Beasts of the NFC East: Part 1 of 8

This will be an 8 part series where once per week we’ll go through and rank the following positions inside the NFC East: Quarterbacks, Running backs, Wide Receivers, Tight-ends, O line, D line, Linebackers, and secondary. As we rank them we will also be giving each team points depending on their placement. Example, if the Cowboys have the best QB, they will receive 10 points, 2nd place will receive 8 points, 3rd will receive 6 points, and 4th will receive 4 points. By the end of the series we’ll have a better understanding of the division as well as whom will have the best shot at claiming the title of Division Champions.

Let’s kick things off with the quarterbacks in the NFC East. Here we have 3 players as former top 2 picks in different draft classes. The only one not taken in the first round, nor the first 3 for that matter, is Dak Prescott. We’ll start off with the best player and work our way down.

Carson Wentz (QB) Philadelphia Eagles – 10 points

The Super Bowl Champs won their rings with backup QB, Nick Foles, after Wentz suffered a season ending injury in week 14. The former 2nd overall pick was having an MVP caliber year before facing the Rams. During his 13 games, Wentz had 33 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions. From year one to year two Wentz has made a remarkable change in the way he’s playing. He cut his interceptions in half, while doubling his touchdowns. This past off-season Wentz made it a point to bond his offensive unit which translated to a great outing during the season. The Eagles made an excellent decision in drafting their quarterback, and now it looks as if they’re set for the next decade. Coming off such a severe injury will be tough however, Wentz’s dedication to his team will get him through these rough times. Eagles fans should celebrate, not only their recent victory, but also their future with a top 10 player at his position.

Alex Smith (QB) Washington Redskins – 8 points

The former #1 overall pick may be new to the East, but he’s not new to the league. Smith is coming off a 4,000 yard season (most in his career) along with 26 tds and 5 interceptions. The Chiefs only traded Smith due to their high investment in Patrick Mahomes not due to lack of success. Smith may not be flashy but he’s consistent in keeping turnovers to a minimum while getting his team in scoring position. The Redskins have young guys at wide receivers and running backs which makes Washington the perfect spot for the veteran QB to show his leadership abilities. Smith is underrated when it comes to accuracy, as well as his mobile ability that gives opponents trouble. The 2018 season will give Smith the opportunity to prove that he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank. Travis Kelce posted back to back 1000 yard seasons with Smith at the gun, and now it’ll be time for Jordan Reed to receive the same treatment. Overall the Redskins reloaded at quarterback with Smith and will now be contenders to overthrow the Eagles as division leaders.

Dak Prescott (QB) Dallas Cowboys – 6 points

Dak had an incredible rookie season, but hit the sophomore slump in 2017. While Prescott has outperformed any expectations people had coming out of college, he’s also shown why he was drafted in the 4th round. After Zeke was suspended Dak began to struggle more than expected. Also didn’t help that Tyron Smith was out with injury, but as a quarterback the team depends on you to keep them within striking distance. During the 6 games without Zeke, Dak had 4 games without a td along with 7 interceptions. If Prescott wants to continue being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, he’ll need to prove he can put the team on his back at any given time. After revamping the offensive line, we should be seeing a much improved Prescott. Receiving the giant pay day should also serve as great motivation to put up sky high numbers.

Eli Manning (QB) New York Giants – 4 points

Even though Manning has won 2 super bowls in his career he’ll still be ranked last out of the division quarterbacks. Last year Manning threw for under 3,500 yards for the first time since 2008, along with 13 interceptions. There are a ton of things you can say as to why Eli had the season he had. His wide receiving core was banged up, the offensive line wasn’t playing up to par, and the running game seized to exist. Even with all of that going on, Manning still played a level that suggests he’s on the decline of his career. The Giants chose not to take their future quarterback with the #2 overall pick this season, and instead took the top running back Saquon Barkley. In round 2 of the draft they selected Will Hernandez (G) to help protect Eli in this upcoming season as well. While they’ve made some good moves on the offensive side of the ball, the 2018 campaign still doesn’t look too bright for the 14 year veteran. Although Manning has said he’d like to play for many years to come, its looking more and more like his time could come to end sooner rather than later.

Now while some may disagree with how this series has begun, I suggest you follow it through till the end. The quarterback position may be crucial to having a successful team, but there are other ways to collect wins throughout the year. The great thing about football is that 1 player can’t win you every game by himself. Quarterbacks still need someone to catch the ball, block for them, and stop opposing teams from scoring. Next week we’ll be going through the division’s running back groups to see who are the Beasts of the NFC East.

1st place – Eagles 10 points

2nd place – Washington Redskins 8 points

3rd place – Dallas Cowboys – 6 points

4th place – New York Giants – 4 points