No. 1: Dallas Cowboys
Despite statements of Dallas going "all in" by owner Jerry Jones, the Cowboys did very little this offseason with the severe lack of cap space. Headlined by quarterback Dak Prescott's startling $55.4 million cap hit, the Cowboys made six signings in free agency. The most notable was inking a one-year deal with Ezekiel Elliot, who returns to Dallas after notching career lows in attempts, rushing yards, touchdowns, and yards per carry in New England.
In total, Dallas lost ten quality starters on both sides of the ball in free agency, including Tony Pollard (TEN), Tyler Biadasz (WAS), Tyron Smith (NYJ), Dorance Armstrong (WAS), Dante Fowler (WAS), and Noah Igbinoghene (WAS). With close to -$20 in salary cap, it was always going to be like this, and there much of a way for Dallas to improve their roster.
In the draft, the Cowboys did add Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton in round one and Kansas State's Cooper Beebe in round three to offset their free-agent losses on the o-line. In the second, Dallas added Marshawn Kneeland, an edge rusher from Western Michigan, who projects to replace DeMarcus Lawrence. That, along with signing middle linebacker Eric Kendricks to a one-year deal in free agency, gives Dallas a decent roster entering 2024, though not to the levels in years past.
Similar to Baltimore, the Cowboys' chances of becoming the first team to become repeat division winners in the NFC East for the first time since 2003-2004 is in large part to an improving division. The most likely case of the remaining teams in the East to take the crown is the Eagles, who figure to give Prescott and the Cowboys issues all season.
It's worth noting that the Commanders made several offseason improvements under new general manager Adam Peters, with none bigger than drafting LSU's Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick and poaching Biadasz, Armstrong, Fowler, and Igbinoghene from the Cowboys. The Giants are entering year six of the Daniel Jones experiment, but the addition of standout receiver Malik Nabers could be the turning point in Jones' development.