NFC East Positional Rankings: Do Giants' Quarterbacks Matter?

The New York Giants, finishing 3-14 in 2024, unsurprisingly entered the offseason as the laughing stock of the NFC East. They weren’t even joined by a collapsing Dallas Cowboys squad or the oft-mediocre Washington Commanders squad. Both were far better than the Giants in 2024, with the latter ascending to the NFC Championship Round.

For that, they have quarterback Jayden Daniels to thank. His rise from No. 2 pick to fringe-elite quarterback took the football world by storm and brought the Commanders to new heights. The years New York spent splitting or sweeping Washington may very well be over with his arrival.

Subsequently, the Giants had plenty of ground to make up this offseason and a desperate need to find short- and long-term solutions under center. To their credit, they allocated significant resources to solving those problems, signing both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston before trading up to draft Jaxson Dart in Round 1.

New York will have a new-look quarterback room in 2025. In our series of NFC East positional rankings, we’ll see if the Giants can improve their standing at the sport’s most important position.

1. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels

Perhaps it’s ambitious to place Daniels above Prescott after just one season, but no passer has quickly changed his team’s fortunes like Washington’s star since Joe Burrow. Daniels surpassed every expectation on the way to a historic rookie season, and it wasn’t particularly unsustainable, either.

Daniels is a responsible passer with elite athleticism and the deep ball to match, without the intangible questions of the division’s other dual-threat quarterback. He’s a game-changing star and the new bar for NFC quarterbacking.

2. Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott

Prescott has long proven himself as a top-10 quarterback, and Giants fans have grown used to his semi-seasonal stompings. The team around him has deteriorated in recent years, but a healthy Dallas passing offense will always pose a threat. As one of the league’s smartest quarterbacks pre- and post-snap, Prescott should continue to keep the Cowboys competitive.

3. Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Hurts

Hurts may not be the elite passer his resume suggests, but there’s something to be said about his ability to consistently improve and the problems he poses for defenses with his mobility and downfield accuracy.

His hesitancy to test the middle of the field is an issue, but Philadelphia can clearly win despite that limitation. Hurts cannot be divorced from his elite supporting cast, but he doesn’t need to be disparaged because of it.

4. New York Giants – Russell Wilson

Wilson is (easily) the worst starting quarterback in this division. That doesn’t mean there isn’t some good football ahead of him, or that New York didn’t find a massive upgrade at the sport’s most important position. Wilson should have a real impact on the Giants’ competence in 2025, allowing the defense to win games that were otherwise lost a season ago.

Still, without real upside, Wilson projects as a below-average starter commandeering a decent supporting cast. Keeping up with more talented offenses will remain a challenge.

Wilson’s arrival shouldn’t be discouraging. He allows New York to at least masquerade as a Wild Card contender before handing the keys to Jaxson Dart. For once, the rest of the roster will have a passer who allows them to be evaluated for their true talent, even if the playoffs remain a longshot.