NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Cowboys’ veteran LB Sean Lee, who recently agreed to a reduced salary, believes he will be productive in 2019 despite taking a lesser role behind Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch.

“I’m here to be a guy who makes plays on the field,” Lee said, via Todd Archer of ESPN. “I’m a player that wants to play and still feel like I can help us win games. Obviously, I have to do a better job staying on the field on a consistent basis and I’ve not been close to doing that the last two years. But there’s no question I want to establish a role and get on the field and make plays.”

Lee added that 2019 is “by no means” his last year with the Cowboys and is still motivated to win a Super Bowl in Dallas.  

“By no means am I saying this is my last year, but a decade with this organization with the support from the Jones’ family, my coaches, teammates and people throughout the city that they’ve shown me during the tough times, it means a lot to me,” said Lee. “And it continues to motivate me to help us win a championship.”

• According to Jane Slater, the Cowboys final offer to WR Cole Beasley was around $18 million over three years.  The Bills signed him for $29 million over four years.  

Eagles

• ESPN’s Field Yates reports the restructure for T Jason Peters moves his base salary to $3.5 million, down from $5.75 million before, and saves $2 million in cap space for the Eagles.  
• The Eagles hosted Alabama State T Tytus Howard, Florida S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Michigan RB Karan Higdon and Old Dominion DE Oshane Ximines for private workouts.  (Zack Rosenblatt)
• Philadelphia will be looking for backup offensive linemen in free agency after decline OL Stefen Wisniewski‘s option. (Mike Kaye)

Giants

Former Giants VP of Player Evaluation Marc Ross could see Giants GM Dave Gettleman passing on drafting a quarterback again this year. 

“I think they might have missed their opportunity [to take a quarterback] last year, when they were in the No. 2 slot and could have taken [Jets QB] Sam Darnold,” Ross said, via NJ.com. “This year, there’s some opportunities to trade for Rosen, or there might be a quarterback at No. 6 that they like. But, I don’t think they’ll do it again.

“I think they’ll push the quarterback back another year. We saw the pass rushing stat, I think they’ll probably go pass rusher here and bank it all in on Eli. They traded for a guard [Kevin Zeitler], so that gives them the security to say that they built a wall for this guy and now he’s going to play and perform. I would think pass rusher now, as opposed to a quarterback. It will make a lot of people upset and some people happy.”

• SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano says the Giants were never contenders to sign QB Nick Foles, as they felt the money he would command would not provide enough of an upgrade over QB Eli Manning.
• Vacchiano says the recently re-signed Spencer Pulley and Jon Halapio will compete for the starting center spot.  
• Vacchiano expects the Giants to pursue former Panthers T Daryl Williams to finish their offensive line.  
• The Giants have also reached out and expressed interest in CB Pierre Desir. 
• Jordan Raanan reports that Buccaneers’ recently signed LB/S Deone Bucannon turned down an offer from the Giants.
• Raanan mentions that Bucannon would have in the Giants’ “moneybacker” position alongside LB Alec Ogletree.