Like any team in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles must first measure themselves up against the rest of the division to see just how good they could be going into 2023.
Luckily for Howie Roseman and the Birds, the team is defending champions of a division that hasn’t seen a repeat champ since the Donovan McNabb years in 2003-04. The large talent discrepancy between the Eagles and the rest of their rivals leads many to believe that Philadelphia is on the verge of ending that 18-year drought.
But with the 2023 NFL Draft concluding, not every team in their division may agree. Let’s take a look at how each of the Eagles’ rivals fared during last week’s draft.
Dallas Cowboys
Best Pick: Deuce Vaughn, RB Kansas St.
Worst Pick: Mazi Smith, DT Michigan
Draft Grade: B-
The Cowboys know they had a great team already ready to go before the NFL Draft began but did little to improve the roster in the ways they could compete with the Eagles. The team reached a tight end that is the same age as Jalen Hurts with others available. Drafting Mazi Smith over Nolan Smith was a head-scratcher as well.
Post-Draft View: A.J. over CeeDee?
A.J. Brown made his presence and thoughts felt when a debate between the Eagles’ number one wideout and Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb shot up on social media. Brown believed that the two players were not to be compared because they played two different positions and in two different systems.
Does anyone agree with Brown here? Or are we overlooking DeVonta Smith completely here?
New York Giants
Best Pick: John Michael Schmitz – C, Minnesota
Worst Pick: Tre Hawkins, CB ODU
Draft Grade: A
Outside of the Eagles, the Giants had one of the best drafts in football over the last week. New York hit on their first three selections in the draft while not reaching on most. Deonte Banks may get beat a bunch his rookie season, but he’s got the potential to really be a star on the defensive end. John Michael Schmitz was the best center prospect and Jalin Hyatt was a steal in the third round. This was a great class for New York.
Post Draft View: Dexter Lawrence extension
New York locked in their best defensive player a week after the draft concluded thanks to Dexter Lawrence signing a four-year, $90 million extension. While this puts him third among defensive linemen in per-year earnings, the Giants’ lone extension they have to focus on now is Saquon Barkley. Although all signs point to New York remaining headstrong in not budging on their current deal to the Pro-Bowl back.
Washington Commanders
Best Pick: Jartavius Martin, DB Illinois
Worst Pick: Emmanuel Forbes, CB Mississippi St.
Draft Grade: C
It was a relatively quiet draft for Washington. The Commanders reached on Emmanuel Forbes with Christian Gonzalez still available and that made little sense. Forbes doesn’t have the overall body to compete with Smith or Brown on the Eagles while Martin could be a solid safety. The draft wasn’t as bad as people talk about, but it certainly wasn’t a good one compared to the rest of the division.
Post Draft View: Goodbye Dan Snyder!
The most positive news surrounding any team in the NFC East is that Dan Snyder is no longer going to own the Washington franchise. With Josh Harris expected to buy the Commanders for over $6 billion, Washington now has a chance to bring in legit ownership that isn’t surrounded by petty scandals and congressional oversight concerns. That alone is enough to make Washington a winner this offseason.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke, FIle
