One week into the NFL season, things aren’t looking so great for quarterback play in the NFC East. Although some big names have big contracts, even those who have been around for a while haven’t looked particularly intimidating.
To be honest, these NFC East quarterback rankings could turn out to be pretty set in stone without much fluctuation throughout the season. But that depends almost entirely on how Jayden Daniels performs.
The Washington Commanders’ signal-caller would be the only one who could step in and cause trouble. Although he put up some solid numbers for his rookie debut in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the No. 2 pick also needs to improve significantly.
Let’s take a look at the NFC East quarterback rankings before the Commanders’ second game of the season, their home game against the New York Giants.
4. Daniel Jones
Hasn’t Daniel Jones been on the hot seat long enough? Even before he was only available for six games last season due to his torn ACL – and even before his disappointing 2024 preseason – he hadn’t shown as much as the New York Giants had hoped from him.
Jones’ opening game this year didn’t help him. The Giants were crushed by the Minnesota Vikings, 28-6. He threw for 186 yards, had two interceptions and a modest quarterback rating of 44.6.
Oops.
Even worse for Giants fans is that he is under contract through 2026. Jones is set to make $112 million more before his contract ends. That might be the only real reason he’s in the starting lineup. But maybe not, considering they no longer have Tyrod Taylor.
The truth is that Jones is not a starting quarterback in the NFL except at the bottom of the league. With two clearly better options within the division, it seems as though Jayden Daniels could already be one step ahead of him.
Only time will tell. But the Giants’ front office will continue to look for other options next year and beyond.
3. Jayden Daniels
For his rookie debut, Jayden Daniels hasn’t done too badly. The Washington Commanders quarterback has put up some pretty solid numbers, completing 17 of 24 passes for 184 passing yards, along with 88 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. But let’s be honest, it’s not a good sign that he ran 16 times in his first game.
We can attribute it to Todd Bowles’ defensive skills. At the same time, Daniels looked very tense from the first snap when he threw an errant screen pass to Brian Robinson Jr.
Although he appeared to be by far the most promising rookie quarterback and was much better at navigating the pocket than Caleb Williams, the No. 2 overall pick still seemed hesitant at times when he had to release the ball.
Daniels was a little nervous and timid at times, unaware of how good he could really be. However, the LSU product showed a lot of potential in Week 1. With time, he could climb up this list.
2. Jalen hurts
Had the Philadelphia Eagles not been so bad last year, Jalen Hurts might have been at the top of this list. Despite amassing over 4,500 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2023, his leadership was constantly questioned both inside and outside the building.
From an outsider’s perspective, his performance in Week 1 didn’t help him either. The Eagles did win against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, but not only did he throw two interceptions, one of which was unbelievably bad, but Hurts also dropped the ball twice.
If I had to make a bold assessment of this season, it would be that Hurts does not finish the season as the starting quarterback. Like Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III before him, the NFL has caught up. His ability to progress is hindering him and his team.
It sounds crazy, but it may turn out that it’s only a matter of time before the Eagles finally turn their attention to Kenny Pickett, who is still young but still shows promise. He has a career record of 14-11 despite some difficult circumstances.
1. Dak Prescott
After just one game of the season, Jalen Hurts is the only other option for the top spot. And say what you will about Dak Prescott in crucial moments, but the fact remains that he was still second in the voting for NFL MVP in 2023 after throwing for 4,516 yards, 36 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.
The Dallas Cowboys started off as expected by dismantling the Cleveland Browns. Signs once again point to the perpetual underachievers getting significant hype as the season progresses en route to another postseason appearance.
Prescott remains the best quarterback in the NFC East, and his new four-year, $240 million contract may be the boost he needs to finally carry his regular-season performance into the playoffs. In what should have been an exciting year, the Cowboys wanted to keep the division’s best quarterback for more postseason opportunities.
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