Our 2024 NFL division preview takes us over to the NFC East, where quarterbacks and coaches have and will likely continue to dominate the conversation. Is there life in Dallas for Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy beyond the final year of their contracts? Will the reported schism between Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni threaten to derail another season for Philadelphia? Will Daniel Jones finally prove himself in New York, or will he take Brian Daboll down with him? Will Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn hit the ground running in this bold new era in Washington? This quartet never fails to entertain, making for what should be a theatrical five months…
Dallas Cowboys
Key Arrivals: Ezekiel Elliott (RB), Eric Kendricks (LB), Mike Zimmer (DC), Tyler Guyton (OT)
Key Departures: Dan Quinn (DC), Kellen Moore (OC), Tony Pollard (RB), Tyron Smith (LT), Tyler Biadasz (C), Leighton Vander Esch (LB), Stephon Gilmore (CB)
Season Outlook: After winning 12 games for the third consecutive campaign, the Cowboys met an all-too familiar fate last January, as they were embarrassed at AT&T Stadium in a 48-32 upset at the hands of the Packers. In fact, that defeat extended their lengthy Conference Championship drought to a whopping 28 years! Rather than shake things up, (longtime Owner) Jerry Jones opted to stand pat on most fronts, though Dallas did part ways with their Offensive and Defensive Coordinators (Quinn and Moore), while bidding farewell to longtime stalwarts Smith and Vander Esch. Curiously, Jones hasn’t done a whole lot to replace them, though that can be expected when you consider the lucrative deal that is being negotiated with (All-Pro Receiver) CeeDee Lamb, who led the NFL with 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, and the upcoming free agency of (veteran Quarterback) Dak Prescott. Say what you will of Dak, but he led the league in both completions (410) and passing scores (36) a year ago, all the while serving as the trigger man for the highest-scoring offense (29.9 points per game). While Jones has recently stated that he isn’t rushing to get Lamb’s extension done, with the Wideout holding out of Training Camp, the futures of Prescott and (Head Coach) Mike McCarthy are different stories altogether. Like Lamb, both figures will also see their current contracts expire at the conclusion of the campaign, with it being an open question as to whether either will return to North Texas. Despite posting a stellar 42-25 record (.625) during their time together, Prescott and McCarthy have earned a massive amount of criticism for their repeated failings in the playoffs, with many considering it a mild miracle that the latter received a stay of execution following that dismal performance against Green Bay. Pressure is nothing new to the Cowboys, though it will nonetheless be intriguing and entertaining to see how things transpire in the upcoming months in what is for all intents and purposes a make-or-break year for Dallas, who could be looking VERY different come 2025.
New York Giants
Key Arrivals: Brian Burns (DE), Devin Singletary (RB), Malik Nabers (WR), Drew Lock (QB), Allen Robinson (WR), Jermaine Eluemunor (G), Jon Runyan Jr. (OG), David Long (CB)
Key Departures: Saquon Barkley (RB), Darren Waller (TE), Leonard Williams (DT), A’Shawn Robinson (DT), Adoree’ Jackson (CB), Xavier McKinney (S), Don Martindale (DC)
Season Outlook: Heading into their third season together, (Head Coach) Brian Daboll and (General Manager) Joe Schoen have presided over an uneven tenure with the Giants. After massively overachieving in 2022 with a 9-7-1 record and their first playoff victory since winning Super Bowl XLVI over a decade prior, New York came crashing back down to earth last Fall en route to a disappointing 6-11 finish, leaving the two decision-makers with more questions than answers. So, what in the name of Lawrence Taylor happened to Big Blue, you ask? Well, many of the old issues that had plagued the G-Men in seasons past returned to the forefront, including injuries to key positions revealing a stunning lack of depth, a porous Offensive Line that served to compound the issue and just an overall lack of playmakers on both sides of the football. As a result, there was a considerable exodus in the Meadowlands, including (former Pro-Bowl Tailback) Barkley, (oft-injured Tight End) Waller, (versatile Defensive Lineman) Williams, (starting Defensive Backs) Jackson and McKinney, along with the man who was calling the shots on that side of the football, Martindale. However, Daboll and Schoen didn’t sit on their hands, folks, as (2-time Edge-Rusher) Brian Burns arrived via trade, while the interior of the O-Line should be more stable with veterans such as Eluemunor and Runyan. With that being said, this season will likely serve as a decisive one for (veteran Quarterback) Daniel Jones, who will be counted on to finally become the franchise passer that the club envisioned when they selected him 6th overall 5 years ago. There have definitely been more lows than highs during the 27-year-old’s time with the Giants, with injuries, turnovers, and sloppy play often staining his CV. However, the persistent argument is that Jones has rarely benefitted from anything resembling a quality supporting cast, stunting his development along the way. Again, Daboll and Schoen addressed the need for playmakers selecting the promising Nabers 6th overall in last Spring’s NFL Draft in an attempt to ignite the second-worst passing attack in the league at a paltry 197.1 yards per game with only one player racking up over 552 receiving yards.
Philadelphia Eagles
Key Arrivals: Saquon Barkley (RB), Devin White (LB), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (DB), Vic Fangio (DC), Bryce Huff (Edge), Mekhi Becton (OT), Kellen Moore (OC), Quinyon Mitchell (CB)
Key Departures: D’Andre Swift (RB), Jason Kelce (C), Fletcher Cox (DT), Haason Reddick (Edge), Kevin Byard (S), Brian Johnson (OC),
Season Outlook: After coming oh, so close to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LVII, the Eagles appeared on track towards finishing what they considered unfinished business last Fall, racing out to a 10-1 record. Unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain that torrid pace, nosediving via a 1-5 stretch culminating in a 32-9 thumping at Tampa Bay on Wild Card Weekend. The Defense collapsed upon itself, while the attack became increasingly more erratic, with (2023 MVP runner-up) Jalen Hurts committing 12 more turnovers than he did in the previous campaign. Furthermore, conflict between the young Quarterback and (Head Coach) Nick Sirianni permeated throughout the latter part of the season serving as a microcosm for the Offense as a whole, unable to get on the same page. As a result, Sirianni dismissed much of his coaching staff, including Offensive and Defensive Coordinators Brian Johnson and Sean Desai (who replaced by Matt Patricia in December). Additionally, a number of players flew the coop, including Swift, Reddick, and Byard, while two of longest-standing leaders of the team, Kelce and Cox, chose to retire. However, anyone familiar with (General Manager) Howie Roseman knows that he isn’t one to sit still for long, as the birds replenished their ranks, acquiring the services of Barkley, White, Huff, Becton, and even Gardner-Johnson, who left the franchise in free agency a year ago. Furthermore, Philly got younger in their porous Secondary, selecting Mitchell (22nd overall) and Cooper DeJean (40th overall) in last Spring’s NFL Draft. Of course, the additions of Barkley and White are potentially gamechangers, with the former not long removed from a stellar campaign consisting of 1,650 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, while the latter is a former Pro-Bowler and the heart of the defense for the 2020 Super Bowl Champions. With that being said, you can argue that the most interesting additions are that of Fangio and Moore, who must be frothing at the mouth to be working with such a wealth of talent. If the former can fix the pass defense and the latter can heal the rift between Hurts and Sirianni, then these birds could very well be Super Bowl worthy again.
Washington Commanders
Key Arrivals: Dan Quinn (HC), Jayden Daniels (QB), Tyler Biadasz (C), Austin Ekeler (RB), Zach Ertz (TE), Nick Allegretti (OG), Bobby Wagner (LB), Jeremy Chinn (S)
Key Departures: Sam Howell (QB), Jacoby Brissett (QB), Curtis Samuel (WR), Logan Thomas (TE), Kendall Fuller (CB), Ron Rivera (HC), Daniel Snyder (Owner)
Season Outlook: It finally happened, folks. After three decades of largely mediocre football, it is a new day in the nation’s capital, as the Commanders embark on a brave new era out from under the grip of (former Owner) Daniel Snyder. With controversy running rampant behind the scenes and the results on the gridiron failing to inspire, enough was enough in Washington as Snyder finally sold the franchise to Josh Harris, who promptly cleaned house in the offseason and set about rebuilding the once proud organization. Incoming (General Manager) Adam Peters and (Head Coach) Dan Quinn arrived from San Francisco and Dallas respectively, looking to incorporate the successful approach from their former employers within their new charges. Quinn would in turn hire Kliff Kingsbury to run the Offense, while he himself figures to have heavy influence on the opposite side of the football. The Commanders were active in free agency, adding (Interior Linemen) Nick Allegretti and Tyler Biadasz, along with (veteran Linebacker) Bobby Wagner and (versatile Safety) Jeremy Chinn to bring some physicality to a Defense that was full of holes outside of the trenches. Oh, and with the 2nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft they selected Daniels, the Heisman winner out of LSU who could very well develop into the franchise Quarterback that Washington has been so desperate to find. Owning a powerful arm and dynamic mobility, Daniels figures to make an impact early, particularly when you consider that the Offense isn’t bereft of weapons, particularly in the Receiving Corps where (veteran Wideout) Terry McLaurin has managed to total 1,000 yards in each of the past 4 seasons despite enjoying less than stellar play from his QBs. Out from under the stench of the Snyder administration, there seems to be a legitimate plan in place for the first time in quite a while, though it remains to be seen just who quickly this new regime can translate all of that positive energy into success.