IDP Depth Chart Evaluations: NFC East

Eric Olinger

Even though the NFL season just ended, free agency will be here before we know it. For dynasty leagues it’s important to know what each teams’ depth chart looks like because all it takes is for one free agent to leave town for an opportunity for a lesser known player. We’re going to go through each division and evaluate each team before free agency. Today our focus is the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys

Key free agents: Barry Church, strong safety, Morris Claiborne, corner back, J.J. Wilcox, free safety, Justin Durant, linebacker, Rolando McClain, linebacker

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Weakness: Not for a lack of trying, the Cowboys’ glaring weakness is on the defensive line. They’ve made failed attempts to upgrade their line with high upside players with major character concerns both through free agency (Greg Hardy) and through the draft (Randy Gregory). Unfortunately, when you gamble sometimes it doesn’t go your way and neither of these did. Even if one of these guys panned out the Cowboys would be in ok shape. 

The bright spot for the Cowboys on their defensive line has been David Irving. Actually, bright spot might not be giving him enough credit. A Godsend might be more accurate. He single handedly destroyed Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter of their week 15 game on national TV and gave the Cowboys a legitimate pass rushing force over the season’s final two months. He’ll join Maliek Collins, Tyrone Crawford and Demarcus Lawrence as the current favorites to start along the defensive line in 2017.

Strength: Even though it’s being held together with duct tape and chewing gum, the linebacker group is currently the strength of this team. Sean Lee made it through the year in tact and played phenomenally well, maybe his best season as a pro. Jaylon Smith sure seems like he is on the road to recovery with the recent videos he’s posted of himself sprinting, cutting and jumping. As long as there aren’t any setbacks he’ll be the week one starter at MIKE linebacker for this team, moving Anthony Hitchens to the strong side if they decide to let Justin Durant walk in free agency. I don’t think anyone in Dallas wants to deal with the headache known as Rolando McClain and his constant suspensions for failed drug tests.

Priority Free Agents: The Cowboys have a solid player in Byron Jones ready to step up in the secondary but they’ll still most likely push hard to re-sign Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox. Church is a statistical monster in this defense and gives them flexibility on the back end. I believe Wilcox will be back unless someone breaks the bank for his services.

New York Giants

Key free agents: Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end, Leon Hall, corner back, Johnathan Hankins, defensive tackle, Keenan Robinson, linebacker

Weakness: For as much money as this team spent on defensive free agents in 2016 they shouldn’t be this awful at the linebacker position. They haven’t had a linebacker worth the jersey on his back since Antonio Pierce, and don’t try to seel me on “the ghost of Jon Beason”. To list Keenan Robinson as a key free agent for an NFL team disturbs me greatly Robinson belongs in the league, he has talent but he is a reserve level player who should be making his contributions on special teams but he’s the Giants’ best linebacker. They absolutely have to bring in a difference maker this offseason, be it in free agency or the draft. You can’t enter week one with B.J. Goddson, Jonathan Casillas and Devon Kennard as your starting linebackers and expect them to not get blown apart.vernon

Strength: The strength of this team is undoubtedly the front four, led by Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison, two of those key free agent additions from last offseason. They have a lot of depth and youth along this defensive line as well with Kerry Wynn, Owa Odighizuwa, Ishaq Williams and Romeo Okwara. Even with the depth of the defensive line they’ll still push hard to re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul who has recovered from his horrific fireworks accident. His seven sacks were second on the team behind only Vernon’s 8.5.

Priority Free Agent(s): If Jason Pierre-Paul is deemed expendable or too expensive, I expect the team to turn its focus to cornerback Leon Hall. Losing a talent like JPP will obviously hurt a bit but I think last year’s spending spree built a safety net in case he left this year or never returned to form. Even though the Giants have Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie at cornerback this league has proven you can never have enough secondary help. Ultimately, I think Hall and DRC will be competing for one roster spot. I doubt both are in a Giants uniform come week one. If Hall re-signs it is probably a bad sign for Rodgers-Cromartie.

Philadelphia Eagles

Key Free Agents: Stephen Tulloch, linebacker, Nolan Carroll, corner back

Weakness: This team needs a lock down corner in the worst way possible but would settle for a competent player in the mean time. Jalen Mills, Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll all struggled mightily in 2016. Your biggest defensve weakness cannot be your secondary when you have to play six games a year against Dez Bryant, Odell Beckham, Jr. and DeSean Jackson.

Strength: This team has a strong front seven, led by Fletcher Cox, Nigel Bradham and Jordan Hicks. On the defensive line they’re deep enough with Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry and Connor Barwin. Collectively they get the job done. The linebackers were effective too with Hicks, Bradham and the eternal thorn in my side Stephen Tulloch. Tulloch is favorite of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and was somehow brought in to supplant Mychal Kendricks in this defensive unit. A decision which still makes my brain hurt. At least there are whispers the team might actually trade Kendricks this off-season, music to the IDP owners who kept him on their rosters during a wasted 2016. As a 49ers fan I would welcome him with open arms.

Priority Free Agent(s): Even though he is NOT a priority free agent, I’d bet an ice cold beverage Tulloch is brought back and with a larger role than he deserves. Carroll should be brought back too simply because the team needs bodies in the secondary.

Washington Redskins

Key Free Agents: Chris Baker, defensive end, Cullen Jenkins, defensive line, Kedric Golston, defensive line, Will Compton, linebacker, Junior Gallette, edge rusher

Weakness: This team could use an infusion of talent at the safety position. They really need to figure what they have in Su’a Cravens and what is position is going to be in the NFL. He’s a tweener who may best be suited for an in-the-box run defending strong safety. They tried to fill that role with Donte Whitner last season but he was a shell of his former self and was badly exposed when facing speed. As long as the team doesn’t lose Will Compton, who is a restricted free agent this offseason, they should be fine moving Cravens to safety. He’s already been quoted as saying he’s excited to play the position full time in 2017.

Strength: The closest thing to a strength the Redskins have on defense is their pass rush, led by Ryan Kerrigan. The key here is to find a consistent secondary producer across from him. Trent Murphy and Preston Smith are solid players at the position and Murphy seems to be the more versatile of the two after finishing with eight sacks this year. Getting Junior Gallette back and on the field for the Redskins would be huge and probably move Murphy back to defensive end. Gallette has spent each of the past two seasons on the shelf after first tearing his left Achilles in 2015 and then his right Achilles in 2016. Counting on him for a major role is not wise but signing him to a “prove it” deal would be.

Priority Free Agent(s): The Redskins don’t really have a priority unrestricted free agent on this side of the ball. The closest would be defensive end Chris Baker who finished 2016 with 47 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. He’s a space eater who frees up the edge for the linebackers to do their thing. Truth be told, until the Redskins get quarterback Kirk Cousins under contract they won’t be breaking the bank for any defender.

Follow me on Twitter @OlingerIDP

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eric olinger
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