As I will do, today I thought we should take a look at the annual build of the NFC East Champions (amazing!) Washington Redskins.
They have surely had many people building this thing, with Dan Snyder willing to try a fresh approach to everything but the team nickname. So, the color changes below indicate GM changes. We have 3 distinct eras to consider.
2010-2014 - GM Bruce Allen with both HC Mike Shanahan and then HC Jay Gruden in 2014 - in white
1999-2009 - GM Vinny Cerrito with numerous HC's - Norv Turner, Terry Robiskie, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Joe Gibbs, Jim Zorn back in Yellow.
| YEAR | DRAFT PICKS | FREE AGENTS/TRADES | UNDRAFTED COLLEGE FAs |
| 2015 (26) | G Brandon Scherff, LB Preston Smith, RB Matt Jones, WR Jamison Crowder, G Arie Kouandijo, SS Kyshoen Jarrett | DT Terrance Knighton, DE Ricky Jean-Francois, DT Stephen Paea, CB Chris Culliver, T Ty Nsekhe, TE Alex Smith, TE Marcel Jensen, RB Pierre Thomas, LB Carlos Fields, LB Mason Foster, CB Cary Williams, CB Jeremy Harris, SS Jeron Johnson, FS Dashon Goldson, CB Will Blackmon, CB DaShaun Phillips, K Dustin Hopkins | LB Houston Bates, DB Quinton Dunbar, CB DeShazor Everett |
| 2014 (13) | T Morgan Moses, LB Trent Murphy, CB Bashaud Breeland, T Spencer Long, WR Ryan Grant, | DT Jason Hatcher, WR Desean Jackson, WR Rashad Ross, QB Colt McCoy, DT Frank Kearse, P Tress Way, G Shawn Lauvao | DE Jackson Jeffcoat |
| 2013 (3) | TE Jordan Reed, RB Chris Thompson | LB Will Compton | |
| 2012 (7) | QB Robert Griffin, C Josh LeRibeus, T Tom Compton, QB Kirk Cousins, RB Alfred Morris, LB Keenan Robinson | WR Pierre Garcon | |
| 2011 (3) | LB Ryan Kerrigan, TE Niles Paul | DT Chris Baker | |
| 2010 (5) | T Trent Williams, LB Perry Riley, | C Kory Lichtensteiger, LS Nick Sundberg | TE Logan Paulsen |
| 2009 (1) | FB Darryl Young | ||
| 2008 (1) | CB DeAngelo Hall | ||
| 2007 | |||
| 2006 (1) | DE Kedric Golston | ||
| 60 | 24 | 29 | 7 |
What sticks out is this: The Redskins have 26 new players in the 1st year of their new General Manager. That is not that uncommon for a new GM, but to win a division in that same year of upheaval is really something impressive.
The other thing is that the Redskins are ok in the "Homegrown" category. History generally shows the more players you have as homegrown, the better. They are not from other organizations. They are exclusively only yours. They have not played elsewhere.
In the NFC East, the best homegrown team is Dallas at 38. They have 26 drafted and 12 undrafted free agents on their 53. That is really good.
Washington is at 31 and that number will only go up (24 + 7). The Giants are at 29 right now (22 +7) and the Eagles are last in the division after Chip Kelly's run at just 25 (20 + 5).
Obviously, all of these teams are looking for sustainability. And none of them, in the NFC East seem to have a grasp for it. The Redskins are on top right now, but they had a last place finish in 2014 and 2013. The Eagles have missed the playoffs the last 2 years. The Giants have not been to the playoffs since they won the Super Bowl in 2011. And, of course, your Cowboys have 1 playoff berth in the last 6 seasons.
So, sustainability is required to say anyone is on the right path. Therefore, the NFC East doesn't appear to have a definitive leader at the moment.
HOW THE COWBOYS WERE BUILT
HOW THE EAGLES WERE BUILT
HOW THE GIANTS WERE BUILT
The other thing is that the Redskins are ok in the "Homegrown" category. History generally shows the more players you have as homegrown, the better. They are not from other organizations. They are exclusively only yours. They have not played elsewhere.
In the NFC East, the best homegrown team is Dallas at 38. They have 26 drafted and 12 undrafted free agents on their 53. That is really good.
Washington is at 31 and that number will only go up (24 + 7). The Giants are at 29 right now (22 +7) and the Eagles are last in the division after Chip Kelly's run at just 25 (20 + 5).
Obviously, all of these teams are looking for sustainability. And none of them, in the NFC East seem to have a grasp for it. The Redskins are on top right now, but they had a last place finish in 2014 and 2013. The Eagles have missed the playoffs the last 2 years. The Giants have not been to the playoffs since they won the Super Bowl in 2011. And, of course, your Cowboys have 1 playoff berth in the last 6 seasons.
So, sustainability is required to say anyone is on the right path. Therefore, the NFC East doesn't appear to have a definitive leader at the moment.
HOW THE COWBOYS WERE BUILT
HOW THE EAGLES WERE BUILT
HOW THE GIANTS WERE BUILT
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