Evaluating each teams expected win totals
We have reached the time of year where teams are in training camp and are preparing for their season. That means that we, as fans, are living and dying with every update as this is the first major football news since the April NFL Draft. That also means that we need to prepare ourselves for our season of bets, fantasy teams, and for the roller coaster of following along with our personal favorite teams. Once again, I have gone through all of the offseason updates so that you do not have to and have made my win predictions for each team. As always, we begin with the NFC East.
NFC EAST
Last year, the NFC East had a down year. Three of the four teams ended below .500 and the Eagles, who won the division, did not live up to their own expectations in the playoffs. From a betting perspective, all four teams went under their lines for expected wins. When expectations are not met, changes will inevitably be made. We saw that come true in the East. Each team has made several changes at the coordinator level, and the Giants have a brand-new head coach with John Harbaugh taking over the top job in New York. Pair the coaching changes with the typical roster turnover that you see in an NFL offseason, we are looking at much different NFC East. Let’s get into each team below.
NFC EAST Winner Odds
(Click on the team to jump to that section)
New York Giants – 6.5
- Head Coach – John Harbaugh
- OC – Matt Nagy
- DC – Dennard Wilson
- 2025 Record – 4-13
- Strength of Schedule – 21st easiest
2025 was the final year of the Brain Daboll era in New York. Daboll was relieved of his duties after failing to recapture the magic of his first year when he led the Giants to a playoff win. He was let go after a 2-8 start to the season and left the Giants with a 20-40-1 record. Mike Kafka, Daboll’s offensive coordinator, took on the interim Head Coach title and led the team for the remaining 7 games with a 2-5 record.
In total, the 2025 Giants went 4-13. It was a season plagued with questionable coaching on both sides of the ball and injuries to key players like receiver Malik Nabers. However, a sense of optimism surrounds this team due to a talented young corps of talent. Rookie Jaxson Dart took over the starting quarterback role and gave the team a spark with his playmaking ability. His running mate/back, Cam Skattebo, instantly became a fan favorite with his bruising running style. The defensive line with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibedeaux, and (at the time) Dexter Lawrence, proved to be an attractive roster to new head coach, John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh is coming off of 18 years in Baltimore where he won a Super Bowl ring and constantly fielded a competitive team. He brings a sense of credibility, toughness, and accountability that this team was seemingly missing under the previous coaching staffs. He has assembled a solid staff of coaches under him that are all looking to play their part in turning this franchise around.
Offense
The offense for the Giants will have a new look this year. Harbaugh brought in Matt Nagy from Kansas City to be his offensive coordinator. He also hired Greg Roman, a former offensive coordinator, to be the run game coordinator, and Brian Callahan, the Titans former head coach, to be the quarterback coach. The combination of these three coaches and their assistants will be tasked with shaping this offense into a productive unit and adding the consistency that it has been missing over the years. The personnel decisions that were made in the offseason show that this team will be built to run the ball and rely on play action to open the pass game.
The key to any successful offense will always be the play of the quarterback. The Giants believe that they have their guy in Jaxson Dart, who is entering his second year in the league. This will be his third head coach and offensive coordinator in a very short time. In his first year, Dart started 12 games, throwing for 2272 yards, 15 TDs, and 5 interceptions. He also showed his ability to run the ball, totaling 86 attempts for 487 yards and 9 TDs.
While he used his legs to make exciting plays, he quickly earned reputation for playing recklessly and the national media ran with that narrative. He was evaluated for 4 concussions and missed a few games due to one actual sustained concussion. Dart’s health will undoubtedly be a topic of conversation this year but his playing style, if healthy, should be a great fit for the type of offense that Harbaugh wants to run. He will be used in a RPO friendly offense surrounded by other big ball carriers.
The Giants have a stable of running backs that may not be superstars but should be solid producers. The starting back will be Cam Skattebo who proved in just 5 starts last year, that he was an exciting player to watch. As mentioned above, he employs a bruising running style where it typically takes multiple defenders to tackle him. His season was cut short after a nasty leg injury in Week 8 against the Eagles. He finished the year with 101 attempts, 410 yards, and 5 TDs. He added 24 catches for 207 yards and 2 TDs in the pass game as well. Much like Dart, most of his production will depend on his ability to stay healthy.
The seemingly forgotten member of this room is Tyrone Tracy Jr. who has had back-to-back 1000 (total) yard seasons in his first two years with the Giants. He gives the Giants a great alternative to Skat in the backfield. He finished the year with 740 yards and 2 TDs on the ground and 288 yards and 2 TDs through the air. Rounding out the room at the moment is veteran Devin Singleterry who brings his experience and blocking ability to the table.
One of the key additions this offseason was fullback Patrick Ricard. He comes over from Baltimore and is familiar with the Harbaugh and Roman system. His 6’3″ 300 lb frame is essentially an extra lineman out there. The 6-time Pro-Bowler will be clearing the way for whoever is running the ball and I wish opposing defenses the best of luck. Last year,this rune game was the 5th ranked rush attack in the league. Getting a true fullback and some health on this roster will be a scary sight for defenses.
The biggest question mark on this offense will be the wide receivers. Malik Nabers is the clear-cut number one receiver when healthy. He is returning from an ACL tear last year. Clips from Giants training camp show that Nabers is running routes and cutting but is still working his way to full health. Even if he is ready for Week 1, there may still be a ramp up period until he is back to full ability.
That leaves a very crowded room competing for the WR2 spot. Right now, veteran Darius Slayton is listed as the WR2 for the Giants. Now entering his 8th years, Slayton is the longest tenured Giant on this roster. He has spent time as the primary target in this offense but performs better as a number 2. The Giants drafted rookie Malachi Fields from Norte Dame in this year’s draft and there is speculation that he is Slayton’s eventual replacement. Then the Giants also signed seemingly every free agent possible. They signed Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, and Odell Beckham Jr. OBJ was a great nostalgic signing and has a good shot of making this team but it is definitely a crowded room.
The tight end room got a boost as well with the signing of Isiah Likely. Likely is another Harbaugh carryover from Baltimore. This will be Likely’s first real chance as a starter after playing back up to Mark Andrews for several years. He brings a ton of athleticism and will most likely act as an additional receiver for this offense. He joins Theo Johnson, who is entering his third year in the league. Johnson is also a big, athletic, tight end but has had issues with drops. If he works to resolve those issues, this tandem could do some damage. Rounding out the room is the blocking tight end, Chris Manhertz, who will be another big frame in the run game.
Up front, the offensive line is looking like one of the best units the Giants have fielded in years. Andrew Thomas should be at full health to start the year at left tackle. When healthy, he is one of the best in the game. On the other side of the line will be Jermaine Elumeor. Eluemunor with the Giants re-signed this offseason and has proven to be a great, if underrated, tackle in his own right. On the interior, they will have Jon Runyan at left guard, John Michael Schmitz Jr. at center, and Francis Mauigoa at right guard. Mauigoa is a highly touted rookie that the Giants took with the 10th overall pick in the draft and will be moving from tackle to guard. In addition to his physicality, he brings an infectious intensity to this group.
Defense
The defense for the Giants in 2025 was a big topic of discussion. Their line was projected to be one of the best in the league. Outside of Brian Burns, they failed to live up to expectations. Adding to the issues was their inability to stop the run and close out games. The Giants allowed 2470 run yards which was 31st in the league. There are only 32 teams. They managed to lose games where they had the lead in the 4th quarter, and it ultimately led to the early firing of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Chapter closed on that team.
John Harbaugh hired Dennard Wilson as the defensive coordinator. Wilson was a defensive backs coach for Harbaugh in Baltimore and was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Titans. The Titans did not have the talent that this defense has so Wilson should have more to work with this year. He employs a 3-4 style defense that relies on a mix of zone and man coverage in the secondary.
It all starts up front with this unit. The defensive tackle room had a major shift. All-Pro Dexter Lawrence requested a trade prior to the draft. The Giants managed to trade him to the Bengals for the 10th overall pick that became Francis Mauigoa. That left a major gap in the middle of the line, especially given their inability to stop the run.
The Giants hit free agency and brought in several bodies to fill that gap. They signed DJ Reader who is entering his 11th season after spending time with Houston, Cincinnati, and most recently Detroit. They also signed Shelby Harris who is entering his 12th season in the league. He most recently played for the Browns. They join second year player Darious Alexander as the projected starters for the interior of the Giants defensive line.
The group that will have the chance to be the stars of this defense will be their outside linebackers. They are headed by Brian Burns who is coming off of a 16.5 sack season. Burns is the true star of this defense and will look to continue his great career as the veteran of this talented room. Joining him on the other side of the line will be Abdul Carter who is entering his second year. Carter was the teams first pick in the draft last year. His rookie year doesn’t jump off the page when looking at the stats. He totaled 43 tackles and 4 sacks. There were also some questions about his work ethic under Brian Daboll. however, with this new staff holding him accountable, he is poised to have a big year. The third pass rusher will be Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibs was the first pick of the Joe Schoen era and has yet to live up to the hype of a fifth overall pick. He has battled with some injuries and consistency issues. Now fully healthy and playing an important supporting role, he has everything in front of him going into this year.
The linebacking corps for this team got a big upgrade in the offseason. They allowed their leading tackler, Bobby Okereke, to leave in free agency. He has yet to be picked up. They replaced him by signing Tremaine Edmunds from the Bears. Edmunds will be the center piece of this defense. Edmunds has had over 100 tackles in each of his 8 seasons in the NFL. He is a physical and smart linebacker that should help in stopping the run. The Giants also added Arvell Reese in the draft. Reese played a hybrid role at Ohio State and will be used as the weakside linebacker for the Giants. He is a very athletic defender that will add an element of speed and toughness that the Giants have been missing in this room. They also get Micah McFadden back from injury. McFadden has started at times for the Giants and has just struggled to stay healthy.
The secondary for the Giants will probably be the biggest cause for concern outside of their interior linemen. Starting corner, Paulsen Adebo, did not have a great year last year. He only played 12 games and recorded just 1 interception. He was also inconsistent in coverage. When the team hosted their first voluntary workouts with Harbaugh, he was the only player missing without an explanation. So Adebo will be a player to keep an eye on. To pair with him, the Giants signed Greg Newsome from the Jaguars to compete for the CB2 spot. They drafted Colton Hood in the third round of this year’s draft to add some more competition. There is also a question mark with Deonte Banks who had his fifth-year option declined. He is essentially on a prove-it year and will also potentially be the kick returner. The nickel spot is currently filled by Dru Phillips, but he has not played well enough to be locked in there. Ar’Darius Washington was brought in from Baltimore to compete for the nickel spot and could also play safety.
At safety, the current starters are Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin. Holland was a big splash free agent signing that has failed to live up to the hype while Nubin was a second-round draft pick that has yet to develop into a reliable starter. In addition to Washington, the Giants brought back Jason Pinnock, who previously started for the Giants, and signed Elijah Campbell for special teams but could compete.
Summary
There has been a ton of change for the Giants. The clear and obvious change was the coaching staff who has brought in a new culture to this organization. They brought in new players that fit what they want to accomplish as they continue to build a physical roster. The offense is being built to be a bully and run the ball. The defense is getting faster and bigger, particularly at the linebacker position. Health is the main question mark on offense. Can Dart, Skattebo, and Nabers stay healthy? If so, they are a young and exciting trio of talent that should propel this offense to a playoff run. If not, we’ll see if the depth signings were enough to get this team to a winning record. On defense, they need to rely on their new coach and scheme to stop the run. The secondary is also a question mark that will be answered one way or the other.
Considering that the Giants have a tough schedule and more questions than answers at this point, a deep playoff run is probably out of the question. However, they have the talent on the roster and a much-improved coaching staff that should help weather the storm of a tough schedule. I believe this is an 8 or 9 win team
Bet- Over 7.5 (-110)
Philadelphia Eagles- 10.5
- Head Coach – Nick Sirianni
- OC – Sean Mannion
- DC – Vic Fangio
- 2025 Record – 11-6
- Strength of Schedule – 8th easiest
The Philadelphia Eagles are an odd team to evaluate. Each year, they seem to make it to the playoffs but there is always drama attached. Last year, the offense took a step back and the sky was falling in Philly. It got so bad that people went and egged the house of the offensive coordinator. There were rumors of disagreements between players and calls for the firing of head coach Nick Sirriani. In the end, they still won 11, won the division and lost by 4 points to the 49ers in the playoffs. Things could be worse. In the offseason, they made moves to address their issues. They hired a new offensive coordinator and added some more talent to this already stacked roster.
The offensive for the 2025 Eagles was ranked 19th in the league in terms of points per game. This was a big step down from the previous year where they were the 7th ranked offense and won the Super Bowl. They had some issues on the offensive line and couldn’t run the ball effectively. The play calling was also called into question which is why they went out and hired Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator. Mannion is a former NFL quarterback and is just 34 years old. He has never called plays before but has spent time as a quarterbacks coach and offensive assistant with the Packers. Learning under Matt LaFleur means that he will be deploying a Shannahan style offense. That means the running backs will be heavily involved and that the quarterback should have receivers running open down the field.
Offense
The presence of a new offensive coordinator is nothing new for Jalen Hurts. At this point, I think I can put together a boiler plate statement on the number of coordinators he has had. Going back to college, Hurts has had 11 coordinators in 11 years. While it is typically better for a quarterback to have some consistency in that department, this is normal for Hurts. In 5 seasons as a full-time starter, Hurts is 56-22 and has won a Super Bowl. Last year, he threw for 3224 yards, 25 TDs and 6 interceptions. Unfortunately, it just didn’t look good on the field last year, hence the new coach. It will be interesting to see how he acclimates to a new scheme that will be more creative and a coordinator calling plays for the first time.
In order for this offense to get back to where it was, they need Saquon Barkley to return to form. After a year where he ran for over 2000 yards, he struggled in 2025. Barkley probably suffered the most from the offensive line play taking a step back. Last year, he ran for 1140 yards and 7 TDs. He averaged 71.3 yards per game which was down from the average of 125.3 the year prior. He was unable to break off the long explosive runs last year. With the new coach and some healthier offensive lineman, I think there is a good chance that we see a bounce back year. The other backs in the room with him will be Tank Bigsby, who had some solid years in Jacksonville, and Will Shipley, who has shown the ability to be a playmaker for the Eagles.
The receiver group will look very different this year for the Eagles. After years of drama on the offense, AJ Brown has finally left the building. There were rumors of rifts between him and Jalen Hurts, and the Eagles finally granted him a trade to the Patriots. That means that Devonta Smith will be the WR1 for this offense. Smith has been the 1B receiver ever since the Eagles traded for AJ Brown. He has been very productive as that second option. Last year, he had 77 receptions, 1008 yards, and 4 TDs. Throughout his career he has average over 1000 yards per season. This year, he will have the chance to be the go-to-receiver in this new look offense. He has already shown on many occasions that he has the ability to make big plays for the Eagles.
With Smitty being the main target and Brown being traded away, the Eagles needed to fill out the rest of this room to complement the rest of the offense. They drafted Makai Lemon out of USC to pair with Smith. Lemon was the nation’s top receiver and won the Biletnikoff Award in 2025. While he will be a rookie, he is going to be heavily relied on early this offense. The Eagles also brought in Dontayvion Wicks in a trade with Green Bay. Wicks is in a familiar role as the third wide receiver. He has averaged 460 yards per year in his first 3 seasons in Green Bay. If Lemon is slow to ramp up, Wicks may end up playing a larger role in this offense. Hollywood Brown was signed as well. Brown has been bouncing around the league a bit but still has blazing speed and can act as a deep threat for this offense.
While there are some new faces in the receiver room, the starting tight end will be a familiar target for Jalen Hurts. Dallas Goedert is returning for his 9th NFL season. He had a career high 11 TDs last year and added 591 receiving yards. He has been consistent throughout his career, but health has been a concern. He has not been able to play a full season in his career. As a result, maybe, the Eagles added some youth to the room. they drafted Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt in the 2nd round of this year’s draft. Stowers is going to have to carve out a role in this offense as the year progresses. The Eagles added some further depth by signing Stone Smartt, who has spent time with the Chargers and Jets, and Johnny Mundt, who has been in the league for 9 years.
The biggest shakeup on the offensive coaching staff was not necessarily the offensive coordinator. The Eagles parted ways with long time OL coach Jeff Stoutland. The move was a surprise to a lot of Eagles fans. Stoutland had been with the team since 2013 and had been credited with building the offensive line into one of the league’s best units. According to reports from ESPN’s Tim McManus, Stoutland was left out of conversations surround the run game, which caused a rift. Stoutland left to avoid taking a diminished role. His role is being filled by Chris Kuper, who will have some big shoes to fill.
Kuper inherits a talented but aging group. He will still have Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson as his tackles. Both guys are arguably the best at their respective positions in the league. On the interior, he will have Landon Dickerson at left guard, Cam Jurgens at center, and Tyler Steen at right guard. Between a new OC and OL coach, these players will be adjusting to a new blocking scheme. The depth of the group will also be tested as this starting group does grow in age.
Defense
The bright spot for the Eagles, while the offense was struggling, was their defense. Led by defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, the Philly defense allowed an average of 19.1 points per game, which was 5th in the league. They were 8th against the pass and 13th in total yards allowed. They did struggle against the run, allowing 124.4 yards per game, which was 22nd in the league. With some moves in the offseason, a retooled defense under Fangio’s guidance should once again be a stingy group.
On the defensive line, they will be returning three incredible starters. They are anchored by two former 1st round picks in Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. Then they have an up-and-coming star in Moro Ojomo. Davis is the vet of the group as he enters his 5th year. Last season, he recorded a career high 72 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. His increased production may be explained by getting to line up next to Jalen Carter.
Carter has been a menace since entering the league. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 and has not slowed down since. He had a productive sophomore year and then was hampered a bit by injury last season. Now, back to full health, he should return to form and bolster this defensive line alongside Davis and Ojomo.
The outside linebackers for this team will be Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt. The Eagles traded for Jonathan Greenard in the offseason to give their pass rush a boost. However, per Adam Schefter, Greenard will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a pectoral injury. Greenard has had success in this league and if he is able to return, he will continue to be productive. He was thought to be a replacement for Jaelen Phillips who left the team in free agency. In the meantime, Smith and Hunt will be the starters until Greenard is able to play.
Nolan Smith had 3 sacks last year and 31 total tackles in 2025. He was injured and only played 12 games. Hunt will be entering his 3rd NFL season. Last year, he recorded 6.5 sacks and 52 total tackles. He has the opportunity to carve out a bigger role in this defense while Greenard is out.
The interior linebackers will be Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell. Baun is just one year removed from being in the conversation for defensive player of the year. He was a 1st Team All-Pro in 2025 and was huge part of the defense that won the Super Bowl. He followed that effort up with a Pro Bowl caliber season in 2025. He recorded a total of 123 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also had 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. He will continue to play a huge role as the centerpiece of Vic Fangio’s defense. Playing next to him will be 2nd year player Jihaad Campbell. Campbell had a productive rookie year with 80 total tackles. He appeared in all 17 games and 10 starts. He is projected to play a bigger role this year.
The Eagles have a great tandem in their secondary with a cornerback room that has Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Mitchell is entering his 3rd year and is looking to continue his hot start. He was in the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and then was voted 1st Team All-Pro in 2025. He has become a lockdown corner that allows the rest of the defense to play free. Cooper DeJean is also entering his 3rd year in the league. He is right there with Mithcell in terms of a hot start to his career. He made his first Pro Bowl last year and was also voted to 1st team All-Pro in 2025. His versatility allows him to be moved into different spots on the field and can fill in gaps where needed.
The secondary got a bit of a facelift in the offseason. They let Adoree Jackson walk in free agency and brought in Riq Woolen from the Seahawks. Woolen was a part of the Super Bowl winning defense last year. Now, he is on a prove-it deal with the Eagles. He should be an upgrade to Jackson who was heavily targeted by opponents last year.
The safety room lost one of their starters in free agency. Reed Blankenship left to sign with Houston. Now the projected starters are Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba. Epps started 4 games for the Eagles last year and totaled 21 combined tackles. Mukuba started 10 games last year and recorded 2 interceptions and 46 combined tackles. If there was a weak spot on this defense, it might be this safety group.
Summary
The Eagles will once again have a new look on offense while their defense remains essentially the same. If Hurts can operate the new offensive system, this team can be dangerous. The defenses should remain consistent under the steady hand of Vic Fangio. This roster has the talent and should be in the consideration for Super Bowl Picks. They are currently +1600 on DraftKings, which makes them the 5th favorite. They are clearly favored to win the East but weird thing tend to happen in the NFC East. One thing is for sure; the Eagles will probably cause a ton of chatter and drama throughout the year as they find a way to the playoffs. Looking at their schedule, I think it is realistic for them to get to 12 wins.
Bet – Over 10.5 (+115)
Washington Commanders- 7.5
- Head Coach – Dan Quinn
- OC- David Blough
- DC – Daronte Jones
- 2025 Record- 5-12
- Strength of Schedule – 25th easiest
The Washington Commanders were one of the most hyped teams heading into 2025. They had just made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Their starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, was coming off of the best year that a rookie quarterback had ever had. Hopes were high. Then the season started and it quickly fell apart. Jayden Daniels was injured throughout the season. The defense was one of the worst in the league and ultimately, they ended the year 5-12.
In the offseason, Dan Quinn made some personnel changes. OC Kliff Kingsbury left and was replaced by David Blough. Blough is a 31-year-old former NFL quarterback who has been the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Commanders for the past 2 years. He has plenty of room for improvement as this offense was ranked 22nd in points and yards per game. They particularly struggled in the passing attack, averaging 184.1 yards per game, which was 24th in the league. The rushing attack was ranked 4th, averaging 134.7 yards per game, which should be a bright spot for them moving forward.
On the defensive side, they will have a new play caller as well. Joe Whitt was relieved of his duties as DC after the Washington defense was ranked dead last in yards allowed per game. They also ranked 27th in points allowed per game. As a result, Quinn hired Daronte Jones who has been the defensive backs coach in Minnesota for the past 4 seasons. The new coordinators on this staff will be charged with turning this talented roster back into a playoff caliber team.
Offense
The return of Jayden Daniels to this offense will be a huge boost for this team. Daniels proved in his rookie year that he was a gamechanger as he led the team to miracle comebacks and eventually to the NFC Championship game. However, as we all saw last year, health is always going to be a concern for Daniels. He was dealing with an injury early on last year and the team suffered. He tried to work his way back on the field and was injured again. He ended the year by only appearing in 7 games. As a result, the offense was turned over to Marcus Mariota for 8 starts and Josh Johnson for 2 starts.
Mariota is still ion this roster as he proved himself to be a solid fill-in option should Daniels get hurt. He was the team’s leading passer last year with 1695 yards, 10 TDs, and 7 interceptions. The plan is obviously for Daniels to last through the year but should he need someone to spell him, Mariota has earned the backup role in Washington.
The Commanders will have a few guys running the ball this year. The top back is projected to be Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt. Bill was a fan favorite in camp last year and earned himself the starting role. He ended the season as the top rusher for the Commanders with 805 yards and 8 TDs.
During free agency, Washington also added Rachaad White from Tampa Bay. White is more of a dual threat back than Croskey-Merritt and will most likely be used in passing situations. White has gone over the 1000 total yard mark in 2 of 4 seasons with Tampa Bay. He became the odd man out with the emergence of Bucky Irving and joined the Commanders. He will be replacing the production of Chris Rodriguez who left in free agency to join the Jaguars. Rounding out the room for the Commanders will be Jeremy McNichols who had over 200 yards rushing for Washington last year and rookie Kaytron Allen.
The group that will draw attention this year will be the wide receivers. Last year, Washington was averaging just 184.1 yards per game through the air. The lack of a consistent quarterback was a main reason but the lack of weapons on the outside was a contributing factor as well. They have a true number one in Terry McLaurin. McLaurin is entering his 8th NFL season as part of the Washington squad. When healthy, he is one of the best receivers in the game. He is for sure one of the most underrated receivers in the league, mainly because the team has typically not been good. Prior to last season, he had 5 straight seasons of 1000+ yards. Last year, he was dealing with an ankle and a reoccurring quad injury that forced him to miss 7 games. He finished the year with just 582 yards and 3 TDs. Now fully healthy, he is poised to lead the team in receiving once again.
While McLaurin is the true WR1, the WR2 and WR3 spots are currently up for grabs. While that may be good for the players competing for that spot, it does not instill much confidence in the fans. The Commanders currently have Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, and Van Jefferson competing for spots. Williams was a third-round draft pick out of Clemson and is currently slotted as the WR2 on the depth chart. They are optimistic that he will be a contributor but is unproven so far. McCaffrey is entering his third season and has 371 career receiving yards in just 26 games. Burks, Brown, and Lane have all had some playing time but does not inspire much confidence.
(Update: Commanders signed Stefon Diggs on 8\5/26 per Ian Rapoport – https://x.com/rapsheet/status/2085062684614021279?s=46)
In an effort to provide Jayden Daniels with some weapons, the Commanders went out and signed tight end Chig Okonkwo in free agency. Okonkwo spent 4 seasons in Tennessee as a member of the Titans. He has averaged over 500 yards and 2 TDs per season. He is an athletic tight end with a ton of upside. He just needs the right offense to help him flourish. Jayden Daniels has historically leaned on his tight ends, so Okonkwo seems to have found the right home. Backing him up will be John Bates and Ben Sinnott, both of whom were on the team the past few years.
You don’t become the 4th best rushing attack in the league without having a good starting offensive line. The Commanders have just that. They are returning 4 of 5 starters on the line. The tackles will be Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr. Tunsil is a 5time Pro Bowler. Conerly settled in as a competent starter in his rookie season last year. The guards will be Chris Paul and Sam Cosmi. The big change this year will be at center. Tyler Biadasz is no longer on the team. They are moving Nick Allegretti from guard to center. Having this much continuity on the line should prove to be an asset or this offense overall.
Defense
New DC Daronte Jones will have his work cut out for him this year. He inherits a defense that was allowing 384 yards per game, which was the most in the NFL. They struggled against in both phases of the game while allowing the 6th most points in the league. The front office saw this as the main issue in the offseason and brought in a bunch of new faces to help elevate this defense.
Starting up front, the line is anchored by veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne. Payne is entering his 9th season. He has been as consistent as you can be from a production standpoint. He rarely misses games or tackles. He is joined once again by Javon Kinlaw, who is entering his 6th NFL season and 2nd with the Commanders. Kinlaw is another big body that, in theory, should help defend against the run. They are joined by newcomer, Tim Settle, who started his career in Washington. He has spent the last 4 seasons in Houston and Buffalo before coming back to the Commanders. This trio will be responsible for the dirty work up front.
The outside linebackers are both brand new additions to the team this year. First, we have Odafe Oweh who was signed after leaving the Chargers. Oweh spent 4.5 years in Baltimore before getting traded to the Chargers last year. He recorded 7.5 sacks in just 12 games with the Chargers. On the other side of the line, will be K’Lavon Chaisson. Chaisson is entering his 7th season in the league. He also had 7.5 sacks last year as a member of the Patriots. Prior to New England, he spent a year with the Raiders and 4 with the Jaguars. Last year’s sack leader was Von Miller. Miller had 9 sacks and is currently still a free agent. The tandem of Oweh and Chaisson could prove to be a more consistent and evenly distributed pass rush.
The interior linebackers will also have a new tandem. Washington signed Leo Chenal in free agency. Chenal spent the first 4 years of his career in Kansas City as a member of the Chiefs. Along with 2 Super Bowl Rings, Chenal brings some youth and athleticism that was missing last year. He’ll be paired with rookie Sonny Styles, who was drafted with the 7th overall pick in this year’s draft. Styles played at the Ohio State University and quickly became a draft darling with his Combine performance. He is an incredibly gifted athlete with incredibly high expectations as he enters the NFL. This duo is, at the very least, a sign of a youth movement in Washington.
While the front 7 appears to be vastly improve, the secondary might be a cause for concern for the Commanders and their fans. It is probably the thinnest group on the defense. They do have a rising star in Mike Sainristil. Sainristil had 4 interceptions in his 2nd year and recorded 85 total tackles. He still allowed 733 yards and opponents had a 68.5% completion rate against him. The projected starter on the other side is Trey Amos, who started just 8 games last year. Amos allowed a 71.1% completion rate last year. He is also dealing with an injury that might sideline him to start the season. That leaves the door open for other guys like Amik Robertson, Antonio Hamilton, and Rasul Douglas to compete for the starting spot.
The projected starting safeties will be Nick Cross and Quan Martin. Cross comes over from the Colts where he started the last 2 years. He was productive in 2 years as the starter. He totaled 322 tackles and 4 interceptions in those 2 years. He is joining Quan Martin, who is entering his 4th NFL season and 3rd year starting for the Commanders.
Summary
The Commanders are a team that many people might be picking as their ” bounce back” team this year. The return of Jayden Daniels, a new coaching staff, and some new players on defense point to a resurgence. They have the 8th hardest schedule, which is a tough road for them to trek. With a new offensive and defensive play caller, there very well could be some growing pains that could point to a slow start. I am also not convinced that Jayden Daniels can remain healthy for an entire season. If he gets injured again, Washington will have to rally around Marcus Mariota again, who also had some health concerns last year. While they will probably be a competitive and fun team to watch, I don’t see them winning more than 7 games this season.
Bet- Under 7.5 (+105)
Dallas Cowboys- 8.5
- Head Coach – Brian Schottenheimer
- OC – Klayton Adams
- DC – Christian Parker
- 2025 Record: 7-9-1
- Strength of Schedule: 29th easiest
The 2025 season for the Dallas Cowboys was an interesting one to say the least. It started pre-season with the Michah Parsons drama that ended with the defensive superstar being traded to Green Bay right before the start of the season. The negotiations leading up to the trade were a topic that covered by every sports talk show for the entire summer. Adding to the fuel, Netflix released a documentary on Jerry Jones, which gave a behind the scenes look into how the eccentric billionaire bought and built the Cowboys. All of this set the stage for Brian Schottenheimer’s (Shotty) first season as the head coach.
Shotty took over for Mike McCarthy who parted ways with the Cowboys on good terms. He inherited a talented offense and a defense that was missing playmakers, especially after the Parsons trade. As the year progressed, the offense emerged as one of the best units in the league. By seasons end, they had the 7th highest scoring offense. They were 2nd in pass yards and total yards per game. They were balanced and efficient throughout the year. The Achillies heel of this team was the defense. They allowed the most points per game in the league. They were the worst pass defense in the league and the 10th worst run defense in the league.
Mainly due to the offense, they were in the playoff hunt late in the year. They were 6-5-1 in their first 12 games. They then went 1-4 in their final 5 games and missed the playoffs. The end of season collapse spurred some big changes on defense including a new DC with the hiring of Christian Parker. Now the Cowboys are retooled on defense and are poised to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East title.
Offense
Quarterback Dak Prescott had a monster year in 2025. He threw for 4552 yards, 30 TDs, and 10 interceptions. He benefitted from Shotty’s offensive scheme and the weapons around him. If the team had performed better, he could have been in consideration for the MVP. As he heads into his 11th season as the quarterback for the Cowboys, the expectations go beyond statistics. As the leader of the league’s most notable team, he is expected to lead them to a Super Bowl. Playoff success has been hard to come by in Dallas. He has a 2-5 playoff record and is typically a one-and-done. This year, he has plenty talent around him to continue to perform at a high level. It is just a matter of putting it all together once the playoffs come around.
An under the radar success story of 2025 was the resurgence of Javonte Williams with the Cowboys. He had flamed out in Denver and signed a 1-year deal with Dallas. Then he turned in 1201 yard and 11 TD season. Both were career highs. His efforts helped elevate the run game to the 9th ranked rush attack in the league. Willaims earned a 3-year, $24 million contract in the offseason and remained with Dallas. It is now up to him and his offensive line to prove that 2025 was no fluke. He will be joined by Jaydon Blue, who is entering his 2nd year, and Malik Davis, who had 250 rush yards for Dallas last season. The running backs should continue to be a big part of this offense in 2026.
Dallas has the opportunity to repeat their success in the pass game in 2026 mainly due to their receiving corps. They essentially have 2 WR1s with the duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Lamb is technically the WR1 on the depth chart and has earned that right. Lamb is entering his 7th year and has stacked 5 straight years of 1000+ receiving yards. Last year, he missed a few games with injury and still managed 75 receptions for 1077 yards and 3 TDs. Now with a clean bill of health, Lamb should continue to draw double teams.
That will leave the one-on-one matchups for Pickens. Pickens was the leading receiver in Dallas last year with 93 receptions, 1429 yards, and 9 TDs. He was 3rd in the league in yards. He stepped up as the main target once Lamb went down with injury. Pickens showed off his athleticism with some absurd acrobatic catches. There was some criticism towards the end of the year that he would disappear if things weren’t going his way. That is perhaps the reason why he was not given a long-term extension in the offseason and Pickens will be playing on the franchise tag this year. It is a scary thought to imagine how dangerous a properly motivated Pickens can be.
The rest of the receivers for Dallas do not get as much attention as the main 2 but they are a talented group as well. Ryan Flournoy showed flashes of talent last year on his way to 475 yards. His production will fill the gap left by Jalen Tolbert who left for Miami in free agency. Kavonte Turpin, who is mainly a return threat, is a weapon that could be deployed in various way in this offense. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was brought in to compete for a spot as well. His veteran presence and speed should be a decent addition to the room.
The weapons don’t stop at the receiver’s room. One of the better tight ends in the league is on this roster as well. Jake Ferguson was 2nd on the team last year in terms of receptions. He was the 3rd most targeted player on the team and is clearly a favorite of Dak’s. Ferguson should continue to provide a big target and good production for this offense. He will be backed up by Brevyn Spann-Ford and Luke Schoonmaker.
Up front, Dallas is returning several starters. However, there is a bit of a question mark surrounding the left tackle. Last year, Tyler Guyton started 10 games and he did ok. He needs to improve this year if he wants to maintain the starting role. On the other side of the line is Terence Steele. The projected starting guards will be Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker. At center, Cooper Beebe will continue to start. This was an effective group last year but if this team wants to take the next step, this group will need to do so as well.
Defense
Last year’s defense was atrocious. They were ranked at or near the bottom in all major categories. Changes needed to be made in the offseason and they were. DC Matt Eberflus was fired and Shotty hired Christian Parker. Parker was most recently the defensive backs coach for the Eagles. The front office also brought in a bunch of players to bolster this unit.
The defensive line should be improved this year. They already had Kenny Clark in the room. Clark was sent to Dallas in the Parsons trade with Green Bay. He had 36 total tackles in 2025. He was joined by Quinnen Williams later in the season. Williams was traded to the Cowboys from the Jets. Williams is a former 3rd overall pick. He has earned 4 Pro Bowl appearances and was 1st team All-Pro in 2022. He provided a much-needed boost to this defense last year and is still looking to get back to his 2022 self. Dallas also added Otito Ogbonnia to round out the defensive tackles. Ogbonnia spent 4 seasons with the Chargers and brings 320 lbs and 82 career tackles to the Cowboys. This trio needs to find a way to stop opponents from running wild on this defense like they did last year.
Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary are the projected outside linebackers for this team. Ezeiruaku is a 2nd year player that may have to continue to fight for his spot as a starter. He recorded 2 sacks and 40 total tackles last year. He will compete with rookie Malachi Lawrence and James Houston for the starting role. Rashan Gary was signed in free agency after spending 7 seasons in Green Bay. Gary has been productive but is seen as a player who has never quite reached his potential. He has recorded 7.5 sacks in his last 2 years, and his career high is 9.5 in 2021. The Cowboys are hoping that he takes a big leap for them this year in order to create a pass rush that they desperately need.
The interior linebackers should be improved this year as well. Firstly, DeMarvion Overshown is all the way back from his ACL injured that occurred in 2024. He returned last year for 6 games but was not quite right. In 2024, he was proving to be a star in the making. He recorded 90 tackles and 5 sacks in just 13 games. Now with a clean bill of health, this athletic freak should be ready to take the league by storm again.
He has a new teammate in Dee Winters, who signed after spending three years with the 49ers. Last year, he started all 17 games for the first time, recording 101 tackles and 1 interception. While he may lack experience, he adds youthful energy and athleticism to the defense that was missing last year.
The secondary of the Cowboys will be under severe scrutiny this year if they do mot improve. The pass defense in 2025 allowed the most amount of yards per game in the NFL. The projected starting cornerbacks are Daron Bland, Cobie Durant, and Caleb Downs. Bland is entering his 5th year in the league. He had a great 2023 season and was voted to 1st team All-Pro. He has struggled ever since. Last year, he only appeared in 12 games.
Cobie Durant spent the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. He developed into a trusted starter for the Rams, and put together his best year. He had 40 tackles and 3 interceptions. He brings a steady hand to a secondary that needs to improve quickly.
Caleb Downs was drafted in this year’s draft with the 11th overall pick. Downs played safety at the University of Alabama and Ohio State University. He will be a versatile tool for this defense and can be deployed in several ways. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of school and the reason he didn’t go 1st overall was because of his position. He should have an immediate impact wherever he lines up.
The safeties are going to be Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson. Hooker is a 10 year veteran who has been with Dallas for 5 years. Thompson was signed this offseason after spending 7 years in Arizona. This veteran tandem should help anchor this secondary. Caleb Downs may also spend time as a safety.
Summary
The Dallas Cowboys will always have high expectations for themselves. After a disappointing 2025 season, they made the moves they thought were necessary to improve. Their offense remains one of the most explosive in the league. The combination of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams provides them with a balanced attack that should allow them to score at will
The defense has a new play caller and some new players. Last year, they were one of the worst defenses in the league. These changes should have made some improvements. The guys that were brought in are solid players but it remains to be seen if they turn into stars.
They have one of the toughest schedules in the league. They play the NFC West, who had 3 playoff teams last year, and the AFC South, who are all improving. I still think that Dallas made the necessary improvements to win more games than last year. I am taking the over for them.
Bet – Over 8.5 (+115)
*Odds taken from DraftKings
*Strength of Schedule from Sharp Analysis
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