Let’s not bury the lead, the NFC East is going to need a lot of help from the 2022 NFL draft class. There have been so many big name signings this offseason, and not one of them has made their way to the NFC East. Matter of fact all this division has done is get rid of their big name players. The good news is that like every year the NFC East crown is up for grabs for any of these teams to take. All one team needs to reign supreme is to address their needs with the 2022 NFL Draft.
NFC East Draft Needs
Dallas Cowboys
Top Team Needs: EDGE, WR, G
Notable Offseason Transactions: Re-signed: Michael Gallup, Demarcus Lawrence, Dalton Schultz, Lost: Randy Gregory, Amari Coopers, Cedrick Wilson
For a team that entered last season with Super Bowl aspirations, there’s no way they can feel the same way going into the 2022 season. They had to trade Amari Cooper to the Browns in order to clear up cap space, fortunately, they were able to retain Michael Gallup to a five-year deal. Not long after Randy Gregory pulled an okie dokie on the Cowboys by first agreeing to an extension to then go and sign with the Broncos. The Cowboys were at least then able to resign Demarcus Lawrence to a three-year deal. Not only that but this once-vaunted offensive line is a shell of its former self, with no true left guard. In order for the Cowboys to save cap space, their best bet to address these needs is with the 2022 NFL Draft.
For the 2022 NFL Draft, the Cowboys have the 24th overall pick. Guard Kenyon Green from Texas A&M seems like he’d be a great fit to help the Cowboys’ offensive line. If they don’t go offensive line then their next best bet would be to draft an edge rusher. Someone like George Karlaftis would be a great pickup if he were to somehow fall to the Cowboys at 24. The other position the Cowboys need some help with is wide receiver after the departures of Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson. Fortunately for the Cowboys, the wide receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft Class is pretty deep, and there should be plenty of options to choose from. Even if the Cowboys nail their pick expect the Cowboys to take a step back from how they performed last season.
New York Giants
Top Team Needs: EDGE, OT, TE, S
Notable Offseason Transactions: Signed: Tyrod Taylor, Rickey Seals-Jones, Mark Glowinski, Max Garcia, Lost: Evan Engram, Nate Solder, Lorenzo Carter, Devontae Booker
The Giants are an odd team to figure out. On paper this is a team that should’ve been in the running to win the NFC East, instead, they finished last in the division. They have plenty of offensive weapons to score all over the place, and yet their offense ranked 31st in yards per game. Going into the 2022 season the Giants are going in with relatively the same offense, with Evan Engram being the only skills position starter no longer with the team. This is a team that can succeed if they correctly utilize their two top 10 draft picks.
The two positions the Giants should focus on with their two first-round draft picks should be offensive tackle and edge rusher. Improving the offensive line is a necessity for the Giants if they want to get the most out of Daniel Jones. Also, an improved offensive line means they get more explosive plays out of Saquon Barkley. There is a very strong chance that the Giants will end up with either Ickey Ekwonu or Evan Neal with one of their picks. When it comes to edge rusher, the 2022 NFL Draft class has four guys in particular that could be immediate impact players. Those guys are Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Jermaine Johnson, and Travon Walker. Any one of these guys would be a great pick for the Giants its just a matter of which one of these guys fall to them.
Philadelphia Eagles
Top Team Needs: CB, S, WR, Edge
Notable Offseason Transactions: Signed: Haason Reddick, Kyzir White, Re-Signed: Fletcher Cox, Boston Scott
If I had to pick one team today to win the NFC East, it would be the Eagles. This is mainly due to them having two first-round draft picks this year, and the additions of Haason Reddick and Kyzir White to strengthen their defense. Couple that with the fact that their biggest competition in the division, the Cowboys, have had a less than stellar offseason so far. The Eagles are also preparing for the 2023 offseason as well, with them trading one of their first-round picks to the Saints, so that they’ll have two first-round picks next season as well. The genius of this move is that it allows the Eagles to more easily move on from Jalen Hurts if he turns out to not be the guy the Eagles need him to be.
Going into the 2022 NFL draft the Eagles should focus on safety or cornerback. While taking an edge rusher like George Karlaftis is tempting, the Eagles would be better off taking Trent McDuffie at corner or Jalen Pitre at safety. Another thing the Eagles can do is draft a top wide receiver. While DeVonte and Dallas Goedert have proven to be reliable pass catchers, the same can’t really be said for anyone else on the team. The best thing they can do is use one of their early draft picks on a big-bodied receiver like Jameson Williams or Drake London. With both of these guys coming off of injuries there is cause for concern, but adding Jameson Williams or Drake London would also help with determining whether or not Jalen Hurts will be their franchise quarterback.
Washington Commanders
Top Team Needs: TE, WR, CB, S, G
Notable Offseason Transactions: Signed: Carson Wentz, Re-Signed: J.D. McKissic, Lost: Brandon Scherff, Landon Collins, Rickey Seals-Jones
Can someone please explain to me what Washington’s obsession with taking over-the-hill Eagle’s quarterbacks is? I just find it funny that with all of these quality quarterbacks changing teams this offseason, the quarterback that the Commanders end up with is Carson Wentz. No Offense to Carson Wentz, but if he is the best free agent acquisition the Commanders can get their hands on… Hopefully, they handle the draft better than they’ve handled this offseason so far. Clearly the Commanders are in desperate need of some help, but it comes down to which of these positions they are going to prioritize going into the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Commanders need to figure out the best way to utilize their first-round pick. They have a lot of needs but unfortunately, they only have two picks in the first three rounds of the draft. With their first-round pick they should be targeting one of the top safeties or cornerbacks. With the departure of Landon Collins, the Commanders are in desperate need of a safety. They also have no depth at the cornerback position, so that would also be a good route for them to go. Sitting at number 11 in the draft, there should be plenty of options for the Commanders to choose from. Some of the players that should be available at that spot are Kyle Hamilton, Ahmad Gardner, Trent McDuffie, and Derek Stingley Jr. Selecting any of these guys would be a wise choice for this team to improve a weak secondary.