Eagles still soar supreme over improved field of NFC East division foes

The losses of pivotal pass rushers such as Josh Sweat and Milton Williams do not sting as they would for most any other roster leaguewide, as fast-ascending youngsters like second-year edge Jalyx Hunt and rookie Ty Robinson appear primed to more than offset the loss of veterans (Sweat, Williams, and Brandon Graham's retirement).

I also wrote a piece on Moro Ojomo a few weeks back. I think he takes another step forward as well. Bottom line: These Birds have players ready to rise atop the depth chart and rumble defensively.

This roster has also seen key offensive members locked up contract wise thru the next several years – AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, of course Jalen Hurts and Barkley are all set to don the midnight green thru the foreseeable future.

Four starters back amid a historically elite offensive line, with all the weapons for Hurts to utilize, leaves plenty of room for optimism that another big offensive campaign will be in the cards come September.

How the 2025 Eagles stack up against the rest of the NFC East

With this reality, one could argue they are actually just scratching the surfaces of their collective talent, which is certainly not easy listening music to the ears of the rest of the NFC East. I have the defending Super Bowl champions at 13-4 when this upcoming 2025-2026 regular season concludes.

I have the upstart Commanders clocking in at second for my 2025-2026 NFC East prediction. Hey, not a radical take, but Washington clearly sits a notch (or two) above the rival Cowboys and Giants.

An incredibly impressive rookie campaign was rendered by superstar Jayden Daniels, who took the league by storm while reinvigorating a proud Washington fan base.

The addition of an ever-elusive Swiss Army knife to the Nation's Capital is newsworthy. Deebo Samuel should add another layer of danger to a potent Washington offense, as Scary Terry always looms ready to make plays in that dangerous offensive unit. A few defensive moves didn't quite move the needle for me, though. Laremy Tunsil is a great move for their o-line, but is it enough to close the gap between Philly and Washington? I don't think so.

Philly’s foes in D.C. have more work to do in that area. A very talented team, regardless, I have them playoff bound when the dust settles, with a record of 11-6.

The Commanders bested Philly in a narrow regular-season win, but missing Hurts under center was massive in that one. Just as we witnessed, the Eagles, at full health, absolutely dominated Washington for four quarters in the NFC Championship. Simply put, the two teams are on different levels until proven otherwise. Can Washington truly dance with the defending Champs? Hey, time will tell. I don't see it happening this coming season.

When it comes to the Cowboys and Giants, there is a sizeable gap between these two and their counterparts in Philly and Washington. Even more work remains to be done for these two squads, and I don't see either team making the postseason this season. I do think the Giants have certainly made solid strides.

Top pick Abdul Carter out of Penn State also looks to be a lethal pass-rushing weapon to pair with the likes of Dexter Lawrence, the mercurial but pure talent of Kayvon Thibodeaux, and, of course, the vaunted Brian Burns off the edge. But lest we forget, this Giants team has a massive amount of work to do on the offensive side of things.

Promising additions such as running back Cam Skattebo and quarterback Jaxson Dart have left the Giants faithful amped up for what’s in store for that porous offense, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor will that limited Giants offense be, either. Gotta continue to build up that line, still, which seems to be an annual question mark for the G-Men.

Adding two big-name rookies provides plenty of hope, but let's temper those expectations. Leaning into rookies to upend a Super Bowl champion rival doesn't sound like a recipe for instant success. Long term, perhaps, but let's keep that in check for now, as they have to go out and earn it.

With Russell Wilson looking to be the starter, I see them posting a better record than the Cowboys; however, due to an apparent talent discrepancy on the defensive side of the ball. New York can get to the QB in a myriad of ways now, so don't sleep on their defense.

I’d put the G-Men at 8-9, as I envision their defensive unit keeping them in ball games all season long.

The Cowboys have sputtered all offseason, except for the George Pickens move at wide receiver. He's a dangerous player to account for, and yes, that's an incredibly talented duo now out wide, with Lamb lurking opposite Pickens. Javonte Williams is a solid addition, but nothing to write home about.

Is that enough to finally get them back into the postseason, or to perhaps finish second in the NFC East? I don't see it, thus I have them in the cellar of the division this season. More on them later, but this has long been an issue with owner Jerry Jones meddling in all things Cowboys personnel. That defense needs help.

The Eagles have a strong, young secondary to match up with, while they can, and will, get to Dak with the league's youngest defense. The talent disparity on both sides of the ball is tangible, if not just flagrantly, a significant advantage for the Birds.

I sense a look at Joe Milton will soon be in store in Big D, as the moves of Jerry Jones have once more left them with question marks galore. Dak could use a change in locale himself. I think Prescott deserves a new start, and I don't see them doing damage in the NFC East at all. I clock them in with an upcoming record of 7-10 in the forthcoming campaign.

Overall, these are the dog days of summer. So much is apt to change, from a few additional free agent moves, of course, cuts, to even a trade here and there, to depth chart moves, and yes, dreaded injuries. Some rookies out there will ascend depth charts, and lord knows, in fantasy circles alone, there are always sleepers and unknown players that will shine soon enough. The unknown makes it a captivating experience for fans worldwide to follow.

Things are far from set, but my inner musings suggest this will be an actual two-team race, with the Giants appearing close to making it a three-team race a year (or two) down the line.