NFL Draft 2012: Breaking Down Biggest Need for Each NFC East Team

The NFC East proved to be about as interesting a division as everyone had expected, though not exactly in the way most pundits had predicted prior to the 2011 NFL season.

The "Dream Team" Philadelphia Eagles tanked before righting the ship, the Dallas Cowboys disappointed once again, the Washington Redskins shanked Season 2 of "The Shanaclan" and the New York Giants managed to flip the switch at the exact right time to wind up at Super Bowl XLVI.

Seeing as how no team in the division finished the regular season better than 9-7, there's obviously significant room for improvement among these four storied franchises. What will/should each one target first come draft day?

New York Giants

We'll start with the Giants, who came into the season looking like a sure bet to fade amidst injuries and inconsistency but got hot at just the right time to reach Indianapolis.

New York could use some help at inside linebacker and a bit of depth in its defensive backfield, not to mention some added protection for Eli Manning.

But if Big Blue is truly intent to ease the burden on Manning's shoulders, it'd do well to find someone who can carry the load at running back. Sure, Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have seemingly gotten their groove back (a la Stella), but both had their fair share of struggles throughout the season. They combined to give the Giants the least productive ground game in the NFL.

So unless Tom Coughlin is content to let Manning do all the heavy lifting and hope Bradshaw and Jacobs will show up when it counts, he'd do well to lobby the front office to add some young legs in the backfield.

Dallas Cowboys

Speaking of flawed teams, the Cowboys wish they could spend a pick on some 1990s mojo, or at least find some via free agency.

Short of that and/or Jerry Jones finally relinquishing his duties as general manager, it would behoove "America's Team" to shore up its defensive backfield. Dallas' pass rush, led by sackmaster DeMarco Murray, has done all it can to mask the deficiencies of a decrepit defensive backfield in recent years.

Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins battled through injuries off the field and inconsistency on the field all season, yielding a unit that ranked 25th in opposing QB rating and 23rd in passing yards allowed.

That's not to say that Jones is necessarily going to wake up and smell roses—the guy's made a habit of passing up talented corners in draft after draft. But, it's never too late to change.

Philadelphia Eagles

If money played no part in decision making in NFL front offices, the Eagles might just start their draft looking for help in the linebacking corps. Philly allowed the bulk of its 'backers, including Stewart Bradley, bolt for free agency, thereby leaving the defense vulnerable against the run.

However, since money does matter, and since the Eagles' rush defense improved as the season went along, Andy Reid and Howie Roseman would seem keen to upgrade the offensive line. As the Eagles proved this past season, there's only so much reshuffling the existing deck up front can do to improve pass protection, and, consequently, there's only so much of a beating Michael Vick can take before he's no longer effective.

As such, if Philly doesn't want to see its massive investment in Vick go to waste (which I imagine the team wouldn't), the front office will move quickly and decisively to shore up the team's troubles in the trenches.

Washington Redskins

Hmmm...let's see. Who do the Redskins have at quarterback? Rex Grossman and John Beck, you say?

My point exactly. The Shanaclan needs a competent signal-caller. Otherwise, it'll be back on the street, peddling its wares to wayward running backs. A trade up in the draft for Robert Griffin III remains a strong possibility.

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