NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Jon Machota of The Athletic wonders how Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy will utilize star RB Ezekiel Elliott in his first season with Dallas. Machota notes that Elliott is the best running back that McCarthy has coached so far in his career.

“Making a quarterback successful, I think, is really common sense,” McCarthy said two weeks ago. “It’s really part of the bylaws and how the West Coast offense was designed. So that’s what I’ll always believe in because he touches the ball every play. He’s the player that’s going to have the ball in his hands at the most critical part of the game in the fourth quarter. As far as your playmakers, you’ve got five premier positions. Obviously, running back is one of them.” 

McCarthy will be tasked with not only keeping Elliott heavily involved but also finding ways to get RB Tony Pollard, who had a breakout season in 2019, more carries and playing time.

“You get the ball to your playmaker. Zeke will touch the football plenty in our offense,” said McCarthy. “When I say, ‘It’s all about the quarterback,’ it’s not taking away (from Elliott). Someone has to give the ball to the playmaker. So it makes sense to develop that way. Zeke will be a primary focus for us offensively.”

• According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, the Cowboys are working hard on a deal for WR Amari Cooper and Cooper’s camp seems motivated to get a deal done. 
• Werder says his read on the situation is that Cooper could be locked up before QB Dak Prescott. 

Eagles

• Adam Caplan relays that NFL scouts don’t believe Eagles CB Rasul Douglas is a fluid enough athlete to move to safety fulltime. 

Giants

• Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that Iowa OL Tristan Wirfs will have a pre-draft visit with the Giants.
• Leonard also says that the Giants and DL Leonard Williams are not close on the terms for a new contract. Leonard believes that the team may have to cut their losses if Williams receives a large offer from another team and notes that the Giants would be unlikely to match it.
• With Cowboys TE Blake Jarwin likely receiving a tender, the Giants may be in a position to re-unite TE Jason Witten with his former coach, New York OC Jason Garrett, according to Leonard.
• Leonard lists three free agents with ties to the New England area as possible fits for the Giants including S Devin McCourty, C Ted Karras, and C Joe Looney.
• According to the Athletic’s Dan Duggan, the Giants will have interest in Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney in free agency, though it’s unclear if Giants GM Dave Gettleman will make a major investment in him given his injury history. 
• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes writes the Giants don’t appear to be willing to pay as much for Panthers CB James Bradberry as other interested suitors. 

Redskins

• ESPN’s John Keim writes the Redskins have an incentive to get a deal done sooner rather than later with LT Trent Williams to try and avoid another drawn-out situation like last year. 
• Keim points out that Washington might be able to get a third or fourth-round compensatory pick in 2022 if Williams leaves at the end of his contract this year, which sets the bar for negotiations. 
• Keim also adds that Williams would be pulling a risky move if he sat out a second consecutive season, which would cost him $24 million in total and hurt his chances at a big new deal. 
• Albert Breer of SI notes that things initially got out of control between Williams and the Redskins when Williams made it clear he wanted to make “quarterback money”.
• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes writes that the Redskins might not be as invested in Panthers CB James Bradberry as previously believed.