10 NFC East Players That Will Cause Trouble for the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have the misfortune of playing in one of the toughest divisions in the National Football League. The New York Giants won the NFC East last season with just nine victories, but that very likely won't happen again. All four teams made significant moves this offseason to upgrade their 53-man roster, and the Super Bowl champion could easily emerge from this division again.

The Eagles have enough problems on their own team to worry about, as they went just 8-8 last year, missing the playoffs for only the fourth time in 13 seasons under Andy Reid. Jason Peters is lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, Michael Vick isn't getting any younger at the age of 32 and the Eagles have to play one of the NFL's toughest divisions in the AFC North.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins spent a first-round pick on a quarterback for the third time in the last 11 seasons, but unlike Patrick Ramsey and Jason Campbell, I think Robert Griffin III is the real deal.

RGIII was an electrifying playmaker at Baylor University, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2011 as a dual-threat passing and running quarterback. He could revolutionize the quarterback position in the NFL. Griffin is Michael Vick at a younger age, but he's more intelligent and better suited for the responsibilities of being a quarterback in the National Football League.

The expectations for Griffin is that he will be the next Cam Newton, but realistically, he could be even better. Griffin doesn't have great talent around him, with Roy Helu as his starting running back and Pierre Garcon and an aging Santana Moss as his top receivers. But he has the physical abilities to make the Washington Redskins instant contenders in the NFC East. No longer can the Eagles look forward to two games against the lowly Redskins; the NFC East is now a four-team race.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Say what you want about Tony Romo being a choke artist, but he is an extremely talented quarterback with a big arm and the ability to put up a 4,500-yard passing season.

Romo has made the Dallas Cowboys contenders in the division over the past several years after being perennial 5-11 finishers in the early 2000s, and he’s the type of quarterback the Philadelphia Eagles will be glad to see retire.

Morris Claiborne, CB, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys traded up to grab the LSU standout corner, Morris Claiborne, a move that will greatly improve their chances in the NFC East. Claiborne is as graded as highly as last year's fifth-overall pick, Patrick Peterson, who went to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 5 overall.

Claiborne has the ballhawk skills to instantly lock onto top receivers in the division and make life trouble for them, notably DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Jackson has the speed to make life difficult for any cornerback in the league, but he will face a real challenge in going against Claiborne twice per year.

Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys

Tyron Smith isn't quite at the level of Jake Long, Joe Thomas or Jason Peters, but he's close. Smith was picked in the top 10 picks overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2011 NFL draft, and he instantly solidified the Cowboys' line in his first taste of NFL action.

Smith is what the Cowboys need to match up with players like Trent Cole and Jason Babin twice per season, as he's equally adept as both a pass-blocker and a run-blocker, and Smith is only going to get better.

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Eli Manning entered last season coming off a miserable year in which he threw for a career-worst 25 interceptions and his New York Giants missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Manning secured his name among the best in the game, though, by passing for nearly 5,000 yards while leading the Giants to a second Super Bowl championship. He's still just 30, and he makes the Giants a perennial contender in the division. The Eagles have done well against Manning over the years (they're 2-0 against him in the playoffs), but that doesn't mean they enjoy playing him. Manning is a competitor, he's got a strong arm and he will be a league MVP candidate for the next five seasons still.

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

The Philadelphia Eagles helped to aid Victor Cruz’s breakout season in 2011, as Cruz caught three passes for 110 yards, including two touchdowns, in a Week 3 matchup. Cruz went on a tear for the season, and he is probably one of the league’s top 10 receivers.

Cruz will be a good matchup with Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for several more seasons, and stopping him becomes a big way for the Eagles to beat the New York Giants.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants

Like Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks is a big playmaking wide receiver for the New York Giants. He torched the Philadelphia Eagles for a 68-yard touchdown in his rookie campaign, and he has topped 1,000 receiving yards each of the last two seasons.

Nicks is on the verge of becoming a top-five wide receiver in the NFL, and the Eagles will have their hands full.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

The New York Giants got an excellent pick when they selected defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul with their first-round selection in the 2010 NFL draft. JPP terrorized opposing quarterbacks for 16.5 sacks in 2011, helping the Giants win a Super Bowl championship.

JPP will be even fiercer in ’12, with Jason Peters lost for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon and Demetress Bell filling in at left tackle.

DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys

In the last six seasons, DeMarcus Ware has made six Pro Bowls, earned First-Team All-Pro honors four times and averaged over 15 sacks per year.

He’s been one of the premier pass-rushers in the league, and he’s also averaged four forced fumbles per season, which makes him a threat to not only get to Michael Vick, but strip the ball and force a turnover.

Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Dez Bryant still hasn’t had his breakout season yet, but considering he plays with Miles Austin, Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray—and he’s entering his third year, which is the normal breakout campaign for receivers—Bryant will become a star soon.

He’s tough to cover, as he’s a big man at 6’2” and 225 pounds, and he creates plays when he and Tony Romo connect on deep passes.