NFL Free Agency Tracker: Power Ranking the NFC East's 7 Best Signings so Far

The 2012 NFL Draft is nearly upon us.  Teams are using every tool at their disposal to evaluate talent and potential, and fans eagerly await the new faces hoping each pick is a huge hit for their team.  

Free agency is a time for hope.  Gone are the angry mass-text messages to friends and co-workers about how terrible your team looked last year. The profanity laced rants about how blind the officials must be to miss that critical pass interference call are now just a memory.

Now is the time every fan has Super dreams, and it all starts with free agency.

The Super Bowl Champion Giants look to maintain their NFC supremacy, while the Cowboys and Eagles are searching for answers after disappointing seasons.  The Redskins are abuzz with RG3 fever and hope a new quarterback and free agency will return them to the glory days of Joe Gibbs and the Hogs.

Preseason moves always look great on paper, but as the Eagles demonstrated in 2011, throwing money around at the biggest names doesn't always translate to Super Bowls, or even playoff appearances. 

The best way to describe this year's free agency in the East is "calm."  While there haven't been any mega-deals, every team has improved with intelligent moves.

Let's have a look at the top seven signings for 2012.

New Contract Will Make Jackson Better

The Eagles who once looked a bit wishy washy on their commitment to DeSean Jackson, stood by their man, resigning him to a five-year, $47 million dollar deal.  Jackson has all the talent in the world—and the knucklehead attitude that seems to follow many a high priced and talented star player.

His gripes and grumbles about his future in Philly should now finally be over, and Eagles coaches and fans hope this will signal a more mature, responsible chapter for Jackson.

What DeSean brings to the Eagles is a receiver that must be accounted for by a top, if not the best, cover corner on any opposing team.  That benefits the entire offense, opening more opportunities for solid contributions from the likes of Jason Avant and Brent Celek.

Also worth noting, Jackson's deal is fairly front-loaded and a great deal less than other comparable FA receivers.  For the price, Philly fans got an outstanding talent without breaking the bank.

For now, his potential to take over games and proven skill trumps his whiny on-field persona and earns him the top signing in the NFC East free agency period.

Carr Won't Fix Cowboys' Secondary

Terence Newman leapfrogged his way out of Dallas, the final game of the season solidifying his departure.  Once looked at as a potential top shut-down corner, age and injury soured his welcome in Big D.

Brandon Carr emerges from the limbo of Kansas City to the bright lights and scrutiny of Jerry's house.  Is he worth the $50-plus million shelled out to help solidify the woeful Cowboys secondary?  

Probably not.  While a solid starter, his numbers are rather vanilla for the price, but Rob Ryan needs a player he knows can fit in his scheme, and overpaying in free agency for the top corner available was worth it. 

Dallas is undergoing a youth movement, and Carr fits the bill.  A capable and intense player, he will certainly be an upgrade from the aging Newman, and make the defense better.  

Be warned, Cowboy faithful, it will take much more than Carr to fix the problems in the secondary that cost you several games last year. However, signing Brandon Carr is a step in the right direction.

Redskins Play an Expensive Gamble

The Washington Redskins are no stranger to free agency gambles.  Washington holds the title of most bone-headed free agency signings in the entire league, from Deon to Adam Archuleta and Albert Haynesworth. 

Lessons learned, however.  Owner Daniel Snyder shows the passion of an owner willing to do anything to win, and despite those many poor choices, his commitment and passion is irreplaceable.  Recent savvy picks in the draft such as Kerrigan and Orakpo have paid dividends, and Garcon will pay dividends as well.

Coming from a culture of winning means a lot.  Skeptics brush off such intangibles as leadership and winning culture.  But despite overpaying for a receiver based on stats alone, the Redskins are making a move with Pierre Garcon that is well reasoned and disposes of flash for substance.  

Pierre Garcon will make his teammates better, despite the fact that his stats will reflect a No. 2 receiver.  That translates to wins.

Retaining Cole Solidifies Eagles' Defense

Any time you have a double digit sack guy on your team, you want to keep him.  That's exactly what the Eagles did with Trent Cole, signing the pass rush specialist to a four-year deal with $15 million in guaranteed money,

Philadelphia could have easily let Cole test the market, or even address the position in the draft.  Ends, however, are very hit and miss, and with Trent Cole they definitely have a big hit.

Super Bowl dreams were crushed in 2011, but the Eagles look to rebound this year.  Keeping DeSean Jackson and now Trent Cole in the lineup will help them get there.

Cowboys Call on Penn State

Linebacker U has reunited in Dallas, as the Cowboys grab ex-Nittany Lion standout Dan Connor from the Panthers to join another up-and-coming star from Penn State, Sean Lee, in a defense desperate for consistency.  

Connor will be challenging the talented but hobbled Bruce Carter for the starting spot at middle backer, and with his college teammate Lee at his side, he should have an advantage for more playing time. 

While the secondary has been the Achilles heel of the defense, Dallas needed to get younger and faster than the duo of Keith Brooking and Bradie James, who were liabilities in pass coverage.

Dan Connor brings experience and toughness and is a steal at just over $6 million for two years.  If he is fully recovered from his ACL tear, Connor could be a legitimate star in the making.

Redskins Grab Former 1st Rounder

Normally, picking up a recent first-round pick in free agency wouldn't be considered very risky. Brandon Meriweather is a risky choice, however.  

Highly touted out of Miami, he was a solid contributor and Pro Bowler for New England before getting cut, then spent time last year in Chicago, where he never seemed to get his footing.  He lost his starting position to Chris Conte and ultimately played his way out of the picture in Bear country.

He is a playmaker, though.  A real ball-hawk who doesn't shy away from contact, Meriweather may be best known for his helmet-to-helmet hits for which he has been repeatedly fined. This doesn't detract from his skills on the field, and the Redskins are banking on him rebounding from a disappointing 2011.

While certainly a risk, if Shanahan and company can coach him up in a hurry, Brandon Meriweather is a two-time Pro Bowler who can refocus his career with the 'Skins, who are desperate for help in the secondary.

Ex-Cowboy Bennett Will Help Giants' Rushing Attack

Dallas tried and tried to make Martellus Bennett a star tight end, but there was only room for one of those in Big D with perennial all-pro Jason Witten.  Dallas decided to pass on resigning Bennett, and he now takes his big frame and pure athleticism to New York and the Super Bowl Champion Giants.

With the permanent tag of "underachiever" in Dallas, Bennett looks to shed that label and be the perfect fit in New York. Not flashy or a big threat in the passing game, Bennett does have fantastic blocking skills, which was his main job in Dallas.

With a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, Martellus Bennett will not only anchor the offensive line very nicely, but is a huge target for Eli Manning if he can improve in the passing game.  A good offense in New York just got better, and so did Brandon Jacobs.