2026 NFC East Preview

Here we are a few months away from the NFL’s 107th season and we have to start with the NFC East. Several moves have hit this division and the biggest offseason move by these 4 teams had the Eagles trading WR AJ Br0wn to the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots. In our Top Ten Quarterbacks listed for Taylor Blitz 2 reside in this division in Dak Prescott & Jalen Hurts. With a 3rd who had a berth in the 2024 NFC Championship Game in Jayden Daniels in our Nation’s Capitol, this division will field a team that will make a late run in the ’26 playoffs.

2026 NFC East Predictions:

1. Dallas Cowboys 12-5 #
2. Philadelphia Eagles 10-7 *
3. Washington Commanders 7-10
4. New York Giants 6-11

The truth of the matter is the Dallas Cowboys with Dak Prescott and  embattled wideout George Pickens will be the ringleaders of possibly the best Cowboys offense in history. CeeDee wants to bounce back from a 75 rec. 1,077 yds and only 3 TDS and wants to compete with Pickens who exploded for 93 rec. 1,459 yds 9TDs after getting his big contract. No way does he want to be upstaged by his fellow receiver. The beneficiary will be Prescott who knows just get the ball to the playmakers in 2026.

They will have to score to protect a defense that is in flux switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 where their DTs Quinnen Mitchell will be played out of position at DE with Kenny Clark on the nose. The Cowboys will play a 4-2-5 Nickle most of the time with Rashan Gary playing a DE/OLB hybrid. If Caleb Downs can be the playmaker experts expect, this defense could leap from 30th to middle of the pack defensive ratings. With an offense that can hang 35+ a game in ’26 they’ll coast to the NFC East championship.

Coming down several pegs is the bully of the East the last few years in the Eagles. Hurts is at a crossroads with his best receiver AJ Brown traded to the defending AFC Champion Patriots. They will feel that loss all season as smallish Devante Smith has to pick up the load along with 1st round selection Makai Lemon out of USC. At 5’11, 192 lbs he doesn’t have the heft to be a physical “X” up on the line as a rookie in the NFL. Not against grown men….not yet.

That is asking way too much and if they have to run routes out of bunch formations constantly it will completely strip the element of surprise as to when they’re running or read option passing.

Now out of tighter windows Jalen Hurts is to throw this lighter receiving corps open? While on his 5th OC in 6 years? With an aging offensive line and Saquon Barkley trying to bounce back from an 865 yard plummet from 2005 to 2025’s 1, 140 yard output?

This is a team in transition and they lost LB Nakobe Dean, DE Jaelan Phillips & S Reed Blankenship as a part of their defensive identity and attitude. Will DT Jordan Davis stay hungry now he has the big contract and will fellow DT Jalen Carter fully mature or hit the trade block?? Its still up in the air and even with DC Vic Fangio inhouse they will have just enough to make the playoffs but make no mistake… the 2024 season was a long time ago with several new players needing to emerge on defense. Where are the pass rushers?? They let 3 total edge rushers sign with new teams.

Washington with Jayden Daniels have a few pieces however the Commanders & Giants have completely tough roads ahead. Growing pains with young players will plague both teams as they begin 2026 with optimism with both having young quarterbacks. Will Jaxson Dart not play so reckless when he leaves the pocket? Will Malik Nabers show his leg has fully healed to resume as the Giants true #1 wideout? A lot that we won’t have answers to until we get further into camp and preseason games.

The Cowboys are going to be the class of the division and then the talk will begin anew….. what will Dak Prescott do once the playoff lights come on? If any year Prescott will lean on the talent around him to forge ahead in important games, its this one. Having signed JaVonte Williams (1,201 yds / 11TDs) to a 3 year deal he has a back he can turn to as he once did Zeke Elliott. A between the tackles runner you can turn to when the offense is anxious or in bad field position. IE…begin with some tough running in games to loosen it up for Pickens, Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson later in important games.

Dak I know you saw Sam Darnold in last year’s Super Bowl & sugar plums danced in your head… Your mission should you choose to accept it…

Thanks for reading

2026 NFC East Preview