Yardbarker
x
Four NFC East players who will make the biggest leap in 2023
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Four NFC East players who will make the biggest leap in 2023

Thanks to breakout seasons from Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb and Giants QB Daniel Jones, the NFC East produced three playoff teams in 2022. Here are four players -- one for each team -- who are poised for breakouts of their own in 2023.

Dallas Cowboys

Tony Pollard, running back: Some may say that Pollard’s breakout season came in 2022, but he has yet to reach his full potential. In 2022, his 1,378 total yards were a career high for the four-year veteran, but with Ezekiel Elliott out of the way, Pollard’s numbers should go way up in 2023.

In what was arguably the worst season of Elliott’s career, he still scored 12 TDs. His goal-line carries must go to someone. Sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn is a dynamic runner, but at 5-foot-6 and 176 pounds, he won’t get many goal-line carries. As long as he’s recovered from the leg and ankle injuries that ended his 2022 season, Pollard could be a top-five back in 2023.

New York Giants

Wan’Dale Robinson, wide receiver: The Giants had high expectations for Robinson when they took him 43rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was supposed to be the guy to make everyone forget about the disastrous two seasons of Kenny Golladay, but after injuries limited him to six games, people have forgotten about Robinson.

A torn ACL ended Robinson’s season in Week 11, but according to Pat Leonard of NY Daily News Sports, he’s ahead of schedule in rehab and expects to be ready for training camp. New York added talented receivers Darren Waller (TE) and Jalin Hyatt (WR) in the offseason, but if Robinson stays healthy, his yards-after-catch potential could make him the best slot receiver in the NFC East.

Philadelphia Eagles

Jordan Davis, defensive tackle: So much has been said about new Eagles DT Jalen Carter this offseason that it’s easy to forget the team added a bigger and faster Georgia Bulldog in last year’s draft. Davis, who's 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, is three inches taller and more than 20 pounds heavier than Carter. More importantly, he already has a year of NFL experience under his belt.

With fellow tackle Javon Hargrave having a career year, Davis took a back seat for most of 2022. Hargrave left for San Francisco in free agency, but players such as Haason Reddick, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat are back and should receive a lot of attention from the edge. Even with Carter in the mix, Davis could have a big year.

Washington Commanders

Jahan Dotson, wide receiver: The Commanders took Dotson with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 draft. The former Penn State Nittany Lion responded by catching two touchdowns in his first NFL game and earning Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors. Things didn’t go so well after that.

A hamstring injury in Week 4 cost him five games and poor quarterback play cost him any real chance of reaching his rookie potential. He did lead the team with seven touchdowns on just 61 targets and averaged 72.5 yards per game in the team’s final four games. Look for new starting QB Sam Howell to look for Dotson early and often in 2023.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.