Ranking the 4 NFC East teams in free agency so far

We’re just two weeks into free agency this year. But there is one NFC East team that appears to be off to an early lead.

The Washington Commanders have re-signed 15 of their free agents already.

They’ve also added 10 more free agent signings and picked up two key pieces in trades.

The Commanders are hitting it in both quantity and quality. The rest of the division should be taking note of this.

The team that finished second in the division last year, and at one point was leading it, is on a mission to win the division this year.

So far, none of the other three teams have matched that energy.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys managed to retain all three key pieces of their free agents on special teams. Returner KaVontae Turpin, punter Bryan Anger, and long snapper Trent Sieg will all be back.

Retaining guard-center Brock Hoffman, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, and defensive backs Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell were needed moves.

Of the eight outside free agents signed so far, linebacker Jack Sanborn is the cream of the crop.

Defensive end Dante Fowler, and running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders are huge question marks. The same can be said for the two players Dallas traded for.

Cornerback Kaiir Elam and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. are both former first round picks that didn’t pan out with their previous teams.

Grade: C- (and don’t at me in the comments. I’ve seen many other lower grades handed down to Dallas already.)

Re-signed

Brock Hoffman OL

Osa Odighizuwa DT

Tyus Wheat DL

Markquese Bell S

C.J. Goodwin CB

Juanyeh Thomas CB

KaVontae Turpin KR/WR

Bryan Anger P

Trent Sieg LS

Signed

Miles Sanders RB

Javonte Williams RB

Parris Campbell WR

Rob Jones OL

Solomon Thomas DT

Payton Turner DE

Dante Fowler Jr. DE

Jack Sanborn LB

Traded For

Kaiir Elam CB

Kenneth Murray Jr. LB

New York Giants

The Giants haven’t exactly set the spring on fire either. They have re-signed 10 of their players while signing 12 outside free agents.

Two more notable additions came with quarterback Jameis Winston and defensive lineman Chauncey Gholston.

Neither player screams “Super Bowl” but they should help improve a team that has been dismal for a couple of years now at the very least.

Grade: C (Note: The Giants are the only NFC East team not to have pulled the trigger on an offseason trade yet.)

Re-signed

Tommy DeVito QB

Ihmir Smith-Marsette WR

Darius Slayton WR

Chris Manhertz TE

Aaron Stinnie OG

Greg Van Roten RG

Tomon Fox LB

Dyontae Johnson LB

Casey Kreiter LS

Jamie Gillan P

Signed

Jameis Winston QB

Lil’Jordan Humphrey WR

Zach Pascal WR

Stone Forsythe OT

James Hudson III OT

Chauncey Golston DL

Jeremiah Ledbetter DL

Roy Robertson-Harris DT

Chris Board LB

Paulson Adebo CB

Jevon Holland S

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles S

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are already seeing the curse of winning a Super Bowl.

Everyone starts poaching your players. And, you usually don’t have a lot of money lying about to go replace them with.

Philadelphia has retained four free agents, including key players like running back Saquon Barkley, offensive tackle Lane Johnson, and linebacker Zack Braun.

The Eagles have signed eight free agents, most notably running back A.J. Dillon. They have traded for a new back-up quarterback in Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Grade: B- — if only for retaining Barkley.

Re-signed

Zack Baun LB

Saquon Barkley RB

Ben VanSumeren FB

Lane Johnson OT

Signed

A.J. Dillon RB

Harrison Bryant TE

Kylen Granson TE

Joshua Uche DE

Azeez Ojulari DE

Adoree’ Jackson CB

Charley Hughlett LS

Avery Williams KR/PR

Traded

Dorian Thompson-Robinson QB

Kenyon Green OG

Washington Commanders

The Commanders are winning this race by attrition. A total of 25 free agents, in-house and outside combined, sends a strong message.

“We’re (really) all-in.”

Did you see what I did there, Jerry Jones?

Michael Gallup might be the steal of the year, or the biggest swing and a miss. If he returns in pre-injury form, Jayden Daniels is going to have a monster year.

Especially as Washington traded for receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Right now, the Commanders are the early favorites to win the NFC East in January. Maybe even sooner.

Grade: A

Re-signed

Marcus Mariota QB

Jeremy McNichols RB

Zach Ertz TE

John Bates TE

Noah Brown WR

Nick Bellore LB

Sheldon Day DL

Michael Deiter C

Zane Gonzalez K

Noah Igbinoghene CB

Bobby Wagner LB

J. Osborn WR

Trent Scott OT

Clelin Ferrell DE

Jalyn Holmes DT

Signed

Michael Gallup WR

Nate Herbig OG

Kevon Seymour CB

Tress Way P

Javon Kinlaw DT

Will Harris S

Deatrich Wise Jr. DE

Eddie Goldman DT

Jonathan Jones CB

Jacob Martin LB

Traded

Deebo Samuel Sr. WR

Laremy Tunsil LT