NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith believes the team will be successful in 2019 because they’ve discovered their “identity.” 

“Just because we understand our identity,” Smith said, via Mark Lane of WFAA. “Last year we spent a lot of time finding who we were as a team, as a unit, individually. So, we know that we’re a team that’s going to play hard-nosed football.”

Smith added that their defense will focus on their “speed” and “stopping the run.”

“Then with the defense we’re going to run to the ball. It’s about speed, speed, speed, physical, and stopping the run. That’s our mentality. We got to execute that every week,” said Smith.

Eagles

NJ.com’s Zack Rosenblatt ranks Eagles WR Nelson Agholor as the team’s 23rd most important player for the 2019 season. Agholor is entering the final year of his contract and trade rumors have persisted around the young wideout given the wealth of weapons the Eagles have on offense. 

“You gotta think about it, what am I worried about though?” Agholor said. “Am I worried about having a job in this league? No. Not at all. But I want to be an Eagle, I’m here and at the end of the day, that’s for them to control and for me to say: hey, I’m ready to play football for the Eagles and I’m ready to play football in general.”

Giants

• ESPN’s Jordan Raanan listed Giants QB Kyle Lauletta as a potential veteran cut. Lauletta used up his margin for error as a rookie last year with an arrest for a driving incident and is behind Alex Tanney for a potential third-string quarterback slot. 
• In an analysis of player’s entering their contract year, former agent and CBS analyst Joel Corry says this is a critical year for QB Eli Manning, who reportedly wants to keep playing in 2020 but needs to show potential suitors he’s a viable option. 
• NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo identifies four potential free agents the Giants could add before training camp, including S Kurt Coleman, DE Matt Longacre, DE Sam Acho and CB Morris Claiborne.