The Athletic Football Show – 2025 NFC East Preview

Date: August 20, 2025
Host(s): Robert Mays (RM), Derrik Klassen (DK), Dave Helman (DH)
Theme: Meticulous, category-by-category breakdowns of the NFC East’s four teams: Eagles, Commanders, Cowboys, and Giants. Focus on roster construction, swing points, coaching moves, and reasons for optimism and concern in 2025.

Episode Overview

The division that houses the defending Super Bowl champs leads off Robert, Derrik, and Dave’s annual division previews. In this marathon episode, they dig deep into the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants — examining offseasons, key questions, roster moves, and what will define each team’s upcoming season. Each team is analyzed under a set of recurring categories:

• What are you most excited about?
• Swing points for the season
• What keeps you up at night?
• What are you watching in the first month?
• Key supporting character
• What counts as a successful season?

Sharp analysis, plenty of debate, and honest concerns for each franchise pepper this dense episode.

Philadelphia Eagles

[03:20] Offseason Recap (RM)

• OC shuffle: Kevin Patullo promoted after Kellen Moore departs for Saints HC job
• Key adds/retentions: Zach Baun (LB), trade for Jacorian Bennett (CB), free agency pickups (Azeez Ojulari, Josh Uche), extensions for Cam Jurgens & Saquon Barkley
• Draft: Jihad Campbell (LB, 1st), Andrew Mukuba (S, 2nd), Ty Robinson (DT, 4th)
• Key losses: Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Darius Slay, Makai Becton, Isaiah Rodgers

[05:07] What Are You Most Excited About?

The Howie Roseman Blueprint & Next Generation Stepping Up

• DH: “My favorite thing about the Philadelphia Eagles over the last four or five years, other than just that they're good at football, is this…team that has prepared for the future excellently.”
  • Eagles plan moves 1–3 years ahead (Hurts, Jurgens, Dean, Nolan Smith)
  • Challenge now: can the next wave (Smith, Keely Ringo, Tyler Steen, etc.) step up?

Continuity/Reload all-stars

• DK: “If your down year for Philly…is a 10-win team that can still win the division…That's a pretty…good down year…”
• RM: “The hit rate, if you actually look at it, like, we remember all the trades that work...because they do so many of them, it doesn't really matter.”

Notable Quotes:

• “Howie Roseman has been so right so often and what's his reward for that? Having to do it again basically.” – Dave Hellman [06:09]
• “They're always finding those thirds or fourths in the couch cushions, mostly thanks to Mickey Loomis. And that's how they volume shoot, right?” – Robert Mays [09:02]

[11:26] Defense, Chemistry, DNA

• Year-2 jumps for young playmakers: Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, Zach Baun
• RM: “Nolan Smith goes from being truly just a rotational piece to somebody that…I feel like is an attitude channeler for that entire defense.” [12:10]
• DK: “They're just really smart players…Zach Baun is incredibly smart. Nakobe Dean can be like the general of a defense.” [14:02]
• Coaching influences: blending “wide-nine” lines with Fangio’s more conservative school
• Chemistry, speed, and smarts all surge

[16:21] Swing Point: The Offensive Line

• DK: “There's just a little bit more uncertainty along the interior than we are used to with them.”
  • Dickerson’s health, Jurgens/Steen as new starters
  • Jeff Stoutland factor means “I trust this will be okay.” – DH [17:24]
• OC Continuity: Kevin Patullo, in-house promotion, but OC turnover has been a pattern
  • RM: “This last year was the hard look in the mirror off-season and now…I think they’re going to be able to just roll…” [21:29]

[23:18] What Keeps You Up at Night?

• Saquon Barkley’s workload: Nearly 500 touches in regular season + playoffs
• DH: “You'd be crazy not to be worrying about that a little bit after the amount of work that he did for the Eagles last year.” [25:08]
• RM: “The curse of 370 is something that Aaron Schatz wrote about…21 years ago…For the most part guys are not as effective and often get hurt after getting this sort of workload.” [26:21]
• DK: “I'd be shocked if (Barkley’s) 95% as good as last year. It's probably gonna be more like 85%.”

Secondary depth:

• Youth and uncertainty at second CB spot (Ringo, Bennett, Jackson?) and safety
• RM: “This is shocking but true: Reed Blankenship is the oldest player in the secondary…He is 26 years old.” [30:27]

[31:27] What Are You Watching First Month?

• DK: Edge room — lots of talent, but small/quick not big/physical
  • “Their best DE last year was Josh Sweat, who…could really set the edge…Nolan Smith…for his size does a very good job, but the rest is TBD.”
• RM: New wrinkles defensively, especially Campbell at linebacker, DeJean at safety, what evolution in “Fangio 2.0,” and a Defensive Player of the Year expectation for Carter

[35:46] Key Supporting Character

• RM: “Moro Ojomo…was a rotational DT last year…If he can come in and…get close to the production that Milton Williams had…that goes a long way.”
• DK: “Ojomo is incredibly quick. He's explosive…He’s a guy I’m incredibly excited about.” [36:29]

[37:07] What Counts as Success?

• DK: “Win the division again…and some of the new guys on defense…showing signs you can keep this going for a handful more years.”
• DH: “...Bare minimum, I think this team should be in the Final Four, get back to conference championship game weekend. I think they are that talented…” [37:45]

Washington Commanders

[43:16] Offseason Recap (RM)

• Aggressive: Laremy Tunsil (blockbuster trade), Deebo Samuel (trade), Von Miller, Kinlaw, OC re-signings, high backup QB spend
• Draft: OT Josh Conerly (1st), CB Trey Amos (2nd), WR Jaylen Lane (4th)
• Notable losses: Jonathan Allen, Diami Brown, Jeremy Chinn

[44:44] Most Excited: Jaden Daniels, Ascending QB

• DH: “You’re talking about a quarterback who’s capable of throwing for 4,000 yards and rushing for a thousand yards in the same season. I think that’s on the table for him.” [44:44]
• RM: Focus on why Commanders loaded up OL; can Daniels be a legit Mahomes/Allen type, capable of lifting pass-catchers by sheer talent?

Developmental needs:

• DK: Sack avoidance and more over-the-middle aggression the next area for Daniels

[49:57] Commanders’ OL Renaissance

• Massive OL overhaul: Tunsil trade, rookie Conerly at RT, backup-prepared depth
• DK: “Their run game last year…was bad…If that can go from bad to average…we’re starting to cook with some gas here.” [49:57]
• RM: “We have to be less tricked out this year than we were last year because of the guys that we have along the offensive line.” [51:26]

[55:47] Swing Point: Explosive Offense Needs Deebo Samuel

• DK: “Deebo Samuel, I think they brought him in exclusively to do that…little stuff like that where they have a player they trust with the ball in his hands who is not Jaden Daniels to get them chunks at a time.”
• RM: “You don’t have to use your imagination about how Deebo Samuel gets deployed within this offense.” [57:00]

Pass rush as pivot:

• RM outlines “situational waves” approach, banking on improvement in early-down run D & creative, blitz-heavy passing downs
• “Rather just have like one dude that I think can be a terror…and they just do not have that guy…” – [58:41]

[62:29] What Keeps You Up at Night?

• Aging Core:
  • DH: “There are just a uniquely large number of players on this roster where you have to at least wonder whether the cliff is approaching…” (Lattimore, Deebo, Tunsil, Wagner, Von Miller, Ertz all 29+) [62:29]
  • Injury histories + low draft capital for replenishment
• WR Depth:
  • RM: “Have you looked at the wide receiver depth chart for this team beyond those two guys?…We are very close to the receiving core being bad again.”

[69:24] What Are You Watching First Month?

• DK: “I just want to see what the secondary is supposed to be.” New man-coverage corners (Amos & Jones), Sainristil moves to nickel, team committed to a man-coverage identity
• RM: “What happens against man coverage on offense?” With a weaker WR group, how does Daniels handle defenses that challenge WRs in tight window, man-press coverage?

[74:51] Key Supporting Character

• RM: “Blocking tight end John Bates…” a weapon in the run game; rare TEs who can truly block at the point, and thrive at the second level
• DK: “He is such a good…move around ball hawking type of safety at his best. Putting that behind…a horrifying pass rush. There’s a chance he gets his hand on the ball a lot this year…”

RB Outlook:

• Emergent rookie Jacore Crosby Merritt; RB depth in transition

[80:30] What Counts as Success?

• DK: “I think it's winning the division. And then…Cliff Kingsbury to prove...that this is real.”
• DH: “All that really matters for me…is just solidifying [Daniels] is true. If Jaden Daniels is that dude…all else will come.”

Dallas Cowboys

[83:31] Offseason Recap (RM)

• Major moves: Brian Schottenheimer now HC, Matt Eberflus (DC), Clayton Adams (OL/OC)
• Player adds: George Pickens (WR), Jake Ferguson re-up, depth signings at RB/EDGE
• Key losses: DeMarcus Lawrence, Cooks, Lewis, Rush
• Draft: Tyler Booker (G, 1st), Donovan Azaraku (EDGE, 2nd), Siobhan Revel (CB, 3rd)

[85:08] Most Excited: Two Legit Receiving Weapons for Dak

• DH: “I’m so fricking excited to watch Dak Prescott play with two—you could even say three—quality options…”
• DK: “It's the first time Dak has had a good wide receiver two in years…Pickens is a complicated player but I think Dak is the perfect QB to unlock him because he will throw to him at any level, in any window.”
• RM: “...There is a chance this makes CeeDee Lamb better because of who he’s getting to play with.” [88:28]

[91:00] Defensive Depth – Especially Edge

• “When Micah Parsons comes back…and you drop Micah back into this defense…this is a group that goes like five deep on the edge…they’re going to need it.” – RM
• “If even a couple…hit on their potential, this could be a very, very scary group.” – DH [92:05]

[94:26] Swing Point: Young OL + Clayton Adams’ System

• DK: “Clayton Adams…really excited for…most of the cool stuff in Arizona was their run game…Young OL easy to get excited about but outside of Tyler Smith, not much proven.”
• RM: “I think this is going to move into the season as they figure out…what is the best way to structure this thing?”

[96:57] RB Room Uncertainty

• DH: “I haven’t seen anything come out of Cowboys camp that gives me a lot of optimism that the Cowboys have enough in the running back room.”
  • Needs elite OL to compensate for a below-average group (Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, rookies)

[100:19] What Keeps You Up at Night?

[100:19] Secondary is “Blinking Red Lights”

• DK: “Might be the worst secondary in the NFL…Kyir Elam is going to have to start at corner for them…”
• DH: “This is the type of problem that needed to be fixed in the spring…maybe you try a roster cutdown trade but it’s not enough…”

[104:28] Defensive Tackle Concern

• RM: “Mozzie Smith might not make the team…Other rotation options: Perryon Winfrey, J.Toya, Akinbayo Sote—it's a huge concern.”

[106:07] What Are You Watching First Month?

• DH: Tyler Guyton’s left tackle recovery/effect
  • “He’s jumping into the season without as much training camp as you would prefer…this is a four to six week recovery.”
• RM: Offensive scheme—does new staff bring more motion/diversity, less static-ness?
  • “This was a static offense that just didn’t have a lot of variety or diversity to it…do we see a different version?”

[110:36] What Counts as Success?

• DH: “The offense really is that good…winning record and maybe a playoff berth. If they somehow win the division, throw the parade.”
• DK: “Frisky, 8–9 win, shootout-type team.”
• RM: “Wildcard is best case…does the offense feel more dynamic, do we get an emerging OL, does that point to future success?”

New York Giants

[114:01] Offseason Recap

• Additions: Paulson Adebo (CB), Javon Holland (S), Russell Wilson (QB), Darius Slayton (WR), Day 1 draft picks: Abdul Carter (EDGE), Jackson Dart (QB)
• Losses: Azeez Ojulari, Drew Lock, Jason Pinnock, Adoree’ Jackson
• Other adds: Jamis Winston, Roy Robertson-Harris, James Hudson

[114:40] Most Excited: Pass Rush and Vertical Offense

• DK: “It’s like the only obviously good unit on this team…Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux…Dexter Lawrence. That’s what you want to tune into the Giants for.”
• RM: “This idea that even if Russell Wilson is an imperfect quarterback…at least he’s willing to chuck it downfield in a way Daniel Jones was not.”
• DH: “Neighbors did what he did with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito throwing the ball…”

[117:21] Swing Points: Defensive Backfield and QB

• DH: “I just want to see better play from the back end of the secondary…Even a great pass rush can only do so much.”
• DK: “The quarterback. It kind of has to be…”
  • Russ is limited, Dart is talented but raw; timeline of starting will define season

RM: “What type of limited do the Giants want? …the limited Russell Wilson gives you or…Jackson Dart gives you?” [122:22]

[129:55] What Keeps You Up at Night?

• RM: Existential concern about the regime—lame-duck desperation, potential to mortgage the future; lessons from the Bears’ cycles
  • “Are they doing the same thing, I've watched the Bears do over and over…?”

Secondary issues:

• Letting Xavier McKinney walk, then paying big for Holland
• Volatile CB2 spot

[134:36] What Are You Watching First Month?

• DK: “How good is Javon Holland?…he was like about to become…one of those all-pro type safeties, then he gets banged up…”
• RM/DH: What does the D as a whole look like, especially early? Need top-10 level play to even be ‘feisty’

Schedule woes:

• “Find the wins for me, man.” Cowboys, Commanders, Chiefs, Chargers, both Eagles games…[138:05]

[141:20] What Counts as Success?

• DH: Two options—1) Forge the hard road, 6–8 wins and look “like a team on the rise.” 2) “Or Jackson Dart just looks awesome in a lost year.”
• DK: “Success for them is being like a 7-win version of last year’s Broncos…with a quarterback it’s like, okay, we can do something with this.”
• RM: “If the defense shows this is a pass rush that can be really good…Jackson Dart is something…probably doesn’t matter who the coach is.”

Notable Quotes (w/ Timestamps)

• On Eagles’ team-building:
  “Howie Roseman has been so right so often and what's his reward for that? Having to do it again basically.” – Dave Hellman [06:09]

• On Commanders’ QB upside:
  “If he progresses from his rookie year, then we can officially…start talking about him as a top five QB in the NFL playing for a legacy franchise…” – Dave Hellman [44:44]

• On Dallas’s secondary:
  “This might be the worst secondary in the NFL…and I am pretty worried about what that room looks like.” – Derrik Klassen [100:19]

• On Giants’ offense:
  “It comes down to: do they feel like they can play [Jackson Dart] in week five, or are they holding out till week 14 and hoping they have enough wins to keep him on the bench?” – Derrick Klassen [121:29]

• On age & risk in Washington:
  “There are just a uniquely large number of players…where you have to at least wonder whether the cliff is approaching.” – Dave Hellman [62:29]

• On Giants’ existential health:
  “What's keeping me up at night is…the idea of a regime that's a lame duck group to do things that stretch your future and put you in a tough spot moving forward…So many first-round quarterbacks…come right before regimes get fired because they're often done out of desperation…” – Robert Mays [129:55]

Final Thoughts

Every 2025 NFC East team has clear strengths and new faces but is stalked by at least one existential question.

• Philadelphia: Can “always ahead” roster planning pay off again?
• Washington: Is Jaden Daniels one of those guys — and can new, aging weapons keep pace?
• Dallas: Is the offense explosive enough to paper over serious holes on defense?
• New York: Will defense/rookie QB justify the regime’s bold bet, or is ‘vibes are bad until proven otherwise’ a permanent NYG state?

This densely packed breakdown arms listeners/readers with every key storyline, position group concern, and high-leverage hinge for the NFC East in 2025.

Quick Index of Key Sections

Philadelphia Eagles

• What Are You Excited About? – [05:07]
• Swing Points – [16:21]
• What Keeps You Up at Night? – [23:18]
• First Month Watch – [31:27]
• Supporting Character – [35:46]
• What Counts as Success – [37:07]

Washington Commanders

• What Are You Excited About? – [44:44]
• Swing Points – [55:47]
• What Keeps You Up at Night? – [62:29]
• First Month Watch – [69:24]
• Supporting Character – [74:51]
• What Counts as Success – [80:30]

Dallas Cowboys

• What Are You Excited About? – [85:08]
• Swing Points – [94:26]
• What Keeps You Up at Night? – [100:19]
• First Month Watch – [106:07]
• Supporting Character – interspersed (edges group highlighted at [91:00])
• What Counts as Success – [110:36]

New York Giants

• What Are You Excited About? – [114:40]
• Swing Points – [117:21]
• What Keeps You Up at Night? – [129:55]
• First Month Watch – [134:36]
• Supporting Character – focus on Holland, Carter, Dart
• What Counts as Success – [141:20]