The NFC East was a historically bad division in 2020, which is why all four teams were in the race deep into the season. Eventually, Washington took it.
Washington: 7-9
Giants: 6-10
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Cowboys: 6-10
Eagles: 4-11-1
This season, the division is up for grabs yet again. We’re ranking the division by position group. So far we have looked at:
NFL
Up today: Receivers
1. Cowboys: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Cedric Wilson, Simi Fehoko
That top three of Cooper, Gallup and Lamb might be the best trio in the NFL. It’s really impressive. Cooper is the true No. 1. As miserable as that 2020 season was for the Cowboys, he still had 92/1,114/5. And Lamb came out of the gate with a 74-catch rookie season. Gallup had 59 for 843 and 5 as third option. That’s insane. With Dak Prescott healthy, this offense could be fun to watch. After the top three, Wilson flashed some big-play ability last year and Fehoko is a big-bodied rookie.
2. Giants: Darius Slayton, Kenny Golladay, John Ross III, Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney
Not only did the Giants sign Golladay to a four-year, $72 million contract this offseason, but they also used their first-round pick on Toney, the explosive rookie wideout from Florida. When you pair those two together with Slayton, Shepard and another former first-rounder in Ross, all of a sudden, this is a great receiving corps. The additions of Golladay and Toney should actually help Slayton and Shepard take some of the focus off them. Ross has been a disappointment in the NFL but anything the Giants get out of him will simply be a bonus.
3. Washington: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, Kelvin Harmon, Adam Humphries, Cam Sims
During his first two seasons, McLaurin has proven himself as a true No. 1 receiver. In 2020, he caught 87 passes for 1,118 yards and 4 touchdowns and now Washington has gotten him even more help. The addition of Samuel in the offseason gives the team another dynamic option who can take it to the house anytime he touches the ball. And then to grab Brown in the third round might end up being a steal. Sims caught 32 passes last year and Harmon had a promising rookie season in 2019 before an ACL tear forced him to miss last year. And Humphries comes over from Tennessee, where he was once a very productive player.
4. Eagles: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, Travis Fulgham, Quez Watkins, John Hightower
The Eagles belong at the bottom of this list but that doesn’t mean there isn’t potential. They have the No. 10 pick in Smith, who will become their No. 1 receiver out of the gate. And, sure, Reagor had a disappointing rookie season in 2020 but it’s way to early to write him off, especially with a new offensive scheme coming to town. Fulgham is a huge question mark but we know he’s talented. Will he ever duplicate that magical five-game stretch last year? Hard to tell. But that couldn’t have just been a fluke. The one guy you don’t have to worry about is Ward. If they want to plug him into the slot, they’re getting a sure-handed guy who can move the chains. At the bottom of the depth chart, Watkins, Hightower and J.J. Arcega-Whitesid might be in a battle.
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