After months of waiting, the NFL preseason is finally upon us. The Hall of Fame Game is in the rearview mirror and now, the NFC East gears up to play this weekend.

The Philadelphia Eagles will get the first crack at it on Thursday, and the Washington Commanders will follow suit Friday. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will play Saturday.

As usual, it’s important to remember the preseason isn’t about wins and losses but about player evaluation. This is the time of year where fans can learn a little more about their favorite team. That’s why, below, our NFC East writers offer their thoughts on the top player to watch during the preseason for each team they cover. Let’s dive in.

New York Giants: QB Jaxson Dart

Joe DeLeone: Whenever a team spends a first-round pick on a quarterback, that player always draws the most attention from a fan base in preseason games. New York Giants fans are praying that Jaxson Dart is the future of their franchise. A promising start to his NFL career will not only spark hope that the franchise is on the right path, but also could be early momentum for Dart.

Rookie quarterbacks should be graded on a curve, but against what will likely be mostly backups, seeing him be decisive and accurate is what fans should focus on. Dart has flashed the tools in training camp to be a dynamic playmaker as a starter. We don’t need to see Dart light up the box score or be mistake-free. However, having some flashy plays under pressure and on the run is enough to feel secure that there is a foundation to work with.

Philadelphia Eagles: RB Will Shipley

Kelsey Kramer: The Eagles have hinted that they are set to lean on Saquon Barkley again this fall but who comes after him on the depth chart is still up in the air. That said, second-year back Will Shipley is one Philly player to watch during preseason as he battles A.J. Dillon for the RB2 job.

Shipley didn’t get much action as a rookie, playing just 65 offensive snaps in the regular season and 10 during the Eagles’ playoff run. He wrapped up 2024 logging 34 rushes for 159 yards and another four catches for 35 yards. He also played 244 special teams snaps and recorded six special teams tackles.

His ability to contribute in more ways than one already makes him an impact player and a lock on the 53-man roster, but now it’s time to see where he falls into place behind Barkley.

Dallas Cowboys: RB Jaydon Blue

Mauricio Rodriguez: I could go with the easy answer here and say Joe Milton because he’s an exciting backup quarterback but I’m going with someone who could have a big impact as a fifth-round rookie: Blue has had a strong training camp, to the point of earning first-team reps in recent practices.

Though the Cowboys are expected to start Javonte Williams and/or Miles Sanders at running back, Blue is the most explosive back in the room and could see his stock go up as the season goes on. But first things first: Make a good first impression in the preseason.

Washington Commanders: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Josh Taylor: The player to watch in preseason for the Washington Commanders is seventh-round rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The hype has been real all training camp for Croskey-Merritt, and he offers speed and vision that the Commanders have been missing in the backfield. He’s currently listed as RB5 on the first unofficial depth chart, which means we will see plenty of snaps for the running back.

The NCAA didn’t allow him to play in his final season at Arizona, but he took advantage of an invite to the Shine Bowl and won the MVP of the game. His legs are fresh, and he’s ready to show what he can do. Don’t be surprised when “Bill” moves his way up to the top-3 of the depth chart and makes the final cut. It’s not a matter of if for Croskey-Merritt, but when he will get valuable snaps and rotate on the field.

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Mauricio Rodriguez