NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
2019 record: 8-8 (+113 Point differential)
Offensive DVOA: 2nd (Pass: 5th / Run: 3rd)
Defensive DVOA: 19th (Pass: 23rd / Run: 15th)
New coaches: Mike McCarthy, Head Coach; Mike Nolan, Defensive coordinator
Added: EDGE Aldon Smith, EDGE Everson Griffen, QB Andy Dalton
Lost: CB Byron Jones, EDGE Robert Quinn, WR Randall Cobb, C Travis Frederick
Injuries: DT Gerald McCoy (season), RT La’el Collins (3 weeks, at least)
Opt-outs: CB Maurice Canady, WR Stephen Guidry and FB Jermaine Olawale
Key Rookies: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma (17th); CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama (51st); DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma (82nd); CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa (123rd); C Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin (146th)
Regression alert! Underperformed Pythagorean win expectation by three wins; 29th in Adjusted Games Lost.
Over-under: 9.5 wins
Football Outsiders projection: 8.8 wins
Offense
- Dak Prescott still hasn’t been signed to a long-term deal and will play the season on the franchise tag, but he’s poised for maybe the best season of his career with a deep supporting cast, including returners Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.
- Randall Cobb left for Houston but was immediately replaced with first-round pick CeeDee Lamb, who should be able to replace Cobb’s production while adding more big-play ability to the Cowboys offense.
- The offensive line has long been a strength in Dallas but there is some uncertainty with Joe Looney replacing Travis Frederick at center and La’el Collins starting the year on short-term IR, leaving journeyman Cam Erving manning the right tackle spot for the first month.
Defense
- The pass rush from the defensive line will be the key to the for a defense lacking proven talent in the secondary.
- Good news: There’s a lot of talent in the pass rush with Everson Griffen signing in Dallas late and the NFL re-instating Randy Gregory. Aldon Smith is also back in the NFL and should get plenty of pass rush opportunities. DeMarcus Lawrence is the star of the group.
- On the inside, the Cowboys were hoping for some production out of free agent Gerald McCoy, but he’s already out for the season. Now they’ll lean on young guys Tyrstan Hill and Neville Gallimore for interior pressure. Dontari Poe is also here after a down season in Carolina.
- Mike Nolan could bring a more blitz-heavy scheme, which would help generate pressure if some of the less reliable pass rushers aren’t productive.
- Chidobe Awuzie and Anthony Brown are the presumed starters at cornerback but rookies Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson could push Brown for the snaps. Xavier Woods and Darian Thompson are an underwhelming pair of safeties but, hey, Earl Thomas is still out there.
Rapid fire
Trending up or down? Up
Biggest weakness: Cornerback
Biggest strength: Offensive firepower
Player who needs to make the leap: Chidobe Awuzie
Floor/ceiling: 8-13 wins
Win total over-under: Over 9.5 wins
Philadelphia Eagles
2019 record: 9-7 (+31 Point differential)
Offensive DVOA: 16th (Pass: 17th / Run: 13th)
Defensive DVOA: 12th (Pass: 16th / Run: 4th)
New coaches: Press Taylor, Pass-game coordinator; Jeff Stoutland, run-game coordinator; Rich Scangarello, senior offensive assistant
Added: CB Darius Slay, DT Javon Hargrave, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
Lost: S Malcolm Jenkins, WR Nelson Agholor, CB Ronald Darby, RB Jordan Howard
Injuries: OG Brandon Brooks (season); OT Andre Dillard (season)
Opt-outs: WR Marquise Goodwin
Key Rookies: WR Jalen Reagor, TCU (21st); QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (53rd); LB Davion Taylor, Colorado (103rd); S K’Von Wallace, Clemson (127th); OT Jack Driscoll, Auburn (145th); WR John Hightower, Boise State (168th)
Regression alert! 27th in fumble recovery percentage; 3rd in Adjusted Games Lost on defense
Over-under: 9.5 wins
Football Outsiders projection: 8.5 wins
Offense
- Carson Wentz should have more weapons to work with compared to last year when he was throwing to insurance salesmen. But, Marquise Goodwin opting out puts pressure on Desean Jackson to stay healthy or Jalen Reagor to hit the ground running for the team to have the downfield speed it lacked last season. John Hightower did turn some heads in camp and could add some downfield play-making. Miles Sanders and Boston Scott are contributors in the passing game, as well.
- The receiver group has to be better in 2020, but the same can be said of the tight ends. Not that Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert were bad last season, but they are the center of the passing game and that’s not changing any time soon.
- Offensive line continuity is the big concern after the Brandon Brooks injury. Now there are questions at right guard spots and left tackle. Jason Peters was brought into play guard, but after Andre Dillard’s season-ending injury, he’s sliding back to left tackle. Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson are really the only sure things of a group the Eagles offense will lean heavily on.
Defense
- Philly will have more depth on the defensive line after getting hit hard with injuries the last two seasons. Malik Jackson returns after missing most of the season and he’ll be joined on the interior by free agent Javon Hargrave, who actually outperformed Fletcher Cox in some key metric last season. Brandon Graham remains the team’s most reliable edge rusher at 32.
- There are a lot of unproven players at linebacker but there is speed and athleticism with Duke Riley, and rookies Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley, joining the group. But the rookies probably won’t play early on, It’s an unsettled group and it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s a lot of turnover on the depth chart throughout the season.
- The secondary is much improved after the trade for Darius Slay, who gives the Eagles a legit No. 1 corner. Avonte Maddox is the starter across from Slay after Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones were cut. Newcomer Nickell Robey-Coleman gives them a solid option in the slot.
- Losing defensive leader Malcolm Jenkins will hurt both in the locker room and on the field. He’ll be replaced by converted corner Jalen Mills.
Rapid fire
Trending up or down? Down
Biggest weakness: Offensive depth
Biggest strength: Defensive line
Player who needs to make the leap: Derek Barnett
Floor/ceiling: 6-12 wins
Win total over-under: Over 9.5 wins
New York Giants
2019 record: 4-12 (-110 Point differential)
Offensive DVOA: 13th (Pass: 26th / Run: 18th)
Defensive DVOA: 24th (Pass: 31st / Run: 7th)
New coaches: Joe Judge, head coach; Jason Garrett, offensive coordinator; Patrick Graham, Defensive coordinator
Added: CB James Bradberry, LB Blake Martinez, RB Dion Lewis
Lost: S Antoine Bethea, LB Alec Ogletree, OT Mike Remmers,
Opt-outs: LT Nate Solder (opt-out), CB Sam Beal (opt-out)
Key Rookies: T Andrew Thomas, Georgia (4th); S Xavier McKinney, Alabama (36th); T Matt Peart, Connecticut (99th)
Regression alert! T32nd in turnover margin
Over/under: 6.5 wins
Football Outsiders projection: 7 wins
Offense
- Daniel Jones is coming off a surprisingly competent rookie campaign, which was marred by a fumbling issue. Jones was better on quick passing plays than he was on longer ones, which matters because new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is known for a vertical passing scheme. It may not be the best fit.
- Outside of the guard positions, the offensive line is shaky. LT Nate Solder opted out and wasn’t last year very good anyway. Andrew Thomas is a raw rookie who will have to start in his place, leaving Cam Fleming to take over on the right.
- Darius Slayton needs to build on his rookie season for this receiving corps to come together. Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate have overlapping skill sets and neither profile as a true WR1. Slayton does. The receivers will get help if talented tight end Evan Engram can stay on the field. Dion Lewis joins Saquon Barkley in the backfield. It’s on Garrett to maximize those versatile backs, which is concerning.
Defense
- The defensive line is still a bunch of run stuffers … plus Markus Golden, whom the team was willing to let go at the start of the offseason before he returned in the summer. Last year’s first-round pick Dexter Lawrence needs to step up if the line is going to be productive against the pass. Dave Gettleman has said that he expects the new defensive coaching staff to scheme up pressure.
- Linebacker has been a problem for over a decade now and nothing changed in the offseason. Free-agent signing Blake Martinez was well compensated but he’s hardly an upgrade over Alec Ogletree.
- The secondary could be a strength depending on the development of younger guys. James Bradberry is high-end CB2 who’s miscast as a No. 1, but he’s better than what NY had. Rookie Xavier McKinney is an undersized but a do-it-all safety who could fill in a lot of gaps. Jabrill Peppers hasn’t lived up to the pre-draft hype but he’s been solid. Julian Love impressed in limited snaps late last season.
Rapid fire
Trending up or down? Down
Biggest weakness: Linebackers
Biggest strength: Run defense
Player who needs to make the leap: Darius Slayton
Floor/ceiling: 4-9 wins
Win total over-under: Under 6.5 wins
Washington Football Team
2019 record: 3-13 (-169 Point differential)
Offensive DVOA: 30th (Pass: 29th / Run: 25th)
Defensive DVOA: 24th (Pass: 24th / Run: 24th)
New coaches: Ron Rivera, head coach; Scott Turner, Offensive coordinator; Jack Del Rio, Defensive coordinator
Added: CB Kendall Fuller, LB Thomas Davis Sr., OG Wes Schweitzer
Lost: RB Adrian Peterson, OG Ereck Flowers, CB Josh Norman, CB Quinton Dunbar, RB Derrius Guice
Injuries: LB Reuben Foster (season)
Opt-outs: DT Caleb Brantley and LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
Key Rookies: EDGE Chase Young, Ohio State (2nd); RB Antonio Gibson, Memphis (66th); OT Saahdiq Charles, LSU (108th); WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty (142nd)
Regression alert! 2nd in Adjusted Games Lost
Over-under: 5 wins
Football Outsiders projection: 6 wins
Offense
- QB Dwayne Haskins had a rough rookie season statistically, but some advanced metrics suggest that it was the result of a poor supporting cast. He had the biggest gap between Total Points per attempt — Sports Info Solutions’ proprietary stat that takes EPA and adjusts it based on a player’s individual contribution to a play — and EPA per attempt in the league. The inflated sack numbers, though, were on him. He held the ball too long, and his sack rate was double that of Case Keenum, who played behind the same line.
- Antonio Gibson hasn’t been named the starter after Adrian Peterson’s release but he’s the most interesting player in the group. He was a receiver/running back hybrid at Memphis, so Scott Turner’s experience with Christian McCaffrey in Carolina should help him know how to get the most out of the rookie.
- Receiver is the biggest concern for the team going forward: Terry McCalurin was PFF’s highest-graded rookie receiver, but there isn’t much behind him after Kelvin Harmon tore his ACL. Steven Sims is an interesting player in the slot but not a game-changer. Rookie Antonio Gandy-Gauldin is a big prospect out of Liberty but probably won’t be ready to contribute this year. The tight end cupboard is bare, too, with Jeremy Sprinkle at the top of the depth chart.
- The line is fine but there’s a big hole at left tackle after trading away Trent Williams and not bringing back Donald Penn. Rookie Saahdiq Charles was in the mix but a camp injury set him back. It looks like Cornelius Lucas, a decent pass protector, will take over for Williams. Wes Schweitzer was brought in to replace a resurgent Ereck Flowers. Morgan Moses and Branden Scherff form one of the best right sides in the league.
Defense
- Washington has a deep defensive line after drafting Chase Young. Montez Sweat, last year’s first-round pick, reportedly looked good in camp. While Ryan Kerrigan is clearly in decline he’s still useful. Jonathan Allen and Deron Payne are formidable in the middle and Matt Iodanis has been one of the team’s more consistent pass rushers.
- The linebacker group is full of question marks. Thomas Davis is the most notable name but looked washed in Los Angeles last season. Kevin Pierre-Louis comes over from Chicago where he played well when given snaps but wasn’t given a lot of them. Reuben Foster would have been a good starter but he was placed on IR at the end of camp.
- Secondary play will largely depend on the pressure the front is able to produce. Kendall Fuller and Ronald Darby will likely start. Fabian Moreau is an option as well. Landon Collins and Troy Apke, an athletic prospect who has impressed in camp, look like the starters at safety.
Rapid fire
Trending up or down? Up
Biggest weakness: Secondary
Biggest strength: Defensive line
Player who needs to make the leap: Montez Sweat
Floor/ceiling: 3-7 wins
Win total over-under: Over 5 wins
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