Two of the NFL’s most talented teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, tie with the Baltimore Ravens for the second-most players on Pro Football Network’s NFL Top 100 list.
With the Eagles and Cowboys near the top of the list, did the Washington Commanders and New York Giants have players on the list?
NFC East Players on PFN’s NFL Top 100 List
1) Micah Parsons, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys (4th overall)
While Micah Parsons’ 14 sacks ranked just tied for seventh in the NFL in 2023, pressures are more indicative of performance than pure sacks.
Parsons led the league with 102 total pressures, per PFF. He finished first in pass-rush win rate (37%) despite being double-teamed at a higher rate (34%) than any other edge defender. That shouldn’t be possible.
2) CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys (14th overall)
Having improved in every season of his four-year NFL career, CeeDee Lamb set career highs across the board in 2023 with 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns on a league-leading 135 receptions while earning first-team All-Pro honors.
Lamb can run any route from any alignment, and that versatility makes him the focal point of the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive attack.
3) Dexter Lawrence, DT, New York Giants (19th overall)
There’s no other NFL player quite like Dexter Lawrence. He’s one of the league’s best pass rushers despite standing 6’4” and 340 pounds. While most defensive tackles his size merely take up space, Lawrence finished seventh among interior defenders with 65 pressures in 2023.
Lawrence managed that production despite playing most of his snaps in the A gap, aligned head-up over the center, where he was regularly double-teamed at a 71% rate. He already owns the top two QB-hit seasons (28 in 2022 and 21 in 2023) among players weighing at least 340 pounds.
4) A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (23rd overall)
A true physical marvel, A.J. Brown remains one of the sport’s most terrifying gamebreakers. He’s become a more well-rounded wideout since joining the Philadelphia Eagles in a 2022 draft-day trade.
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Brown has 18 total touchdowns and nearly 3,000 receiving yards in two seasons in Philadelphia. He received second-team All-Pro nods in both years, and the Eagles just gave him another new contract.
5) Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (32nd overall)
Will 2024 be Dak Prescott’s final go-round with the Cowboys? Jerry Jones and Co. seemingly haven’t come any closer to extending their franchise quarterback after he led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) last season.
A second-team All-Pro in 2023, Prescott will have one more shot at increasing his value before potentially hitting the open market next offseason. One of the most intelligent signal-callers in the league, Prescott’s pre-snap diagnoses, post-snap awareness, and physical talent make him a consistent top-10 option under center.
6) Jordan Mailata, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (34th overall)
Jordan Mailata had never played a down of football before the Eagles selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. After spending two years on injured reserve, the ex-Australian rugby player took over at left tackle in 2020 and hasn’t looked back.
A massive man at 6’8″ and 365 pounds, Mailata still managed to run a 5.12 40-yard dash at his 2018 pro day. That athleticism is apparent on tape. Mailata suffocates defensive linemen in pass protection, but he’s also magnificent in the run game.
7) Lane Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (42nd overall)
The definition of a technician, Lane Johnson has been the most dominant right tackle of his era. He’s a “set it and forget it” RT who’s been critical to Philadelphia’s success up front.
The Eagles are rolling with youth on the interior following center Jason Kelce’s retirement, making Johnson all the more important at tackle.
8) Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (43rd overall)
Did Jalen Hurts take a step back as a passer last year? Or was his 2023 regression the result of injuries and discord among the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coaching staff?
Hurts became the Eagles’ starter in 2021 and gradually blossomed from a run-first QB into a do-it-all threat. He finished second in MVP voting and came within a few plays of guiding the Birds to a Super Bowl title after the 2022 campaign.
With an excellent supporting cast and new OC Kellen More in tow, Hurts could rebound next season — and the Tush Push isn’t going anywhere.
9) Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys (67th overall)
A lock to enter the Hall of Fame when he eventually retires, Zack Martin is arguably the best NFL guard of the past 15-20 years. He’s beyond sound in pass protection, and his athleticism is regularly on display in the Cowboys’ run game.
Dallas will heavily rely upon Martin, a six-time first-team All-Pro, as it works in two rookie offensive line starters in 2024.
10) DaRon Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys (75th overall)
Sure, DaRon Bland can be beaten at times. But he posted nine interceptions and an NFL-record five pick-sixes while earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023.
Shifting from the slot to the perimeter after fellow Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs’ season-ending injury, Bland was among the most dangerous defensive backs in the game. He’s a turnover waiting to happen.
11) DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys (78th overall)
While Parsons is the more dynamic Cowboys pass rusher at this stage, don’t forget about DeMarcus Lawrence. He’s the hidden gem of Dallas’ defensive front.
Lawrence’s relentless hustle is the key to his mauling run defense, and he’s earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons.
12) Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (83rd overall)
After a bounce-back Pro Bowl campaign in 2022, Saquon Barkley struggled in 2023. The former No. 2 overall pick missed three games with an ankle injury, rushed for just 962 yards, and lagged in efficiency, finishing fourth-worst in the league in rushing success rate.
Playing behind the Giants’ porous offensive line certainly didn’t help matters. Now that he’s working with one of the NFL’s best front fives in Philadelphia, will Barkley look like his old self again?
13) Brian Burns, EDGE, New York Giants (85th overall)
The New York Giants added Brian Burns this offseason, giving up a package centered around a second-round draft pick to acquire the pass rusher from the Carolina Panthers.
An athletic marvel, Burns was incredibly consistent for the Panthers, posting at least eight sacks and 18 QB hits in four straight years. Big Blue will blitz less often under new DC Shane Bowen, so they need Burns to help incumbent EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux get after opposing quarterbacks.
14) Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys (88th overall)
The Diggs brothers are as close in PFN’s rankings as they are in actuality. The No. 51 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Trevon Diggs was a first-team All-Pro in 2021 after leading the league with 11 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
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While he tore his ACL during a September 2023 practice, Diggs should be ready for training camp and re-emerge as one of the league’s most minacious defensive backs.
15) Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (91st overall)
While the Eagles’ defense was one of the more disappointing units in the league in 2023, the club’s overall performance didn’t stop Jalen Carter from posting an outstanding rookie season.
Carter posted six sacks, second among first-year interior defenders, trailing only the Rams’ Kobie Turner. However, Turner also rushed the passer 70 more times than Carter. Among all NFL DTs, Carter ranked sixth in pass-rush win rate (16%) and 15th in pressures (50).
16) DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (93rd overall)
DeVonta Smith might be even more revered around the NFL if he weren’t fighting Brown for targets in Philadelphia.
Despite playing as an overqualified WR2, Smith has still posted at least 80 catches, 1,000 yards, and seven TDs in each of the past two seasons. A technician as a route runner, Smith is also surprisingly physical in spite of his 170-pound frame.
