Cowboys vs. Eagles Roster Moves: How'd Philly 'Get Better' Than Dallas?

Critics who are judging the Cowboys roster vs. the Eagles roster while ignoring the fact that one-third of the starting Eagles lineup has left Philly? They're going to need a better method.

FRISCO - It's been said about the Dallas Cowboys. And it's been said about the Philadelphia Eagles. "The roster is loaded!'' ... and we'll not argue that. But it does seem like one facet of "Dallas vs. Philly'' when it comes to last year's teams and this year's teams is getting overlooked. ...

Dallas is viewed as "loaded'' because it is coming off a 12-5 playoff season while bringing back essentially the same starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Philly is viewed as "loaded'' because it is coming off a 14-3 playoff season ... but is viewed that way despite not bringing back the same starting lineup.

How it possible for the Eagles to lose seven starters off a Super Bowl team, saying goodbye to the bunch of them for cap reasons ... and come out better for it?

Writes NFL.com: "The changes on this Eagles' offense are cosmetic. If anything, they look better than the group that averaged 34.7 points in the playoffs.''

We suppose it would be too harsh to label that take "moronic.'' How about "possibly biased''? Or "just plain wrong''?

What did the Cowboys lose in terms of guys who would've been 2023 starters? Tight end Dalton Schultz, who signed with Houston. That's it. And we reported at the time that Dallas never made a serious bid to retain Schultz (because of the quality of his backups) and maybe never made an offer at all. Ezekiel Elliott of course, is cut. But he split time with Tony Pollard last year and would not have been a starter in 2023. And offensive lineman Connor McGovern is gone to Buffalo, but he was only a Dallas starter because the now-healthy Tyron Smith got hurt. So McGovern would be not at all a lock to start here in 2023.

So Dallas lost one starter. And the Eagles lost seven starters. And it's all "cosmetic''? Let's examine ...

The Eagles lost four leaders to free agency in their respective categories: Gone is the rushing leader Miles Sanders. Gone are the tackles leaders - both of them - in linebackers TJ Edwards and Kyzeer White. Gone is the interception leader in 
safety CJ Gardner-Johnson. And gone is the defensive snaps leader in safety Marcus Epps agreed to contract terms with the Raiders.

Imagine the Cowboys-bashing panic in the NFL streets if the Cowboys decided this year to use the draft to replace the rushing leader Tony Pollard, the tackles leaders in Jayron Kearse and Leighton Vander Esch, the interception king in Trevon Diggs and snaps-eater Donovan Wilson?

Also gone, jumping from Philly to the Niners is Javon Hargrave, the standout defensive tackle whose 11 sacks and interior pressure rank him among the NFL's best. And Gone Guy No. 7 is standout guard Isaac Seumalo.

Who is Dallas' version of Hargrave? Osa Odighizuwa? Micah Parsons? Who is Dallas' version of Seumalo? Tyler Smith? Zack Martin?

So the Cowboys leave unsigned seven starters - Pollard, Kearse, Vander Esch, Diggs, Wilson, Osa and Tyler - and NFL.com would call the subtractions "cosmetic''?

None of these seven guys were unwanted by the Eagles. Rather, Philly GM Howie Roseman opted to try to replace them with younger and more affordable players. And that might work. But it's not "cosmetic.'' (For a much smarter look at the Eagles roster realities, we recommend John McMullen's in-depth study "Succession,'' which concedes that the Eagles have a plan, yes ... but also a "what-if'' contingency plan if things blow up in their face.)

The Eagles also might make it work without other outgoing guys, like offensive lineman Andre Dillard, their first-round pick in 2019, and backup QB Gardner Minshew, and D-line stalwarts Robert Quinn, Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph ... 

Oh, and both coordinators also left for head coaching jobs. But guess what? NFL.com is listing that as an "overblown storyline.'' So just for fun, in addition to the hypothetical Cowboys losing seven starters, top assistants Dan Quinn and "Bones'' Fassel walk out the door.

Would those two coaching losses be "cosmetic'' and "overblown''?

Are the Nolan Smiths and the Nakobe Deans and the Jalen Carters and the Kelee Ringos all really going to match the production of the All-Pros and stat leaders who Philly decided it couldn't afford to keep? Maybe. But if we're judging the Cowboys roster vs. the Eagles roster using some method that ignores one-third of the starting lineup departing? We need a better method.

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