Inside: Key questions, breakout players and positions to watch in the NFC East, where the Cowboys still need a lead runner.

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NFC East Preview

Many readers thought I was overly optimistic about the Commanders last season, as my 2024 NFC East preview stated that Washington “could surprise many with a Wild Card appearance” after going 4-13 the year prior.

That’s not to brag, because I severely underestimated the Jayden Daniels effect. His Offensive Rookie of the Year award felt insufficient after he epitomized the new culture in Washington, elevating the team to a 12-5 finish, two playoff wins and an NFC Championship appearance. After the best rookie QB season in NFL history, his team’s owner even bought a Daniels rookie card for $500,000.

Our 2025 division previews continue with Daniels and the NFC East.

(All stats per TruMedia unless otherwise noted, with BetMGM’s 2025 expected regular-season win totals in parentheses.)

Eagles (11.5 wins)

Key question: Can Saquon Barkley do that again? 

The NFL couldn’t stop Barkley in 2024, but history suggests that his 436 carries in 20 total games — tied with 2014’s DeMarco Murray for the heaviest load since 2000 — might slow him in 2025. The Athletic’s Jim Ayello presents a strong case for this making Barkley the riskiest pick in fantasy football.

Position to watch: Secondary. 

Top-40 picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean could be even better as sophomores, but DC Vic Fangio lost veteran depth in the secondary after C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded, Darius Slay was released and Avonte Maddox signed with Detroit. Watch for 23-year-old Kelee Ringo, their 2023 fourth-round pick, whom beat reporter Brooks Kubena has as the favorite to start at corner opposite Mitchell.

Breakout player: DT Moro Ojomo.

DT Milton Williams left for New England, giving his Nigerian-born successor a chance to build on a strong 2024. One year after he nearly went undrafted as a seventh-round pick in 2023, Ojomo’s 31 pressures ranked fourth on the team, and his PFF grade was top-40 at the position.

Better than 2024? No, but that’s OK. 

They maintained continuity, mostly. But the Eagles lost OC Kellen Moore and eight key members of their defense, then saw their schedule difficulty increase more than any other team. (Prepare to read a lot about harder schedules today, since the NFC East has to play the stacked NFC North and AFC West, a year after getting the NFC South and AFC North.)

Is first-time offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo up to the task? Can their defense replicate last year’s success? Fair questions, but the league’s strongest roster should equal another division title.

Commanders (9.5 wins)

Key question: Can their defense keep up? 

Adding size was the offseason focus for Daniels and Washington’s defense. The latter needed it more, as the Commanders’ run defense allowed 1.93 yards before contact (fourth-most) and 4.8 yards per carry (tied for third-most). Their line needs DT Daron Payne to revert to Pro Bowl form. Early reports are promising.

Position to watch: Cornerback. 

Corners are worth a premium in a division with A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers, which is why Washington spent heavily to acquire former Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore. He was awful in last year’s brief appearance as a Commander, though he finally looks healthy after that injury-plagued 2024. He’ll pair with the winner of the CB2 role, which could be rookie Trey Amos, whom Washington considered in the first round.

Breakout player: RB Brian Robinson Jr. 

The contract-year runner stood out in minicamp, where beat reporter Ben Standig cited Robinson’s health and focus. HC Dan Quinn echoed that sentiment: “You feel his urgency and intensity. He’s really had a good offseason.” If healthy, Washington’s lead runner could recapture his early-season form (he averaged 4.6 yards per carry through Week 9). Keep an eye on rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, too, as he’s the only back who could unseat Robinson.

Better than 2024? Yes, with a catch.

Daniels was the story, but Washington’s surprising offensive line was also why this team won 12 games. That group lost starting G Sam Cosmi to an ACL injury in January, but was smartly reinforced with Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil and first-round pick RT Josh Conerly Jr. Still, their unimposing defense and tougher path — they rank behind only the Eagles for the largest year-over-year increase in schedule difficulty — is why I expect regression here.

Cowboys (7.5 wins)

Key question: What can rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer do with this offense?

The selection of Schottenheimer was uninspiring, an appropriate term for Dallas’ entire team lately. It’s been five years since he was a full-time play caller, but a healthy Dak Prescott, reliable target in Lamb, the deep threat of George Pickens and underrated Jake Ferguson offer Schottenheimer many options for a strong passing game. The problem is …

Position to watch: Running back. 

All Dallas had to do last offseason was sign one of Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs. The Cowboys instead paired Ezekiel Elliott with Rico Dowdle. Results were as expected, with the Cowboys ranking 27th in rushing yards per game (100.3). This year’s group is led by the shell of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders and fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue. A committee is on the table.

Breakout player: TE Jake Ferguson. 

Ferguson was an offensive standout at OTAs, where he and Prescott took advantage of the space created by Lamb and Pickens. After an injury-plagued 2024, the contract-year tight end could be better than his Pro Bowl 2023 (71 receptions, 761 yards and five TDs).

Better than 2024? Maybe. 

A healthier roster, improved offensive line and the deep threat of Pickens are all positives for an offense that could get to the next level. Matt Eberflus might return the defense to a strength, or at least slow the run (Dallas allowed 137.1 rush yards per game, 29th), and Micah Parsons should sign a record-setting extension. But even if everything goes right, they’ll still need a run game.

Giants (5.5 wins)

Key question: Can LT Andrew Thomas stay healthy? 

OL coach Carmen Bricillo was a bright spot in his first New York season, but any improvement he gets from this line is largely irrelevant if Thomas sits. The Giants are 3-15 in the last 18 games Thomas has missed. His last fully healthy season came in 2022, when the Giants were a surprise playoff team and PFF named Thomas the league’s most valuable offensive tackle.

Position to watch: Quarterback. A quarterback room with Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito was made for “Hard Knocks.” Wilson’s leadership is already turning heads, and this new-look room offers the highest floor they’ve had since Eli Manning retired.

The problem is their schedule, which opens with the Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs and Chargers. If Wilson — the undisputed Week 1 starter — looks competent and wins at least one of those games, he could start for all of 2025. If not, the 22-year-old Dart, who took more second-team reps than Winston this spring, could start earlier than anticipated.

Breakout … coach: OC Mike Kafka. 

The only coach in my list of breakout players, the fast-rising Kafka — recruited by Andy Reid in 2017 — was a finalist for the Saints’ head coaching gig this offseason. Kafka is expected to reclaim play-calling duties for an offense that should be different, but better, in 2025.

Better than 2024? Yes. 

This team is much improved. On paper. Their defensive line is the league’s most talented, their secondary is better after signing CB Paul Debo and S Jevon Holland, and their quarterback situation can’t be worse. But the league’s toughest schedule, based on both opponents’ winning percentage from 2024 and projected win totals for 2025, makes six wins a positive outcome here.

For more:

Extra Points

Remember when the Falcons had a successful pass rush? Neither do I.

That is one of 32 questions The Athletic’s beat writers ask in their list of lingering questions for every NFL team as summer break begins. Atlanta used three first-round picks to acquire edge rushers Jalon Walker (pick No. 15) and James Pearce Jr. (No. 26, which the Falcons traded a 2026 first to acquire), hoping to finally address their signature weakness.

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