NFC East Division prediction and odds: Who will come out on top, Cowboys or Eagles?

We're about two weeks away from training camps beginning for the new NFL season. Football will be here before we know it, and in an effort to get ourselves acquainted with the NFL landscape this summer, we're launching a few NFL futures bets series, beginning with a focus on divisional futures.

We'll begin in the NFC with the NFC East. No team has repeated as NFC East champions since the Eagles did so in 2004, which suggests Dallas may not be the team to bet here.

The NFC East as a whole has the easiest schedule on paper in the entire NFL for the 2022 regular season. Combining every opponent's record from 2021 gives these four teams the four lowest opponent's win percentages for this upcoming season.

This tidbit may be better equipped for betting on a few of these teams to make the playoffs or win the NFC, but it still feels worth nothing as we dive deeper into the outlook for the NFC East.

To Win the NFC East Betting Odds

1. Dallas Cowboys (+135 DK)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (+200 FD)
3. Washington Commanders (+500 DK)
4. New York Giants (+800 DK) 

It was the Cowboys who took home the NFC East crown last year, finishing with a 12-5 record and going a clean 6-0 in the division. Dallas didn't do much with their home playoff game, losing to the San Francisco 49ers during Wild Card Weekend.

Philadelphia did a good job of beating the lesser teams on their schedule last season but often folded against superior teams and quarterbacks. Still, their 9-8 record was good enough to secure the NFC's second wild card. They were promptly taken care of with ease by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Washington finished 7-10, the same number of wins they had in 2020, a year that was embarrassingly good enough to win this division. The newly minted Commanders have a new quarterback in Carson Wentz, and may be more competitive this year with a healthier defense.

New York was last in the NFC East in 2021, finishing with a 4-13 record. The basement of this division is a room the Giants have been all too comfortable in for years now. New York cleaned house in the offseason, bringing in Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as their new coach and Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen to manage their roster.

New York Giants: What to expect

With a new regime in town, this is a crucial year for quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants did not pick up his fifth-year option, meaning it's now or never for Jones in a Giants uniform.

You can objectively make the case that Jones is the worst quarterback in the division. That certainly matters, and with a severely underperforming set of receivers at his disposal, it may be difficult for Jones to have his breakout season.

With a pair of top-ten picks, New York did well to invest in premium positions, drafting EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux and OT Evan Neal. Success starts in the trenches, and while that's an encouraging haul for the future, it won't do enough to move the needle for the Giants this season.

I for one am not touching a Giants future, and I recommend you follow suit.

Washington Commanders: What to expect

Am I allowed to use this space to laugh at this horrible name choice? Looks like I just did. Their official name has no bearing on their success (or lack thereof) on the field, but this felt worth a mention.

This season all comes down to Carson Wentz. After division rival Philly bit the bullet on a Wentz trade last offseason, his new team quickly gave up on him. Indianapolis was able to get a decent haul for their failed quarterback experiment, with Washington giving up a curious amount for their new starter.

Wentz imploded down the stretch last season, costing the Colts a playoff appearance. The once bright young star has not found his 2017 success since that year. Washington has some very nice pieces on the defensive side of the football, along with offensive weapons in Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson.

Is it enough to win the NFC East? We doubt it. If you're betting Washington to win this division, it's built on the belief that Carson Wentz gets back to the playmaker he once was.

Philadelphia Eagles: What to expect

It was a big offseason for Philadelphia. The splashiest day was of course the NFL Draft, where they took unicorn Jordan Davis at DT and traded another first for star WR AJ Brown.

Brown joins DeVonta Smith to form one of the best receiver duos in the NFL, and tack on Dallas Goedert at TE and a strong offensive line and Jalen Hurts has everything he needs to succeed.

It all comes down to Hurts. It doesn't seem like Philadelphia is convinced he's the long-term answer at quarterback, and the young passer certainly had his struggles last season. He often waited for receivers to get open instead of throwing with anticipation, and it's his potential limits that are the x-factor on Philly's 2022 year.

The defense has been reinforced with the aforementioned Davis and free agent signings Haason Reddick and James Bradberry.

The Eagles have a very strong roster, but a cloud of mystery shrouds the most important position in football.

Dallas Cowboys: What to expect

Dallas most definitely has the best QB in the NFC East with Dak Prescott, which can go a long way in a division like this. Prescott can win you games, something you can't say about the other three quarterbacks we've highlighted.

The issue with the Cowboys is a roster that has seemingly gotten much worse this offseason. Gone are receivers Amari Cooper and Cedric Wilson, and key contributors such as La'el Collins, Connor Williams and Randy Gregory will not be returning either.

There hasn't really been an addition here that excites you, with the Cowboys approach seemingly to build around the young talent they do have.

They have an extremely strong duo of receivers in CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, though the latter may not be ready in time for the start of the season. Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs are defensive playmakers that can alter the course of a game in a hurry.

Dallas has a nice team, but for us, we're not seeing the futures value on this team at +135.

Best Bet to win the NFC East

Our bet is on Philadelphia. This team has a strong group of pass-catchers, an elite offensive line, and a much-improved defense. Tack on that this young coaching staff, led by Nick Sirianni, has their first year behind them, and it's reasonable to project growth here.

The Eagles postseason hopes this season, and the franchise's future, hinge on what Jalen Hurts can do. The continuity in place, along with the weapons surrounding him, are exactly what you would hope for.

It all comes down to Hurts' arm and decision-making. We're optimistic, and at +200, it's the right value for us.

Betting: Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East (+200 FD)