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After it was announced Monday which teams got compensatory draft picks, the NFL was able to establish its full official 2012 draft order. Here's a look at where the NFC East's teams are picking throughout the draft's seven rounds. Bookmark this baby, because we're going to refer to it a lot over the next month. Heck, print it out so you can bring it to your draft party, if you're into stuff like that. We're here to serve.

Dallas Cowboys (8 picks)


Round 1: Pick 14, overall pick 14

Round 2: Pick 13, overall pick 45

Round 3: Pick 19, overall pick 81

Round 4: Pick 18, overall pick 119

Round 4: Pick 40, overall pick 135 (compensatory -- cannot be traded)

Round 5: Pick 17, overall pick 152

Round 6: Pick 16, overall pick 186

Round 7: Pick 15, overall pick 222

New York Giants (8 picks)


Round 1: Pick 32, overall pick 32

Round 2: Pick 32, overall pick 63

Round 3: Pick 32, overall pick 94

Round 4: Pick 32, overall pick 127

Round 4: Pick 36, overall pick 131 (compensatory, cannot be traded)

Round 5: Pick 32, overall pick 167

Round 6: Pick 32, overall pick 201

Round 7: Pick 32, overall pick 239

Philadelphia Eagles (9 picks)


Round 1: Pick 15, overall pick 15

Round 2: Pick 14, overall pick 46

Round 2: Pick 19, overall pick 51 (from Arizona)

Round 3: Pick 26, overall pick 88 (from Houston)

Round 4: Pick 19, overall pick 114

Round 5: Pick 18, overall pick 153

Round 6: Pick 2, overall pick 172 (from Indianapolis)

Round 6: Pick 25, overall pick 194 (from Denver)

Round 6: Pick 31, overall pick 200 (from New England)

NOTES: The Eagles traded the 13th pick in the third round and the fourth pick in the fourth round to Houston in exchange for the 26th pick in the third round and linebacker DeMeco Ryans. The Eagles had acquired the fourth pick in the fourth round as part of a 2011 draft-day trade with Tampa Bay... The Eagles acquired the 19th pick in the second round from Arizona as part of last year's trade for Kevin Kolb... The Eagles acquired the second pick of the sixth round from the Colts in exchange for the 17th pick in the sixth round and tackle Winston Justice... The Eagles acquired the 25th pick of the sixth round and running back J.J. Arrington from the Broncos in exchange for linebacker Joe Mays in 2010... Also in 2010, the Eagles acquired the 31st pick in the sixth round from the Patriots in exchange for linebacker Tracy White and their 2012 seventh-round pick.

Washington Redskins (7 picks)


Round 1: Pick 2, overall pick 2 (from St. Louis)

Round 3: Pick 6, overall pick 69

Round 4: Pick 7, overall pick 102

Round 4: Pick 14, overall pick 109 (from Oakland)

Round 5: Pick 6, overall pick 141

Round 6: Pick 3, overall pick 173 (from Minnesota)

Round 7: Pick 6, overall pick 213

NOTES: The Redskins acquired the No. 2 pick in the first round from the Rams in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the first round, the No. 7 pick in the second round and first-round picks in 2013 and 2014... The Redskins acquired the 14th pick in the fourth round from the Raiders in exchange for quarterback Jason Campbell in 2010... The Redskins acquired the third pick in the sixth round from the Vikings in exchange for quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2011... The Redskins traded the seventh pick in the sixth round to Arizona in exchange for running back Tim Hightower in 2011.

So I was sitting here on Twitter, trolling for news, answering your questions and getting a kick out of the fact that Justin Tuck was watching (and tweeting about) the same "Big Bang Theory" rerun as me when it occurred to me that it was almost time to turn in and get some sleep. Before I did that, I just wanted to ask one question.

How was your day ...

Philadelphia Eagles?

"Surprising." You guys know I didn't think the Eagles intended to sign DeSean Jackson to a long-term contract, so when the news broke Wednesday afternoon that they had, I was stunned. It's a good deal for the Eagles, as almost all of the $15 million in guaranteed money is concentrated in the first two years and it saves them $6.6 million against this year's salary cap. And Jackson's happy because he's making a ton more than he did last season. The issue now is whether his production will rise along with his happiness. (And how long he'll stay happy, considering what other receivers are getting on the open market.) They signed Trent Cole to a four-year contract extension, and in the wake of the Jackson news the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that they were working on a new deal for running back LeSean McCoy.

The Eagles seem determined to take care of their own roster before dipping into the free-agent pool, so they're making little moves, too. Antonio Dixon signed his restricted free-agent tender, and Winston Justice got traded to the Colts in a deal that saw the teams swap sixth-round draft picks. That last was a salary dump, but it was one they needed to make. Guard Evan Mathis remains unsigned and is drawing interest elsewhere, but the Eagles still believe they have a good chance to bring him back.

One weird thing did happen. Late in the afternoon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sent out a tweet in which he apologized to Bucs fans for being unable to lure free-agent linebacker Curtis Lofton to Tampa and said Lofton was going to sign with the Eagles. The Eagles quickly denied any contact with Lofton, and McCoy retracted his tweet. So it's tough to say what's going on there, but it bears watching. The Eagles need linebacker help, but the linebacker market is slow, so they can wait it out.

Dallas Cowboys?

"Outstanding." They got their top-choice cornerback, agreeing with Brandon Carr on a five-year, $50.1 million contract. They got their veteran, starter-quality backup quarterback, agreeing on a three-year deal with Kyle Orton. They added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau to their interior offensive line mix, where they needed (and still could use more) help. And they signed fullback Lawrence Vickers to replace Tony Fiammetta, who seems to want to go see what he can get on the market. According to ESPNDallas.com, they have visits scheduled in the coming days with free-agent safety Brodney Pool and free-agent guard Nate Livings, so they're still hard at work trying to fill needs. The names may not be the splashiest, but the Cowboys have been down those roads before, and this measured, focused, need-based approach looks like the right way for them to go. A lot of money for Carr, yes, but they desperately needed a top free-agent cornerback, and that's what they're going for this year.

Many Cowboys fans were upset to lose wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who came out of nowhere to catch 11 touchdown passes from Tony Romo in 2011. But the Cowboys were never going to pay him anything close to what the Jaguars ended up paying him ($32.5 million for five years), and they shouldn't have paid their No. 3 wide receiver that much. They were prepared to go without Robinson last year. He was a bonus, a lottery ticket that hit. They'll be fine with what they have at receiver, and they can fill in Robinson's spot the same way they did last year, when they sifted through a bunch of decent-looking candidates and came up with Robinson. Don't sweat that loss, Cowboys fans. The team has bigger worries and bigger needs.

New York Giants?

"A success." They flew former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett in late Tuesday night, and they signed him Wednesday to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. They obviously see something they like in Bennett and believe that the coaching staff and quarterback Eli Manning can bring the best out of him, and they targeted and got him. They also got him on a very low-risk deal that will allow them to go in a different direction if he disappoints and their injured tight ends are healthy enough to return at the end of the season. Cowboys fans seem sure he will disappoint, and he very well may. But he's only 25 and he's got a ton of physical ability, so the Giants think maybe they're getting a guy right before he really takes off. The Giants also retained backup quarterback David Carr, which they wanted to do. What they'll do next I do not know. They need offensive line help and could use a veteran running back to replace Brandon Jacobs, but they'll be patient and target specific guys they like, because that's the way they operate. It seems to work for them.

Washington Redskins?

"Quieter." After racing out of the free-agent gates and signing two wide receivers before the sun went down on Tuesday, the Redskins made very little news Wednesday. Their trade with the Rams for the No. 2 pick in the draft became official, and we learned that they will host former Giants cornerback Aaron Ross for a free-agent visit Thursday in the hopes of adding him to their cornerback mix. They still haven't locked up Eddie Royal, who seemed poised to become their third free-agent wide receiver signing last night, and he's on his way to talk to the Chargers. And they have a visit set up with safety Brandon Meriweather. But the most-asked question about the Redskins is where they stand with free-agent linebacker London Fletcher, who was called a "top priority" in December by Mike Shanahan but remains unsigned. It's possible that this is where the salary-cap sanctions hurt the Redskins. Having lost $18 million in cap room this year (and $18 million next year) for violating the other owners' sense of spending propriety during the uncapped 2010 season, the Redskins might find a Fletcher signing trickier than, say, a Pierre Garcon signing. Garcon is 25, and they can spread out his contract and the resulting cap hit over five years. Fletcher is 36, and any deal with him is much more likely to be front-loaded. That doesn't mean they can't bring him back, but it could make it a little more difficult. Just a theory I heard from someone I talked to today.

My day was excellent, and I enjoyed spending it here and on Twitter with you. Much more to come Thursday and beyond.

Determined either to have the most boring first few days of free agency ever or to clear cap room for a big surprise move or two down the road, the Philadelphia Eagles continued to make small, internal moves Wednesday.

They traded offensive tackle Winston Justice and a sixth-round draft pick (the 17th pick in that round) to the Indianapolis Colts for the Colts' sixth-round draft pick (the second pick in that round). And they also announced that restricted free-agent defensive tackle Antonio Dixon has signed his one-year contract tender and will return to the team next year.

The Dixon signing is important. They view him as a key piece to their defensive line rotation and a player who has yet to reach his full potential. He'll play for about $1.9 million in 2012.

The Justice trade feels like a salary dump and it is. Justice's cap cost was $4.2 million this year, and the Eagles surely believe they can find a backup tackle somewhere who will cost them less. With Jason Peters and Todd Herremans set at the starting tackle positions, Justice was expendable, and they move up 15 spots in the sixth round while dumping his salary.

As for which linebackers they're looking at, your guess remains as good as mine. I still think they should get London Fletcher, and maybe all of this tinkering is setting up for a move like that. But the Eagles so far are quiet, which is the way they like it.

For all of the talk of their poor pass protection, the Philadelphia Eagles have allowed just seven sacks this season. Only three teams -- the Lions, Raiders and Bills -- have allowed fewer. But for a couple of reasons, the test gets much tougher Sunday when the Eagles travel to Washington. The Redskins lead the league with 3.75 sacks per game, and the Eagles' offensive line is... not in good shape.

Starting left tackle Jason Peters is set to miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury, and King Dunlap, who filled in nicely for Peters last week, injured his back in practice and may have to miss the game as well. That could force the Eagles to swing right tackle Todd Herremans (who was the left guard in training camp, you may remember) to left tackle and insert Winston Justice, who has yet to play this season because of his own knee-injury issues, back into his old right tackle spot:

"It seems like every week he's getting a little bit better and feeling more comfortable," Reid said. "He deserves the opportunity to play if that presents itself."

Justice said he's put in extra time over the past few weeks with new offensive line coach Howard Mudd, whose scheme is dramatically different than what Justice played in under former offensive line coach Juan Castillo, now the team's defensive coordinator.

"It's always a little bit uncomfortable at first to try something new," he said. "But I think I feel comfortable."

That's what the Eagles are likely working with this week against the sack-happy duo of Washington linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. And that stat about the Eagles only allowing seven sacks doesn't really tell the whole story, does it? There have been a few times when quarterback Michael Vick would have been wiser to take a sack than to make a throw that ended up intercepted, or scramble around and end up fumbling. And even on plays when he hasn't been sacked, Vick has taken quite a few hits this year. None of that is likely to get any easier Sunday, especially with the Eagles playing shorthanded on the outside of the offensive line.

Friday. Links. You know the drill.

Washington Redskins

Redskins coaches seem to think it doesn't matter which of their three running backs is technically the "starter," but Tim Hightower says it matters to him, and he doesn't want to give up that designation.

And while we debate the merits of Hightower vs. Ryan Torain as a starter, Rick Maese has a very interesting in-depth look at the third running back in that equation -- Roy Helu, the rookie of whom the University of Nebraska team chaplain says, "He has a unique spirit about him."

New York Giants

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell thinks the Giants' defense needs some help communicating, especially when the opponent is in the no-huddle offense, and is considering putting wristbands on his players to help them grasp and communicate defensive play calls better.

Ahmad Bradshaw remembers his big 2007 game against the Bills -- one that included an 88-yard touchdown run -- and hopes this week's game can trigger a return for the Giants to their run-first roots.

Dallas Cowboys

Nothing that's happened over the first four games of the season has rattled the Cowboys' confidence, and quarterback Tony Romo had some comments Thursday about Deion Sanders saying he wasn't the guy to lead them to the Super Bowl. Romo promises these Cowboys will win a Super Bowl "at some point," and that when that happens they'll remember who stood by them and who didn't. Hey, it's tough talk, but these Cowboys really do think they're good, and they have a chance over the next couple of months to prove it.

The Patriots rank last in the NFL in total defense, but the Cowboys aren't buying it. Jason Garrett thinks it's because New England gets so many leads and teams have to throw a lot to try and keep up with them. We'll see. They looked pretty good against the Jets last week, but the Jets don't have the Cowboys' weapons.

Philadelphia Eagles

The 15 turnovers the Eagles have committed on offense are obviously a huge problem, but so is the fact that the defense, which for years has focused on generating turnovers, has claimed only five this year in five games. Shrinking that there ratio would fix a lot of problems.

King Dunlap has back spasms and didn't practice Thursday, and Jason Peters is still out, so that could mean Winston Justice and Todd Herremans as starting tackles Sunday against Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan and the Redskins. Is that good?

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With star defensive end Trent Cole inactive Sunday due to a calf injury, the Eagles are happy to welcome back defensive ends Darryl Tapp, who missed the previous two games with a torn pectoral muscle, and Juqua Parker, who sprained his ankle in Week 2 and hasn't played since. Tapp starts in place of Cole.

The Eagles also announced Mike Kafka as one of their inactives, which leaves Vince Young as the only active quarterback besides starter Michael Vick. With starting left tackle Jason Peters out with a hamstring injury, King Dunlap will start at left tackle. First-round draft pick Danny Watkins finally gets his first NFL start at right guard in place of Kyle DeVan, who is inactive. And tackle Winston Justice is active for the first time this season and will help with depth on the offensive line.

I'll be here at Ralph Wilson Stadium all afternoon, and you can join in our live chat of the game here starting at 1 pm ET.

The complete list of inactives for today's Eagles-Bills game:

QB Mike Kafka
S Jaiquawn Jarrett
CB Curtis Marsh
DE Trent Cole
OL Kyle DeVan
T Jason Peters
G Julian Vandervelde

BILLS

CB Aaron Williams
CB Terence Wheatley
LB Chris White
G Colin Brown
T Demetrius Bell
LB Chris Kelsay
NT Torell Troup

In the wake of a preseason game in which the right side of their offensive line was a dangerous-looking mess, the Philadelphia Eagles have decided to shake some things up, moving left guard Todd Herremans to right tackle, according to Jeff McLane.

Replacing Herremans at guard, McLane writes, will be Evan Mathis, the former Bengals lineman they signed last month. For the moment, it appears first-round pick Danny Watkins will remain at right guard and fellow rookie Jason Kelce at center.

"Kelce was in there today," Eagles coach Andy Reid said in his news conference following practice Saturday. "We went over some of the things that we didn't execute right, I'm saying as an offense and defense, we corrected some mistakes today and from the game, and had those guys in place there."

With Winston Justice still working his way back from a knee injury, it seemed as though free-agent signing Ryan Harris was set to be the starting right guard. But Harris needs back surgery as a result of an injury he suffered in the first preseason game, and King Dunlap, who started at right tackle Thursday night, does not appear to be the answer. So they decided Herremans, who played tackle when he first arrived in the NFL, should make the move over to solidify Michael Vick's blind side.

There are still options if Kelce and Watkins continue to struggle. They could always put Jamaal Jackson back at the starting center spot if Kelce can't handle it, and Jackson or Reggie Wells could play right guard if Watkins proves to be completely overwhelmed. But the Eagles have put their line in the hands of veteran offensive line coach Howard Mudd and are trusting him to correct what's looked wrong so far. He believes in Kelce and Watkins, and it's likely they'll get a little more time to work out the kinks.

The plan was for the Philadelphia Eagles' starters to play three quarters of Thursday night's preseason game against the Browns. But Michael Vick took such a beating in the first half, and it was raining so hard at halftime, that it just didn't make any sense to run him back out there. And while it's easy to look at the big picture and say the Eagles looked a lot better in this 24-14 exhibition victory than they did last week against the Steelers, the fact is the offensive line's play in the first half had to be extremely disconcerting to their fans and their coaches.

The issues Thursday were at and to the right of center. Rookie Jason Kelce got the start with the first team at center in place of veteran Jamaal Jackson, and he did little to make you think Jackson's job is or should be in jeopardy. Kelce had a holding penalty and a bad exchange with Vick, and he and fellow rookie Danny Watkins were repeatedly shredded by rookie Phil Taylor and the Cleveland defensive line. As a result, Vick was under pressure throughout the first quarter and didn't have time to find his wide receivers downfield.

Running back LeSean McCoy continued to look excellent as a runner and as a great check-down option for a harried Vick in the passing game. And if the line is going to be this shaky all season, McCoy could catch 100 balls. But the line has to get better, or it could sink this promising Eagles season.

Center can be fixed, of course, because they can just put Jackson back in there until Kelce is ready. And King Dunlap is only a fill-in starter at right tackle until Winston Justice and/or Ryan Harris are healthy. But Watkins was the first-round pick, and he's going to start. And he's going to have to block better and communicate better with whoever is out there to his right and left, or Vick is going to be knocked around a lot.

Now, as we keep saying, it's only preseason, and the Eagles still have more than two weeks of practice time in which to fix these problems. I am by no means saying they cannot or will not fix their issues. But while the result of this game doesn't matter any more than the result of last week's game did, there are some specific issues that came up, good and bad, and the poor play of the right side of the offensive line was the one that stood out the most.

Some others:

1. Better work by the linebackers this week. The Eagles' defense this season will be based on aggressive upfield pursuit by the defensive line, which means the linebackers will have to be more effective and responsible in coverage. We saw that Thursday night, especially from Jamar Chaney and rookie middle linebacker Casey Matthews. Last week was rough on Matthews, but the Eagles seem to have done a good thing for him this week, replacing him with Brian Rolle and/or Brandon Hughes on passing downs and allowing him to focus on playing the run more. Matthews' first-quarter highlight was a big stop on Montario Hardesty up the middle, and in general the linebackers in this game seemed to be in the right place and for the right amount of time much more reliably than they were against the Steelers.

2. Mike Patterson helps. Back in action less than a month after suffering a seizure on the practice field, Patterson was a big addition to the defensive tackle rotation. He picked up an early sack, drawing a nice ovation from the pre-rainstorm crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, and along with Cullen Jenkins, Derek Landri and Anthony Hargrove, he helped deliver somewhat consistent pressure up the middle as the game went along. If Antonio Dixon makes it back from his injury, the Eagles are going to have a very deep, very talented defensive line rotation that will allow them to keep everyone as fresh and aggressive as Juan Castillo and Jim Washburn want them to be throughout the games.

3. Vick was better but tough to evaluate. He didn't throw three interceptions, as he did last week, and in general he did a better job of identifying and reacting to the blitz. His inability to get the ball to his receivers wasn't his fault, as discussed above, but he did a good job of finding McCoy and, every now and then, taking off running when all else had failed. We're not likely to see him in the final preseason game, so this was his last warm-up before the regular season. But he'll surely hope Jeremy Maclin is back and fully healthy by then, since that will help matters all around.

4. The cornerbacks all did nice things. Nnamdi Asomugha was his swarming, suffocating self, taking receivers out of the game. Asante Samuel came up with an interception. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie blocked a kick. As they are on the defensive line, the Eagles are deep in the secondary, especially if Jarrad Page and Kurt Coleman can continue to make the contributions they're making at safety. In general, the defense was much more intense and directed this week. Again, we don't know what we're looking at in the preseason. The Eagles might have planned for this game, and the Browns might not have. But from a confidence standpoint, the Eagles had a lot more about which to feel good on defense than they did after Ben Roethlisberger took them apart seven nights earlier.

5. The Eagles are deep at running back, too. Ronnie Brown continues to look like a one-year steal, and Dion Lewis like a guy who could make it not matter if Brown leaves after one year. If McCoy is going to be leaned on heavily, the Eagles can feel good about their ability to give him breaks and keep him fresh.

I also thought both rookie kickers looked good and that in general most of the individual evaluations off this game had to be position. But the offensive line play in the first half was so alarming that it had to be the story of the night, and all eyes will be on the right side of that line once the games start for real.

We were promised Jeremy Maclin news Tuesday and didn't get it. As of this morning, neither Maclin nor the Philadelphia Eagles have issued any kind of statement on the mysterious medical condition that has kept the star wide receiver from practicing in training camp. You won't get speculation here, and if I had any real information on it I'd tell you. But the longer this goes, the more it puts Maclin in jeopardy of missing the start of the season. And while his status as a football player obviously isn't as important as his personal health, we don't know anything about the latter except that it's not good enough to allow him to play. So that's all we can write about right now.

More Eagles

Rich Hoffman says protecting Michael Vick's blind side is the key to the Eagles' season. Right tackle Winston Justice is still hurt. Ryan Harris, his apparent replacement, is hurt. King Dunlap, one of the largest human beings I've ever seen, is slated to start there in Thursday night's preseason game. And they have a rookie, first-round draft pick Danny Watkins, in line to start at right guard. Hoffman's right. These are questions they need to answer.

Hall of Fame Eagles receiver Pete Pihos died Tuesday at the age of 87 after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease. The story of Pihos' final years is an achingly familiar one we've read before about the later lives of former NFL players. Dementia. Swindled out of a bunch of money. These guys get old and forgotten and suffer for having played NFL football. It's why retired players groups were working so hard to make sure they were taken care of in the recent labor negotiations.

Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones says that if Felix Jones has a good year, so will the Cowboys. With those other backs hurt, and based on a creeping suspicion, I was already sliding ol' Felix up my fantasy draft board a bit. Hope Jerry didn't let the secret out. What's that? He says this every year? Oh, right.

Igor Olshansky says he doesn't care whether he starts or not, which could be a good thing, since it looks as though he might not. The Cowboys believe they have a lot of defensive end depth now with Kenyon Coleman having joined the mix and Jason Hatcher freed from his elevator prison.

New York Giants

The Giants signed Rhys Lloyd, who's a kicker who only kicks off and never kicks field goals. My first thought was that they only did this because Lawrence Tynes has that thigh injury and they need someone who can kick off in their preseason game Monday night. Then I read that they tried to sign Lloyd last year, so I thought maybe there was more to it. Then I remembered that nobody's going to need a kickoff-only kicker anymore because every kicker in the league is going to be able to drill the ball through the back of the end zone now that kickoffs have been moved up to the 35-yard line. So I'm back to thinking it's that first thing I said.

Mike Vaccaro says the return of Osi Umenyiora isn't the only reason to feel good about the Giants' defense going into this year. Man, the narrative on the Giants has shifted in just one week, hasn't it?

Washington Redskins

Kevin Barnes is a guy who could play a big role in the Redskins' secondary this year. With Phillip Buchanon suspended for the first four games, Barnes will get a lot of chances to play, even if it's only as the nickel corner with DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson as the starters. Stephen Whyno takes a look at Barnes and what he's up to as he prepares for the season.

Roy Helu tells Brian Tinsman that he learned a lot in his first NFL preseason game and is looking forward to putting those lessons into practice in the next one. He also says Tim Hightower has been great working with the younger backs on the roster, which I found kind of funny because Hightower is only 25 years old. I mean, it's great he's working with the less experienced guys and all, but a veteran at 25? Gives you an idea why they were fired up to be able to get him.

Enjoy the day, folks. I'll have a few things up before my flight to Dallas. And who knows? Maybe we get that Maclin news ...

I have here on my laptop screen three "unofficial depth charts" -- one each for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. They arrived as part of the media game notes in advance of preseason games, which begin the day after tomorrow. On Monday, I got the ones for the Cowboys and Eagles, who open preseason play Thursday. This morning I got the one for the Redskins, whose preseason opener is Friday. I am assuming that the Giants, who play Saturday, will send theirs tomorrow. (See what I did there? I incorporated simple addition and knowledge of the calendar. My sons' elementary school teachers would be so proud.)

Anyway, these don't, technically, mean anything. The teams call them "unofficial" just so we remember that. But they are fun, and here at the NFC East blog we're all about having fun. So let's take a look at a couple of things I noticed about each of the three I have so far that you, my dear readers, might find interesting. (And don't worry, Giants fans, you'll get your turn when I get your depth chart.)

Dallas Cowboys

Not a lot of surprises here. The Cowboys don't list their injured players as front-line starters, so Phil Costa is listed as the first-string center with Andre Gurode listed in brackets at the back of the depth chart as an injured player. They still have Montrae Holland listed as the starting right guard even though he's hurt, too, and David Arkin started there in Sunday's scrimmage. Arkin is listed as Kyle Kosier's backup at left guard, but we know that the alignment was changed Monday so that Arkin was starting with the first team at left guard and Kosier moved over to the right to start next to rookie tackle Tyron Smith.

Felix Jones is listed as the starting running back, though Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray are listed in brackets because of injury and therefore pose no unofficial-depth-chart threat at the moment. Jones' backup on the depth chart is Lonyae Miller. Kevin Ogletree and Jesse Holley are the wide receivers listed immediately behind Dez Bryant and Miles Austin at those two positions, for what that's worth. Brings into focus the fact that they could use help at that No. 3 receiver spot.

On defense, they have Marcus Spears and Igor Olshansky starting at defensive end, and Sean Lee starting next to Bradie James at inside linebacker with Keith Brooking hurt. Orlando Scandrick is the starting cornerback opposite Mike Jenkins and in place of the injured Terence Newman, and Alan Ball is listed as Jenkins' backup. Free-agent signees Gerald Sensabaugh and Abram Elam are the starting safeties.

And David Buehler is still listed as the kicker ahead of Dan Bailey, but as I understand it that's not yet settled. Overall, it's tough to get a clear picture of the Cowboys' depth chart because of all the injuries.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles still list Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson, neither of whom has yet had a full practice, as their starting receivers. So the Dream Team rolls a bit differently, depth chart-wise, than does America's Team. Their backups are listed as Riley Cooper and Jason Avant, who are obviously more likely to play Thursday than are the listed starters. Ryan Harris is listed as the starting right tackle and Winston Justice isn't listed at all (presumably because he's on that PUP list). Jamaal Jackson is still listed as the starting center, though you need to keep an eye on Jason Kelce and how much he plays against the Ravens. They also list Vince Young as the No. 2 quarterback, ahead of Mike Kafka.

On defense, the Eagles' first-team line is listed as Trent Cole, Antonio Dixon, Mike Patterson and Juqua Parker. Obviously, Patterson's health concerns have taken him out of the mix for the time being, and Dixon has been limited due to injury. So you're more likely to see Cullen Jenkins and Anthony Hargrove at those defensive tackle spots, with Trevor Laws in the mix once he's healthy. Deep rotation on the line, where free-agent signing Jason Babin is a second-team defensive end along with Darryl Tapp. They're listing Casey Matthews as the starting middle linebacker in between Jamar Chaney and Moise Fokou, and Asante Samuel and Nnamdi Asomugha are the starting cornerbacks. Kurt Coleman is listed as the starting free safety opposite Nate Allen and in front of rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett.

Johnnie Lee Higgins is listed as the kick returner and as Jackson's backup punt returner.

Washington Redskins

Rex Grossman is listed as the starting quarterback, which is a change from the depth chart Mike Shanahan had on the wall of his office last week and could have something to do with John Beck's groin injury. It'll be interesting to see, if Beck is healthy, which one starts and how much they play. I think they'd like Beck to win the job but are prepared to go with Grossman if Beck falls on his face.

They're also listing Tim Hightower as the starting running back with Ryan Torain injured. But even if Torain were healthy, I believe they prefer Hightower assuming he can control his fumbling problem. Jabar Gaffney is listed as the starting wide receiver along with Santana Moss. Anthony Armstrong and Leonard Hankerson are listed as the backups. No surprises on the offensive line.

On defense, they have rookie Ryan Kerrigan starting at outside linebacker opposite Brian Orakpo and Rocky McIntosh starting inside along with London Fletcher. That puts Lorenzo Alexander in a bench/utility role from which he can help in multiple ways. Stephen Bowen and Adam Carriker are listed as the defensive ends on either side of nose tackle Barry Cofield. They have Josh Wilson starting at cornerback opposite DeAngelo Hall, and it'll be interesting to see if Wilson holds that job through and after Phillip Buchanon's four-game suspension. Reed Doughty starts at strong safety with LaRon Landry injured, and they're still listing Graham Gano as the kicker ahead of Shayne Graham, though it's possible that whoever shows up first when Shanahan yells "Graham!" will get to kick.

Have fun with it, folks. I'll take questions here and in the chat, at noon ET.

Good morning to all. Your links are piping hot and ready. Come and get 'em.

Dallas Cowboys

I'd say at this point that Kevin Ogletree has an opportunity to be a factor in the passing game. And if that's the case, you'll surely want to know about his 30 tattoos, including the one of his grandfather, and which 'Entourage' character he'd like to be. Don't worry. Got you covered.

Clarence Hill thinks Tashard Choice's injury and Lonyae Miller's strong early showing could mean Choice's spot on the roster is in trouble. I'm a little bit skeptical on that, as is Choice, if you read his tweets on the matter. Could be a case of somebody trying to light a fire under Choice and get him on the practice field. Or it could be true. We shall see.

New York Giants

Paul Schwartz writes of young defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Marvin Austin, who are tasked with replacing Barry Cofield in the middle of the Giants' defensive line. Both are large, talented young men who were drafted in the second round. They are an example of the Giants' 2011 plan/hope that the depth they've developed within their system at certain positions on both lines can sustain them in a year in which they weren't able to be active in free agency.

I didn't personally see Steve Smith at the Giants' facility Monday, but multiple reliable sources said he was there, and Zach Berman writes that he'll be back Tuesday for an examination of his surgically repaired knee. Sounds as if the Giants and Smith are inching closer toward a contract agreement, but it also sounds as if Smith won't be ready for the start of the season even if that happens, which means Domenik Hixon, Ramses Barden & Co. have an opportunity if they want one.

Philadelphia Eagles

Bob Ford makes the very good point that, while DeSean Jackson's holdout can be (and apparently has been) fixed by something as simple as Jackson deciding to show up and practice while they work out a new contract, Jeremy Maclin's absence is not so easy a problem to fix.

The Eagles didn't sign Ryan Harris to hold a spot for Winston Justice while Justice got healthy. They signed him because they felt uncertain about right tackle and that Harris could be the solution. So the fact that Harris is running with the first team while Justice works his way back from injury is significant, and if Harris is starting at right tackle on Sept. 11, it's not going to be a major upset.

Washington Redskins

Nice story by Carla Peay on new Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson, who used to work the concession stands at FedEx Field and now will play for the team on Sundays. Money quote: "It's going to be a great feeling not having to serve fries."

If there's a position of strength on the Redskins' offense, it's tight end, where Chris Cooley and Fred Davis believe they should be on the field together more than they have been. And yes, it makes sense to give an unproven quarterback such as John Beck the ability to rely on reliable tight ends. But I asked Mike Shanahan about this when I was there last week, and he kind of hedged, which means either he didn't want to to tell me about specific offensive sets he's planning to run or that he expects his tight ends to have to do a lot of blocking since the line and the rest of the offense are such major question marks. Or both. I actually think it may have been both.

We'll chat at noon ET, since it's Tuesday, and the Giants are off today so no training camp for me. Just a normal day in front of the computer, enjoying the day's NFL news with all you good folks.

The Eagles have made a ton of changes to their roster. In fact, in my recent post-lockout grades piece , I gave Philadelphia an A-plus.

It really doesn’t get any better than that folks. A ton of huge names are being discussed in all the various media markets, but today, I want to focus on the Eagles’ offensive line. Philadelphia’s front five should be vastly improved. And there are a ton more options at Andy Reid and new line coach Howard Mudd’s disposal.

Jason Peters is entrenched as the left tackle. He gets far more criticism in the public eye than he deserves. In my opinion, he is easily one of the top-five players in the NFL at his position.

At left guard, Todd Herremans is the incumbent. He has done well in that spot. But his body type is long and leaner. He isn’t built like the prototypical guard. I think there is a chance Philadelphia considers playing him at right tackle, where I think he could do quite well. He is a very good run blocker without compromising the agility needed to protect the edge.

Jamaal Jackson is a favorite of mine -- when he is healthy. He is a powerful center who can move heavy nose tackle-types off the ball. And he isn’t a liability in space or in protection. But the whole key with Jackson is health. Rookie Jason Kelce, who’s been getting a lot of first-team reps, is also in the mix at center.

The Eagles used their first-round pick on Danny Watkins. A tackle at Baylor, Watkins is projected to play guard at this level. I do think he could contribute as a right tackle for Philadelphia if need-be. Even with the lack of practice time during the lockout being considered, you don’t draft guards in the first round to use them as reserves. He is sure to start at guard, probably on the right side. I think Watkins will be a Pro Bowl guard before long.

At right tackle, I mentioned that Herremans could be an option, but the most logical starter here is newly signed Ryan Harris. Like Jackson, durability has been the No. 1 negative with Harris. But this is a guy who was excellent in Denver’s quicker zone-blocking scheme. Harris is a well above-average athlete for an NFL right tackle and exactly what Mudd looks for at the position.

Although it seems that the starting five is set as it stands today, there are other factors at work here. Philadelphia also signed Evan Mathis, a pure guard, away from the Bengals. Cincinnati didn’t give him the opportunity that he deserved and the Eagles wisely pounced on him. But he has performed like a starter when given the opportunity.

Winston Justice has been the starting right tackle now for a few seasons. He remains in the picture, but had a rough time last season. Mudd could get him back to his 2009 form and there certainly is talent here.

Mike McGlynn is a versatile inside guy who also could be a factor going forward, but most likely only if Jackson continues to struggle to stay on the field.

I expect the Eagles' offensive line to be very much improved this season. Due to better coaching, better players and far more options, this could be one of the top-five lines in the league.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. Follow Matt Williamson on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.

Because it had been nearly two hours since they'd last signed a free agent, the Philadelphia Eagles just announced the signing of offensive tackle Ryan Harris to a one-year contract. Harris is the second one-year Eagles signing of the day, following running back Ronnie Brown, and he addresses a need that was beginning to concern Eagles fans -- the right side of the offensive line.

It's a surprising signing because Harris is only 26 years old, well regarded as a top right tackle and likely thought he'd get a long-term deal once the market opened. But this week's market clearly isn't last week's market, and it appears players are willing to take less in order to sign with the Eagles, who are loading up for a Super Bowl run.

Harris is an athletic offensive lineman who fits what new line coach Howard Mudd is looking for. It would appear he has a good chance to beat out Winston Justice for the starting right tackle job. The Eagles employ a left-handed quarterback in Michael Vick, which means the right side of the line is his blind side. There had been concerns about Justice and talk about left guard Todd Herremans or rookie right guard Danny Watkins maybe having to move over and play right tackle. Now, it seems, they have brought in a better option and strengthened the line overall.

I'm going to go for a run now. I assume I'll have another Eagles signing to write about when I get back.

Nearly done now with our position-by-position look at potential four-year unrestricted free agency and the NFC East. I asked yesterday if you guys wanted me to do kickers and punters, and you seemed to say yes, so those will roll out this afternoon to wrap the series. For now, though, we go with the big fellas -- the offensive tackles.

NFC East teams in need

Redskins: With 2010 first-rounder Trent Williams on the left side, they feel like they're okay there now and for the long-term. Not so much on the right side, where Jammal Brown is a free agent and Stephon Heyer not likely a sufficient replacement. A veteran who could help develop Williams and the other young players on Washington's rebuilding line might be a good move.

Cowboys: They drafted Tyron Smith with the ninth pick in April, and their hope was to play him on the right side and emerging star Doug Free on the left. But if the new rules allow free agency after four years of service, Free becomes a free agent and a top priority for Dallas to re-sign. Should he go elsewhere, the Cowboys will need a tackle, be it right or left, since they're likely to part ways with Marc Colombo.

Eagles: Jason Peters is a star on the left, but Michael Vick's "blind side" is the right side, where Winston Justice and King Dunlap remain big question marks. Having addressed the line in the draft, the Eagles could be planning to roll the dice with those guys and fill defensive needs in free agency, but it wouldn't be crazy for them to look for a tackle.

Giants: This is a well-traveled topic and a matter of opinion. Mine is that the Giants' offensive line is a ticking injury time bomb, and that David Diehl has lost a few steps. The Giants and their fans would say the injuries on the line didn't hurt them last year, and that they actually showed the depth the team has at various line positions. I still think it's worth staying ahead of the curve, and while I know the Giants have a lot of needs, I think they need to at least look and see if they can add a tackle for depth, even if it means moving Diehl inside or into a backup role.

Top five potential unrestricted free-agent tackles

1. Free. Still young and still developing, but his first year as a starter on the left side was a rousing success, and the Cowboys are hoping he can last there for a while -- as long as he stays in town. It'll be interesting to see what kind of market he draws, since it was just the one year on the left and he'd surely prefer to stay on that side than go somewhere else and play on the right. He might be more valuable to the Cowboys than he would to anyone else.

2. Willie Colon. He missed the 2010 season with an injury, but his track record as a premier right tackle won't be lost on teams that need line help. His agent recently said he didn't think the Steelers were interested in retaining Colon.

3. Tyson Clabo. A perfect fit at right tackle for the Falcons, Clabo is coming off a Pro Bowl appearance and could draw interest from run-heavy teams looking for someone to seal off that right side.

4. Matt Light. A great veteran who may be past his prime but likely still has something to offer on the field and in the locker room. Might have to settle for a shorter-term deal, given his age relative to the rest of this field.

5. Brown. The Redskins' best plan may be to bring back Brown, who performed better at right tackle for them as the season went along and his hip got healthier. It'll be interesting to see if he draws interest as a left tackle from teams in need of help on that side.

Predictions that mean nothing: Cowboys re-sign Free. Redskins re-sign Brown. Eagles look a little further down the list, maybe at a guy like Marshal Yanda, who can play tackle or guard and really shore up their situation on the right side. Giants do nothing.

Our readers like to call this division "The Beast," but I'm not so sure. I mean, I get it -- it rhymes with "East," and it reflects the kind of toughness and meanness that fans like to attribute to their favorite teams. And not long ago, it fit nicely. The NFC East was the NFL's toughest division. Sent three teams to the playoffs in 2006 and 2007. Took out the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl. Very Beast-like stuff, no question.

But things change quickly in the NFL, and 2010 wasn't this division's most Beastly year. For the first time in six seasons, the NFC East last year came up with just one playoff team. The division had as many 10-loss teams as 10-win teams, and the only playoff game it has won in the past two seasons was Dallas' January 2010 intradivision victory over Philadelphia.

A fluke? Sure, it's possible. Most people expect the Cowboys to bounce back in 2011 (assuming there is a 2011). And John Clayton pointed out last week that a slate of 2011 games against NFC West opponents could help inflate NFC East teams' records the way that delicious bit of scheduling helped out NFC South teams in 2010. But if the teams in this division want to make sure this little downturn is nothing more than a blip on history's radar, they would all do well to take a look at their offensive lines.

All four teams in the NFC East had offensive line issues last year. The Giants couldn't keep theirs healthy. The Cowboys couldn't seal off the right side. The Eagles couldn't keep Michael Vick's uniform clean. The Redskins were rebuilding. Although most, if not all, of those issues are resolvable, the teams need to work to make sure they're resolved. If there's one area whose erosion can really affect the toughness, meanness and other Beast-like qualities of a team or group of teams, it's the offensive line.

To their credit, the Cowboys and Eagles at least seem to understand they need to do something. Dallas took USC tackle Tyron Smith in the first round in April and spent three of their eight total draft picks on offensive linemen -- snagging guard David Arkin in the fourth round and guard/center Bill Nagy in the seventh. Smith is the only one of the three expected to start in 2011, as he's slated to be the right tackle, but depth on the O-line is never a negative.

Philadelphia needed a right guard so badly that it drafted 26-year-old former hockey player and firefighter Danny Watkins in the first round. He'll surely start at right guard, and Philadelphia picked up two more interior offensive linemen later in the draft. The Eagles still need to figure out what's going on there on the right side with Winston Justice and King Dunlap, and that tackle spot might potentially be something they address in free agency. With a left-handed quarterback, right tackle is to the Eagles what left tackle is to most other teams -- the protector of the "blind side."

Washington used only one pick this year on an offensive lineman, and it was a seventh-rounder. But the Redskins spent the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft on left tackle Trent Williams, who looks as if he'll be a star at that spot, and they're piecing things together across the middle. They will need to address right tackle if they lose both Jammal Brown and Stephon Heyer in free agency, but the Redskins are in rebuilding mode. At least they have the franchise left tackle in place.

The Giants ... sigh. The Giants could have used offensive line help in the draft. But these are stubborn people who don't believe in drafting for need. They used their first-rounder on a cornerback, even though they already had plenty of those. The "value" of Prince Amukamara that late in the round was too much for the Giants to pass up, so they didn't end up taking a lineman until the fourth round, and they didn't bother taking another one after that. Now, if healthy, the Giants' offensive line is the best one in the division. But the five projected starters have an average age of 31.6. Shaun O'Hara missed 10 games and David Diehl missed four last year as the fates practically screamed at the Giants about the value of depth on the O-line. Injury and age on the line didn't sink the Giants' season per se, but they reared their heads and offered a warning. So far the Giants have yet to show they heard it.

The success of the teams in the NFC East -- this year and in the years to come -- will depend largely on the ways in which the four teams address the issues bubbling up across their offensive lines. I believe the division could have three playoff-caliber teams in 2011. The Redskins are doing some nice things but still have a long way to go and, currently, no quarterback to take them there. The other three teams have skill-position talent spilling out of their ears, but holes along the line can keep even the most skilled players from making the highlight-reel plays for which they're paid. Offensive line play was one reason the NFC East looked a little meeker than usual in 2010. It may be the key to "The Beast" regaining its teeth.