Heading into the 2022-23 NFL season, the NFC East remains one of the most enigmatic divisions in the NFL. Coming off a 12-5 record in the 2021-22 season, the Dallas Cowboys are currently the favorite to win the division for the second year in a row. However, the last time an NFC East team won back-to-back division titles was in 2004 – almost two decades ago.
Nicknamed the “NFC Least”, the division was considered one of the worst in the NFL. For years, whoever played the NFC East division champion in the playoffs was almost guaranteed to advance. But in 2021, the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles both finished the regular season with a winning record and punched a ticket to the playoffs.
Here are some notable storylines to watch in the NFC East when the 2022-23 NFL season kicks off in September.
Carson Wentz to Washington
The Commanders’ acquisition of quarterback Carson Wentz has the potential to be the most impactful offseason move in the NFC East. The former second overall pick led the Eagles to an 11-2 record in 2017 before suffering a season-ending injury. Philadelphia collapsed in the following three seasons and traded Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 in favor of Jalen Hurts.
Although Wentz wasn’t spectacular in Indianapolis, he showed improvement from his final seasons in Philadelphia. Wentz threw for over 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2021 but ultimately failed to make the playoffs after losing the last game of the season to an atrocious Jacksonville squad. A year after acquiring him, the Colts decided to move on and sent Wentz to Washington.
The newest member of the squad: @cj_wentz ?#TakeCommand pic.twitter.com/GmImaykvxf
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) March 16, 2022
Wentz’s arrival doesn’t elevate Washington into Super Bowl contention, but it improves their offensive capabilities. Taylor Heinicke proved to be a serviceable quarterback who can win some games, but Wentz provides the kind of stability Washington hasn’t seen since Kirk Cousins. Ten different quarterbacks have started for Washington since cousins left, the most of any team since 2018.
The Commanders also have a promising young group of skill position players Wentz can utilize. Assuming Terry McLaurin signs an extension before the season, he will be the most skilled receiver Wentz has been paired with. Add Logan Thomas, Antonio Gibson, Curtis Samuel, J.D. McKissic, and rookie first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the mix and Wentz is in for a treat.
Washington’s elite defense only complements their budding offensive talent. Although they underperformed in 2021 due to multiple key injuries, the defensive unit at full strength is dangerous. In 2020, Washington’s stellar defense led them to the playoffs despite having one of the worst offenses in the league.
With a reliable quarterback, talented offensive weapons, and a healthy defense, Washington now poses a real threat to their NFC East rivals.
Are the Cowboys Legit Contenders?
The hype around the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl potential has been ramping up in the past few years. However, the Cowboys haven’t had the success expected of them.
Dallas’ 12-5 record in 2021 showed how dominant they can be in the regular season. This record matched the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams and was only worse than the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, their record can be a bit deceiving. The only playoff teams Dallas defeated were the Eagles (twice) and the New England Patriots — neither team had more than 10 wins and both had a first-round exit.
Dak Prescott must be somewhat frustrated. He’s in the prime of his career and led the team to its best record since 2016. It’s win-now time for the Cowboys, yet the front office is failing to help their franchise quarterback.
Dallas sent star receiver Amari Cooper to Cleveland for a 2022 fifth-round pick and sixth-round pick swap. Cooper underperformed in 2021 due to injury and still managed to record 865 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Before the 2021-22 season, Cooper had back-to-back years with over 1,100 receiving yards. Why get rid of a reliable target for essentially nothing?
Cowboys are finalizing a trade to send WR Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2022
The 2021 Cowboys also had a top-ranked defense led by Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs and DeMarcus Lawrence. Although that core remains, Dallas let defensive end Randy Gregory walk in free agency. Gregory was a key part of the Cowboys’ defense, posting six sacks in 12 games.
With the departures of Cooper and Gregory, the Cowboys needed to make a splash in either free agency or the trade market. Yet, the only notable transactions Dallas made involved re-signing players already on the roster. How do the Cowboys expect to compete for a ring without offseason additions that improve the roster?
Jalen Hurts’ Progression
The Eagles have a good young team with a lot of question marks. The most important question for Philadelphia heading into the 2022-23 season is whether Jalen Hurts can improve as an NFL quarterback.
Hurts was nothing more than an average starting quarterback in 2021. He threw for over 3,100 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Although it’s a mediocre stat line, Hurts showed definite improvement from his rookie season.
On the other hand, Hurts possesses elite mobility at his position. His 784 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns were both league bests among quarterbacks. The problem for Hurts is that when defenses adjust to his rushing attack, he’s forced to rely on his undeveloped arm talent.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson faced the same issue and can serve as a blueprint for Hurts’ progression. Jackson struggled toward the end of his rookie season when teams began to limit his rushing attack and forced him to attempt more passes.
In his sophomore campaign, Jackson drastically improved his passing game. He threw for over 3,100 yards, rushed for over 1,000 yards, scored 43 total touchdowns, and won MVP. Jackson’s evolution into an elite dual-threat quarterback terrorized opposing defenses throughout the league and ignited one of the most dominant offensive performances in recent years.
The addition of receiver A.J. Brown gives Hurts another dangerous weapon and reduces the defensive attention on 2021 first-round pick DeVonta Smith. Last season, Smith was the only credible threat to opposing secondaries which limited Philadelphia’s offensive attack.
Let’s Do It Kinfolk!@1kalwaysopen_ pic.twitter.com/VRynCCymIH
— Jalen Hurts (@JalenHurts) April 29, 2022
Brown is a top 15 receiver in the league and opens up the field for the Eagles. If Hurts can develop as a passer, NFL defenses will have to pick their poison and hope for the best.
What About the Giants?
2022 is likely the last chance for quarterback Daniel Jones as a starter. The Giants shocked the NFL when they selected Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft. As a consensus, Giants fans didn’t seem too thrilled with the pick then, and Jones hasn’t done anything to inspire hope.
Jones had a decent rookie campaign but has been awful since. In the last two seasons, he’s thrown 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The 25-year-old also has a record of 12-25 as a starter for New York. This isn’t the type of production teams expect from a sixth overall pick.
With the 2022 draft class being exceptionally weak at the quarterback position, Jones lucked into another season to prove his worth as a starter. New York did not pick up his fifth year option, meaning he will hit free agency next offseason. If he doesn’t show improvement, it’s unlikely the Giants re-sign him, leaving him to become a backup or a potential project piece for some teams.
As expected, the @Giants are not picking up QB Daniel Jones’ fifth year option, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s plans. But if he plays well, obviously, chance to cash in with the franchise tag.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) April 28, 2022
The Giants Future
However, the Giants have the potential to regain prominence in the future if they pull off a successful rebuild. They had two top 10 picks in the 2022 draft and selected Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. Both are promising young talents that can lead a Giants rebuild.
New York also has a few valuable trade assets they can flip into draft capital or young, promising players. If the Giants decide to part ways with star running back Saquon Barkley, the assets they would receive are sure to be valuable.
Barkley is only 25-years-old and is already one of the best backs in the league. However, he’s only played in 15 games over the past two seasons and has some injury concerns. 25 is young, but the physicality required to play in the backfield tends to shorten the careers of NFL running backs. It would be mutually beneficial for both sides to move Barkley. The Giants would gain much needed assets and Barkley can help a competitive team while he’s still in his prime.
Final Thoughts and Predictions
The years of the NFC East being the laughing stock of the league are over. Dallas is widely considered a top 10 team in the NFL and will likely maintain a winning record for the next few seasons. Washington and Philadelphia both have young squads with the potential to become competitive playoff teams in the near future. And while New York is in rebuilding mode, they have the assets to turn their recent misfortune into a promising young team by the end of the decade.
In the 2022-23 season, the Cowboys will likely win the division with 10+ wins. Even if Wentz and Hurts continue to perform at the same level as last season, Washington and Philadelphia are talented enough to finish near the .500 mark and potentially sneak into the playoffs. The Giants will likely have a top 10 pick in the 2023 draft after another 3-6 win campaign in 2022.
The NFC East hasn’t seen this much potential in a long time. Whatever the outcome may be, this season is a sneak peek into how the new NFC East will compare to other teams around the league for years to come.
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