NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

• According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys won’t engage in serious contract talks with QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper until the rules of the new CBA are known. 
• Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy said Prescott “absolutely” is Dallas’ franchise quarterback, calling his current contract status just a “business matter,” per the DMN’s Michael Gehlken.
• McCarthy says the goal is to keep both Cooper and Randall Cobb in 2020. (Gehlken)
• McCarthy added the Cowboys haven’t made a final decision regarding LB Sean Lee or TE Jason Witten. Both are free agents, Dallas is reportedly leaning toward re-signing Lee, not Witten. (Watkins)
• The Athletic’s Jon Machota lists 10 prospects who could be a strong fit for the Cowboys in the first few rounds, including South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw, LSU S Grant Delpit, Alabama S Xavier McKinney, Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa, Alabama CB Trevon Diggs, LSU CB Kristian Fulton, Florida CB C.J. Henderson, Lenoir-Rhyne S Kyle Dugger, Boise State DE Curtis Weaver and Missouri DT Jordan Elliott. 

Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman revealed at the Combine that he would be taking a little bit of a different approach to this offseason. The past few years have been aimed at maximizing Philadelphia’s Super Bowl window. But even though the Eagles made the playoffs in 2019, it was clear their roster was hobbled. Rather than continue to target older players like WR DeSean Jackson and DT Malik Jackson, Roseman mentioned the need to infuse the roster with youth and add pieces in free agency that could be big parts of the team for two or more years. 

“I think it will be fair to say that the past two years coming off the Super Bowl, we had a different amount of resources going forward, and we were looking at team-building over that ’17, ’18, ’19 period,” Roseman said via NFL Media’s Kevin Patra. “And we knew that in ’20 we were going to have to change that a little bit. Now, we’re looking at it over the course of a window. Not that we don’t want to win this year, we desperately want to win this year, but more building this team over 2020, 2021, hopefully, 2022 — it’s hard to look three years out really, but keep our eye on that. But I think that maybe changes the complexion of our decisions this offseason that is different than coming off the Super Bowl or coming off losing to the Saints in the divisional round.”

• Per NBC Sports’ Dave Zangaro, Eagles HC Doug Pederson had a resounding affirmative when asked if he wanted OT Jason Peters back in 2020: “Heck yeah.”
• Roseman was much more measured in his comments, as Philadelphia does have 2019 first-round OT Andre Dillard waiting in the wings: “A big part of this week is accumulating information. That’s what we do here. Obviously, when you’re talking about Jason Peters, you’re talking about a Hall of Fame player, a Hall of Fame person, someone that’s very special to us and played at a really high level last year. We’ll go through all those decisions this week.”
• Pederson did acknowledge the team might end up moving on from Peters to let Dillard into the lineup: “Sometimes, too, you have to make tough decisions. …We’re not there yet.” (Zach Berman)
• LSU C Lloyd Cushenberry said he met with the Eagles at the Combine. (Twitter)
• The Eagles met with Michigan WR/KR Donovan Peoples-Jones and Southern Miss WR Quez Watkins at the NFL Combine. (Mike Kaye)
• Kaye notes that Watkins is expected to run a 40-yard dash time in the 4.3 range. 

Giants

• While the initial reaction from a lot of executives, coaches and scouts has been skeptical that Patriots QB Tom Brady leaves New England, NFL Media’s Michael Giardi mentions the Giants have come up as a potential destination for Brady. 
• LSU C Lloyd Cushenberry said he met with the Giants at the Combine. (Twitter)
• Temple C Matt Hennessy met with the Giants at the Senior Bowl. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Michigan C Cesar Ruiz had a formal interview with the Giants at the Combine. (Ryan Dunleavy)
• Georgia OT Andrew Thomas has a formal interview scheduled with the Giants at the Combine. (Dunleavy)
• Alabama OT Jedrick Wills will have a formal interview with the Giants at the Combine. He’s also spoken to the team informally. (Vacchiano)

Redskins

Despite being a first-round pick just a year ago, a new regime coming in meant even Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins faced some questions about his future in Washington. New HC Ron Rivera notably mentioned Haskins would face competition this offseason and in the leadup to the season and they needed Haskins to take a step forward as a professional after he had some difficulties with the demands of the college to NFL transition as a rookie. However, new Redskins VP of player personnel Kyle Smith had high praise for how Haskins has responded to the challenge so far. 

“He’s ready to do everything he possibly can,” Smith said via NBC Sports Ethan Cadeaux. “The other day he told me he’s bringing the guys down to Florida to throw with them and do the things he can do. He’s doing all the extra stuff that we expect of him and he’s got a bright future.”

“He’s smiling walking around the building,” Smith added. “He’s excited, he’s energized. . . . He also needs his time. He’s a young kid, man. He’s got the right stuff. He’s a good kid, he works hard. We’re all excited about Dwayne.”

• Per the Athletic’s Ben Standig, Rivera praised Haskins’ growth throughout the season but reiterated he won’t just give him the starting job in 2020: “He’s not anointed. That’s for God doggone sure.”
• According to ESPN’s John Keim, the Redskins will meet with the reps for DE Ryan Kerrigan at the Combine, potentially to discuss a contract extension. 
• Rivera said early discussions with LT Trent Williams have taken place: “It’s a work in progress.” (Standig)
• Rivera told reporters they would explore all options, including a trade down, with the No. 2 overall pick. (Standig)
• Rivera indicated Washington would look to the draft to find a replacement for TE Jordan Reed. (Standig)
• The Redskins plan to rely on the other young cornerbacks on the roster to replace CB Josh Norman. (JP Finlay)
• The Redskins will host both LSU QB Joe Burrow and Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa for pre-draft visits, per JP Finlay.