The NFC East feels like it still belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles, but the remaining trio no doubt smells blood.
The Bird’s still the word in the NFC East. But the Cowboys are drawing, the Giants are stomping, and the Commanders are on the warpath.
Traditionally viewed as one of the NFL’s most tumultuous and dangerous divisions, the NFC East garnered such a reputation with its preference for parity. Following a four-year run of Philadelphia Eagles exclusivity toward the top of the new century (2001-04), each of the division’s four rivals took turns with the division title over the next 19 years.
The Dallas Cowboys won seven such titles, barely besting the six taken by Philadelphia. Behind them, the New York Giants and Washington Redskins/Football Team won three each before the latter’s official transformation into the Commanders. Glory proved fleeting in each instance, as no team won the division and the automatic home playoff game that comes with it in consecutive seasons.
That run officially ended last year as the Eagles, defending champions of both the East and the Super Bowl, handily clinched the quartet by four in the win column over Dallas. The Eagles, however, lacked the dominance prominently on display in their Lombardi lift, going 3-4 in their final seven before a first-round exit at the hands of San Francisco.
Such struggles ignited an offseason frenzy that got the outliers believing and send several talents from abroad into the division. These newcomers consist of both the rookie, veteran, and coaching variety alike and could well pose a threat to the Eagles’ dominance. Philadelphia was hardly lazy itself, making several changes in both the coaching directory and the depth chart as it seeks re-entry into the NFL penthouse.
With training camp officially filling up, TeamFB7 previews the road ahead for each beast of the East …
Dallas Cowboys: Will Defense Doom Dallas Again?
On paper, the Cowboys are built perfectly to contend in the modern NFL that worships a deity known as fantasy football.
An 11th season of Dak Prescott under center is the type of stability his peers would give their left arm for. CeeDee Lamb remains one of the league’s top playmakers while the Cowboys were able to retain their breakout yardage-gainers (George Pickens, Javonte Williams) with minimal drama.
But the Doomsday Defense lived up to its name in the worst way possible: for all the blustering on how it was necessary, Dallas never fully recovered from the Micah Parsons trade with the Green Bay Packers, one that instantly decimated pressure rates.
Rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku did what he could to stem the bleeding while an in-season trade for Quinnen Williams slightly beautified the final results but that did little to stop a league-worst passing defense that let up 4,276 yards and 34 touchdowns. If Cowboy opponents formed one quarterback, they would’ve ranked fifth and second in those departments respectively.
Amid re-upping with familiar faces, Dallas got to work on defense: for just the fourth time in the last two decades, the Cowboys used their opening draft picks on defenders. Landing Ohio State ball hawk Caleb Downs at 11th overall was widely viewed as one of the top value picks of the draft before they addressed the edge with UCF’s Malachi Lawrence.
EARLIER TODAY: CALEB DOWNS ALREADY MAKING PLAYS IN CAMP PICKING OFF DAK 👀 pic.twitter.com/yxwfVCUBRL
— FergSZN (@FergSZN) May 24, 2026
On the veteran front, Dallas got the Green Bay Packers back on the horn to obtain Rashan Gary, a de facto consolation prize after a ploy for Maxx Crosby proved futile. Gary tied with Parsons for the Packers’ lead in quarterback knockdowns with 12 and had 7.5 sacks. No one returning defender on Dallas had more than 10 and 5.5 in the respective categories.
Gary is one of several potential new faces atop the Dallas depth chart: he and fellow trade arrival Dee Winters are among the linebackers while Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson are in the secondary next to incumbent DaRon Bland, whose trying debut on a four-year extension was marred by injuries and inconsistency.
Despite a seven-win season that proved draining physically and emotionally, Dallas rallied around first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer to build some sort of foundation. Training camp will be a perfect opportunity to do the same with new defensive boss Christian Parker, whose traveling road show has introduced the NFL to some of its finest aerial defenders. Parker’s previous work includes the maturation of Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain II in Denver and the Super Bowl endeavors of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell in Philadelphia.
New York Giants: Is New York Grooving Again?
The blurred lines between the Giants and their cursed green counterparts has gotten thinner with each passing year: since their epic victory in Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants have earned only 84 more, the fourth-fewest in football ahead of only the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and, of course, the New York Jets.
But, for the first time in a literal blue moon, there’s a legitimate, sustainable plan to make things right in New York New Jersey, starting with the hiring of head coach John Harbaugh. His schtick may have worn thin after 18 seasons in Baltimore but he’s a godsend for a Giants franchise that has tried everything from interior fixes (Ben McAdoo) to supposed gurus (Pat Shurmur, Brian Daboll) since Tom Coughlin stepped down in 2016.
The feeling of metropolitan rejuvenation is only exacerbated by the newly-formed offensive triumvirate of Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, and Cam Skattebo, which has already captured Big Blue hearts despite their limited time together. If this group shares time together during its three-game exhibition slate, it should make for some of the most anticipated snaps of the preseason.
“The one thing I love about Jaxson is, Jaxson wants to be the best. He really does.”
— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) April 7, 2026
– Matt Nagy on Jaxson Dart pic.twitter.com/4EXZCvxvg3
While remaining relatively inconspicuous on the free agency front this year, the Giants hinted at a light speed approach toward introducing Harbaugh’s playbook by signing several former Ravens: Isaiah Likely and Patrick Ricard should be able to make impressions from the get-go while Daniel Faalele should be a solid mentor for 10th overall pick Francis Mauigoa.
Miami’s Mauigoa, set to switch from tackle to guard, is one of the most prominent signs of regained metropolitan swagger, one that was able to bid farewell to the formidable-yet-pricey Dexter Lawrence. The Giants will also use training camp to debut fifth overall pick Arvell Reese, set to join 2025 top three selection Abdul Carter in the realm of defensive redemption.
The Raven regime won’t be the only old bit that’s new again at Giants camp, as former blue legend Odell Beckham Jr. will like wise touch the field for New York. If there was ever a time to play around with the past, this was probably it: back in the game after a year away, Beckham won’t be expected to pull the Giants’ offense fully out of the muck but can rather serve as a safety blanket for a burgeoning group.
Beckham’s battle to make the roster, in fact, should be one of the more intriguing stories that rise out of West Virginia, where the Giants are holding camp while their East Rutherford facility is upgraded. Granted new life despite the regime change, general manager Joe Schoen united with Harbaugh to bring in a hodgepodge of experienced receivers. Calvin Austin should take over the slot while Braxton Berrios, Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and rookie Malachi Fields also occupy roster spots.
Philadelphia Eagles: Will Newcomers Kick Super Hangover?
Let’s be clear: Philadelphia is home to football’s most prominent first-world problem. The league’s strugglers would kill to face their predicament, one where they’ve appeared in three Super Bowls in the past decade, winning two.
But the “what have you done for me lately” supremacy that social media has fostered has put the Eagles in an unexpected “prove it” here, one where the spotlight centers on successful stalwarts Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni.
Philadelphia has broken the “no repeat” monopoly in the NFC East but their compatriots no doubt smell blood after the Birds dropped four of their last seven before a San Francisco stifling in the wildcard round. The Eagles placed 18th in scoring over those last weeks and produced the third-most turnovers, including six interceptions.
Both franchise faces are facing accusations of primetime wilting. Hurts is now working without his top target AJ Brown while the ice around Sirianni cracked when the team revamped a good bit of its offensive staff, those moves headlined by swapping Kevin Patullo with Sean Mannion in the offensive coordinator’s role.
The pressure of prove it exists both on and off the sidelines: Mannion is getting his first crack with the top offensive headset after two years with the Packers while former Wisconsin protege Dontayvion Wicks is destined for his largest duties yet as the second option behind incumbent DeVonta Smith while ex-Super Bowl foe Hollywood Brown will battle first-round pick Makai Lemon for snaps in the slot.
Even the brilliance of general manager Howie Roseman will face its trials this season: the expert dealer has no doubt earned himself plenty of wiggle room but the long-gestating coda to the Brown saga produced but two draft picks, including a first-round choice that will require some patience before it arrives from New England in 2028.
Breaking: Eagles are signing two-time Pro-Bowl selection Jalen Carter to a four-year, $152 million extension worth up to $160 million, including $106 million guaranteed that now makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, per his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus.… pic.twitter.com/R8VZfbsKTy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2026
Ever the Super schemer, Roseman made his most expensive plays on defense, signing nine figures over to Jonathan Greenard after a trade with Minnesota. Front-seven men Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nolan Smith likewise earned pricey extensions, keeping a strong semblance of continuity and a potential solution for a run defense that placed 22nd last year.
Washington Commanders: Will Defense Help Recapture Fleeting Glory?
The Commanders’ department of defense went to war on the free agency front.
One year ago, Washington looked poised to reshape its narrative after a surprising NFC title game appearance. A dozen losses later, the Commanders are essentially back where they started, seeking to carve respect in one of football’s most dangerous landscapes. It’s certainly enough to put head coach Dan Quinn on the hot seat as he enters year three, as last year’s struggles rendered the long-awaited return to the final four long-forgotten.
It’d be easy to fall back on the assurance that franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels will return after enduring myriad injuries in a sluggish sophomore season but the Commanders weren’t taking any chances on the other side of the ball. After ranking at or near the bottom of almost every major defensive metric (dead last in yardage, for example), it’s hard to blame them.
guys we got him don’t worry@JayD__5 | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/IxzwFXYFS7
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 28, 2026
Talented as Daniels may be, Washington took no chances, as general manager Adam Peters and Co. went on the warpath to the tune of 10 new free agents and a premier draft pick (Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles) to work with new coordinator Daronte Jones.
Such a revamp includes Super Bowl almuni (K’Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, Charles Omenihu), former playoff foes (Amik Robertson), early draft picks seeking clarity (Odafe Oweh, Ahkello Witherspoon) and even some familiar faces (Tim Settle). In-house renovations should also get a double-edged opportunity during camp, such as last year’s second-round choice Trey Amos, set to do battle with incoming Super Bowl champ Rasul Douglas.
All that’s to wonder if Washington did enough to restock its offensive bread and butter. Of course, the Brandon Aiyuk card appears to be in their pocket but the Commanders are expecting a bounce-back year from Terry McLaurin after an injury-riddled 2025. The headlining offensive addition on the field may be tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (fresh off a career-year with Tennessee) but the Commanders also made a switch at coordinator, calling upon in-house assistant David Blough to succeed Kliff Kingsbury.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
