The Dallas Cowboys are always well represented in polls of the NFL’s best players. Sure, there are arguments about where their quarterback sits amongst his peers, but by and large most publications corroborate that the Texas stars have more than their fair share of top-tier talent.
That talent hasn’t been enough to get them over the top, but it has allowed them to remain competitive for division titles year after year. 2024 should be no different, with Pro Football Focus identifying one top-five player, and two in the top 20. That’s no comparison to their division mates or longtime rivals however.
The Philadelphia Eagles have three of the top 50 while the San Francisco 49ers have a whopping seven players named, with four of them in the top 10. Combined with the four Detroit Lions on the overall list, that’s 32% of the league’s best players centered around the top NFC contenders. Throw in the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, with a contingent of six players, things start to look strange. Are 44% of the league’s best players really on just five of the league’s 32 squads?
There’s far too much parity to believe that, so perhaps there’s a level of implicit bias going on in these evaluations. With training camp just days away, all of these lists will lose their importance as teams start their journeys to prove it on the field. For now, though, here’s where all of the NFC East players rank.
Wednesday: Full participant
Thursday: Full participant
Friday: Full participant
Wednesday: Limited
Eagles WR AJ Brown catches a touchdown in front of Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore in Week 9.
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) battles with Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) on the sidelines during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) slams into Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after the ball was released, Sunday, September 10, 2023.
Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson (11) warms up during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Levi’s Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers: 7
Kansas City Chiefs: 6
Baltimore Ravens: 5
Detroit Lions: 4
Miami Dolphins: 3
Philadelphia Eagles: 3
Tied with 2: Cowboys, Bengals, Giants, Jets, Buccaneers, Falcons
