NFC East news: Washington wideout feels he’s on a new team; Giants’ top pick may not be enough
There is a lot happening around the NFC East these days.
Commanders WR Jahan Dotson feels like he was traded to a new team - Bryan Manning, USA Today
Washington’s franchise facelift is clearly evident to Jahan Dotson.
The 2023 NFL season was one to forget for Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson. After catching 35 passes and leading the team with seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2022 despite missing five games, Dotson was expected to be one of the NFL’s breakout players in 2023.
It didn’t happen. Dotson played in every game for the Commanders yet finished with only 49 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns. It was a difficult season for every Washington player. While some would be concerned about Dotson’s regression, the Commanders are not.
Gone are Ron Rivera and Eric Bieniemy. Enter Adam Peters, Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury. Bieniemy’s offense was a mess for much of last season. Dotson wasn’t perfect, as he dropped several passes, but the lack of separation, rhythm and a running game was brutal.
Several players were frustrated at the end of the season.
Kingsbury brings a new offense to Washington, one that has always been good for wide receivers. Dotson also has a new quarterback. The Commanders selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall in last week’s NFL draft.
Finally, Dotson spoke on the frustrations from last season’s 4-13 team and how Quinn has rejuvenated everyone.
“I’ve only been a short two years, but I do feel it is completely different,” Dotson said. “This is funny to say, but I was talking to some of the guys in the locker room, and I said it almost feels like I got traded. It feels like I came into a better opportunity. I feel like the confidence is at an all-time high, not only for the team but myself included.”
How much will Eagles draft picks play in 2024? - Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Here’s how much Philly’s draft class may play, particularly their first-round pick.
Eagles rookies haven’t played very much in recent seasons and there are a few reasons for that.
One is that they have a pretty strong group of veterans on this roster. The other is that Nick Sirianni has clearly shown deference to those veterans. Perhaps that’s just his nature or perhaps that’s because of the high expectations for these Eagles teams.
But the Eagles did get some contributions from their rookie class in 2023 and now it’s time to figure out roles for their nine rookies in the 2024 draft class:
Round 1-22: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
General manager Howie Roseman showed patience in Round 1 and let Mitchell fall to him at 22 overall. The Eagles had their pick of cornerbacks and ended up with Mitchell, who seemingly checks every box.
The Eagles know that one of their starting outside cornerbacks will be Darius Slay. Even though Slay is 33 now, he still played at a high level in 2023 and is under contract.
Mitchell should be the starter on the other side. The Eagles, of course, have some options. Incumbent starter James Bradberry is still on the roster but after a really down season in 2023, it’s hard to imagine him starting again. The Eagles also have some young players in Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks and Isaiah Rodgers on the team. But Mitchell was a first-round pick for a reason and he should be given every opportunity to earn a starting job. I think we’ll see him working with the second team early in training camp but he should mix in with the starting group and I expect him to eventually wrestle away that job.
Malik Nabers Propels, Sinks Giants’ 2024 Draft Class Ranking - Geoff Magliocchetti, Sports Illustrated
The first-round pick will provide a boost, but might not be enough to improve QB play.
Malik Nabers’ draft neighbors are being used to the New York Giants’ benefit and detriment.
SI.com’s ranking of the 2024 NFC draft classes placed the Giants’ group in 12th out of 16, offering praise and criticism for using the sixth overall pick on Nabers, a highly touted aerial playmaker out of LSU.
“Perhaps the Giants should be ranked lower than 12th on this list, but they landed standout wideout Malik Nabers with their No. 6 pick,” list curator Gilberto Manzano said.
“Nabers has the makings of the next Odell Beckham Jr. or Ja’Marr Chase. Nabers’s explosiveness will expand the playbook for coach Brian Daboll, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.”
Nabers, a big-play receiver in Baton Rouge, should undoubtedly inject some life into the Giants’ offense, but some critics have chided the team’s decision to pass (no pun intended) on the quarterback prospects from the touted draft class of 2024.
The Giants reportedly made an attempt to move up on the draft board (said to be targeting eventual New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye) but after that didn’t come to fruition, they stayed put in the sixth slot, where Nabers awaited.
“Nabers has the makings of the next Odell Beckham Jr. or Ja’Marr Chase. Nabers’s explosiveness will expand the playbook for coach Brian Daboll, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.”
Nabers, a big-play receiver in Baton Rouge, should undoubtedly inject some life into the Giants’ offense, but some critics have chided the team’s decision to pass (no pun intended) on the quarterback prospects from the touted draft class of 2024.
The Giants reportedly made an attempt to move up on the draft board (said to be targeting eventual New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye) but after that didn’t come to fruition, they stayed put in the sixth slot, where Nabers awaited.
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