The NFL 2022 Season has ended, and the 2023 season is about to kick off here in the next month. The NFC East’s return to relevancy after having multiple seasons with lackluster performances in previous seasons brings more optimism to all four teams as they look to build on the successes they had in 2022. Each team has areas they need to work on and rosters positions that need to be filled before the season beings if they want to make a deep run much like the Eagles did making it to the Super Bowl this season.
For that to happen they are going to need a bit of luck and also a solid plan heading into free agency and the draft. So let’s just say the teams are able to get the things they believe are of the most importance done this offseason, how would that work out for them in 2023? Well, we have a few predictions for each team, some dealing with moves they are going to make and how it will affect the team, the performances of players, and how the division will end up looking heading into the playoffs in 2023.
Without further ado, here are our 2023 predictions for the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys
1. A significant wide receiver move will pay off
The Cowboys know that if they want to become a legitimate threat in the NFC they need to field a more productive offense, specifically at the wide receiver position. CeeDee Lamb proved that he can be the team’s number one receiver but behind him, the team couldn’t find anyone that could help when teams doubled Lamb in games. In order to fix that the Cowboys do something that they haven’t done in some time, make a major move in the offseason on the offensive side of the football.
Dallas isn’t going to trade for anyone because of this team’s affinity for draft picks, instead, they are going to be spenders in free agency. We know that they have been courting Odell Beckham Jr. and I believe he will be a Cowboy in 2023, but that’s not the only receiver they are going to land in free agency, the Cowboys are going to take another that has been linked to the Cowboys at times during the 2022 season in Darius Slayton. These two receivers paired with Lamb give quarterback Dak Prescott three receivers with the ability to win off the line of scrimmage making throws much easier for Prescott to make and allowing him to hit his receivers in stride and create more explosive plays in 2023
2. Tony Pollard leads the NFL in all-purpose yards
Dallas isn’t going to let Tony Pollard leave in free agency and will most likely franchise-tag him in 2023 if they can’t work out a deal. Franchise tagging Pollard will turn out to be a great move for the Cowboys thanks to the motivation it will give Pollard to show how much he’s worth to the team, much like he did in 2022. The thinking behind this move by the front office will be for Pollard to show he can do it two years in a row and he will do that and some in 2023 for this offense.
With the moves made at wide receiver and their ability to spread out defenses, Pollard is going to be able to carve up defenses running the football and making plays in the passing game as well. His ability to be a dual threat will end up allowing Pollard to lead the league in all-purpose yards in 2023 and in doing so will solidify himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL.
3. Micah Parsons breaks an NFL sack record
The Cowboys struck gold by drafting Micah Parsons after being wiped out in a draft where they really wanted to take a cornerback. Since then teams have game-planned how to make Parsons less of a factor in games, in 2023 they are going to be dealing with an entirely different animal when it comes to Parsons. After losing the Defensive Player of the Year award to Nick Bosa, Parsons is going to be even more determined to show the league how much of a game-wrecker he can be.
Sayless y’all gonna see me next year 🦁
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 10, 2023
Parsons in 2023 is going to be a man on a mission, a one-man game wrecker for the Cowboys, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. His mission to prove just how dominant he can be will end with him breaking the single-season sack record held by TJ Watt and Michael Strahan. Parsons will end the season with 23.5 sacks, one more than the current record.