NFC East under-the-radar rookies

With training camp and the preseason underway, unheralded rookies will make strong impressions and climb depth charts. Here are four under-the-radar rookies to watch in the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys

Eric Scott Jr., cornerback (sixth round): Scott was the 20th cornerback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. After stops at Illinois State, Butler Community College and Southern Miss, Scott wasn’t invited to the Senior Bowl or the scouting combine. So he posted a video of himself doing drills on YouTube and sent the Cowboys the link.

With Trevon Diggs missing time with a toe injury, Scott is getting first-team reps in camp and has impressed defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. 

"When you see a guy wanting the moment to go compete, like, you know, I'm balling my fists up and saying, 'I ain't leaving here,' that's what I'm looking for specifically for the rookies," Quinn said, via Todd Archer of ESPN. 

Scott won’t be taking Diggs’ job anytime soon, but he’ll see the field in 2023.

New York Giants

Tre Hawkins III, cornerback (sixth round): Hawkins was taken 31 picks after the Cowboys took Scott, but the late-round cornerback from Old Dominion is also turning heads in training camp. With Adoree’ Jackson and rookie first-rounder Deonte Banks set as the team’s starting cornerbacks, Hawkins is competing with slot cornerbacks Darnay Holmes and Nick McCloud.

“He’s had a great camp,” defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said. via the team's website. “We wanted to get Tre with the ones to see how he handled that, and he’s handled that well.” 

Jackson has been equally impressed with Hawkins, saying he looks comfortable and poised. As long as the Giants continue to rotate up to six defensive backs, Hawkins could see meaningful snaps this year.

Philadelphia Eagles

Tanner McKee, quarterback (sixth round): After watching backup quarterback Gardner Minshew lose both starts in 2022, Philadelphia looked to upgrade the position for 2023. Veteran signal-caller Marcus Mariota is now Jalen Hurts' backup, and Stanford’s McKee will compete for the third string spot.

At 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, McKee is five inches taller than Hurts and eight pounds heavier than Mariota. He threw for 5,274 yards and 28 touchdowns in three years at Stanford and even though he’s considered a pocket-passer, he has experience running RPOs. NBC Sports’ Reuben Frank compares McKee’s football IQ to that of former sixth-round pick (and eight-year veteran) Nate Sudfeld and according to USA Today’s Glenn Erby, the 23-year-old has looked good enough in camp to challenge Mariota with continued strong play. 

Washington Commanders

Kazmeir Allen, wide receiver (undrafted): Allen set a national record with 72 touchdowns during his senior year of high school before winning the CIF state title in the 100-meter dash. He then gained 2,366 all-purpose yards with 12 touchdowns while playing all over the field for UCLA.

After Allen went undrafted, the Commanders were quick to bring him in. When asked about the return game during Washington’s rookie minicamp, head coach Ron Rivera spoke highly of Allen.

In the past three years, 10 players have returned a punt or a kick for the Commanders. Look for the versatile Allen to get lots of touches in preseason games and to settle in as Washington’s primary returner in 2023.