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New York Giants near top of NFC East Power Rankings

By TJ Wengert

Dec 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) huddles up his team against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) huddles up his team against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia Eagles:

The Eagles went 7-9 last season, but since then, they’ve improved across the board to put them back into the playoff hunt. The Eagles had one of the best offseasons that any team had. They addressed their biggest need at receiver by signing Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith.  Jeffery will be the guy in fantasy drafts that you don’t know when to take because he could finish as a top five receiver with his talent and a good quarterback throwing to him, but with his injury history, you don’t know what you’ll get. Smith had a rough two years in San Francisco, but you can point that to the poor QB play out in the bay. Smith does still hold a career average of 17 yards per reception, showing how he can be a play by threat for the Eagles.

Then then Eagles addressed their biggest needs on defense by taking Derek Barnett with the 14th overall pick and taking Sydney Jones with their second round pick. Barnett was a first team All-American after a 13 sack season. Barnett actually left Tennessee as their all-time leaders in sacks, ahead of Hall of Famer, Reggie White. The 6-3 259 pound defensive end will provide much need edge pass rush as the eagles finished in tied for 16th in sacks last season. Jones is a cornerback that has first round talent, but with an Achilles injury he fell down the board.

A lot of the success for the Eagles this season will ride on the play of Carson Wentz. After throwing for 3,782 yards, and 16 touchdowns to 14 interceptions, Wentz showed that he was well worth the Eagles trading up for the number two pick in last year’s draft to take him. He is clearly the quarterback of the future for Philly but the question is, will he take a step forward next year or will he hit the dreaded sophomore slump. If Wentz plays even better than last year, then the Eagles pose as a serious playoff contender.

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