Recapping the NFC East moves after the second and third round of the draft

The Cowboys load up the line of scrimmage.

No matter how you feel about the draft’s first day, the following day is pivotal. You could argue that the combination of the second- and third-round picks is as important as the selections from Thursday. So many players have fallen to Day 2 of the draft over the years and have gone on to be stars, especially for the Cowboys. Most recently, Trevon Diggs was in the second round of the 2020 draft, and before that, 2014 Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray was taken in the third round. In what has become an arms race in the NFC East, the Cowboys rivals are gearing up to wrestle away the division crown. Here’s where the NFC stands after the second day of the draft.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders got off to a good start on Friday, picking Jer’Zhan Newton as the 36 overall pick. Newton was thought to have gone as high as the first round but fell to Washington. Newton projects as a penetrating 3-technique defensive tackle. Washington already boasts excellent talent in the interior, with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, so he has two terrific mentors from whom to learn.

Washington also traded out of the 40th pick with the Philadelphia Eagles to take corner Mike Sainristil from Michigan with the 50th pick. Sainristil has a penchant for playmaking and joins a defense that was dreadful last season. Washington added Ben Sinnott three picks later. Sinnott will work behind former Eagle Zach Ertz at tight end. They also provided their new quarterback, Jayden Daniels, with protection, drafting OL Brandon Coleman from TCU before making the final selection of the night, Luke McCaffrey, the brother of Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is a converted quarterback who could be a slot replacement for the departed Curtis Samuel.

New York Giants

In contrast to their division counterparts, it was a quiet night for the New York Giants because they were all about business and filling needs. New York parted ways with several defense components this offseason, including their defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale. New York added Tyler Nubin in the second round to revamp the defense. Nubin is an instinctual safety prospect with a playmaker’s mentality to read the quarterback’s eyes and make the interception.

Nubin is the perfect replacement for Xavier McKinney, who the Giants lost in free agency after he signed a four-year, $67M contract with the Green Bay Packers. Then, in the third round, New York drafted Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips as the team also sought to replace Adoree Jackson at the boundary cornerback position.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles wasted no time making a splash early in the evening. With the 40th pick they acquired from the Commanders, Philadelphia drafted Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. DeJean joins Quinyon Mitchell, who was taken with the Eagles’ first-round pick.

The selection gives the Eagles two very athletic cornerbacks with high upside. The Eagles’ secondary was a weakness last season and showed signs of remaining a major hindrance. With these two picks, the Eagles’ secondary could be formidable over the next few years and solidify the defense under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Philadelphia ended their night by taking linebacker Jalyx Hunt with the 94th pick. Hunt is a small-school prospect who is an explosive player on film.

Dallas Cowboys

Defensively, Dallas took DE Marshawn Kneeland, a great athlete, with a sudden burst off the edge and will give Dallas another edge defender. Dorance Armstrong is now with the Commanders, and DeMarcus Lawrence is in his tenth season, so the selection for Kneeland makes a lot of sense. The Cowboys must get younger at edge rusher, and Kneeland fits a sneaky need.

After picking Tyler Guyton in the first round, the Cowboys beefed up their offensive line, selecting Cooper Beebe from Kansas State. Beebe is a powerful run blocker that packs a punch. There is optimism that he could play at center to replace Tyler Biadasz, who is now with the Commanders, but that will be determined.

The Cowboys selected linebacker Marist Liufau from Notre Dame with their final selection of the night. Like their third-round linebacker selection from last year, DeMarvion Overshown, Liufau is a versatile player who can play in several areas on defense.