The NFC East looks like it will be wide open again in 2021. It has been the least predictable division in the NFL, as they have not had a team win in consecutive years since the Philadelphia Eagles won from 2001-2004.
That is bad news for the 2020 winner, the Washington Football Team. Last season, the division race went down to the final week of the season, with Washington defeating the Eagles on Sunday Night Football to claim the crown. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants both reloaded with eyes on the prize in 2021.
As the teams head into training camp, they will be looking for that edge that could push them over the top this season. Here is one trade target for each team in the NFC East that could help them for the 2021 season.
Dallas Cowboys: CB Xavien Howard
The Dallas Cowboys need help in the secondary. They selected Trevon Diggs in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft to help offset the loss of Byron Jones, who signed a free-agent deal with the Miami Dolphins. Could Jones’ teammate, Xavien Howard, be coming to Dallas?
There have been some trade chatter that Howard is not happy in Miami and is looking to be moved. It would be quite a story of the Cowboys landing Howard partly because of Jones landing in South Beach.
Acquiring Howard would be an admittance from Jerry Jones that they made the wrong decision when it came to Jones. If he can put his pride and ego aside, this move makes a lot of sense for Dallas.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Anthony Miller
The Philadelphia Eagles are turning their offense over to Jalen Hurts in 2021. Unfortunately for Hurts, the team hasn’t given him much to work with when it comes to experienced targets.
DeVonta Smith was selected with the team’s first-round pick, which will help. However, the group is void of any experience, as there isn’t a wide receiver on the roster with more than two years of NFL experience.
Anthony Miller has shown some flashes with the Chicago Bears but has seemingly been overtaken by Darnell Mooney on the depth chart. Philadelphia could use some more experience at the position and Miller could be had in a trade.
New York Giants: LB Jordan Hicks
The New York Giants defense is loaded in the secondary and they have some good pieces upfront. At linebacker, there is a lot of inexperience aside from Blake Martinez and Reggie Ragland, who was signed in free agency. If the Giants want to add another veteran to the mix, Jordan Hicks is a good option.
Hicks was permitted by the Arizona Cardinals to seek a trade after they used their first-round pick on a linebacker for the second consecutive year. He won’t bring any pass rush help, but he is a tackling machine and solid in pass coverage, something the Giants could use more off from their linebackers.
If the Giants want to make some noise in the NFC East division race this season, Hicks would be a very valuable target.
Washington Football Team: QB Gardner Minshew
The Washington Football Team will head into the season with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback. They felt he was an upgrade over Tyler Heinicke and Kyle Allen, but at 39-years old, he isn’t a long-term answer.
If Washington doesn’t believe Heinicke or Allen are either, they could target someone such as Gardner Minshew. Minshew has already produced in the NFL and has been pushed aside by Trevor Lawrence with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He would sit behind Fitzpatrick and give Washington a legitimate backup option should he get injured or FitzMagic runs out before the season is over. At only 25-years old, Minshew could be groomed to take over as Washington’s starter of the future as well.
