We’ve knocked out the whole AFC with breakout players, now we’re going to look at the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys Center Tyler Biadasz: The Cowboys offensive line is not the same it was when Demarco Murray was running wild. The key part of that offensive line was the center Travis Frederick. I think Dallas may have found their new franchise center in Biadasz, the second year center out of Wisconsin, Fredericks alma mater.
Last season, Biadasz played in twelve games with four starts for Americas Team. Now Biadasz is the only center on the Dallas roster so it seems like the Cowboys staff has trusted him to anchor the offensive line. I predict that the 6’3, Wisconsin alum will start all seventeen games and allow only one sack.
New York Giants Edge Rusher Azeez Ojulari: Now, now, you may want to argue this pick because Ojulari is a rookie but there’s good reason for him being the Giants breakout player.
Ojulari was a dominant edge rusher in the SEC as he totaled 9.5 sacks in 2020 for the Bulldogs. He will fit right into the Giants starting lineup and rush the passer on the opposite side of Lorenzo Carter. Ojulari is quick and nimble but has a mean streak in him that will make life difficult for offensive tackles like Tyron Smith and Andre Dillard.
I predict that Ojulari will rack up 8.5 sacks to go with 45 tackles, 12 for loss, and 1 forced fumble. He is one of my dark horse candidates to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts: It maybe Jalen Hurts’s second season in Philadelphia but this will be a make or break year for the Oklahoma alum. The upcoming quarterback class is loaded and if Hurts doesn’t perform, the Eagles won’t be afraid to draft a guy like Sam Howell high.
Hurts is very dynamic. He has a strong arm and runs like Cam Newton, physical and hard to tackle with just one guy. The young gun played in fifteen games last season and started four towards the end of the year. In that time, he tallied 6 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, 1,061 passing yards, and 354 rushing yards.
The reason I think that Hurts will breakout is that Philly did get a little better offensively. They drafted DeVonta Smith and still haven’t dealt Zach Ertz. If they can keep Ertz to run two tight end with Dallas Goedert, then the Eagles offense will fly.
I think that Hurts starts all seventeen games for the Eagles and goes for 3,250 yards, 27 passing touchdowns, 650 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, and 16 total turnovers. This effort could be enough to push the Eagles to the playoffs.
Washington Football Team Edge Rusher Montez Sweat: Sweat is really the lesser known of the stacked Washington defensive line but, this could be the season that he becomes a household name in the DMV.
The Mississippi State product is heading into year three and has progressed each season he’s been in the league. Last season he made the jump from 7 sacks to 9 sacks. The main reason I think Sweat will breakout as an ELITE, yes I said ELITE, pass rusher is that Ryan Kerrigan is out of Washington. Sweats past two seasons were spent splitting time with Kerrigan who signed with the Eagles this offseason.
With an increased roll off the edge, I think that Sweat goes for 62 tackles, 17.5 for loss, and 13 sacks to go with 3 forced fumbles. Sweat will be a Pro Bowler this year barring any injuries.