One often under-reported part of the pre-draft news cycle is the top 30 visits. These visits will allow teams to work with players and explore if they would be a good fit. Before the NFL draft, each club has a limit of 30 invites to fly in out-of-town prospects for private interviews. Local college players don’t count against this number. Kenny Pickett, who played at the University of Pittsburgh, did not count against the 30 for the Steelers.
These visits are essential for dynasty fantasy football managers. It gives a glimpse of what positions each team hopes to acquire in the draft. This information is invaluable when looking ahead to older players who may be out of a job. We can get ahead of the news cycle and trade away players who may lose value. Today we will take a look at the NFC East.
I am using this article from CBS Sports to reference the visits. Not every team has used all 30, so it would be good to check back from time to time for an up-to-date list.
NFC East
New York Giants
- QB Malik Willis (Liberty)
- QB Sam Howell (North Carolina)
- RB Brian Robinson (Alabama)
- RB Breece Hall (Iowa State)
- RB James Cook (Georgia)
- OL Ikem Ekwonu (N.C. State)
- OL Evan Neal (Alabama)
- OL Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)
- DL Travon Walker (Georgia)
- EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
- EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
- LB Jesse Luketa (Penn State)
- LB Nik Bonitto (Oklahoma)
- CB Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati)
- CB Cordale Flott (LSU)
- CB Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU)
- S Lewis Cine (Georgia)
Like the other team in the Big Apple, the Giants hold two picks in the top ten of this year’s draft. With plenty of needs across the roster, this draft class is significant for new general manager Joe Schoen. Daniel Jones is entering a crucial fourth season. As of this writing, the Giants have yet to pick up the fifth-year club option on Jones’s contract. That decision could be a tell-tale sign that the new GM may not be sold on Jones’s future in New York. However, with the right weapons placed around him, we may finally see the breakout season that many have anticipated.
An interesting note on these visits is the number of RBs on the list. Former 2018 second overall pick Saquon Barkley will be playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Injuries plagued the past two seasons for the former superstar. Rumors are swirling of a Barkley trade for more draft capital. Barkley has reported that he is ready and hungrier than ever to prove the doubters wrong, but could the Giants be preparing to draft his replacement and let Saquon walk after the 2022 season.
Washington Commanders
- S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)
- RB Brian Robinson Jr (Alabama)
- RB Breece Hall (Iowa State)
- RB Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State)
- RB Tyrion Davis-Price (LSU)
- WR Chris Olave (Ohio State)
- WR John Metchie III (Alabama)
- TE Jalen Wydermyer (Texas A&M)
- OL Abraham Lucas (Washington State)
- OL Luke Goedeke (Central Michigan)
- OL Rasheed Walker (Penn State)
- OL Spencer Burford (UTSA)
- OL Tyler Smith (Tulsa)
- DL Cameron Thomas (San Diego State)
- S Daxton Hill (Michigan)
- S Jaquan Brisker (Penn State)
The newly named Washington Commanders have been busy bringing in offensive pieces for private visits. Interestingly enough, they have met with almost all of the big-name RBs in this draft class. That is a worrying sign for the future of Antonio Gibson. It is important to remember that Gibson split time as a receiver in college. Could he possibly be changing positions this upcoming year? Or will he be splitting work as the pass-catching option out of the backfield? That role would be similar to J.D. McKissic, and Chris Thompson’s in Washington in previous seasons. Washington has also met with Chris Olave and John Metchie, who would make perfect complementary pieces to Terry McLaurin.
Philadelphia Eagles
- QB Matt Corral (Ole Miss)
- OL Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)
- OL Tyler Smith (Tulsa)
- DL Devonte Wyatt (Georgia)
- DL Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma)
- DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)
- EDGE DeAngelo Malone (Western Kentucky)
- EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
- LB Jesse Luketa (Penn State)
- CB Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati)
- CB Andrew Booth Jr. (Clemson)
- CB Marcus Jones (Houston)
Philadelphia only has one offensive name on this list, and it is a very intriguing one. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral spent some time in Philadelphia on a pre-draft visit. Could they be in the market for a new quarterback? General manager Howie Roseman has shown the ability to pull a trigger on a QB when the value falls. Jalen Hurts was a second-round selection of the 2020 draft, despite Carson Wentz being the entrenched starter who had just signed a big-money contract. If Corral were to slip to the Eagles at pick 51, we could see them make a similar move this year.
Dallas Cowboys
- RB Malik Davis (Florida)
- WR Chris Olave (Ohio State)
- WR Drake London (USC)
- WR Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
- TE Cade Otton (Washington)
- TE Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)
- OL Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan)
- OL Charles Cross (Mississippi State)
- OL Joshua Ezeudu (North Carolina)
- OL Zion Johnson (Boston College)
- OL Cam Jurgens (Nebraska)
- OL Dawson Deaton (Texas Tech)
- OL Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)
- TE Jalen Wydermyer (Texas A&M)
- TE Jelani Woods (Virginia)
- DT DeMarvin Leal (Texas A&M)
- DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)
- DT Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma)
- DE David Anenih (Houston)
- DE Luiji Vilain (Wake Forest)
- DE Myjai Sanders (Cincinnati)
- EDGE Sam Williams (Ole Miss)
- LB Devin Harper (Oklahoma State)
- LB Devin Lloyd (Utah)
- LB James Houston (Jackson State)
- LB Quay Walker (Georgia)
- CB Daron Bland (Fresno State)
- S Markquese Bell (Florida A&M)
The Dallas Cowboys have an exhaustive list of pre-draft visits out, and we can get a clear picture of how they want to attack the class this year. Bringing in players from every position indicates that Dallas is fine being flexible on draft weekend and will let value fall to them. We have seen this in the past two years with the selections of Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys are ready to fill holes all across this roster.
This year, the most projected first-round pick for Dallas has been WR Treylon Burks. Burks is an Arkansas prospect, and the ties between the Cowboys and Arkansas run deep. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones is an Arkansas alumnus and big-time donor. His grandson also played QB for the Razorbacks this past season. Burks would fit right into this offense alongside CeeDee Lamb. Michael Gallup may not be ready for week one, so this pick does make sense.
Gathering this information ahead of time will leave us fewer surprises on the draft weekend. Just because a player lands on this list doesn’t mean that team will draft them given a chance. Some of these visits may not work out, and that player may be removed from a team’s board. Other teams may have questions on their evaluation process that they need to clarify. This list should be one of many tools dynasty managers use to improve their squads this offseason.
This week, check back as we drop more top 30 lists and their potential impact. We are less than two weeks away from the NFL draft! Using this information, you might be able to get out of that aging vet before it is too late. You can find me over on Twitter at @DanT_NFL. Please give me a follow for the latest in dynasty fantasy football news and analysis. Beer recommendations and dog pictures are always welcome!
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