Ranking the most important non-QBs in every NFC East team feat. Dallas Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb
The NFC East was a two-way race last season between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. After the Eagles appeared in the Super Bowl the season prior, they were in the driver's seat to win the NFC East. However, a late-season collapse saw Dallas win the division with a 12-5 record.
The New York Giants saw Daniel Jones miss most of the season with a neck injury and a torn ACL. Washington had their woes on the offensive line which made their overall offense struggle and their defense didn't help especially after trading Monte Sweat and Chase Young at the deadline.
Heading into the 2024 season, the Giants are hoping to be back in contention in the NFC East with Jones and company while the Commanders are hopeful that rookie Jayden Daniels can show himself as a franchise quarterback.
Here's a look at the most important non-QBs for each team in the NFC East heading into the 2024 season:
Most important players in the NFC East that are non-QBs
#4 - Dallas Cowboys - CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver
The next highest-paid wide recevier in the NFL could be CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb has gotten better each season in his four-year career, making three-straight Pro Bowls. This past season, he led the league in receptions (135) while breaking Michael Irvin's Cowboys franchise record for receptions and receiving yards in a single season. He was also named a First-Team All-Pro this past season.
With the team without Tony Pollard on offense, Lamb will be leaned on even more for some of their playmaking ability.
Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott are each in contract years and need to come up big for the Giants this season if they want lucrative extensions.
#3 - New York Giants - Brian Burns, defensive end
The New York Giants made a huge trade before the 2024 NFL Draft when they acquired linebacker Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers. The Giants sent Carolina second and fifth-round picks in this year's draft for Burns and a 2024 fifth-round pick.
Upon arriving in the NFC North, the Giants made Burns one of the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history with a five-year $141 million contract with $87.5 million guaranteed. He will join Dexter Lawrence as one of the best defensive players on the Giants this season.
Burns will need to play big given the price New York gave up for him, and he should help Lawrence develop second-year edge rusher Kayon Thibodeaux.
#2 - Washington Commanders - Terry McLaurin, wide receiver
Terry McLaurin has been Washington's best wide receiver the last few seasons.
As a rookie during the 2019 season, he showed his potential averaging a career-high 15.8 yards per catch on 58 receptions for 919 yards. McLaurin would prove himself as a consistent quality receiver as he recorded at least 70 receptions and over 1,000 yards in each of the next four seasons.
The Commanders will have rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the charge this season for the team. McLaurin being the veteran leader at wide out will need to play big in order to help with Daniels' progress.
#1 - Philadelphia Eagles - Saquon Barkley, running back
Saquon Barkley became a free agent this off-season and signed with a new team, but remained in the NFC East. Barkley left the New York Giants for the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's rare that a running back of Barkley's caliber signs with a division rival upon becoming a free agent. Barkley has played for the Giants for the last six seasons and has piled together 5,211 yards and has rushed for 35 touchdowns.
While the Eagles have one of the best WR duos in the NFL in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, their run game took a step down this pst season in production after losing Miles Sanders in free agency.
The Eagles brought in Barkley to be their true No. 1 running back this season, while stealing a player from their NFC East rivals.