The NFC East made it’s fair share of offseason headlines this year and it could make the division amongst the best in the entire league if plans pan out accordingly. One of the most intriguing parts of the NFL offseason is when teams have to cut their rosters down to 53 players and the NFC East will have some seemingly impossible decisions to make in the near future.
Let’s take a look at one surprise player who could be dropped by their team this offseason.
Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander-Esch
This would certainly be a shocking roster cut, but it could surely happen. Leighton Vander-Esch was a first-round pick by the Cowboys back in 2018, and he could now be in danger of relocating to a new location.
The Cowboys added some great linebacker talent to their roster this offseason with the additions of Micah Parsons, Jabril Cox, and Keanu Neal and Vander-Esch could be the odd man out. Vander-Esch only has one season left on his current contract and him being released doesn’t seem all that unlikely.
New York Giants: Sterling Shepard
The New York Giants hit the reset button on their entire receiving corps and it seems like Sterling Shepard may be amongst the team’s roster cuts. Shepard is currently listed as the fifth receiver on the Giants’ depth chart behind Darius Slayton, Kenny Golladay, John Ross, and Kadarius Toney. This offense could be one of the most deep in the NFC East.
Shepard isn’t going to be okay with not seeing the field, as he was the team’s number two receiver last season, which could allow him to be released. He is a great route-runner who could be a serviceable veteran for a different team, but it’s hard to imagine the Giants retaining Sterling and not letting him see the field.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Kelce
Jason Kelce is almost a sure-fire release option in my opinion, and it could come before the start of Training Camp. The Eagles drafted the best center prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft in Alabama’s Landon Dickerson, and having him sit may not be an option.
Dickerson would provide the Eagles with an immediate upgrade at center and releasing Kelce, who has just one year left on his contract could be a logical option. The Eagles need to resume their infliction of youth, and releasing Kelce is a great way to do just that.
Washington Football Team: Deshazor Everett
Deshazor Everett has been with the Washington Football Team since 2015, but his time with the team could be nearing it’s end. Everett is a solid cornerback, but the team may have added a few too many guys in his position for him to have a realistic chance at making the team.
Kendall Fuller and William Jackson are going to be the main guys at cornerback, and guys like Benjamin St-Juste and Jimmy Moreland still rank ahead of Everett on the depth chart. The Washington Football Team will have a group of competitive guys competing for a spot on the cornerback depth chart, but Everett may not make the final cuts. He simply doesn’t move the needle for the franchise in the NFC East division.
