NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
No team in the NFL has changed as radically has the Eagles have under head coach Chip Kelly. During the offseason, he got rid of some talented players such as LeSean McCoy and replaced them with talent he thinks better fits his scheme.
So McCoy and quarterback Nick Foles are gone, but former University of Oklahoma stars DeMarco Murray and Sam Bradford are in. Foles for Bradford is a risky move since Bradford as only played in seven games in the past two seasons due to injury. On top of that, Kelly took a chance on Tim Tebow, who had not played a regular season game since 2012. But wait, there's more: Kelly also released both of last season's starting guards, Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans. It's obvious the Eagles are going to look a lot different in 2015 than they did in 2014, but it remains to be seen if that will be a positive change.
Most Important Player: LB Brandon Graham
Graham has had to overcome a lot of obstacles in his five years in the league. He came out strong in his rookie season, only to tear his ACL near the end of 2010. The rehab cut into the first six games of his second season and he was only active for three of the last seven games. From that point on, Graham has been active for all 48 regular season contests, but he's only only started seven of games. At long last, Graham's last big obstacle, Trent Cole, is no longer with the Eagles after he left for the Indianapolis Colts via free agency this spring. A legitimate argument can be made that Graham has been as productive over the last three seasons as Cole. During that timespan, Cole has put up 17.5 sacks compared to Graham's 14 sacks as a backup. Philadelphia resigned Graham to a four-year contract this offseason, which means he is now the unquestioned starter at outside linebacker. Barring any injuries, there is no question that Graham is primed for a breakout season.
2. New York Giants (10-6)
My New York Giants are a boom or bust team. In other words, they win the Super Bowl or miss the playoffs entirely. Head coach Tom Coughlin is a strange situation after the team has missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. It's almost as if the Giants won't be able to completely turn the page until he decides to retire.
The Giants were active this offseason, drafting offensive tackle Ereck Flowers and Landon Collins at positions of need. They also signed running back Shane Vereen, who fits perfectly with what the Giants want to do on offense. Plus, they still have Eli Manning and one of the best duos of receivers in the NFL (when healthy) in Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz. On defense, Steve Spagnuolo is back with the Giants as the defensive coordinator, but he will have his work cut out for him this season with all of the questions on that side of the ball.
Most Important Player: DE Damontre Moore
Moore and his teammate Jason Pierre-Paul are both 6'5" and have 34 1/4 inch arms. Pierre-Paul has the edge in speed, but Moore has the better vertical leap and is better at blocking passes. Basically, both of them have similar physical statures. With Pierre-Paul's future up in the air, Moore has to step up and produce if the Giants want to have a decent pass rush this season. The third-year defensive end put 5.5 sacks as a backup last season, but don't be surprised if he comes close to double-digit sacks with more opportunities.
3. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
Few teams took as big a step as the Dallas Cowboys last season. To most fans, head coach Jason Garrett was lucky to even be the head coach after three consecutive 8-8 seasons. Many expected owner Jerry Jones to blow everything up and start over, but Garrett and the Cowboys turned it all around in 2014. Running back DeMarco Murray lead the league in rushing with 1,845 yards, and Dallas took the NFC East crown and marched right into the playoffs.
The Cowboys needed to have a productive offseason to continue their goal of getting back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995. Although they were able to hang onto star wide receiver Dez Bryant, they lost Murray, who signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles via free agency. Unfortunately, the Cowboys were only able to replace him with Darren McFadden, so that is one big question mark on offense. On the bright side, rookies Byron Jones, Randy Gregory and La'el Collins not only have first-round talent, but all three have the chance to make an impact right away.
Most Important Player: DT Tyrone Crawford
Crawford started 2014 as a defensive end, but he was not bringing consistent pressure off the edge. As a result, he was moved to defensive tackle in coordinator Rob Marinelli's 3-4 scheme. Not only did Crawford impress, but he dominated inside. He was great against the run and with his power and incredible motor, he was able to generate pressure as a pass rusher. Now with a full offseason of practice at the position, the sky is the limit this year for Crawford. If he doesn't double his sack production from last season (three sacks in 2014), something went wrong.
4. Washington Redskins (1-15)
Washington tried to make strides towards stability this offseason, bringing in general manager Scot McCloughlan and drafting wisely in the first round. Sure, it would have been nice to have a highly-touted defensive lineman in Leonard Williams, but Washington desperately needed offensive linemen to protect the quarterback and Brandon Scherff was the best available.
The team also picked up Robert Griffin III's fifth-year contract option for 2016, but now Kirk Cousins is set to start the season after rumblings that head coach Jay Gruden is ready to move on from RGIII for good. The pressure is now on Cousins to produce and if he doesn't, expect another subpar season and even more off-the-field drama in Washington.
Most Important Player: TE Jordan Reed
When healthy, Reed is a handful for opposing defenses. He can line up next to the quarterback, on the end of the line as a tight end, out wide and inside in the slot. That alone will give defenses headaches, not to mention his skillset at 6'2", 243 pounds. The problem with Reed is that he has not been able to stay healthy. He is coming off knee surgery that he got out of the way early in the offseason. That may actually be a good thing because it will allow him to play the entire season without having to worry about re-injuring it. Even taking into account his recent hamstring injuries, Reed should be ready to go for Week 1. His numbers, especially touchdown receptions, should increase this season as he gets closer to realizing his full potential. With fellow tight ends Niles Paul and Logan Paulson out for the season due to injury, Washington will rely on Reed like never before.
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