The gap in the NFC East is shrinking, and Washington’s roster is making that impossible to ignore.
For years, Philadelphia has been the division’s standard-bearer. The Eagles had the deeper roster, the stronger front office voice in Howie Roseman and the kind of proven core that made them the team everyone else had to chase. Washington, meanwhile, spent much of that stretch rebuilding, leaning on younger players and still trying to define the roster under its general manager.
That picture has changed. The Eagles are still the reigning NFC East champions and only two years removed from a Super Bowl win, but the 2026 version is not the same group that set the pace in the past. Philadelphia has taken several hits, while Washington has spent the offseason adding talent on both sides of the ball.
Philadelphia’s losses are significant: WR A.J. Brown was traded to the Patriots, DE Jaelan Phillips signed with the Panthers, LB Nakobe Dean went to the Raiders, S Reed Blankenship joined the Texans and LB Josh Uche signed with the Dolphins.
There are also a handful of Eagles who are being viewed as players on the way down. RT Lane Johnson is no longer the same player, LG Landon Dickerson is dealing with chronic back issues, RB Saquon Barkley is coming off a major drop-off after his 2024 season, TE Dallas Goedert is back at 31 for what looks like his final run and K Jake Elliott has fallen sharply, making just 74% of his field goal attempts in 2025 and only 5 of 15 from 50+ yards over the last two seasons.
Then there are the players drawing the harshest criticism. QB Jalen Hurts is being labeled severely overrated, LT Jordan Mailata’s play is said to have slipped when Dickerson wasn’t beside him and EDGE Nolan Smith has been called a disappointment since being drafted in 2023.
Washington’s story is the opposite. The Commanders improved significantly over the offseason, especially on defense, while also making some offensive additions that could matter if another move comes through. The roster is not fully there yet, but the overall talent level has closed the distance to Philadelphia.
At quarterback, the edge goes to Washington. Jayden Daniels is the choice over Hurts without much debate.
Running back still belongs to Philadelphia, though the margin has narrowed. Wide receiver is a push with Brown no longer in Philly and Terry McLaurin and DeVonta Smith now serving as the top options.
Both teams have a rookie worth watching, but there isn’t enough production yet to separate them. Tight end goes to Washington, where Chig Okonkwo brings a young receiving threat and John Bates remains the best blocking tight end in the league, with Ben Sinnott offering depth if he breaks through in the new offense.
Up front, Philadelphia still gets the nod on the offensive line, but barely. Johnson’s decline, Dickerson’s health concerns and the questions around Mailata have turned what used to be a clear advantage into a tight call.
The trenches on defense tell a different story. Inside, Philadelphia still has a monster pairing in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, and that duo may be the best in the NFL. Washington is solid there, but not at that level.
On the edge, though, the Commanders have the advantage. Washington added Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Charles Omenihu and rookie Joshua Josephs, while Philadelphia lost Phillips.
Linebacker also swings to Washington after a complete overhaul. Leo Chenal and seventh-overall pick Sonny Styles are the key additions, and Styles’ upside is described as huge. That comes against a Philadelphia group that saw Zack Baun regress from his 2024 All-Pro level and Jihaad Campbell struggle as a rookie.
At cornerback, the Eagles still win the matchup. Cooper DeJean is still listed as the nickel corner, even with chatter about a move to safety, and Quinyon Mitchell has already established himself as a top-five corner. Philadelphia also added Riq Woolen, who is trying to get back to his early form.
Safety is another Washington win. The Eagles lost Blankenship and remain thin on the back end, while Washington brought in Nick Cross and has more depth with Will Harris and Quan Martin, who could be a useful piece in Daronte Jones’ new defense.
The big-picture takeaway is simple: Washington now has the edge at quarterback and has made major gains on defense, while Philadelphia still holds advantages in the trenches. The Commanders’ offensive line is trending up, the Eagles’ is trending down, and if Johnson and Dickerson can’t stay healthy, that could become a real problem for Philly’s offense.
Defensively, the Eagles still lead, but not by much. Washington’s front seven now has enough size, speed and athleticism to create problems, and with Jones calling the shots, the expectation is that the level of play should rise.
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