Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the second half of an NFL game at AT&T Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Arlington. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 24-21.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs the ball against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the second half of an NFL game at AT&T Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Arlington. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 24-21.

Elías Valverde II/Staff Photographer

With training camp around the corner and the NFL news cycle largely being in a holding pattern, that means it’s ranking season.

The latest ranking came from NFL.com writer Nick Shook as he took a stab at ranking the toughest divisions in the league. With the Eagles coming off a disappointing first-round exit and the Cowboys, Giants and Commanders all coming off difficult 2025 seasons in which they missed the playoffs, how does the NFC East stack up with the seven other divisions?

According to NFL.com’s ranking, the NFC East checks in at No. 6.

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Part of the reason the East is so low on the ranking, Shook says, is the offseason turmoil in Philadelphia surrounding A.J. Brown’s exit and some “negative” vibes at the end of the season.

He says the East is the Eagles’ to lose, but “if ever there was a time for a new team to unseat the Eagles, it’s now,” which is where the Cowboys enter the conversation. Dallas’ offense was Super Bowl-worthy, but the defense was arguably the worst in football. If the Cowboys’ defensive overhaul involving new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and a lengthy list of acquisitions on that side of the ball pan out, they could be one of the NFL’s biggest surprises of 2026.

Meanwhile, Shook described the Giants as “perhaps the largest unknown commodity in the NFC” and the Commanders as a team that became an “afterthought in 2025.”

With the division favorite in Philadelphia seemingly navigating some locker room problems and some turnover on the coaching staff while the other three teams face massive questions, it seems fair to put the NFC East that low.

See NFL.com’s full ranking of the toughest divisions in the NFL below.

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1. NFC North – Bears, Packers, Lions, Vikings

2. NFC West – Rams, Seahawks, 49ers, Cardinals

3. AFC West – Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders

4. AFC North – Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Browns

5. AFC South – Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Titans

6. NFC East – Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Commanders

7. AFC East – Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, Jets

8. NFC South – Falcons, Buccaneers, Panthers, Saints