NFC East Buzz: Lamb a top market star, Hurts soaring & Giants rumors

What’s buzzing in the NFC East heading into training camp?  A Dallas Cowboys wide receiver has an NFL executive raving, the Philadelphia Eagles high flying quarterback ranks just outside the top 5 and New York Giants,  Saquon Barkley rumor that brings rotten news to the Big Apple.

Let’s start with one of the most exhilarating wide receivers in the league. Ranked as one of the top 10 receivers in the league, CeeDee Lamb is heading into the 2023 NFL season as the clear No. 1 option for Dak Prescott.

Coming off a stellar year in Dallas, Lamb burned NFC East secondaries and other NFL defenses with 107 receptions for 1,359 yards and 9 touchdowns.

NFC East has a top market receiver on the horizon

With his fifth-year option approaching following the 2024 NFL season, the Cowboys had to consider locking him up long term now, especially if he puts up similar numbers in the upcoming season.

As one NFL Executive mentioned, the 24-year-old wide receiver out of the University of Oklahoma will be a top market guy if he exercises his option following the 2024 season.

"“He’s going to be a top-of-market guy,” an NFL executive said, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.  “He’s really good.”"

Top receiver production and dazzling catches, this is a star Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would like to make a career Cowboy.  With the addition of Brandin Cooks as the team’s No. 2 receiver, Lamb should continue to flourish in Dallas.  If he is one of the primary reasons this NFC East team finally makes some noise in the playoffs, he can basically write his own check in the Big D.

NFC East has one of the top NFL QB’s in Eagles gunslinger Jalen Hurts

Talk about positional rankings, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to rise as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

According to the ESPN position rankings based on polls and surveys from NFL executives, players and coaches, the 24-year-old quarterback ranks as No. 6, just outside the top 5.

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In leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl a year ago, the high ranking is well earned Hurts is undoubtedly one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, certainly in the NFC East.

With 2022 All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades, the Alabama product is facing the pressure in 2023 to take his team back to the Super Bowl, which sometimes causes a young quarterback to take a step back.  But his total package skills will at least have the Eagles in the mix.

Here is what was said about Hurts in the positional rankings:

"“Hurts’ total package elevated him to top-six status.  He’s known as a tireless worker and strong leader.  He has grown as a passer every year:    After posting a 33.8 QBR as a rookie in 2020, he had 54.6 and 66.4 ratings over the following two years.And his savvy as a runner helps him break off timely rushes based on his reads of the defense.  His 18 rushing touchdowns represent the most by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history.”"

With explosive wide receivers in A.J. Brown and Davonta Smith, running back D’Andre Swift along with tight end Dallas Goedert, Hurts has the playmakers around him to be just as good, if not better in 2023 creating soaring expectations in the City of Brotherly Love.

NFC East rumors: No Saquon Barkley for Giants in 2023?

Could the New York Giants be without Saquon Barkley in 2023?

Well, the talented running back said that is what he may need to do if he doesn’t get the contract he desires.

After not agreeing to a deal before Monday’s deadline for franchised players to agree to long-term deals, Barkley isn’t planning on playing under the $10.091 million franchise tender.  The two-time Pro Bowler is serious and will use his leverage on the Giants to get what he thinks he deserves in franchise negotiations.

Ironically, it was during an appearance on “The Money Matters” podcast prior to the deadline in which Barkley spoke up about the potential consequences of not reaching a deal.

"“My leverage is I could say, ‘F— you’ to the Giants, I could say, ‘F— you to my teammates,” Barkley told the podcast, as transcribed by ESPN.  “And be like, ‘You want me to show you my worth? You want me to show you how valuable I am to the team? I won’t show up. I won’t play a down.’ And that’s a play I could use.”"

Barkley went on to say that it is not something he wants to do but is prepared to do to prove his worth to the Giants organization and perhaps the entire league.  Whether or not Barkley is the best running back in the NFL as he went on to mention on the podcast, his absence would be a loss for a team that made waves in the NFC East a season ago.

In a bounce back season, Barkley rushed for 1,312 yards on 295 carries and 10 rushing touchdowns.  Will the Giants running back get his money or will he follow through with sitting out the entire season?

Stay tuned Giants fans.