Niner Noise
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NFL: Each team’s biggest concern heading into 2018

By Peter Panacy

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Colin Jones #42 of the Carolina Panthers sacks Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in the 1st half during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Colin Jones #42 of the Carolina Panthers sacks Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in the 1st half during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 19: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys scrambles against the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 19, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 19: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys scrambles against the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 19, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys — Targets for Dak Prescott

The Cowboys have moved on from veteran wideout Dez Bryant, who has been on the decline for some time anyway. And they watched future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten retire. Outside of wide receiver Terrance Williams, who is a No. 2 option at best, Dallas won’t have a lot of playmakers for quarterback Dak Prescott through the air.

Maybe the rookie, Michael Gallup, becomes the next mid-round phenom in 2018.

New York Giants — Not Having an Heir Apparent for Eli Manning

Sure, it’s possible the cacophony of events for the Giants last year led to them being a three-win team and a complete overhaul of the front office. But the strange moves and decisions have carried over into 2018.

Namely, the G-Men elected to go with running back Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. That’s fine, and Barkley will be a great talent. But New York would have been best served by finding a long-term replacement for quarterback Eli Manning.

If the Giants can get a few more productive years out of Manning, which they believe they can, the worry isn’t as large.

But only if.

Philadelphia Eagles — Avoiding the Super Bowl Hangover

Thankfully for Eagles fans, Philadelphia doesn’t have too many worries. Sure, there’s going to be concern whether or not quarterback Carson Wentz can come back fully ready after his late ACL injury in 2017. And a number of other key players are coming back from the hurt list.

But the biggest thing to watch for will be whether or not Philly can back up its surprising run to Super Bowl glory.

Thankfully, that’s not a bad position to be in.

Washington Redskins — Wide Receiver

The whole Kirk Cousins saga in Washington came to an ugly end, and now veteran quarterback Alex Smith is the guy to take a so-so offense and match it up against an increasingly tougher NFC East division.

Smith should make the players around him better, but the Redskins still lack at wide receiver. Bringing aboard former Seattle Seahawks wideout Paul Richardson may help matters some. But he’s not a big-time difference maker.

And unless Washington is expecting underachieving receiver Josh Doctson to finally turn a page, Smith might have to go back to relying a lot on his tight ends.

This means you, Jordan Reed.