The single most tumultuous day on the league calendar has arrived: free agency. As the building blocks of aspiring champions fall into place, players must weigh their values on what is most important; winning a Super Bowl, or financial security. In most cases, players much only choose one. 

Regarding the NFC East, three of the four franchises have money to play with on what each team thinks is the correct road to the hallowed land of championship glory. In this scenario the Dallas Cowboys are your prototypical street beggar with only slightly over $300,000 of cap room.

This situation may lead them to release their defensive face of franchise Demarcus Ware should he elect not to take a pay cut from his $12 million salary in 2014.  In much better shape than Dallas financially is Washington with $17 million to play with, though without a long-term deal for Brian Orakpo over $11 million of those dollars will go to the dangerous outside-linebacker.

Next up on the spending list is the New York Giants who boast $19 million in cap space, but need to fill some holes on defense especially the one left by the departure of starting free safety Stevie Brown. Finally the Philadelphia Eagles enter free agency with $29.1 million to spend, and the future of DeSean Jackson in doubt. The Eagles could be major players in free agency, but what of the rest of the division? 

Should Demarcus Ware elect to enter the free agent market, Dallas’ defensive line will be in shambles and the team will have little financial backing to find a solution. With less than a million in cap space currently, expect Dallas to focus on the draft and be largely dormant during the free agency period. A potential Ware-replacement could be Broncos’ outside backer Wesley Woodyard though some cash would have to be moved around to finalize this potential marriage. 

The New York Giants have owned the big apple over the last decade winning two Super Bowls. But after losing three major players to free agency: Hakeem Nicks Linval Joseph and the aforementioned Brown, the Giants have some spending to do and the money to do it. New York is very focused on signing linebacker Jon Beason who provided a spark to an otherwise lackluster defense down the stretch in 2013. Another name reportedly targeted by the Giants in former Packers’ tight end Andrew Quarless who is a solid aerial threat but is also an excellent run blocker. The Giants are also expected to let Justin Tuck Brandon Myers and Andre Brown walk. 

Its always sunny in Philadelphia, but what of our nation’s capital? The Redskins have some money to play with, but more holes on defense than Vladamir Putin’s alibi for invading Crimea. Linebacker Perry Riley was an important piece of  Washington’s front-seven a year ago, but do not expect the Redskins to bankrupt themselves over him.

It does appear that Robert Griffin III will get some help as it was reported that Andre Roberts will likely sign with the team, giving the Redskins’ offense a viable slot-weapon. However, Washington also needs major help in a secondary that was ranked near the bottom of the league in every statistical category. The team is reportedly pursuing top-safety Jairus Byrd as well as Carolina Panthers safety Mike Mitchell and New England Patriots’ corner Aqib Talib. Any of these three would be a major signing for an ailing unit, while Byrd or Talib would transform this putrid group overnight. 

Now for the team with the most to spend and the least to lose. Philadelphia’s focus must be on the defensive side of the ball, and rumors have liked the Eagles to Byrd and Mitchell, but not Browns’ safety T.J. Ward.  The Birds need a pass rusher, and while Lamarr Houston may be out of the team’s price-range expect the Eagles to make a play for the former Oakland Raider.

Also on the table is cornerback Corey Graham though I’m not so sure he would be a major upgrade over what Philadelphia already has at corner. The Eagles must make a play for an edge rusher either in free agency or the draft, as well as find a starter at safety in both areas. Two other options to fill out the Eagles’ secondary would be Nolan Carroll or the soon to be released Darrelle Revis. Revis would cost a pretty penny, but could take the Eagles defense to the next level. As for Carroll, the former Dolphins’ corner would likely command starter money, which would mean either the departure of Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher as Brandon Boykin is not going anywhere. 

Free agency begins at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, and the scope of the NFC East will change dramatically as all four franchises must look to improve after an unimpressive 2013 (not looking at you Philadelphia). Whatever happens, expect major moves to be made as four teams scramble to claim their spot as beast of the NFC East.