NFC East Offseason Grades: Grading Every Team’s 2026 Moves
So far, we’ve covered the AFC West and AFC East in our offseason review series. Today, we shift over to the NFC, starting with the NFC East.
This is a division that fell short of expectations in 2025, with every team facing its own set of questions. Dallas had one of the league’s worst defenses, and nearly every major move centered around fixing it. The Eagles made a handful of smaller additions, though a huge decision still appears to be ahead. Meanwhile, the Giants continue their rebuild under a new head coach, while the Commanders focused on getting younger and healthier.
Let’s take a look at each NFC East team’s offseason moves and see how they graded out.
Dallas Cowboys
Key Additions:
S: Caleb Downs (Round 1)
S: Jalen Thompson (Free Agency)
EDGE: Malachi Lawrence (Round 1)
EDGE: Rashan Gary (Trade)
EDGE: LT Overton (Round 4)
LB: Dee Winters (Trade)
DB: Cobie Durant (Free Agency)
Key Departures:
WR: Jalen Tolbert (Dolphins)
EDGE: Dante Fowler (Seahawks)
EDGE: Jadeveon Clowney (Current Free Agent)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (Traded to 49ers)
LB: Logan Wilson (Retired)
LB: Kenneth Murray (Current Free Agent)
The Cowboys were expected to be major players in free agency this year, but whether those expectations were overblown or Dallas simply failed to land its preferred targets, the signings ended up being fairly limited.
With Cobie Durant looking like the only clear projected starter added in free agency, Dallas has to be asking whether its approach this offseason was the right one.
The draft and trade market, however, were much more active for the Cowboys. While Dallas was heavily connected to Maxx Crosby before the Baltimore drama unfolded, it ultimately made a less headline-grabbing move by acquiring Rashan Gary from Green Bay.
It’s a somewhat strange full-circle move after Dallas sent Micah Parsons to the Packers last year. One has to wonder whether Gary could have simply been included in that original deal.
The Cowboys obviously wanted to reinforce the edge rush after losing Dante Fowler and moving on from Jadeveon Clowney. Gary provides an immediate answer, while Malachi Lawrence was viewed by many as a reach in the first round and LT Overton is more of a developmental gamble. The overall direction still feels somewhat murky.
The move that can’t really be debated is landing Caleb Downs in the first round. Arguably the top talent in the draft, Downs slid outside the top 10 because of positional value concerns. Dallas landed outstanding talent at No. 11, grabbing a blue-chip defensive prospect in the mold of Colts great Bob Sanders.
While Downs looks like a home run selection, there are still more questions than answers as Dallas enters 2026.
Grade: C+
New York Giants
Key Additions:
HC: John Harbaugh
OT/OG: Francis Mauigoa (Round 1)
WR: Malachi Fields (Round 3)
LB: Arvell Reese (Round 1)
LB: Tremaine Edmunds (Free Agency)
DT: D.J. Reader (Free Agency)
CB: Colton Hood (Round 2)
Key Departures:
QB: Russell Wilson (Current Free Agent/Future TV Analyst)
WR: Wan’Dale Robinson (Titans)
K: Graham Gano (Current Free Agent)
HC: Brian Daboll
NT: Dexter Lawrence (Traded to Bengals)
LB: Bobby Okereke (Current Free Agent)
CB: Cordale Flott (Titans)
Russell Wilson is gone, Jaxson Dart is the No. 1 guy, and John Harbaugh is now steering the ship in the Big Apple. None of that would have made much sense 12 months ago.
The Giants used this offseason to completely reset the direction of the franchise, and the changes came quickly. Brian Daboll was fired and later landed in Tennessee as Robert Saleh’s offensive coordinator, with Wan’Dale Robinson and Cordale Flott eventually following him to the Titans.
New York’s roster has undergone major changes under Harbaugh, with the biggest being the trade that sent franchise nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati.
Despite that move, the Giants had a strong draft. They landed Arvell Reese at No. 5, then used the Bengals’ pick to add Francis Mauigoa, who should start immediately on the O-line. The Giants will try to replace Lawrence with D.J. Reader, though Reader profiles more as a traditional run-stuffing nose tackle and does not offer the same pass-rush impact.
The draft class was strong and free agency felt measured, but the Harbaugh hire still stands out as the defining move of the offseason. New York fully believes he can help accelerate the rebuild.
Grade: B
Philadelphia Eagles
Key Additions:
WR: Dontayvion Wicks (Trade)
WR: Makai Lemon (Round 1)
TE: Eli Stowers (Round 2)
WR: Hollywood Brown (Free Agency)
CB: Riq Woolen (Free Agency)
EDGE: Jonathan Greenard (Trade)
Key Departures:
WR: AJ Brown (unconfirmed, expected to be traded post-June 1st)
EDGE: Jaelen Phillips (Panthers)
EDGE: Joshua Uche (Dolphins)
LB: Nakobe Dean (Raiders)
S: Reed Blankenship (Texans)
The Eagles had one of their quieter offseasons in recent years, which was somewhat surprising considering the issues the team dealt with in 2025.
Some important re-signings, including Jordan Davis and Dallas Goedert, stand out as the most impactful moves so far. Philadelphia managed to retain two of its more productive free agents while giving Nick Sirianni another opportunity to get a talented roster back on track.
The biggest move, however, still appears to be ahead. Rumors surrounding an AJ Brown trade have circulated for months. Brown’s frustrations with the Eagles’ offense and Jalen Hurts were widely reported throughout the season, and all signs continue to point toward a post-June 1st deal, with New England viewed as the favorite destination.
Drafting Makai Lemon and trading for Dontayvion Wicks are clear attempts to prepare for Brown’s likely departure. Neither replicates Brown’s physical style, but Lemon’s slot ability could open a different avenue for production within the offense.
Overall, this offseason has largely been about replacing outgoing contributors. Phillips, Dean, and Blankenship all played important defensive roles, and it is difficult to say whether Philadelphia adequately replaced any of them. Woolen probably carries the highest upside among the additions.
Outside of landing Lemon late in the first round, the Eagles didn’t do much to generate optimism heading into 2026.
Grade: C
Washington Commanders
Key Additions:
RB: Rachaad White (Free Agency)
WR: Antonio Williams (Round 3)
EDGE: Odafe Oweh (Free Agency)
EDGE: K’Lavon Chiasson (Free Agency)
LB: Sonny Styles (Round 1)
LB: Leo Chenal (Free Agency)
S: Nick Cross (Free Agency)
Key Departures:
C: Tyler Biadasz (Released)
RB: Chris Rodriguez (Jaguars)
WR: Deebo Samuel (Free Agent)
TE: Zach Ertz (Free Agent)
OC: Kliff Kingsbury
CB: Marshon Lattimore (Released)
CB: Jonathan Jones (Eagles)
LB: Bobby Wagner (Free Agent)
DC: Joe Whitt Jr.
Of all the NFC East teams, the Commanders have easily been the most active, making major roster changes while also replacing both coordinators.
Washington mutually agreed to part ways with Kliff Kingsbury while outright firing Joe Whitt Jr. It’s difficult to know exactly how much those coaching changes will matter, but a combination of injuries and aging veterans limited a team that entered last season with high expectations after its conference championship appearance.
Veterans Bobby Wagner and Deebo Samuel remain unsigned and appear unlikely to return. Lattimore and Biadasz were both let go despite starting in 2025, showing Washington’s willingness to move on quickly from veterans who no longer fit the organization’s long-term plans.
The offense did not undergo a massive overhaul, with the biggest boost potentially being the return of a healthy Jayden Daniels. Defensively, though, Washington may have significantly raised its ceiling.
Oweh, Chenal, and Cross are all talented players still in their prime years with the ability to become long-term contributors. Chenal feels like the safest addition, while Cross could end up being the best value signing of the group.
Drafting Sonny Styles at No. 7 was one of my favorite picks in the entire draft. Styles brings a combination of instincts, athleticism, and physical tools that should allow him to make an immediate impact in the middle of the defense.
Washington still has offensive questions to answer, but the roster looks younger, faster, and potentially much deeper heading into 2026.
Grade: B+
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