NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cowboys’ recently hired QBs coach Jon Kitna said Dak Prescott “wants to be elite” and has been impressed with the quarterback so far through the offseason program. 

“The hardest thing I think in life is to go from really good or great to elite. It’s one of the hardest things,” Kitna said, via Todd Archer of ESPN. “They’re kind of enemies of each other and fortunately for him and for me as a quarterback coach, he wants to be elite.”

Kitna added that Prescott asks a lot of questions during practice and his “drive” to improve is what “sets him apart” from other quarterbacks. 

“He wants to be the best and so he comes out every day wondering, asking the whys. Why am I doing this? Why are we doing this drill? What do you want me to do this for? Because he wants to know why it connects and how it’s going to help him become an elite player in this league for a long time … I think that’s what sets him apart. He already has an elite mindset. He doesn’t want to just be good enough or very good or great. He wants to be elite. He wants to be the best. He wants to eliminate anything that maybe he sees as a weakness. He wants to get better at it and so, yeah, definitely his drive is what sets him apart I believe.”

Giants

• Dan Duggan reports that Giants RB Rod Smith‘s one-year contract carries a max value of $895,000 and includes a base salary of $805,000 base salary, a $65,000 roster bonus, and a $25,000 workout bonus.
• Duggan mentions that Smith will count for $730,000 against the Giants’ 2019 salary cap. 

Redskins

Redskins HC Jay Gruden said first-round QB Dwayne Haskins has impressed him with his arm through the first two days of rookie minicamp.

“It’s been a treat,” Gruden said of Haskins, per John Keim. “He’s made some throws that turn your head without a doubt…When he’s got a clean pocket and his feet are there, he’s just a big fundamentally sound guy. The ball just jumps off his hand.”

• Gruden mentioned that he has “no doubt” that first-round OLB Montez Sweat will “play a lot” this season: “I have no doubt he’ll play a lot,” Gruden said. The skill set is obvious. You see his length, you watch him run after practice.” (John Keim)