NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins

Cowboys

• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal lists Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as an obvious candidate for the franchise tag. 
• If the Cowboys can’t sign WR Amari Cooper to a long-term deal before the start of free agency, the transition tag would be a last resort to stop him from hitting the open market. 
• Cowboys CB Byron Jones has two other players ahead of him and likely won’t get the tag. 
• The Athletic’s Jon Machota highlights Lions DT Mike Daniels, Browns S Damarious Randall, Eagles TE Richard Rodgers, Packers TE Marcedes Lewis, Bears S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Packers S Ibraheim Campbell as potential free-agent targets for Dallas who are familiar with new HC Mike McCarthy. 
• Other options include Bengals TE Tyler Eifert, Raiders S Karl Joseph, Rams K Greg Zuerlein and Buccaneers DT Ndamukong Suh.
• Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News writes it would almost be a surprise if Rams S Marqui Christian doesn’t sign with the Cowboys as a backup safety and special teamer, joining his old ST coach John Fassel. 
• Watkins also mentions Joseph and Chargers S Adrian Phillips as options for Dallas in free agency.
• Cowboys’ impending free-agent TE Jason Witten has only met with McCarthy once and had yet to make a decision to return at that time. (David Moore)

Eagles

• The Athletic’s Bo Wulf expects the Eagles to pay a little more attention to linebacker than they usually do after releasing LB Nigel Bradham by signing a veteran with significant starting experience and using a mid-round pick on the position. 
• Zach Berman lists Bears LB Nick Kwiatkoski, Browns LB Joe Schobert and Falcons LB De’Vondre Campbell as potential free agent targets. 
• Wulf also mentions Ravens LB Patrick Onwuasor as a low-cost option. 
• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentions Titans CB Logan Ryan as one of the top free-agent cornerbacks available for the Eagles to pursue. 
• CBS analyst and former agent Joel Corry says while the Eagles technically could try to trade WR Alshon Jeffery, “no team out there is going to give anything up for a slow, aging, injured, quarterback-criticizing receiver who is almost certain to miss all offseason activities, including training camp, who might also not even be ready for the 2020 season,” per Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice.
• Because there are no June 1 cuts in the final year of the CBA, the Eagles also are unable to split up Jeffery’s dead money hit from releasing him unless a new CBA is agreed to. Jeffery’s current dead money charge of $26 million would be the biggest in NFL history. 
• While the Eagles could seek to default Jeffery’s guarantees based on his anonymous comments criticizing the team and QB Carson Wentz, it’s unlikely the team takes this route and signs up to battle with the NFLPA. (Jeff McLane)

Redskins

The Redskins announced on Wednesday they were exercising RB Adrian Peterson‘s option to keep him in the fold for 2020. Peterson will turn 35 before the start of the season and has shown he can still be a productive player, rushing for 898 yards on 4.3 YPC. His goals are even higher for the coming season in Washington. 

“Going into this season, there’s so much more I can do and how I can help this team,” Peterson said via ESPN’s John Keim. “My mentality is showing the Adrian Peterson of old and not just flashes; really showing, ‘Wow, this cat is on a whole different level.'”

• Per NBC Sports’ JP Finlay, Panthers CB James Bradberry could be a strong free-agent target for Washington to fill its hole at cornerback. 
• While Bradberry said during an interview before the Super Bowl his “dream scenario” would be returning to the Panthers, he added the idea of rejoining HC Ron Rivera in Washington was enticing, calling Rivera a “great man and a great coach.”
• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal doesn’t think the Redskins will use the franchise tag on G Brandon Scherff, though he doesn’t rule it out, and will either sign him to an extension or let him walk. 
• Redskins DE Ryan Kerrigan is a strong candidate for an extension that adds a year onto his deal and lowers his cap hit for the 2020 season. (Finlay)
• Redskins TE Jordan Reed is ready for a fresh start outside of Washington after his expected release from the team. (Finlay)