NFC East secondaries ranked from worst to best in 2023
• Philly has a mix of veteran leadership and potential
• The Cowboys have two potential No. 1 cornerbacks
By Randy Gurzi
It's a pass-happy league and the Dallas Cowboys know this as well as any, which is why they made sure to not only enhance their aerial attack in the offseason but they shored up the secondary as well.
As much as Brandin Cooks will help their passing attack, Stephon Gilmore joining Trevon Diggs can have an even greater impact since it gives Dan Quinn the best starting duo he's ever had. The only question now is whether or not that's enough for Dallas to claim the title of best secondary in the NFC East.
Let's dive into that discussion and see how they rank against their divisional rivals.
4. New York Giants
CB: Adoree' Jackson, Deonte Banks, Cor'Dale Flott
S: Xavier McKinney, Bobby McCain
There was a time Adoree' Jackson was expected to become a top-tier CB1 but that never happened. While the Tennessee Titans didn't get what they hoped for, he's been solid over the past two seasons for the New York Giants.
This year, he's joined by Deonte Banks, the 24th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Maryland product has the size and speed to develop into a No. 1 cornerback but they're going to need him to be ready in a hurry. 2022 third-round pick Cor'Dale Flott will also be asked to step up and if he can man the slot, that would be better than Darnay Holmes staying there.
At safety, they have a couple of well-known players with Xavier McKinney and Bobby McCain. McKinney was solid in 2021 but injuries slowed him down in 2022. If he bounces back, that will be a huge lift.
McCain is an undersized safety who started 16 games for Washington in 2022 but was ranked 61st by Pro Football Focus. Now 30 years of age, he needs to turn back the clock if this secondary hopes to have a strong season.