NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

• NBC Sports’ Peter King notes the Cowboys love Michigan C Cesar Ruiz and could try to trade down a few spots to pick him later in the first round. 
• The Athletic’s Jay Glazer fully expects QB Dak Prescott to be the starter for the Cowboys in 2021 despite the two sides still being unable to come to an agreement on an extension. 
• Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline says the Cowboys also have significant interest in Temple C Matt Hennessy.
• Dallas is expected to add a punter late in the draft or in undrafted free agency to compete with 2019 starter Chris Jones. (Michael Gehlken)

Eagles

• NBC Sports’ Peter King says the Eagles didn’t want to give up the No. 53 pick in the second round to the Rams for WR Brandin Cooks. 
• 94 WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks lists several pass rushers the Eagles could be interested in, including LSU DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Boise State DE Curtis Weaver, Alabama DE Terrell Lewis, Tennessee DE Darrell Taylor and Alabama DE Anfernee Jennings. 

Giants

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer points out Giants GM Dave Gettleman believes you need to get an elite player when picking as high as the Giants are in the draft. Both Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons and Louisville OT Mekhi Becton have that potential, per Breer. 
• NBC Sports’ Peter King says it’s hard to see the Giants going anywhere besides offensive tackle with their first-round pick, as they need to protect QB Daniel Jones. Breer mentions Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills are at the top of many boards. 
• Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline says the word at the NFL Combine was the Giants planned to move OT Nate Solder to right tackle. 
• Pauline adds the Giants have shown a lot of interest in Temple C Matt Hennessy. 
• NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton reports the Giants had two video conferences with Hennessy last week. 
• Gettleman told reporters he doesn’t anticipate there being an issue with Giants DL Leonard Wiliams not signing his franchise tag: “You can’t guarantee anything in this life, but we’ve gotten to know Leonard real well and I feel really comfortable with the decision.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Asked about why he chose to use the franchise tag instead of the transition tag or allowing Williams to test free agency, Gettleman responded: “We felt good about our cap space, and with what Leonard brings to our team, we felt it was the right move to use the franchise tag on him.” (Matt Lombardo)
• Regarding a timeline for a potential long-term deal for Williams, Gettleman didn’t offer any clarity: “Contracts get done when they’re supposed to get done. So we’ll just move along.” (Vacchiano)
• None of the Giants free-agent signings have passed physicals yet and will have their deals voided if they can’t pass. (Zack Rosenblatt)
• At offensive tackle, Gettleman said the team has faith in Nick Gates while acknowledging Solder didn’t play well in 2019: “Nate had a rough year last year, nobody’s denying it, certainly he is not.” (Stapleton)
• Gates is also being considered as a backup plan for the Giants at center. (Jordan Raanan)
• The Giants are also weighing their options heavily in the draft with the uncertain options on the roster, per Gettleman: “We won’t know about (Jon Halapio) until June with the Achilles. (Spencer Pulley) has played a ton of football. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him. We’re working that group over pretty good in the draft.” (Vacchiano)
• Gettleman referenced being cognizant of resources for future seasons, including extensions for players like RB Saquon Barkley: “After the year you guys are gonna be banging on me about Saquon.” (Pat Leonard)
• While Gettleman wants to build a pass rush that can generate pressure with just the front four like the Giants’ Super Bowl-winning teams, he suggested it won’t come by making massive investments in players like Jadeveon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue or Markus Golden to boost New York’s pass rush: “But you can’t manufacture it and you can’t overpay for it. So what it really comes down to is: It’s not about who gets the sacks, it’s about how many sacks you get and really how much pressure you apply.” (Vacchiano)

Redskins

• Per FS1, Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins‘ former coach at Ohio State, Urban Meyer, said Washington needs to add weapons for the former first-round pick: “If they surround him with excellent players, he will be a great quarterback. If they don’t, he won’t.”
• Redskins CB Ronald Darby‘s one-year, $3 million deal includes a $1 million signing bonus, $1.25 million base salary and up to $750,000 in per-game active roster bonuses. (John Keim)