NFC East: Champs, rivals have heavy holes to fill

The second in a series on division needs leading up to the April 26-27 NFL Draft

The NFC wasn't the better conference last season, but it did have the best team. That would be the New York Giants, who overcame the odds as well as the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Will Michael Strahan play another season? It could create another big void on D. (Getty Images)

That victory makes them the club to beat in 2008, but defending the title will be difficult -- especially with the losses of starters Gibril Wilson, Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor.

Of course, that's where the draft comes in. This month's needs become next month's draft picks, and here's what the Giants can expect:

N.Y. Giants

The skinny: They lost three defensive starters and subtract a fourth if Michael Strahan retires. So this is a Super Bowl champion with holes that free agents couldn't fill. The Giants signed only one from another club, veteran safety Sammy Knight, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. They followed the same script a year ago, and look where it got them.

Primary need: Offensive tackle. Dave Diehl did a nice job at left tackle a year ago, but let's be honest: He's a guard.

Secondary needs: Linebacker, cornerback, a defensive lineman and another wide receiver.

Possible targets: With the last pick of the first round, the Giants might be forced to take the third or fourth player at a position. Tackle Jeff Otah is a possibility, so is someone like Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws or Auburn's Quentin Groves.

Summary: The Giants should take a shot at a defensive lineman or cornerback early, then go for a tackle in the second round. The position is deep, which means there are plenty to go around. It also means the best value at the 31st spot might be on the defensive side of the ball.

Dallas Cowboys

The skinny: Another year, another disappointment. The Cowboys aren't far from reaching the top, but they had better figure out how to avoid the late-season swoon. If they don't, you can bank on Wade Phillips riding off into the sunset and Jason Garrett taking over. Phillips' job is to get this club to the playoffs again, and that won't happen unless he finds help for an offense that fizzled down the stretch.

Primary need: A wide receiver. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are both 34.