While the seemingly endless period between the NFL Draft and the beginning of the preseason can be a boring time for many NFL fans, it is never too early to analyze the best players in the league. This week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be compiling a list of the ten best players in each division heading into the 2016 season. The focus of this article is the NFC East.
Top Players of the NFC East Heading into 2016
1. Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the best wide receivers in the league and he is only getting better. There is no denying his talent, as he makes incredible catches look easy virtually every week. He has earned Pro Bowl honors in both of his seasons in the NFL. Beckham Jr. has recorded an amazing 2,755 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns during these two seasons. He has reignited the career of Eli Manning and that is why he has earned the top spot on this list.
2. Eli Manning
Quarterback is the most important position in the game, and if it weren’t for the generational talent in the first slot, Eli Manning would have the top spot on this list. Manning is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career in which he threw for 4,436 yards (sixth-best in the league) and 35 touchdown passes (tied for second-best in the league) with only 14 interceptions. He received Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time in his illustrious career and his durability is one of his most impressive attributes. He is undoubtedly a top ten quarterback heading into the 2016 season and his play might get even better with the addition of Sterling Shepard.
3. Tony Romo
Tony Romo is also talented enough to qualify as a top ten quarterback, but obviously he has injury concerns. Manning has the edge because of the durability issues, but Romo is still talented enough to earn a top three spot on this list. Once again, quarterback is the most important position in the game, so that is definitely a factor in these rankings. Romo had one of the best seasons of his career in 2014, so expect similar success in 2016 if he can stay on the field. The addition of Ezekiel Elliott should allow the Cowboys to have a balanced offensive attack, and that is why the Cowboys offense thrived in 2014.
4. Tyron Smith
Tyron Smith is arguably the best offensive tackle in the NFL and he is in the prime of his career (turns 26 in December). Pro Football Focus assigned Smith an overall grade of 93.3, which was good enough for the second-best rating at tackle after Joe Thomas. He is elite both as a pass blocker (grade of 91.9) and as a run blocker (grade of 96.8). Smith anchors the best offensive line in the league while playing the most important position along the line. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, including First-Team All-Pro honors in 2014. Smith’s consistency gives him an edge over teammate Dez Bryant.
5. Dez Bryant
Dez Bryant’s 2015 season was an anomaly. He suffered a few nagging injuries and the injury to Tony Romo did not help his production. However, expect another elite season for Bryant in 2016. When healthy, he is one of the best wide receivers in the game without a doubt. Do not forget about his 2014 season in which he recorded 1,320 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. His classification as a top five talent at his position gives Bryant a slight edge over Fletcher Cox.
6. Fletcher Cox
Fletcher Cox is the best defensive player in the NFC East and it really isn’t close. He recorded 9.5 sacks and 50 tackles from the 3-4 defensive end position last season. After being snubbed from the Pro Bowl in 2014 because of his classification as a defensive end, Cox deservedly qualified in 2015. The Eagles are switching to a 4-3 defensive scheme in 2016, so Cox will terrorize offensive lines from the defensive tackle position. Pro Football Focus awarded Cox an overall grade of 90.3 for his 2015 season, which was good enough for the tenth-best grade among interior defensive linemen. Cox is a top ten talent at his position like Trent Williams, but the fact that he is the best defensive player in the division gives him an edge.
7. Trent Williams
The fact that Trent Williams is not the best left tackle in this division is not an insult at all. Pro Football Focus assigned Williams an overall grade of 85.6, which was the eighth-best grade among tackles. Like Smith, he excels in both pass blocking (grade of 86.5) and run blocking (grade of 80.9). Williams has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the last four seasons. His positional value gives him the edge over Zack Martin.
8. Zack Martin
Zack Martin is one of the best guards in the league and he has only played for two seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in both of his seasons and he earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2014. Pro Football Focus assigned him an overall grade of 89.4 (fourth-best at his position) for his efforts in 2015. He excels in both pass blocking (grade of 90.7) and run blocking (grade of 85.3). He is the second-best member of the best offensive line in the league. His consistency gives him an edge over Jordan Reed.
9. Jordan Reed
Jordan Reed had the best season of his young career in 2015, recording 952 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He has had injury problems, but he is one of the best tight ends in the league when healthy. He has the talent to rise on this list, but the fact that he has never played a full season hurts him. That being said, he certainly showed enough in 2015 to deserve a spot on this list. His presence on the field was one of the main reasons the Redskins won the division last season, which gives him an edge over Malcolm Jenkins.
10. Malcolm Jenkins
This last spot was the most difficult decision. Ultimately, I went with Malcolm Jenkins over Jordan Hicks and Ryan Kerrigan because he made the Pro Bowl in 2015. Jenkins was one of the best safeties in the league last season, recording two interceptions and 87 tackles. Pro Football Focus awarded Jenkins with an overall grade of 89.8, which was good enough for the second-best grade among safeties. He excelled both in coverage (grade of 85.8) and in run support (grade of 85.4).
Honorable Mentions: Jordan Hicks, Ryan Kerrigan
Main Photo:
