We move to the NFC East for this one.
NFC East Preview
Philadelphia Eagles (10.5 Wins, +125 NFC East, +900 NFC, +1700 SB)
- Coaching – HC Nick Sirianni returns, and he may be on the hot seat despite the SB win just 2 seasons ago. Sirianni has tapped Sean Mannion who was with GB for a couple of years after his playing career as the new OC. DC Vic Fangio returns, and he is what keeps this team from imploding.
- Key Departures – WR AJ Brown (traded to BUF), LB Nakobe Dean (to LVR), LB Josh Uche (to MIA), RB AJ Dillon (to CAR), LB Azeez Ojulari (to ATL). DE Jaelen Phillips (to CAR), S Reed Blankenship (to HOU), CB Adoree Jackson (unsigned)
- New Additions
- Free Agents/Trades – WR Dontayvion Wicks (trade via GB), WR Hollywood Brown (from KC), OLB Jonathan Greenard (trade via MIN), CB S Jonathan Jones (from WAS), Riq Woolen (from SEA), OLB Arnold Ebiketie (from ATL), QB Andy Dalton (traded via CAR), OG Michael Jordan (from TB), TE Johnny Mundt (from JAC),
- Draft – WR Makai Lemon (1st – USC), TE Eli Stowers (2nd – Vandy), OT Market Bell (3rd – Miami)
- Outlook – The Eagles are the most talented team in the division again, and maybe in the NFC after the Rams. The issue to me is Sirianni. I do not believe in him as a head coach. Fangio will have his defense humming, but AJ Brown’s departure will leave a hole in this team – even if he complained a lot. Wicks and Lemon need to play well at WR, and QB Jalen Hurts better find his SB form or this team may have a new head coach next year. Still, they should win this division and have the talent to be in the NFC Title Game again.
- Prediction – 12-5 – NFC East winner (3rd straight) – should be a contender
Dallas Cowboys (9.5 Wins, +200 NFC East, +1300 NFC, +2500 SB)
- Coaching – HC Brian Schottenheimer returns after a good first year. OC Klayton Adams also returns. However, DC is now Christian Parker from PHI (DB Coach). The Fangio tree has been successful, in general, so Parker may give the Boys what they need – a stable defensive presence.
- Key Departures – RB Miles Sanders (unsigned), DE Jadeveon Clowney (unsigned), DE Dante Fowler (to SEA), WR Jalen Tolbert (to MIA)
- New Additions
- Free Agents/Trades – DE Rashan Gary (trade via GB), DE Otito Ogbonnia (from LAC), LB Dee Winters (trade via SF), S Jalen Thompson (from AZ), CB Cobie Durant (from LAR), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (from PIT), S PJ Locke (from DEN), DE Jonathan Bullard (from NO)
- Draft – CB Caleb Downs (1st – Ohio State), OLB Malachi Lawrence (1st – UCF), LB Jaishawn Barham (3rd- Michigan), OT Drew Shelton (4th – Penn State), CB Devin Moore (4th – Florida), DE LT Overton (4th – Alabama), WR Anthony Smith (7th – East Carolina)
- Outlook – The Cowboys were better than I thought last year, but they still fell off late. I think they can compete for a playoff spot, but the NFC is loaded. They will need to show me something in tough matchups to get on the other side of the playoff bubble. If Dak can stay healthy, and the D can actually get consistent stops, then they have a shot. Downs should help the back end for DAL, but they need to be Top 15 to make the Boys compete.
- Prediction – 9-8 – probably a little harsh here, but they will be on the cusp of the playoffs again
New York Giants (7.5 Wins, +550 NFC East, +3000 NFC, +6600 SB)
- Coaching – There is a new sheriff in town for the G-men. The Giants pulled the top candidate in John Harbaugh, the long tenured coach in BAL. The question is: has Harbaugh lost his fastball? As the Ravens couldn’t get over the top with a top flight roster. Or will a fresh start be just what he needs a la Andy Reid? I think he will be a needed change. GM Joe Schoen may be on the way out, but for now, it is a necessary marriage. Harbaugh tapped Matt Nagy from KC to be OC – he will not have Mahomes, but maybe he can find a way to unleash QB Jaxson Dart in his 2nd year. DC is now Dennard Wilson who was in TEN for 2 years. Not a bad hire. He has some talent to work with.
- Key Departures – DT Dexter Lawrence (trade to CIN), WR Wandale Robinson (to TEN), QB Russell Wilson (retired)
- New Additions
- Free Agents/Trades – TE Isaiah Likely (from BAL), WR Calvin Austin (from PIT), WR Darnell Mooney (from ATL) WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (from KC), FB Patrick Ricard (from BAL), DE Shelby Harris (from CLE), DT DJ Reader (from DET), LB Tremaine Edmunds (from CHI), CB Greg Newsome (from JAC), DT Sam Roberts (from ATL), DE Khalid Kareem (from ATL), OT Daniel Faalele (from BAL), OG Lucas Patrick (from CIN), S Elijah Campbell (from MIA), CB Ar’Darius Washington (from BAL)
- Draft – LB Arvell Reese (1st – Ohio State), OT Francis Mauigoa (1st – Miami), CB Colton Hood (2nd – Tennessee), WR Malachi Fields (3rd – Notre Dame), LB Jack Kelly (6th – BYU), OT JC Davis (6th – Illinois)
- Outlook – This is a new look Giants team with a head coach that seems to fit in the history of good NY coaches. I believe in them. The younger Offense with Dart – WR Malik Nabers returning, Skattebo (likely returning) and Likely should be decent. However, the D should be approaching great. They have the pass rush, and the rookie Reese should be a difference maker. If they can stop the run, then they will win a lot of games. I still think they fall short of the playoffs and will need to jump the Cowboys in the division, but I think they will be a team that will compete week in and week out. I’ve already got a ticket on them to make the playoffs and will bet over the 7.5 win total.
- Prediction – 8-9 – Miss playoffs despite improvement
Washington Commanders (7.5 Wins, +500 NFC East, +3000 NFC, +6000 SB)
- Coaching – HC Dan Quinn is back after a big drop from the 2024 campaign. David Blough gets elevated to OC from Asst QB Coach for 2 years. So, the same system, but Kingsbury is out. On D, Daronte Jones comes from MIN to be the DC, as the WAS D was atrocious for 2 years. Maybe Jones learned what Flores was so good at in MIN.
- Key Departures – C Tyler Biadasz (to LAC), CB Marshon Lattimore (unsigned), CB Noah Igbinoghene (to SEA), OLB Preston Smith (unsigned), DT Eddie Goldman (unsigned), OT Lucas Niang (unsigned), WR Deebo Samuel (unsigned), LB Bobby Wagner (unsigned), DE Von Miller (unsigned), TE Zach Ertz (unsigned), RB Austin Ekeler (unsigned)
- New Additions
- Free Agents/Trades – OLB Odafe Oweh (from LAC), OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (from NE), RB Rachaad White (from TB), TE Chig Okonkwo (from TEN), DT Tim Settle (from HOU), LB Leo Chenal (from KC), S Nick Cross (from IND), CB Amik Robertson (from DET), CB Rasul Douglas (from MIA), WR Dyami Brown (from JAC), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (from LAR), DT DJ Davidson (from NYG), DE Charles Omenihu (from KC)
- Draft – LB Sonny Styles (1st – Ohio State), WR Antonio Williams (3rd – Clemson), OLB Joshua Josephs (5th – Tennessee), C Matt Gulbin (6th – Michigan State),
- Outlook – The shine of the Commanders storied 2024 season has worn off. Quinn and the front office has attempted to completely revamp the Defense, which has been poor even in the 2024 season. The rookie Sonny Styles is the best player in this draft, and he may be able to lead this new group to play better. I still do not love the balance of this team. QB Jayden Daniels will need to both stay healthy and play at an elite level again for this team to win. I have them as the 4th best team in this division as the Cowboys and Giants have made moves on them. I think they miss the playoffs again this year.
- Prediction – 5-12 – Miss playoffs – I’m probably light on their win total, but Under 7.5 seems like a good bet.
Next stop the AFC North.
Wegs