Who is the early leader in the NFC East in 2025?

Last year at about this time, I posted my way-too-early, pre-draft prediction post for the NFC East.

As I did last year, I will mention that there are still a lot of variables in play that can, and will, change these predictions.

We have the rest of free agency, contract negotiations, and the draft in three weeks. Then we have more free agency, camps, preseason football, trades, injuries…

So many things that will change how the teams look going into the season.

We even have the possibility of the Eagles losing their gimmick play.

That’s a loss that will impact where they finish this year. Mainly because while the rest of the league has three plays to get 10 yards, the Eagles only need to get nine to avoid punting.

Last year, when I did this, most of you lost your minds.

That’s okay, some of the staff here did too. Most of them came around as it turned out I was right.

So let’s do a quick review. Here’s the predicted finish with records from that first version on April 3, 2024:

Philadelphia 11-6

Dallas 9-8

New York 6-11

Washington 5-12

Now, by the time the season started, I had downgraded Dallas to 8-9 based on how the rest of the year had played out up to the opening kickoff.

Here’s how the NFC East actually finished:

Philadelphia 14-3

Washington 12-5

Dallas 7-10

New York 3-14

Last year, I started out slightly hopeful but somewhat pessimistic. That pessimism grew as the summer passed and landed on full dread by the end of August.

So, how does 2025 look at this point?

Here’s my current prediction (subject to change as the summer plays out so do not consider this final):

Washington 12-5

Philadelphia 9-8

Dallas 7-10

New York 5-12

Tougher Opponents In 2025

As a whole, the NFC East is facing a slightly tougher slate of opponents in 2025. Thus, the overall downgrade in wins as well as the records for the top two teams.

Still, as the rosters stand now, it will be the Commanders and the Eagles duking it out for the NFC East title again this year.

Unlike last year, the Commanders will not fade down the stretch.

Even if Philadelphia keeps its garbage “Tush Push” play for another season, the Eagles will be playing teams looking to knock off the champs every single week.

Saquon Barkley will not be looking to prove a point, thus he won’t be running with the same purpose that he did last year. Assuming he avoids the injury bug and defies age.

Philadelphia won’t be as hungry and that will cost them this year.

Washington, on the other hand, is a hungry team. And they’ve already done a solid job loading up for the 2025 season.

The Commanders nearly swept the Eagles last year.

This year they’ll get the job done and that will seal the division for them.

The Bottom Feeders

Which brings us to the Dallas Cowboys. Yes, I have picked them to finish with the same record they finished with last year.

Because to be honest, they have not improved their roster.

What Dallas has done so far is fill their roster with a lot of hopium.

The Cowboys hope that some former first round picks will finally live up to their potential on a new team. They’ll almost need all of them to hit to make it pay off.

Revolutions may be built upon hope – and there is your obscure Star Wars reference for month – but hope does not build winning football teams.

The Cowboys play on the road nine times this year. Of the eight home games as of right now, I see only three wins at AT&T Stadium.

Those would be the Giants, Minnesota, and Arizona. The four road wins would be the Giants, Chicago, the Jets, and Carolina.

The Giants will remain the only reason why Dallas doesn’t hit rock bottom this year.

But this will likely be the last year the Cowboys can rely on one team to be worse than they are.

The Early Call

Basically, three weeks away from the draft, the 2025 season in the standings will look very much like 2024. Only the top two teams will flip positions.

In May, after the draft dust settles and the undrafted free agents are signed, we’ll update this prediction.

On the morning of the Cowboys’ season-opener, as was the case last year, I’ll drop my final predictions.

But as of right now? The Washington Commanders will win the NFC East in 2025.