DALLAS COWBOYS (11-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 27, Oxnard, California.
LAST YEAR: Made playoffs for second time in three seasons with QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott. Dynamic young pair got big boost from midseason trade for WR Amari Cooper. Dallas went 7-1 in second half to surge to NFC East title, won wild-card game against Seattle, lost to LA Rams in divisional round. Defense found two emerging star LBs in Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch to go with pass-rushing standout DeMarcus Lawrence, who just signed big contract.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: TE Jason Witten, WR Randall Cobb, DT Trysten Hill, S George Iloka, OL Connor McGovern, RB Tony Pollard.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: WR Cole Beasley, TE Geoff Swaim, DL David Irving, LB Damien Wilson.
CAMP NEEDS: Pecking order behind two-time NFL rushing champ Elliott will be priority. Most intriguing option is speedy fourth-round pick Pollard. Travis Frederick returns after missing last season with nerve disorder, so tracking four-time Pro Bowl center's progress during camp will be important. Cowboys didn't do much in offseason to change outlook at safety, so perceived weak link in defense will be under scrutiny.
EXPECTATIONS: Super Bowl or bust? Proud franchise hasn't been since winning fifth championship nearly 25 years ago, and owner Jerry Jones badly wants to get back. Coach Jason Garrett enters final year of contract signed after 2014 season, when Dallas won just second playoff game since Super Bowl title following 1995 season. Garrett might need to lead Cowboys to first NFC championship game since then to survive, and even that might not be enough.
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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-8)
OPEN CAMP: July 24, Philadelphia.
LAST YEAR: Defending Super Bowl champions lost three-fourths of starting secondary, top two running backs and quarterback Carson Wentz to injuries, but led by Nick Foles earned wild-card berth and won playoff game in Chicago before barely falling short in New Orleans.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: WR DeSean Jackson and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, RBs Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders, DT Malik Jackson, LB Zach Brown, Ss Andrew Sendejo and Blake Countess, T Andre Dillard, QB Cody Kessler.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: QB Nick Foles, DEs Chris Long and Michael Bennett, LB Jordan Hicks, RB Jay Ajayi, WRs Golden Tate and Jordan Matthews, S Corey Graham.
CAMP NEEDS: Eagles need Wentz to prove he can stay healthy after finishing last two seasons on sideline while Foles led playoff runs. With Foles gone, unproven Nate Sudfeld opens camp as backup with veteran Kessler as insurance.
EXPECTATIONS: It's Super Bowl or bust for Eagles after winning it all for first time two years ago. If Wentz stays healthy, he has talent around to make offense dynamic. Defense has questions at linebacker but plenty of depth to be strong.
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WASHINGTON REDSKINS (7-9)
OPEN CAMP: July 25, Richmond, Virginia
LAST YEAR: Almost everything went right for Redskins on way to 6-3 record. Then injuries derailed their season. Alex Smith broke his right leg in gruesome fashion, leading to steady decline in QB play as attrition battered rest of roster. Defense that was ranked first in NFL early struggled to stop anyone. Losing six of final seven games didn't cost coach Jay Gruden his job, but put pressure on for next season.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: QBs Dwayne Haskins and Case Keenum, S Landon Collins, LB Montez Sweat, WR Terry McLaurin, OL Ereck Flowers, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: WR Jamison Crowder, OT Ty Nsekhe, LBs Zach Brown and LB Preston Smith, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
CAMP NEEDS: Get healthy and figure out who starts at QB. Redskins were so banged-up on offensive line during offseason workouts that they prioritized 7-on-7 drills. LT Trent Williams' uncertain status over contract hangs over camp. But primary focus will be on competition between Haskins, Keenum and Colt McCoy for Week 1 starter.
EXPECTATIONS: Redskins have been between 7-9 and 9-7 in Gruden's past four seasons. Anything from 6-10 to 10-6 is possible given questions at QB and uncertainty elsewhere. Playoff appearance would be Washington's first since 2015, but perhaps this is learning year for Haskins as rookie with big expectations of becoming eventual face of franchise.
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NEW YORK GIANTS (5-11)
OPEN CAMP: July 24 East Rutherford, New Jersey
LAST YEAR: Coach Pat Shurmur never had chance to succeed in his first year despite spectacular Offensive Rookie of Year season from RB Saquon Barkley. O-line was sieve and defense could not get off field. There were no big plays in crunch time. Special teams were pleasant surprise, though, with PK Aldrick Rosas making Pro Bowl in second season.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: G Kevin Zeitler, T Mike Remmers, WR Golden Tate, Ss Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea, LB Markus Golden; three first-round draft picks — QB Daniel Jones, CB DeAndre Baker, DT Dexter Lawrence.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: WR Odell Beckham Jr., Ss Landon Collins and Curtis Riley, LB Olivier Vernon, DL Kerry Wynn, CB B.W. Webb.
CAMP NEEDS: Lines are key. The O-Line is expected to have new right side with Zeitler and Remmers. It needs to protect Eli Manning after giving up 47 sacks last season, and open more holes for Barkley. D-line needs to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks; Lawrence and Golden should help. Secondary has to mesh quickly with Bethea and Peppers at safeties and Baker expected to be shutdown cornerback with Janoris Jenkins.
EXPECTATIONS: Giants have made playoffs once (2016) since winning Super Bowl in February 2012. If lines do their job and Barkley has another big year, they have outside chance. With Beckham in Cleveland, some receiver must step up and provide big plays. This is Year 2 of general manager Dave Gettleman's remake. Manning, in final year of contract, gets another chance to run show. More mobile Jones is waiting to start new era. Defense is team's weak link.
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