous pass defense and they did just that by trading for (and extending) veteran cornerback Darius Slay while also adding safety Will Parks and re-signing safeties Jalen Mills and Rodney McLeod. The Eagles also added veteran defensive lineman Javon Hargrave on a three-year deal. The bad news is that Philadelphia lost veteran tackle Jason Peters, cornerback Ronald Darby, bruising running back Jordan Howard and safety Malcolm Jenkins. In the end, the Birds had a solid, but not great free agent signing period.
- Grade: C+
- Odds to Win the NFC East: +140
- Odds to Win NFC: +850
- Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2000
Dallas Cowboys
Additions/players brought back:
- QB Dak Prescott (exclusive franchise tag)
- WR Amari Cooper (re-signed for five years, $100 million, $60 million guaranteed)
- CB Anthony Brown (re-signed for three years, $15.5 million)
- TE Blake Jarwin (re-signed for four years, $22 million)
- LB Sean Lee (re-signed for one year, $4.5 million, $2 million guaranteed)
- OL Joe Looney (re-signed)
- DI Gerald McCoy (signed for three years, $18.3 million)
- K Kai Forbath (re-signed)
- S Darian Thompson (re-signed)
- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (signed for one year, $4 million)
Losses:
- CB Byron Jones
- EDGE Robert Quinn
- WR Randall Cobb
- DI Maliek Collins
- S Jeff Heath
- TE Jason Witten
The Cowboys struggled in 2019 after paying star running back Ezekiel Elliott a whopping $90 million over the next six seasons with $50 million of that guaranteed. Dallas couldn’t afford to keep the best cornerback in the game today in Byron Jones and they also saw veteran defensive end Robert Quinn, wide receiver Randall Cobb and tight end Jason Witten all bolt in free agency. Yes, the Boys did slap their franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott while re-signing wide receiver Amari Cooper to a five-year deal and they also added veteran interior defensive lineman Gerald McCoy and safety Clinton Ha Ha Dix who reunites with former head coach Mike McCarthy. Overall, the loss of Jones probably cancels out any additions that made, making their fee agency period mostly a wash.
- Grade: C-
- Odds to Win the NFC East: +125
- Odds to Win NFC: +900
- Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2000
New York Giants
Additions/players brought back:
- CB James Bradberry (signed for three-years, $45 million, $32 million guaranteed)
- DI Leonard Williams (franchise tag)
- LB David Mayo (re-signed for three years, $8.4 million)
- TE Levine Toilolo (signed for two years, $6.2 million)
- LB Blake Martinez (signed for three years, $30 million)
- S Nate Ebner (signed)
- EDGE Kyler Fackrell (signed for one year, $4.6 million)
- T Cam Fleming (signed for one-year, $4 million)
Losses:
- QB Eli Manning (retired)
- EDGE Markus Golden
- S Antoine Bethea (cut)
- LB Alec Ogletree (cut)
- T Mike Remmers
The Giants are heading in a new direction under first-time head coach joe Judge and they needed to upgrade their roster at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately for fans of the G-Men, New York failed miserably at doing so in free agency. Besides overpaying for veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams, the Giants made a bunch of decent, but certainly not great, signings by bringing veterans like cornerback James Bradberry, linebackers David Mayo and Blake Martinez and tight end Levine Toilolo. The G-Men saw longtime franchise quarterback Eli Manning retire while watching veteran edge rusher Markus Golden and linebacker Alec Ogletree leave in free agency. No matter how you look at it, the Giants failed in free agency.
- Grade: F
- Odds to Win the NFC East: +650
- Odds to Win NFC: +4000
- Odds to Win Super Bowl: +12500
Washington Redskins
Additions/players brought back:
- G Brandon Scherff (franchise tag)
- CB Kendall Fuller (signed for four years, $40 million)
- LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (signed for one year, $3.45 million)
- LB Thomas Davis (signed)
- S Sean Davis (signed for one year, $5 million)
- RB J.D. McKissic (signed for two years)
- G Wes Schweitzer (signed for three years, $13.5 million)
Losses:
- QB Case Keenum
- G Ereck Flowers
- CB Josh Norman (cut)
- CB Quinton Dunbar (via trade)
In addition to naming former Panthers head coach their new leading man, the Redskins made a handful of smart moves in free agency, starting with parting ways overpaid cornerback Josh Norman and guard Ereck Flowers while letting veteran backup quarterback Case Keenum walk and trading cornerback Quinton Dunbar. Washington also put their franchise tag on veteran guard Brandon Scherff while signing veteran linebacker Thomas Davis who will reunite with Rivera. Washington will have veteran running back Adrian Peterson once more and they looked to upgrade their offensive line by signing veteran guard Wes Schweitzer to a three-year deal. Overall, Washington is clearly headed in the right direction under Rivera and they get a passing grade for their efforts in free agency.
- Grade: B
- Odds to Win the NFC East: +800
- Odds to Win NFC: +7500
- Odds to Win Super Bowl: +15000
