ESPN ranks Cowboys, NFC East teams' offseasons; is Dallas at bottom of NFL? (2024)

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Biggest move:Extending WRsA.J. BrownandDeVonta Smith
Move I liked:Swapping edge rusherHaason Reddickfor edge rusherBryce Huffand getting a third-round pick
Move I disliked:Signing RBSaquon Barkleyfor $26 million fully guaranteed

The Eagles’ 2023 seasonended with a whimperand future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelceretired, but their 2024 offseason set them up to be Super Bowl contenders once again. The team turned its offense and defense over to coordinatorsKellen MooreandVic Fangio, respectively, who both appear to be upgrades. That’s critical because the roster is stillreally good.

Philadelphia engineered a pass-rusher swap of sorts with the Jets,signing Huff in free agency, thendealing Reddick back to New York. Philadelphia came out ahead. Even though Reddick is the more proven pass-rusher, Huff’s metrics — he ranked eighth in pass rush win rate at edge rusher in 2023, one spot behind Reddick — suggest he’s a similar player (and four years younger). The Eagles also got a conditional third-round pick (which could become a second). Toss in defensive endJosh Sweatand defensive tackleJalen Carter, and this team will be able to get after the quarterback.

The secondary was a weakness, but they threw resources at it, drafting cornerbacksQuinyon MitchellandCooper DeJeanandbringing backsafetyC.J. Gardner-Johnson. And they still have cornersDarius SlayandJames Bradberry, who could easily bounce back.

I wouldn’t have paid Barkley real money like they did ($26 million fully guaranteed), but he should be an upgrade at running back, adding to the team’s plethora of skill position riches along with Brown, Smith and tight endDallas Goedert.

Philadelphia was aggressive about signing its own, too, inking Brown, Smith, guardLandon Dickersonand offensive tackleJordan Mailatatonew deals. While the wide receiver contracts were expensive —$32 million(Brown) and$25 million(Smith) APYs — they are stellar players in their prime.Dickerson’s dealwas well-timed, just ahead of a very expensive guard market. Though he now has the highest APY of any guard, win rates suggest he’s an elite player and might have cost more if the team had waited until after the free agency rush to extend him.

The Eagles also maneuvered the draft well, reaping expensive prices when trading down and only trading up when the moves were cheaper.

May 6, 2022; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; The helmet of Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) rests on the field during Washington Commanders rookie minicamp at Inova Performance Center In Ashburn, VA. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Biggest move:Drafting QBJayden Daniels
Move I liked:Signing edge rusherDorance Armstrong
Move I disliked:Not upgrading the offensive line more

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The Commanders are headed in a new direction witha new coachand, most importantly,a new quarterbackin Daniels. How they fare will largely hinge on the Daniels’ performance, though we’re primarily judging how they have elected to build the team around him.

The team made a slew ofmidlevel free agency movesto improve the roster, signing Armstrong, centerTyler Biadasz, guardNick Allegretti, linebackersFrankie LuvuandBobby Wagner, quarterbackMarcus Mariota, running backAustin Ekelerand safetyJeremy Chinn. Luvu and Wagner are a fun combination that could turn linebacker into a strength if Wagner has more left in the tank. And Armstrong is a solid edge rusher who recorded a better-than-average 18% pass rush win rate last season.

The Commanders have the second-most cap space in the league (and third-most in 2025) and should have used some of those resources on the offensive line. Of their five projected starters on the depth chart —Brandon Coleman, Allegretti, Biadasz,Sam CosmiandAndrew Wylie— only Cosmi qualified and had an above-average pass block win rate at his position last season. That’s not ideal for a rookie quarterback.

Kendall Fullerleaving in free agencycould sting on defense, as it leaves a weakness at corner.

[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Biggest move: Trading for edge rusher Brian Burns
Move I liked: Signing OL Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan
Move I disliked: The cost of trading and extending Burns

The Giants’ biggest splash was their trade and ensuing contract for Burns. It was a curious choice, as the Giants spent a lot of capital to upgrade one of their only strengths — maybe their only strength. And they did it at a time when they don’t appear close to contention. As good of a player as Burns is, they traded a premium draft pick for the right to pay top money to a player.

The Giants are hamstrung by their Daniel Jones contract error a year ago, when they guaranteed the quarterback $80 million with the franchise tag available. That didn’t preclude them from going after another quarterback — they tried to trade up to pick Drake Maye — but once they failed to make that move, I think it was OK to pass on the second tier of rookie QBs.

I like the more under-the-radar free agent signings of Eluemunor and Runyan, who should help the offensive line. On the other hand, fully guaranteeing $9.5 million to running back Devin Singletary seemed unnecessary. The loss of safety Xavier McKinney stings but at least the Giants are likely to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick for him.

FRISCO, TEXAS – JANUARY 08: (L-R) Executive Vice President Stephen Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talk with the media during a press conference at the Ford Center at The Star on January 08, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Biggest move: Not signing its stars to new contracts
Move I liked:Spending two of their first three picks on the offensive line
Move I disliked:Not signing QBDak Prescottto an extension

Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys were “all-in” and then spent free agency doing … almost nothing.

In fact, their most notable offseason move wasnotsigning wide receiverCeeDee Lamb, linebackerMicah Parsonsor Prescott to new deals. The last is the most problematic: Prescott cannot be franchise-tagged after this season, which means if the Cowboysdo not sign him to a new deal, he could enter next offseason as a true free agent. If Dallas is having second thoughts about Prescott based on how the2023 season ended, it shouldn’t — Prescott finished second in QBR and was an MVP candidate up until the end. The Cowboys are fortunate to have a franchise QB and shouldn’t risk losing him.

Waiting to sign Lamb hasprobably cost them money, too. While impossible to know the nature of negotiations, the fact that they waited until 2024 and after Justin Jeffersonsigned his $35 million APY new contractprobably raised Lamb’s price, too.

The Cowboys let offensive tackle Tyron Smith walk to the Jets for cheap (just $6.5 million fully guaranteed) and while they have other players who can play tackle —Terence Steele,Chuma Edoga,Tyler Smithand first-round pickTyler Guyton— Smith is coming off a strong season and could have been an asset for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

And with such a strong core, Dallasisa Super Bowl contender.Sitting pat in free agency— their biggest moves were for cornerbackJourdan Lewis, linebackerEric Kendricksand runningEzekiel Elliott, each getting less than $3 million in fully guaranteed money — doesn’t feel ideal, but the team is going to have to eventually pay those stars, and that will take resources.

Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy addresses the media before practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys avoided the bottom rung of the NFC ladder, barely, only ranking above the Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints, both of whom received D grades.

Other NFC teams that fell below average were the Atlanta Falcons (C-) and Minnesota Vikings (C-), so Dallas is the only team which made the playoffs last year that seemed to regress in a major way.

Of course, this is all on paper and will mean nothing if the team’s rookie and sophom*ore classes are able to come through and rejuvenate the roster. Those are key and among 8 things that must go right for the Cowboys to have a strong 2024.