Entering 2026, the NFC East looked like a division with playoff hopes everywhere. But once John Harbaugh threw his hat in the ring, it was obvious none of the four teams was treating the year like a throwaway.
And yet, the four of them are all staring at some version of the same reality: a rebuild. The Giants may be sitting on top of the division right now, but that doesn’t mean they’re in the best place long term.
Washington has its own mess, Philadelphia is sliding into a reset, and Dallas looks like a team drifting toward a full overhaul. Here’s how the division stacks up by future outlook.
- New York Giants
The Giants have built their roster around a run of first-round picks, and that approach is starting to show real shape. Not every top pick has turned into a star - really, only Nabers has reached that level - but most of them look like players who should end up getting extensions.
When Dart comes back for the 2027 season, this team should be in position to make noise in the playoffs. The roster still has a few holes to clean up, but the Giants have managed to hit on the premium spots.
Harbaugh matters here, too. Having that kind of steadiness at head coach gives New York something the rest of the NFC East can’t claim.
- Washington Commanders
The Commanders and Eagles were very close for the No. 2 spot, but the quarterback edge pushed Washington ahead.
Daniels has had trouble staying healthy, but when he’s on the field he has played like an above-average quarterback.
The issue is everything around him. Washington has shipped out so many draft picks in recent years that the roster lacks a strong young foundation.
This offseason, the front office had to spend heavily in free agency just to patch together a workable team. On top of that, the Commanders appear to be headed toward a coaching change in the coming months.
There are too many holes here to feel great about the next few years, though the Eagles and Cowboys look even shakier.
- Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia keeps going through these mini-crashes every couple of years, but this one has a different feel. The offensive line that has propped up the team through multiple quarterback and head coach changes is starting to break down.
Hurts may not be the long-term answer when he returns, and Sirianni’s grip on the job is not secure.
Roseman still deserves trust in the big-picture sense, but the financial picture is going to take time to clean up after years of pushing money forward.
The Eagles may need to hit bottom before they can climb back.
- Dallas Cowboys
This was supposed to be Dallas’ year, just like so many others. Instead, the obvious issue showed up again: you can’t chase a championship if one side of the ball is falling apart.
The defense has been a mess. Free-agent additions, draft picks and trades all failed to come together into anything dependable.
And even with the offense producing big plays, the future there isn’t exactly stable. George Pickens looks headed for free agency, and Dak Prescott is getting closer to the final stretch of his career. Dallas may be heading toward a full reset.
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Through Week 6, Robinson has 25 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns while playing 67 percent of the offensive snaps, but his production has come with a shorter catch window and less impact after the grab. His yards per reception has dropped to 7.9, and his drop rate has climbed to a career-high 8.1 percent, a reminder that the Giants may have been more comfortable than it first appeared when they chose a different direction. [Read more 🡒]