Around the NFC East: Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles Storylines

With the NFL season quickly approaching, there are headlines across the NFC East. Lets take a look at what’s going on with all of the New York Giants division rivals this offseason.

Washington Redskins

Kirk Cousins Situation

This week it was announced that the Redskins and Kirk Cousins are still far apart on contract negotiations and it is becoming less and less likely that the team signs him to a long term extension. The numbers show that Cousins deserves to be paid but the Redskins can’t agree on the number. The Redskins have until July 15th to sign Cousins to a long-term extension.

Numbers prove Kirk Cousins' value, even if Redskins don't see it | ESPN.com

In the end, the offer from the Redskins may not matter, as ESPN recently reported that there is no number from the Redskins that would make Cousins happy. If Cousins ultimately ends up leaving Washington at the end of this saga, the Redskins will be letting a very good quarterback walk out the door.

Redskins Offensive Line

The Redskins offensive line was one of the best in the NFL last season. SB Nation Hogs Haven contributor James Dorsett made his claim that the Redskins have the best offensive line in all of football. He provided 10 reasons why that was the case.

Skins Stats: Ten Reasons Why the Redskins Have One of the Best Offensive Lines in the NFL | Hogs Haven

Washington already has more continuity with their starting offensive line than all but three teams, but I'd expect them to jump all the way up to the top of that list in a year or two if they can retain Spencer Long and if Bill Callahan sticks around as expected.

We are only entering the third full year with the core of this group and we've already seen them produce at an elite level. Just imagine what they are capable of and how they might look after gelling together for another year or two.

The Washington Redskins already have one of football's best offensive lines, and they should only get better; so, it looks as if the prophecy of the Hogs' second coming may actually be fulfilled.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a tremendous season, taking the NFC East title. The Cowboys bring back a good amount of their core from last season, but can the defense carry it’s success into this season? It won’t help that Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested for aggravated assault with deadly weapon.

Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson arrested for aggravated assault with deadly weapon | Blogging the Boys

As CBS Dallas Forth Worth reports:

According to Frisco Police, Wilson was involved in an incident in the parking lot at Toyota Stadium where FC Dallas was hosting a match on Tuesday night.

Police haven’t said what led up to the incident but did say the victim didn’t need to be taken to the hospital.

Wilson was released after posting a $20,000 dollar bond.

Wilson played in all 16 games last year, starting six of those games, he finished the year with 34 tackles and half a sack. Wilson played very well at the end of the season and the hope was that he would become a bigger part of the defense in 2017.

Blogging the Boys writers Danny Phantom and Michael Sisemore explained where the Cowboys can go to replace Wilson.

Which Cowboys player can step in and replace Damien Wilson? | Blogging the Boys

The good news is that Wilson is the number four linebacker behind Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, and Anthony Hitchens. For a team that doesn’t use the base package of 4-3-4 the majority of the time, the need for a third linebacker on the field isn’t high. If Smith is as healthy as advertised and Hitchens continues to play at the level he’s shown in camp so far, then Cowboys LB group is sitting in great shape. Of course, it’s nice to have depth and that’s were Wilson comes in.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles started off the 2016 season with a lot of promise but fell apart as the season wore on. With Carson Wentz at the helm in just his second season in the NFL, the Eagles are poised to improve after a disastrous 2016 season.

Eagles News: Carson Wentz named one of nine young players with Hall of Fame potential | Bleeding Green Nation

NFL.com reporter Adam Schein named nine players to a list of players that have Hall of Fame potential. The Eagles’ Carson Wentz made the list.

Wentz over Dak Prescott? You betcha. This isn't about 2016 or Rookie of the Year results. And I love Dak. But I think Wentz is going to be a better quarterback in the years to come -- especially now that he has legit receivers around him, highlighted by Alshon Jeffery.

Remember, 2016 wasn't even supposed to happen. The kid from North Dakota State was supposed to be groomed behind Sam Bradford. But a lucrative trade opportunity presented itself, and Wentz was thrust into the lineup. And I believe it turned into an excellent building block in Wentz's road to stardom.

Eagles News: Philadelphia’s wide receiver corps appears to be promising | Bleeding Green Nation

The Philadelphia Eagles improved their receiving core tremendously this offseason, adding both Alshon Jeffery and Tori Smith.

The Eagles, for the first time in a while, actually appear dangerous at wide receiver. And thanks to their offseason moves, they had the luxury of jettisoning DGB instead of holding their breath and hoping, begging and pleading that he might somehow turn into something useful.