The 2021 NFL Draft is almost here and teams around the league are scrambling to put their final draft boards together. Looking specifically at the NFC East division, the franchises are looking for the next young player to put them over the top in the division.
During the 2020 season, all of the teams in the NFC East struggled. However, the Washington Football Team ended up surprisingly coming out on top in the division. Now, the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles have been making moves to displace the Washington Football Team at the top.
With the NFL Draft being such a crucial part of building the roster, every team in the division will need to make sure they nail this draft. Not only do they need to find surefire talent in the first and second round of the draft, they need to find starting caliber potential in the third round and later.
All of that being said, let’s take a look at one player each team in the NFC East should target in the third round of the upcoming draft.
Dallas Cowboys
For the Cowboys, it would be wise to target a young safety at some point in the first three rounds. Here in the third round, Dallas could and should take a long look at Syracuse safety Andre Cisco. He may never become a superstar, but the Cowboys only need him to be a solid and consistent presence in the secondary.
Cisco put together a solid career for the Orangemen, racking up 136 tackles to go along with two forced fumbles, 13 interceptions, a defensive touchdown, and 14 defended passes. Those numbers show why the Cowboys should take him in the third round. His playmaking ability alone would make this a home run pick for Dallas.
New York Giants
In free agency, the Giants swung big on wide receiver Kenny Golladay. It was a huge pickup for the franchise, but they should not be done looking for wide receiver talent. Clemson star wideout Amari Rodgers could be a perfect fit for them in the third round.
Rodgers had a big four-year career with the Tigers, amassing 181 receptions for 2,144 yards and 15 touchdowns. He would form a lethal duo with Golladay and would give Daniel Jones another much-needed weapon. If he is available when the Giants pick in the third round, they should take him and run.
Philadelphia Eagles
Next up in the NFC East, the Eagles could use some help in their secondary. If they are smart, they will take a cornerback in one of the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. A guy like Paulson Adebo out of Stanford would be a great selection for Philadelphia at this stage in the draft.
Adebo was known for his playmaking ability during his two years with the Cardinal. He racked up eight interceptions, four in each of his two years with the program, and also compiled 97 total tackles, a forced fumble, and 27 defended passes. If the Eagles are able to steal Adebo in the third round, they could be getting an instant impact player for their defense.
Washington Football Team
Finally, the defending NFC East champions are schedule to pick with the No. 10 pick in the third round. With that selection, they would be smart to take a look at beefing up their offensive line. One prospect that would make a ton of sense for the Football Team would be Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield.
Mayfield is a huge body at 6-foot-5 and a shade under 330 pounds. He is a great athlete and could get out and block on the outside when needed. If the Washington Football Team wants to protect the quarterback and help open up running lanes, this could be a solid third-round selection.
