The NFC East might be the best division in football.
Last season, three teams made the postseason, the only division in either conference that could claim such a feat. And the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles all won at least one game, with Philadelphia reaching Super Bowl LVII.
This summer, all have reason to believe. New York returns every key member along with second-year coach Brian Daboll. Dallas added two key veterans in receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore to an already talented roster. The Eagles lost some free agents but remain loaded on both sides of the ball, while Washington has a new quarterback and offensive coordinator in Sam Howell and Eric Bieniemy, respectively.
But questions loom over each team, and we break down what to look for throughout their training camps.
Cowboys
How much does Cooks and Gilmore have left?
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The Cowboys have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, but much of those dreams will be determined by their two star newcomers.
After being underwhelming on the perimeter last year beyond receiver CeeDee Lamb, Dallas sent 2023 fifth-round and ’24 sixth-round picks to the Texans for Cooks. Last season, the well-traveled playmaker played in 13 games, catching 57 passes for 699 yards and three touchdowns, all his lowest totals since the ’19 season with the Rams.
If Cooks regains the form which saw him produce a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns the two years prior, he’ll be an enormous addition for quarterback Dan Prescott. However, turning 30 years old in September, that’s no sure thing.
As for Gilmore, the five-time Pro Bowler is still playing well at 32 years old. While he’s no longer the shutdown corner who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, he’s a solid option across from Trevon Diggs, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
If Gilmore begins feeling the impact of Father Time, Dallas has a weak spot to exploit against good passing offenses. But if Gilmore plays as he did last year with the Colts—solid if unspectacular—then Dallas could have a defense without much to attack.
Giants
Did the Giants do enough around Daniel Jones in the passing game?
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For all the talk about Jones having a renaissance last season, the reality is a quarterback who threw for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns across 16 games. To put that in perspective, those numbers would have ranked 14th and 22th respectively ... in 1995.
Looking at New York’s receiver depth chart, the Giants will be relying heavily on rookie third-round receiver Jalin Hyatt along with veterans Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard. Last season, Slayton caught 46 passes for 724 yards and two touchdowns, while Shepard was limited to only three games. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka desperately needs more from both.
This puts serious pressure on incoming tight end Darren Waller and superstar running back Saquon Barkley, who is disgruntled after being slapped with the franchise tag.
Waller has been injury plagued the past two years, playing 20 total games. His last productive season was 2020, when he caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards, earning Pro Bowl honors. Waller must regain both his health and productivity if the Giants’ offense will be anything more than Barkley once, twice and then once more again.
Eagles
Did the Eagles make the right selection in Jalen Carter?
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It’s rare when a defending conference champion has two first-round picks, let alone a top-10 choice. But that’s the scenario Philadelphia enjoyed in April, when it selected a pair of Georgia defenders in defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith.
As for Carter, he could be the difference between the Eagles winning their second Super Bowl in the past six seasons, or falling short of lofty expectations. Entering the draft, many believed Carter was the most talented player of the incoming rookie class alongside Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. after posting seven tackles for loss and three sacks in his third year with the Bulldogs.
However, after a hideous pro day in which Carter was out of shape, matched with significant off-field concerns stemming from alleged racing which tragically led to the death of two young men, the All-American became too great a risk to be drafted in the first few picks.
If coach Nick Sirianni and defensive coordinator Sean Desai can get Carter playing to his vast potential, Philadelphia might eventually see him as an upgrade from Javon Hargrave, who left in free agency after a Pro Bowl campaign.
Commanders
Does Bieniemy get the best from this offense?
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After 10 years with the Chiefs, Bieniemy is changing his surroundings. Moving over to Washington, Bieniemy is getting a much larger portion of control over his offense, coaching under defensive-minded Ron Rivera instead of an offensive wizard in Andy Reid.
Of course, that won’t be the only difference comparing Kansas City and Washington. With the Commanders, Bieniemy is inheriting an uncertain quarterback situation, as Sam Howell attempts to establish himself in his second year. Last season, Howell played only one game and was adequate against the Cowboys, throwing for 169 yards on 8.9 yards per attempt with a touchdown and interception.
If Bieniemy and Howell can establish a successful relationship, there’s reason to believe in Washington. The Commanders have a trio of talented receivers led by Terry McLaurin, who posted 77 receptions, 1,191 yards and five touchdowns in last year’s Pro Bowl season. Then there’s veteran Curtis Samuel and second-year man Jahan Dotson, who flashed potential with 523 yards and seven scores.
Ultimately, Washington needs Bieniemy’s experienced hand to guide what is a young offense. If he has success, the Commanders could challenge for a playoff spot in the middling NFC.
