NJAM Editorial

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By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

With the NFL offseason officially in the books and all eyes focused on training camp, and the preseason which gets underway in earnest in late July, this brief lull in the schedule gives a chance to take stock of how the talent stacks up in the NFC East between the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington.

The NFC East is expected to once again be one of the most competitive divisions in football after the Eagles continued to load up on talent, the Giants added dynamic playmakers on both sides of the football, and Washington made a big splash at quarterback.

Today, the position-by-position rankings continue at safety:

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#Redskins sign safety Deshazor Everett to a multi-year deal. pic.twitter.com/6XWXpf2c6K — Redskins SPORTalk (@SPORTalkSkins) March 7, 2018

8) Deshazor Everett - Washington

2017 Stats: 62 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble.

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In Everett's first season as a full-time starter, he flashed the same physicality as a violent hitter at safety that he previously had been on special teams for Washington.

If Everett can build on his solid 2017 season, Washington's defense could take a big leap forward, particularly in the secondary.

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Ranking NFC East DEs: How do Brandon Graham, Dalvin Tomlinson stack up?

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Marcio Jose Sanchez | AP Photo

7) Xavier Woods - Dallas Cowboys

2017 Stats: 42 tackles, 1 interception

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Xavier Woods burst onto the scene, wrangling the starting safety job by year's end of his rookie season in 2017, and looks to improve from there in 2018.

Woods thrives playing deep coverage in center field, but is versatile enough to drop into the slot when called upon.

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Vincent Carchietta | USA TODAY Sports

6) Andrew Adams - Giants

2017 Stats: 34 tackles

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Adams was relegated largely to a special teams role last season under the previous coaching staff after losing the starting safety job to Darian Thompson.

With Landon Collins limited this spring while recovering from offseason forearm surgery, Adams saw extra practice reps -- along with Thompson -- and could build a strong case to regain the starting job due in large part to his tremendous cover skills which complement Collins' physicality.

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Bill Streicher | USA TODAY Sports

5) Rodney McLeod - Eagles

2017 Stats: 50 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, 6 pass breakups in 14 games.

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McLeod is a savvy and versatile safety who is equally effective playing deep in coverage, as he is delivering punishing hits up near the line of scrimmage as a box-safety.

A mainstay in the Eagles' secondary, McLeod isn't just entrenched as a starter, but his growing voice as a leader in the locker room makes him one of the most vital players on the roster.

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Alex Brandon | AP Photo

4) D.J. Swearinger - Washington

2017 Stats: 79 tackles, 4 interceptions, .5 sack

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Swearinger is a versatile and physical safety who plays a dominant brand of football at times, in the middle of Washington's defense.

Thanks to solid field vision and instincts, Swearinger frequently finds himself around the ball and in a position to make the tackle in the running game, and is also solid in coverage both when it comes to interceptions and batting down passes.

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Saquon Barkley opens up about relationship with Odell Beckham

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James D. Smith

3) Jeff Heath - Dallas Cowboys

2017 Stats: 71 tackles, 3 interceptions.

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The Cowboys could still pull off a trade for Seahawks' All-Pro Earl Thomas, but outside of a deal before the regular season begins, Heath will once again anchor Dallas' secondary.

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Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com

2) Malcolm Jenkins - Eagles

2017 Stats: 76 tackles, 1.0 sack, 2 interceptions.

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Malcolm Jenkins didn't just deliver the knockout blow to New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks in the early stages of the Eagles' victory in Super Bowl LII, he is the catalyst of the defense and one of the team's most respected locker room leaders, as well.

Jenkins thrives both in deep coverage, as well as when asked to drop into the slot and play nickel cornerback. A two-time Super Bowl champion, Jenkins has been to two Pro Bowls and collected first-team All-Pro honors in 2015.

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1) Landon Collins - Giants

2017 Stats: 104 tackles, 2 interceptions.

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Landon Collins is one of the more physical safeties in the league, but he is by no means on dimensional.

Since being chosen in the second-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Collins has improved on his coverage skills coming out of Alabama, but his physicality allows the Giants to weaponize him all over the field. New defensive coordinator James Bettcher has hinted at using Collins at times in a hybrid linebacker role up near the line of scrimmage as a blitzer and against the run.

A case can be made that Collins isn't just the top safety in the division, but arguably the most talented player on the Giants' roster.

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Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL