NFC East: Will 2021 see this division rise from the dumpster?

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The NFC East was hands down one of the worst divisions in recent years. With a combined record of 23-40-1, not one team finished above .500. A division hasn’t finished this badly in 10 years. The Washington Football Team, who finished 7-9, ended up as division champs and had a home playoff game as the 4th seed. Many analysts and journalists disagreed with the team acquiring a playoff spot over teams that are clearly better, like the Arizona Cardinals or the Chicago Bears. It is also going to be interesting to see the odds on legal NFL betting sites. What are the odds for this division?

The 2021 offseason is a crucial one for all four teams. From free agency to the upcoming draft the New York Giants, Washington Football Team, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys have some work to do to erase that embarrassment of a year.

The Washington Football Team finished with the 4th ranked defense but the 25th ranked offense. Signing wide receiver Curtis Samuel and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick were two key pick-ups. The 16-year vet has shown some promise around the league being the first NFL quarterback to throw for 400 yards in three consecutive games. Even though Curtis Samuel didn’t not put up video game numbers, he still was an effective weapon in Carolina which caught Washington’s eye.

The Eagles had the 26th ranked defense and the 20th ranked offense. Firing their only Super Bowl winning head coach in franchise history, the team looked to clean house. Releasing some key offensive players like Desean Jackson. This team even made a big transition at quarterback. On February 18th, 2021, Carson Wentz was traded to the Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick. This was one of the few trades that shocked everyone, but the team did acquire some much-needed help through the draft selecting Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith in the first round and Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Milton Williams in the third round.

“America’s Team” still had Dak Prescott’s contract extension looming over them heading into the offseason with a big question mark. Finally, in May 2021, both parties came to an agreement on a four year-$160 million dollar contract extension. With no further question on their quarterback of the future, the Cowboys can now begin their rebuild. Finishing the season with the 28th ranked defense doesn’t make it hard to know where you need to focus. Drafting Micah Parsons, linebacker from Penn State, in the first round was a great step in the right direction. Pairing him with linebacker Jaylon Smith and defensive back Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys can start to become a serious threat.

Lastly, the New York Football Giants had the 9th ranked defense but the 31st ranked offense. The team needed serious help on offense since their red-zone defense was atrocious. Signing Kenny Golladay from Detroit was a big impact along with Kyle Rudolph from Minnesota. Then the cherry on top was drafting Kadarius Toney, wide receiver from Florida. These additions made this offense versatile and explosive. Saquon Barkley, coming back from his ACL injury in full health will be the biggest question though.

So, which NFC East team you think will redeem themselves from an awful 2020 season? Which team will have the best chance to flourish with their new offseason additions?