NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Regarding the Cowboys altering QB Dak Prescott‘s footwork, former QB Tony Romo believes changing Prescott’s style could do more harm than good. 

“The more I worked on footwork in football, I found my throwing mechanics sometimes suffered because it was actually making it more difficult,” Romo said. “Basically, the way the ball comes off your hand, your lower body and everything adjusts to that.”

Romo believes that if Prescott is throwing with “velocity and spin,” then the Cowboys shouldn’t “mess with it too much.” 

“Dak’s going to work hard. He’s a hard worker. He’s got good coaches around him,” Romo said. “As long as he’s throwing the ball with velocity and spin, then I wouldn’t mess with it too much.”

According to Tony Romo, newly unretired TE Jason Witten shouldn’t have an issue acclimating back to the game despite taking an entire year off. 

“He’ll pick up right where he left off,” Romo said via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t think it’s a big challenge for Jason. The reality of it is as long as, if you know the game the way he does, there are certain positions — he plays one of them at tight end — he’s always going to have the nuance to get open. Let’s say he runs the exact same he always did, to me, it’s just that at that position, your ability to use leverage against somebody, make you think this and then do that. It’s like the back pick in basketball. Just all of a sudden, it gets you, and you don’t even know it was coming, and that guy is wide open. He’s very intelligent with the game of football. I think he’s going to pick up right from when he retired. I think you’re going to see the same guy.”

Giants

• According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, via Dan Duggan of the Athletic, the Giants will have $55 million in cap space in 2020 and could stretch that number to $75 million by releasing CB Janoris Jenkins, LB Alec Ogletree, TE Rhett Ellison and LB Kareem Martin.
• Based on Giants GM Dave Gettleman‘s history, Fitzgerald says it’s reasonable to expect him to target one big-name free agent, then focus on mid-tier free agents and trades for veterans while saving cap space for extending young players. 
• Among the positions Gettleman could target for a big splash, the Giants still need to solidify right tackle, edge rusher and safety.
• Some candidates include Texans LB Jadeveon Clowney, Panthers OT Daryl Williams, Browns C J.C. Tretter, Cowboys CB Byron Jones, Jaguars LB Myles Jack, Broncos DE Derek Wolfe and Colts OT Anthony Castonzo. 
• Some candidates for extensions on the team include DT Dalvin Tomlinson, who will enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2020, and TE Evan Engram, who’s fifth-year option comes up next offseason. 

Redskins

Redskins seventh-round CB Jimmy Moreland showed out during spring practices, picking off five passes. If he keeps up that level of play during training camp, he’s a strong candidate to start for the team as its nickel corner. 

“He’s always around the ball, excellent ball skills, that’s what drew us to him and he’s proven to be quite the athlete,” Redskins HC Jay Gruden said via NBC Sports’ JP Finlay. “He’s picked up the system very well. He’s playing inside and outside. I’ve been very impressed with him.”