The NFC East quartet all had an interesting day one of Free Agency.
The Giants engaged in the long-awaited Brian Burns trade amidst losing Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney. Philadelphia pried Saquon Barkley away from the Giants while losing D’Andre Swift. Washington signaled their intent to build around their incoming rookie QB, while Dallas remained silent as the Cowboys did not engage in any moves.
How did these four NFC East teams all fare in day 2?
The Cowboys Were, Again, the NFC East’s Quietest Team
What is going on in Dallas?
The Cowboys were dead silent in day one as three contributors on both sides of the ball left. Two of them, Tyler Biadasz and Dorrace Armstrong, are now in Washington. Their top back for 2023 in Tony Pollard is now in Nashville.
On day 2, Dallas sat oddly quiet once again. Another edge rusher is headed to Washington, former #3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr., while Dallas made all of one move. That move was not to bring in a free agent but to retain their long snapper Trent Sieg for another year.
As day 3 commences, Dallas still has several of their free agents on the market. Longtime veteran Tyron Smith is one member of this group, and Dallas needs to press hard if they are not to acquire outside talent to bolster their roster to keep who they can.
.@tsieg58 is stayin’ in Dallas ⭐️#DallasCowboys | @blockchain pic.twitter.com/NiAmUWEYGh
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 12, 2024
Giants Get a Backup QB
Drew Lock is headed to the NFC East. The former 42nd overall pick, Lock will head to East Rutherford to back up Daniel Jones. This move will not change GM Joe Schoen’s calculus as the Giants will continue to analyze every option at the quarterback position w
Later on in the day, the team acquired wide receiver and return specialist Isaiah McKenzie. Another former Bills player with connections to both Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, McKenzie joins the Giants as a return specialist and option in the Giants’ receiving core. It remains to be seen how the Giants may choose to utilize the now 28-year-old McKenzie.
A Philadelphia Reunion
C.J. Gardner Johnson is returning to the NFC East in 2024. While Gardner-Johnson may not have had the best opinions on Eagles fans after the team and the then-fourth-year safety split in the 2023 offseason, the team has opted to reunite with their former defensive back.
A look back on Gardner-Johnson’s 2022 with the Eagles reveals that in 12 starts, the former University of Florida safety picked off six passes in 12 starts with Philadelphia. He would also add in 67 combined tackles and one sack. This career year en route to the NFC East Crown and the NFC’s 1st overall seed, but Philadelphia would lose Super Bowl 57.
Gardner-Johnson immediately took to social media to apologize for the controversial comments he made about Eagles fans:
I do owe the fans of Philly an apology, regardless this is an amazing place and we had some memories together! Let’s go get us one #FlyEaglesFly
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 13, 2024
And in typical Philly fashion, the fans responded in only the best way they could:
Apologies for what? pic.twitter.com/UNtIyVac3N
— Laz🇱🇷🦅 (@Philly_Laz) March 13, 2024
Commanders Make Further Steps to Prepare for Young QB
The Eagles lost Marcus Mariota to division rival Washington. Mariota will now travel south to our nation’s capital to suit up for the 4th-place finisher in the NFC East in 2023. Joining Sam Howell, Mariota will almost certainly be a mentor figure for both Howell and the incoming #2 overall pick, of which oddsmakers have recently shifted the betting favorite for that selection from Drake Maye to Jayden Daniels.
As mentioned previously, the Commanders also pried Dante Fowler Jr.’s services away from the quiet Cowboys. Also, they brought in a player connected to new GM Adam Peters in Clelin Ferrell.
Conclusion: Who Won and Lost Day 2 in the NFC East?
Dallas has lost once again, failing to secure any help outside of retaining their long snapper.
Meanwhile, the Giants have secured backup help for both Daniel Jones and any rookie the team may opt to draft next month. The Eagles re-united with C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
The winner of day 2 of 2024 Free Agency in the NFC East goes to the Commanders, as the team under both GM Adam Peters and Bob Myers work to both fill most every need the team has had, and also build the foundations of a future contender.
All aTwitter: 13 March 2024 – Washington Commanders address every position in free agency except OT and WR#HTTC https://t.co/ThsEuanETU
— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) March 13, 2024