Cowboys rookie earning a starting job, and Jayden Daniels accomplishes something rare for a QB, headline NFC East hot takes
The NFC East was once viewed as a bottom-feeder division in the NFL, but not anymore. Last year, for example, they had both NFC Championship teams, with the Washington Commanders taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, of course, went on to become Super Bowl champions. Add in a healthier Dallas Cowboys team and a […]
The NFC East was once viewed as a bottom-feeder division in the NFL, but not anymore.
Last year, for example, they had both NFC Championship teams, with the Washington Commanders taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, of course, went on to become Super Bowl champions. Add in a healthier Dallas Cowboys team and a New York Giants roster with intriguing young talent on both sides of the ball, and it's fair to assume the NFC East will be even stronger in 2025.
Two of our writers here at A to Z Sports, Destin Adams and Kyle Crabbs, took a close look at each of these teams and came away with some blazing hot takes. Let's see what they had to say and see if they even agree with each other.
NFC East Hot Takes
Dallas Cowboys
Hot take: Rookie Jaydon Blue takes over as the Cowboys' starting RB by Week 11 after their bye
I believe Jaydon Blue will take over as the Cowboys' starter by Week 11 for two reasons. First, I have a lot of faith in the player Blue can be at the NFL level, and second, I have very little faith in the veterans Dallas brought in this offseason. The Cowboys elected to give Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders a chance this offseason after they had failed to prove to their former teams that they can be a viable starting RB in the NFL. So why should I expect now to be the time they suddenly put it together?
I'm sure the veterans will secure the majority, if not all, of the first-team reps in training camp, but as the year progresses, I think the Cowboys' coaching staff will struggle to keep Blue on the sideline due to his explosive skill set. Long-term, they will want to add a viable brusier type of RB to pair with Blue. Right now, though, I think he is the Cowboys' most dynamic runner and will eventually get his chance to lead the room this season, and my guess is it comes no later than Week 11, following the team's bye. – Destin Adams
Buying or out on this take: I'm out, but I see the vision
Blue is a fun, electric runner. Dallas will certainly need a little bit of juice to help offset the lack of explosiveness that exists with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Phil Mafah. In that regard, Blue is certainly in a league of his own. That should set him up for unique opportunities. But in order to be a starter in the NFL, most teams look for you to show a firm grasp on the little things. That includes ball security and pass protection — two things that likely hurt him in the eyes of teams in the pre-draft process. I do buy that Blue can be this team's most productive runner, but I'm fading that he'll get the chance to seize the job this year altogether. – Kyle Crabbs
Philadelphia Eagles
Hot take: Jalen Hurts does not lead the team in rushing touchdowns for the first time since his rookie season
Saquon ALMOST got him last year! Hurts, for his part, has had double-digit rushing touchdowns in each of the last four seasons and led the team every year. But Saquon was within one score of Hurts last season, and based on what they're paying Saquon, one has to assume he'll push for 2,000 yards and nearly 400 touches again in 2025. With that kind of workload projection, I think Barkley's bad luck on the one-yard line will flip this season. Barkley was tackled on the opposing team's 1-yard line 11 times in 2024 — give a few of those to Saquon, and they're out of Hurts' touchdown count. I think the scales tip in 2025. – Kyle Crabbs
Buying or out on this take: I went back and forth, but I'm out
Saquon is amazing, and I wanted to buy this take on that alone, but, as Kyle said, he almost had more rushing touchdowns than Hurts last year, but still fell short. Barkley had one of the best seasons by an RB ever in 2024, and still wasn't able to get it done. Hurts ability to find the endzone on the ground, whether that be through the controversial tush push or by actually using his legs to make a play. Despite extensive efforts from teams around the NFL, the Tush Push is here to stay, and I think the Eagles might dial it up even more out of spite in 2025. – Destin Adams
New York Giants
Hot take: The Giants will trade two former first round picks before the trade deadline (Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux)
The Giants' decision to draft Abdul Carter shed some doubt on Thibodeaux's future with the team. After starting every game he's appeared in during the first three years of his NFL career, Thibodeaux is now set to be a rotational player for the Giants. For the Giants, having too many talented edge rushers is a great problem to have. Thibodeaux's personality, though, leads me to believe he isn't going to enter training camp with his head down, acting defeated; he's going to try to prove to the Giants that he deserves to be a starter still. However, with them investing a large contract in Brian Burns and the third overall pick in Carter, he has an uphill battle ahead. And if he indeed ends training camp outside of their starting lineup, I could see him requesting a trade out of New York.
Thibodeaux isn't the only former Giants first round pick who is entering a pivotal training camp, former tackle, now turned guard, Evan Neal will be competing to be the starting right guard. I think this move should be beneficial for his career, but it seems like his last chance to secure a role with the Giants and be part of their long-term plans. If he isn't able to beat out veteran Greg Van Roten and 2025 rookie Marcus Mbow, I could see the Giants trying to get something for Neal by trading him ahead of roster cut down day. – Destin Adams
Buying or out on this take: I'm out
Evan Neal's transition to playing offensive guard is better late than never. But with an aging Greg Van Roten and a fifth-round rookie in Marcus Mbow as the primary contenders looming at right guard, I'd be more keen to buy Neal finally finds a home and starts this year at guard, as compared to being traded. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.
As for Thibodeaux, there's no such thing as too many good pass rushers. With this being a high-pressure season for New York, I would be floored to see them move the former top-10 overall draft pick in 2025. This team needs to win. And, if things don't go well for the roster as a whole, Thibodeaux is still under contract in 2026 via his fifth-year option. I think it's too many hurdles for Destin's forecast to come to life.- Kyle Crabbs
Washington Commanders
Hot take: Jayden Daniels once again leads the team in rushing, but this time exceeds 1,000 yards on the ground
Jayden Daniels' rookie season in Washington was one to remember — but the encore has a chance to be special. Daniels will lead the Commanders into 2025 with a lot of star power at his disposal, but also with several well-regarded pass protectors added to his line. I think that will only further tempt Kliff Kingsbury to keep the football in Daniels' hands.
But there are plenty of times in which running as the quarterback is the right play, as Daniels illustrated last season when leading the team in rushing with nearly 900 yards. This year, I think he will surpass four figures, joining the likes of Mike Vick, Justin Fields, and Lamar Jackson as quarterbacks who have posted over 1,000 yards in a season.- Kyle Crabbs
Buying or out on this take: I'm out because I think it's for his own good not to accomplish this
Jayden Daniels has the rushing talent to become the fourth ever to do this, but I think he is too valuable to the Commanders for that to be the goal. He led the Commanders in rushing in 2024, and that can continue going forward without being a major issue. The amount of carries is what I'd like to see decrease.
Last year, he had 148 rushes. That was second among QBs, only trailing Jalen Hurts, who finished with 150, and we all know a good chunk of those carries were on tush push attempts, which decrease his amount of rollouts or designed QB runs. The Commanders haven't had a QB of this caliber for quite some time, and they need to do everything in their power to protect him going forward. So, while it would be cool to see him reach 1,000 yards rushing, I'm going to guess he falls short; ultimately, I think he and the Commanders will be better off because of it. – Destin Adams
