NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

• According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Cowboys are not among the teams still interested in Seahawks free-agent DE Jadeveon Clowney. 
• Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys have interest in former Vikings DE Everson Griffen.
• However, ESPN’s Ed Werder says it seems unlikely that Dallas pursues Griffen. 
• NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo points out Cowboys C Joe Looney received a veteran salary benefit from the new CBA in his deal, similar to the NBA’s mid-level exception, that allows him to count $1.25 million less against the cap. 
• Looney signed a one-year, $2.4375 million deal, but it will count just $1.1875 million against the cap. 
• ESPN’s Todd Archer writes not to get hopes up for former 49ers WR Emmanuel Sanders to sign with the Cowboys unless he decides to take a significant pay cut from what his market value is believed to be. 
• Cowboys DT Gerald McCoy said he was overjoyed to be joining a high-profile team like Dallas that was primed with the talent to make a run: “It’s gonna be a lot of fun. I believe we’re gonna make a lot of noise. Prime time. That’s what Dallas is. America’s Team. I’ve never been on a team of this magnitude…You mention the star and the Dallas Cowboys, they’re on TV dang near every week.” (Jon Machota)
• McCoy added he’s looking forward to playing a larger percentage of the snaps than he did in 2019 with the Panthers: “I have never rotated as much as I did last year in Carolina. That’s not what I was used to. I can play all game if I have to. … I’m an every-down guy. That hasn’t changed, and I don’t plan on it changing this year.” (Machota)

Eagles

• Mike Silver reported on NFL Network Thursday that TE Zach Ertz turned down a contract extension during the season that was more lucrative than Browns TE Austin Hooper’s four-year, $44 million deal.
• A rumor surfaced Thursday that the Eagles and Falcons are discussing a trade that would send WR Julio Jones to Philadelphia.
• However, a league source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that it’s “absolutely not” happening.
• Florio mentions that Jones’ contract would result in a cap hit of $31 million for the Falcons if they were to trade him. Florio adds that if the Falcons were actually looking to trade Jones, they probably would have done so before signing him to his record contract last year.
• Eagles QB Carson Wentz received an $8 million roster bonus Friday and also had his entire $15.4 million 2021 base salary become fully guaranteed. (Joel Corry)
• Eagles DT Javon Hargrave‘s five-year, $65 million deal includes an $11.75 million signing bonus, base salaries of $1M, 12.75 million, $12.75 million, $13 million, and $13 million. (Aaron Wilson)
• Base salaries in Hargrave’s first two years are fully guaranteed, while the final two years of his deal void 23 days prior to the start of the 2023 league year. 
• Eagles DB Jalen Mills‘ one-year, $4 million deal includes a $2 million signing bonus, $2 million base salary and up to $1 million in incentives for playing time and making the Pro Bowl. (Wilson)

Giants

• The Athletic’s Dan Duggan doesn’t expect Giant DL Leonard Williams to hold out and avoid signing the franchise tag, as it would lock in $16 million for him in 2020 and give him a chance at testing the market again in 2021.
• By not signing it, Williams opens himself up to the risk of Giants GM Dave Gettleman rescinding the tender like he did in Carolina with CB Josh Norman and needing to find a new team after most have blown their budgets. 
• Duggan thinks an offensive tackle or Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons are the top options for the Giants in the first round, with Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah less of a possibility after signing CB James Bradberry.
• Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports that while the Giants and LB Markus Golden had mutual interest in a reunion at the start of free agency, the same doubts the team had before signing Golden to a one-year deal last year have come up in discussions for a multi-year deal. 
• This time, Dunleavy says Golden’s former DC James Bettcher isn’t around to stand on the table and lobby for Golden, so negotiations have stalled.
• The Giants hired University of Tennessee director of football sports performance Craig Fitzgerald as their new strength and conditioning coach. (Art Stapleton)