Today’s Best Bets
FTN Staff
With the NFL Draft right around the corner, FTN is taking a moment to look at each division one at a time. We’re going team-by-team to identify biggest needs and moves the franchises should be looking at before or during the draft, which starts April 28.
Today we visit the NFC East, which featured two playoff teams (the 12-5 Cowboys and the 9-8 Eagles) — though both were bounced in the first round. A new QB has re-arrived in division, with ex-Eagles first-rounder Carson Wentz leading the Washington Commanders. Meanwhile, the bottom-feeding Giants will look to new head coach Brian Daboll to help cauterize the wound.
Follow along with our whole 2022 NFL Draft Wish List series:
2022 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC East
Below we’ll take a quick look at each team, their pick haul, and their key needs to address in the draft.
Dallas Cowboys
- First Pick: First round, 24th overall
- Total first-rounders: 1 (1.24)
- Total draft picks: 9
The Cowboys lost a big-name WR in Amari Cooper, but they also lost a rising performer in WR Cedrick Wilson, too. The team is still helmed by Dak Prescott, who looks to be more consistent in 2022, and the WR departures give CeeDee Lamb a chance to be a true target hog. (We should also get a chance to see more Michael Gallup, health permitting). The team is also set for the near-term at RB with the duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
The Cowboys need help on the offensive line (La’el Collins and Connor Williams gone) and at WR after losing both Cooper and Wilson. They also need help and defense, but we’re focusing on fantasy-relevant needs here. At 24th overall, some good WRs should still be on the board. It does seem unlikely they draft a WR in the first round though, given that Gallup is a proven commodity. Look for Dallas to take an offensive lineman here. They may scoop up one of the Day 2 WRs in the second or third round. The Dallas offense is more fun for fantasy when there’s an entire offense of weapons running around.
Philadelphia Eagles
- First Pick: First round, 15th overall
- Total first-rounders: 2 (1.15 and 1.18)
- Total draft picks: 10
The Eagles sneaked into the playoffs last year, but they were never a legitimate threat to win it all. After some questions in the Twitterverse, the team ultimately decided to stick with Jalen Hurts for at least 2022.
Philadelphia’s biggest needs are really on the defensive side of the ball, but this is a team that lacks WR depth in a major way. They spent an early first-round pick on DeVonta Smith last year — a move that looks like it will pay off — but the rest of the WR crew is a who’s who of “who”? Dallas Goedert is certainly a talented pass-catching TE, but the team really needs a WR2 (and a WR3) behind Smith. With two first-round picks nested in the middle of the round — which is right in the heart of where the WR run is expected to take place this year — it would be a surprise if the Eagles didn’t use at least one of those picks on a wideout. The dream would be Drake London, which is what Jeff Ratcliffe currently has mocked. Other options may be Chris Olave, Jameson Williams, Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson and Christian Watson.
Washington Commanders
- First Pick: First round, 11th overall
- Total first-rounders: 1 (1.11)
- Total draft picks: 6
Washington got in on the QB carousel this offseason, landing Carson Wentz through a trade. He’s not objectively much of an upgrade on 2021 starter Taylor Heinicke, however, so whether he provides and immediate boost to the rest of the offense (namely Terry McLaurin) is still very up in the air. At running back, it looks like the fantasy gods were about to part the sea for Antonio Gibson when J.D. McKissic had a verbal agreement with the Bills – but then McKissic reversed course, keeping Gibson as a lower-end fantasy RB1 option in the process.
For fantasy-relevant needs, Washington should look to add WR depth behind McLaurin (quick: name two more WRs on the team!) and a TE. Washington also needs help on defense, however, and that is likely where they go in Round 1. Perhaps they will have their eyes on Jahan Dotson, George Pickens, Skyy Moore or Jalen Tolbert in the middle of Round 2. Or maybe they scoop up Trey McBride in the second round.
New York Giants
- First Pick: First round, fifth overall)
- Total first-rounders: 2 (1.05 and 1.07)
- Total draft picks: 9
The Giants have an extremely talented cast of skill players in Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, even after losing TE Evan Engram in free agency. But they have been severely hampered by QB, and unfortunately, that same QB (Daniel Jones) returns for 2022. But the team also has a new head coach in Brian Daboll, so there’s hope yet. But the bottom line is that it will take a Jones resurgence to make something truly good happen here.
As noted above, the Giants are actually fairly stacked at the fantasy-relevant positions outside of TE. Perhaps they draft Trey McBride in the second round to give Jones as much firepower as possible his year. The Giants do have two picks in the top 10, but look for them to spend one on an offensive lineman and another on a defensive pass-rusher.
