Teams around the NFL do their damnedest to upgrade their roster after the completiion of each season. There are variety ways to accomplish this feat, whether through the draft, free agency, or via trade, with the ultimate goal of having a better team than they did before. Otherwise, teams around you are getting better while your sitting on your hands.
This is especially true for the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve done a pretty good job of continuing to add pieces to the roster to make them a better team. This offseason is no exception. They’ve added some talented players and they should be better than they were last season. But what about the rest of the NFC East division? What players did they add and how much of a threat are they to the Cowboys?
Let’s take a look at some of the new faces around the NFC East division who could possibly give the Dallas Cowboys some problems in 2019.
Philadelphia Eagles
I figured we’d start with the division rival who is expected to give the Dallas Cowboys a run for their money as far as the NFC East title is concerned. I hate to say it, but I like some of the new faces the Philadelphia Eagles have added to the roster this offseason.
I think where they’ve upgraded the most is at running back with Jordan Howard, formerly of the Chicago Bears, and Miles Sanders, who they drafted in the second-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. I believe these two players alone improve the Eagles offense dramatically, which unfortunately isn’t good news for the Cowboys run defense. Howard and Sanders should become a formidable duo Dallas has to now figure out how to contain.
They also brought back Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson, who will help improve their passing game. But, it’s their defense I think could be more concerning. A healthy secondary will do wonders for the Eagles D, but so will the additions of LB Zach Brown and DT Malik Jackson. Both players should be an upgrade over what Philadelphia put on the field in 2018, which could cause some problems for the Cowboys offense if they’re not accounted for.
New York Giants
The New York Giants made some questionable offseason moves in my opinion. They used free agency, the draft, and made a trade to add some new faces to their roster so far. All three of those moves resulted in some players who could give the Dallas Cowboys some problems in 2019 and beyond.
The biggest move they made was trading WR Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for some draft capital, Safety Jabrill Peppers, and Offensive Guard Kevin Zeitler. These two players alone are upgrades over who the Giants suited up at both positions last season, but trading away Beckham also hurt them a little bit in the passing game. Unless you think Golden Tate can be as productive. He has been a “Cowboy Killer” in the past.
I really like the rookies they added through the draft. Cornerback DeAndre Baker should help improve their secondary and Defensive Tackle Dexter Lawrence should help replace Damon “Snacks” Harrison, who they traded away last season. These two players may not make a huge impact their first-year in the NFL, but they could both end up giving the Cowboys some problems down the road.
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are kind of an afterthought in the NFC East division, but I’m not so sure. They played the Dallas Cowboys pretty tough in 2018 and ended up splitting the series. The loss of Quarterback Alex Smith definitely hurts them, but they did their best to bring in a few players to hopefully offset his loss.
The Redskins acquired QB Case Keenum via trade from the Denver Broncos to probably be a bridge player until QB Dewayne Haskins, who they drafted in the first-round of the 2019 NFL draft, is ready to take over. Keenum has been a solid QB in the NFL and is talented enough to make Washington a dangerous challenger for the NFC East title. I wouldn’t underestimate him and I don’t think the Cowboys should either.
The other new faces the Redskins added who I believe could give the Cowboys some problems are all on the defensive side of the ball. They added S Landon Collins and CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie to their secondary to play with Josh Norman. I’d say that’s a pretty formidable trio. They also drafted one of the most athletically gifted pass rushers in the 2019 NFL Draft, Montez Sweat. All of these players should make an already good Redskins defense even better.
