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Identifying the biggest need for every NFC East team

Eric Hartline / USA TODAY Sports

theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest positional needs for all 32 NFL teams entering the 2017 draft, which will be held from April 27-29.

Dallas Cowboys

AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST

Biggest need: Cornerback

Other needs: Safety, linebacker

Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr both departed in free agency, while Josh Thomas remains a free agent. Simply put, the Cowboys need multiple upgrades at cornerback with Nolan Carroll and Anthony Brown projected to start.

Byron Jones flashed star potential at free safety, but Jeff Heath and Kevon Frazier are both ill-suited to start at strong safety. The Cowboys' secondary will look completely different than it did last season.

Sean Lee earned first-team All-Pro honors, but with the 30-year-old prone to injury, the Cowboys need a contingency plan in the event he gets hurt again. Jaylon Smith is still recovering from a gruesome ACL/LCL tear incurred in January 2016 and there is little depth after Lee.

Potential draft targets: The Cowboys are in luck this year, with plenty of cornerback and safety talent across the board. It's possible that Washington's Kevin King, LSU's Tre'Davious White, and Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie will still be on the board at No. 28, all of whom are ready to start.

If the Cowboys elect to address their glaring need at safety, Michigan's Jabrill Peppers and UConn's Obi Melifonwu represent excellent value and are ready to contribute immediately.

At linebacker, Florida's Jarrad Davis is an excellent athlete, and the Cowboys may also consider Ohio State's Raekwon McMillan and Northwestern's Anthony Walker Jr.

New York Giants

Biggest need: Running back

Other needs: Offensive tackle, linebacker, tight end

New York finished 29th in rushing offense last season and relied heavily on its passing game to enter the playoffs. Rashad Jennings was released in February, and Shaun Draughn, Paul Perkins, and Shane Vereen won't be able to fortify the running game by themselves.

The Giants may need to imminently replace both of their starting tackles. 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers has been a disaster, while Bobby Hart was among the worst tackles in the league last year.

New York has seldom addressed its woes at inside linebacker through the draft, but with B.J. Goodson, JT Thomas, and Curtis Grant vying for starting spots, it's time to make a serious investment.

Potential draft targets: LSU's Leonard Fournette and Florida State's Dalvin Cook would be the most promising running backs the Giants have had in years. If the team opt to address this need in the second round, Tennessee's Alvin Kamara should be in play.

It's a particularly weak year for offensive tackles and the Giants may be out of luck in that area. New York could gain good value, however, by selecting Alabama's Cam Robinson on Day 2.

It remains unclear if the Giants will deviate from their strategy of not selecting linebackers, but Northwestern's Anthony Walker Jr. and Clemson's Ben Boulware will be available on Day 2 and can start immediately.

Philadelphia Eagles

Biggest need: Cornerback

Other needs: Running back, edge rusher

It's clear that the Eagles need numerous upgrades at cornerback after last season. 2016 seventh-round pick Jalen Mills is still a work in progress, and the Eagles signed replacement-level veteran Patrick Robinson in the offseason. Quite simply, the Eagles need to take advantage of a very deep cornerback class.

The Eagles used numerous running backs to finish with the 11th-ranked rushing offense, but need to find a genuine every-down back, with apologies to Ryan Mathews. Darren Sproles is entering his final season and is best utilized as a receiver, and the Eagles need to find a bruising back in the event Mathews goes down.

Brandon Graham is consistently good for 5.5 sacks per year and Chris Long enters 2017 coming off a Super Bowl victory. However, the Eagles need to add depth to the position, with Vinny Curry as their lone capable option off the bench.

Potential draft targets: It's unlikely that Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore drops to No. 14, but if he's available, the Eagles should hand their card in immediately. Lattimore's collegiate teammate Gareon Conley, LSU's Tredavious White, and Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie are more likely to be in the Eagles' range, though.

Stanford's Christian McCaffrey is the every-down back the Eagles desire and should be available at No. 14. If the Eagles choose to get their running back on Day 2, look out for Toledo's Kareem Hunt and Oklahoma's Samaje Perine.

Alabama's Tim Williams may be the most promising edge rusher in the draft, save for presumptive No. 1 pick Myles Garrett, and his tremendous burst should endear him to Eagles' personnel. Wisconsin's T.J. Watt and Auburn's Carl Lawson are also strong Day 2 options.

Washington Redskins

Biggest need: Defensive tackle

Other needs: Safety, running back

Ziggy Hood and Phil Taylor are expected to take numerous snaps on Washington's defensive line, which doesn't bode well for the team's hopes of improving its 24th-ranked rush defense from a season ago.

Su'a Cravens showed promise as a rookie and he's slated to start at free safety in 2017. However, DJ Swearinger and a host of veteran castoffs are vying to start at free safety, and the Redskins ought to consider injecting new life into the position.

Running backs Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and Matt Jones all rotated through the lineup but none of them were able to secure the starting gig. The Redskins should use a Day 2 pick to stir up the competition.

Potential draft targets: Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell would be an instant starter and ought to be available with the No. 17 selection. Michigan's Chris Wormley and Alabama's Dalvin Tomlinson represent solid Day 2 choices as well.

The Redskins ought to target Washington safety Budda Baker in the second round, though it's possible he'll be taken in the first round. Florida's Marcus Maye and Iowa's Desmond King also ought to be on their draft board.

Tennessee's Alvin Kamara, Oklahoma's Samaje Perine, and Texas' D'Onta Foreman will all be ready to compete for a starting job next year, and the Redskins will likely try to take advantage of a deep running back group.

It should be noted that the Redskins are currently without a general manager after firing Scot McCloughan, so figuring out their draft strategy is certainly more difficult than the 31 other teams.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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