And now as our final look ahead it is time for the NFC East. The sad news here for the NY Giants is that I do not see how the G-Men don’t finish last in this group. The EAGLES are defending Super Bowl champs, and despite some VFA losses, they still look like they are top team as we head to the NFL Draft. The COMMANDERS with their magical QB JAYDEN DANIELS are still shuffling their roster to make it even stronger than last season when they went 12-5 with a trip to the Play-Offs. The COWBOYS might be closer to the Giants than they are to the other two, but still may have enough talent (especially if DAK is truly healthy) to improve upon their 7-10 record, but surely need some help from the Draft. So let’s get to Draft projections. The GIANTS were busy in the personnel market during VFA but most of the guys they signed look like backups not starters.
The NFC East as a group has 32 Total Picks in the 2025 Draft. 12 of those Picks are scheduled to be in the Top 99 Picks of the Draft, Rounds 1-3.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: I guess it is only fitting to write about the Eagles first here. After all they are the reigning Super Bowl champions. So what have they done to their roster this off-season. First off they were able to work out contracts to keep their primary vet targets from leaving the team. The trio of SAQUAN BARKLEY, LANE JOHNSON & ZACH BAUN have all inked agreements that keep them on the Eagles roster for multiple years. They did however lose quite a bit of depth, especially on Defense. Most of their VFA signings will likely appear as backups on the team’s Depth Charts when Summer rolls around. I like the moves to bring HARRISON BRYANT & KYLEN GRANSON into the TE room. It has been rumored that GOEDERT may be moved, perhaps in a trade during the Draft, due to passing the 30-year old mark, and moving up to 5th highest in their annual salary Cap price area. I would say their top new players as of today would be AZEEZ OLULARI/LB/E & ADOREE JACKSON/CB. After getting BARKLEY last year it would seem ROSEMAN likes to pick guys from the GIANTS roster these days. Other targets in their Draft effort of 8 Picks (currently) would be DL, ER, OL & S.
Pick 32 DONOVAN EZEIRUAKU ER/DE Boston College 6’3/248 Might be just what they need to replace Brandon Graham or Josh Sweat. A bit under sized but has closing speed and bend to get to the QB. Hoping he can show the speed to strength needed to set the edge against the run.
Pick 64 JARED WILSON OC Georgia 6’3/310 Once again they reach into the talent treasure chest of Kirby Smart. He and JURGENS can compete for the starting job at OC, while the other can be an IOL backup for game days.
Pick 96 A.J. HARVEY RB UCF 5’8/205 Barkley does need some backup help with GAINWELL having moved on in VFA . SHIPLEY & HARVEY could make a dynamic back up duo. Look for more defensive Picks and perhaps a trade or two from Trader Roseman on Day 3 of the Draft.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: With the emergence of JAYDEN DANIELS as a star Rookie QB the Commanders are moving past the Cowboys in NFC East standings for the foreseeable future. GM ADAM PETERS looks like he is ready, willing & able to operate the day-to-day functions in the front office. He is still tinkering with the Offense and needs another solid draft to augment the 2024 roster acquisitions of DEEBO SAMUEL/WR & LAREMY TUNSIL/OT. He also signed DT JAVON KINLAW, who I thought had his best pro season in the JETS DL in 2024. The team only has 5 Picks at this time, but who knows the plan for Draft Weekend.
Pick 29 GREY ZABEL IOL N. Dakota State 6’6/312 The young man who simply exploded this past post-season at Senior Bowl & Combine. Played OT at State, but looks to be highly regarded by pro scouts as IOL, any/all slots. Should be given every chance to win a starting slot.
Pick 61 JORDAN BURCH DL Oregon 6’4/280 Superior athlete, who can earn a slot everywhere but as a NT in a defensive front. I would like to see better hand usage and more violence to his game. But he brings the pressure on the pocket. Boom or bust type prospect.
DALLAS COWBOYS: Owner & GM JERRY JONES continues to frustrate many of the Cowboy faithful. He let Mike McCarthy walk away after no apparent contract offer. He is still embroiled in contract talks with agents for, or even PARSONS himself on a new contract, saying he feels no urgency. They plugged their RB situation with two fading vets, and even let 1,000-yard ’24 starter DOWDLE leave as a VFA. All in… my ass. Even some of the departing VFA players are taking pot shots at JONES and his franchise. I don’t remember much, if any, of that kind of talk in the past from departing players. And the heart of that once elite OL, ZACH MARTIN, has retired because of wear & tear on his body. At least the Cowboys still seem good identifying players to Draft, so let’s have a go.
Pick 12 MATTHEW GOLDEN WR Texas 5’11/190 This was the second fastest player at the Combine running a 4.29/40. Maybe this guy can fill the “other” receiver slot to compliment CeeDee since COOKS was not their answer previously. GOLDEN is a tad smallish, but as long as he can get off the line and past CB obstruction he should be fine.
Pick 44 TYLEIK WILLIAMS DT Ohio State 6’3/333 A big reason this team can’t stop the run on D is because they just don’t have a productive hole plugger in the middle of their DL. MAZI SMITH has NOT been the answer. This dude is big and he plays big. Pretty quick off the snap for his size. He actually ran just under 5.00/40 at the Combine.
Pick 76 EMERY JONES OL LSU 6’5/315 This might seem like a reach and/or surprise, but I see this as the Pick to replace MARTIN. Yes, JONES played RT opposite of CAMPBELL for LSU. But he looked elite during Senior Bowl week when they moved him inside to OG, eliminating him from his blocking chores on those small, but super-quick Edge Rushers. He’s been getting eye-balled a lot since then.
NY GIANTS: Last, and maybe least, the free agent signings of vet QBs WILSON and WINSTON give the Giants some breathing room at QB, although even so they might be looking at another 10+ loss season (say 5-12) and perhaps a chance at a QB they like better than the guy I am giving them below. They were active in VFA but but seem like they are in an endless pursuit of quality players for the OL & DB groups, but seldom satisfied with who they bring in.
Pick 3 TRAVIS HUNTER CB/WR Colorado 6’0/188 He is just too good to pass up! Teams picking this low have so many roster holes to fit that he can help them anywhere they choose to play him. He may play both ways in limited roles in each place. This move might allow them to trade one of their young Corners for another Pick early in Day 3. Especially if VFA ADEBO wins one CB spot opposite of HUNTER.
Pick 34 DONOVAN JACKSON OG Ohio State 6’4/315 I don’t have space here to detail how significant a role he played in Ohio State’s Championship last season. Their OL was decimated (3 starters down) and he moved out to OT to help out. He was outstanding in all those Play-Off wins. Let him beat out your weakest OG to start.
Pick 65 JALEN MILROE QB Alabama 6’2/217 This is how desperate the Giants QB situation is, in my mind. They have to do SOMETHING, and NOW. He is clearly a better physical athlete than their current 3 QB. He’s probably not ready right now but if they can each him up and the team is 0-4 heading into October then plug him in and cater the Offense to his strong arm and running ability. At worst even if you draft another QB next year MILROE could be the Swiss Army Knife player like TAYSOM HILL in New Orleans. It might be worth a try!
Pick 99 BHAYSUL TUTEN RB Virginia Tech 5’9/205 With the departure of BARKLEY last off-season the Giants are forced into a situation that demands a 3-man rotation in their backfield, where TRACY showed well in his Rookie season. I like TUTEN to fill one of those 3 spots based on his speed (4.32/40) and surprising toughness and power. He’s short but not small at over 200 lbs. He is a legit big play RB.
That’s your sneak peak at what I see next week in Green Bay. This division should get very competitive assuming DANIELS does not suffer from a sophomore slump.
Cheers Pigskin
