NFC East future power rankings: How far are New York Giants from relevancy?
The New York Giants missed the postseason for the fifth consecutive season, and ninth time in the last decade, but how far is New York from competing in the NFC East?
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the NFL Playoffs, as the New York Giants look lightyears away from competing for a postseason berth, after a fifth consecutive double-digit loss season mercifully came to an end Sunday afternoon.
At least three of the teams in the NFC East have some elements of a playoff-caliber operation (elite head coach, franchise quarterback, dominant offensive and defensive lines), while others have some combination of a couple of quality traits and a cache of assets this offseason to continue building.
This offseason will prove critical for the NY Giants, who face myriad questions about an overpriced, largely undertalented roster.
But, with a pair of top-10 picks in the NFL Draft, perhaps a new general manager and/or new direction might help stem the tide of an organization that has finished above .500 just once since 2011.
So, how do the futures of each NFC East franchise stack up? How far are the Giants, who finished the season dead last in scoring offense from competing, or even being relevant?
Here’s a look at how the future of each NFC East team stacks up, and how far away the New York Giants are from being relevant, as a pivotal offseason begins:
1) Philadelphia Eagles
That the Philadelphia Eagles made the postseason this year, what was promised to be the beginning of a rebuild, should win general manager Howie Roseman Executive of The year votes.
The Eagles made the playoffs in head coach. Nick Sirianni’s first season at the helm, largely because the organization has continually committed to building dominant offensive and defensive lines, and had the depth to withstand injuries and absences of the likes of Lane Johnson and Brandon Brooks on offense and Brandon Graham along the defensive line.
However, Philadelphia’s future is among the brightest in the NFL because of the assets Roseman has assembled in recent offseasons.
The Eagles enter this offseason with upwards of $15 million in cap space, three first-round picks in April’s NFL Draft, and just might have a franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts, with one year remaining on his contract after being chosen in the second-round in 2020.
With one eye towards the future, Roseman also aggressively solidified the backup quarterback position, prying Gardner Minshew in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minshew helped guide the Eagles to a pivotal victory over the Jets, that kept postseason hopes alive, and has the Eagles far better suited at backup quarterback than any of their division rivals.
Whether the Eagles even win a playoff game this year isn’t the point. Philadelphia has a young core in place and the assets to continue building around a young quarterback that could position Philadelphia for sustained success in a way no team in the NFC East comes close, at the moment.