Have the Giants surpassed Cowboys, Eagles as NFC East's best DL? (2024)

Nov 6, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) runs out of the tunnel with teammates prior to their game against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Going into last season, Washington had a defensive line that brought the fear to opposing offensive coordinators. Chase Young was supposed to be a Parsons-level edge rusher held back by injuries, Montez Sweat was a productive edge across from him, and they had possibly the best defensive tackle duo in the NFL. By the end of a lackluster year from the defense, Sweat and Young were both traded, while Payne and Allen combined for less sacks than Payne had himself in 2022.

Quinn was hired to revamp this defense like he did for the Cowboys in 2021, after a historically bad year under Mike Nolan the season prior. He brought over former Cowboys edge rushers Armstrong and Fowler Jr., who combined for 11.5 sacks last year, to replace Young and Sweat, and they drafted Jer’Zhan Newton to help the rotation at defensive tackle behind Allen and Payne.

The DT group is still great, but the Commanders are taking depth pieces from Dallas to attempt to start them as their top edge rushers. The lack of starting quality edge players keeps Washington at the bottom in the NFC East.

Dec 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) celebrates with Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) in front of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Three of the four top guys that started last season for the Cowboys are back. The best run defending edge in the NFL, Demarcus Lawrence, possibly the best defender in the league, Parsons, and an up and coming three-technique, Osa Odighizuwa. This trio combined for 160 tackles, 37 that were for a loss, and 21 sacks. They were in the higher tier of triplets on the DL, but Dallas comes in third because they have no proven starter at one-technique and lost all their proven depth behind those three starters.

Last season rookie Mazi Smith made almost no impact and is currently rehabbing from a shoulder surgery. It is possible Mike Zimmer’s defense unlocks Smith and he becomes a first-round impact player, but from what the team has seen so far, that can’t be counted on.

Sam Williams had a flash filled first season with four sacks and 10 tackles for a loss, but seemed to be stuck behind veterans for snaps in year two. Williams only had 30 more snaps than he did in his rookie year, and that lack of a jump in year two makes Williams an unknown going into year three.

Even if rookie Marshawn Kneeland and Williams step up for Dallas, the depth is poor. Odighizuwa has nobody as a true back up at his position and Smith’s back up is a seventh-round selection. If Dallas gets one edge and one tackle to step up, they could be as good as any DL in the league, but as currently constructed they have more holes than the Giants or the Eagles.

Nov 19, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) celebrates during the second quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Carter showed out at a position that typically takes a while to transition into. He might have hit a rookie wall late as everything fell apart around him, but a rookie campaign of 33 tackles, eight for a loss, and six sacks is a great start to a career. Unfortunately for Philadelphia their first-round defensive tackle from the season prior hasn’t been as impactful. After a poor rookie season that had Jordan Davis often on the injury list, he didn’t bounce back strong in Year 2 either. Only two tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks isn’t the impact expected from a top 15 pick. Milton Williams is another DT who hasn’t made many plays, with only a half a sack and three tackles for a loss in nearly 500 snaps in 2023.

The defensive tackles have an up-and-coming star along with some disappointing players around him, but their edge position is very strong despite the team trading away their top, pure pass rusher, Reddick. Howie Roseman signed Huff to replace Reddick after he produced 10 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks for the New York Jets last year. Sweat had a down season after combining for 18.5 sacks in 2021 and 2022, with only had 6.5 last year. He added 43 tackles, seven for a loss.

Brandon Graham is a leadership player going into his 15th season, all with the Eagles. He played less than 400 snaps, and only had 16 tackles, four for a loss, and three sacks, but he seemed to make big plays in big moments still.

This unit has some moving parts, but is still a top-end defensive unit in the NFL. The combination of a down season from Philadelphia, plus the Giants trading for Brian Burns is the only reason the Eagles don’t top this list yet again going into 2024.

May 4, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive line draft pick Dexter Lawrence II (97) runs drills with defensive lineman Chris Clayton (99) during rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

Dexter Lawrence is one of those special players who makes a general manager pay big money for a position that typically doesn’t get it. Lawrence has nearly 50 QB hits the past two seasons as a primary run stuffer. In those last two years he added over 120 tackles, 14 for a loss and 12 sacks. It could be argued he is the best defensive interior player in all of football. Kayvon Thibodeaux had a breakout season in his sophom*ore year in the NFL. Over 20% of his tackles were for a loss, and he had 11.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and three forced fumbles.

The combination of those two players is enough to argue the Giants have the top defensive line in the division, but then the team went out and added Burns from the Carolina Panthers. Carolina had zero interest in trading him, even turning down two first-round picks in 2022, but once Burns made it clear he’d prefer to leave, the Panthers had no choice. Thibodeaux and Burns had similar seasons, both with 50 tackles, Burns had a few more for a loss, and Thibodeaux added a couple more sacks. This duo could be the best pass-rush duo in the league.

Boogie Basham and Jordan Phillips are not special playmakers, but are solid around this incredible trio, but the key to the ceiling on this group could be Azeez Ojulari. A second-round pick in 2021, Ojulari had 5.5 sacks in only 230 snaps in 2022, one of the best ratios in the league that year. He was injured that season, and only had seven starts in 2023, due to injury, but if he is able to return to his form in 2022 and stay healthy, this unit could be a game changer every week.

The Commanders are rebuilding, but with a solid base of talent at DT and a great defense mind taking over at head coach. The Cowboys have the best edge run defender the league, along with an excellent two-way player at defensive tackle going into his fourth season and of course, Parsons. The Eagles are typically great on paper on their defensive line but have mixed results from year to year. They can break the sack record in 2022, then fall apart completely in 2023. They are trying to get younger, but on paper they once again have great players. The Giants have young studs across their line and they could be getting a healthy Ojulari for the first time since his rookie campaign, they could end the season the best defensive unit in all of football.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter@cdpigletor YouTube on theAcross the Cowboys Podcast