NFC East Notes: Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Eagles

Eagles DE Derek Barnett is something of an unknown quantity given he came off the bench his rookie year and missed most of 2018 due to injury. The team has complete confidence in the former first-round pick to step into a major role this season, though.

“I’d say every time he’s on the field, he’s rewarding our investment in him,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said via Dave Spadaro of the team website. “We have a lot of confidence in him as a player and he’s a huge part of our football team. He’s shown that this isn’t a guy that’s going into his third year and we haven’t seen what he’s done. We’ve seen what he’s done in big games. We saw what he was doing last year before he got hurt. We expect him to come in and be a huge part of our team.”

Giants

• The NY Daily News’ Pat Leonard expects QB Eli Manning to be playing with another team in 2020 if he does continue his career, as his contract ends following the 2019 season. 
• Leonard adds Manning likely has to play well enough in 2019 to prove he can still start for a team in 2020, otherwise teams won’t want to sign him. 
• If the latter scenario plays out, Leonard expects Manning to retire rather than play as a backup somewhere. 
• Leonard mentions the Saints and Titans as possible options for Manning in 2020 if Drew Brees retires or the Titans don’t re-sign Marcus Mariota. 

Redskins

The Redskins signed WR Paul Richardson in free agency last season to be a deep threat, but injuries limited the veteran to only 20 catches and 262 yards. Washington HC Jay Gruden is still hopeful Richardson can provide the impact in 2019 they envisioned when they signed him.

“He showed glimpses in training camp of ‘wow, this guy can run.’ He’s got great hands, but I think he was beat up a little bit,” Gruden said via NBC Sports’ J.P. Finlay. “I know he’s got it in him, I know he wants that back and he’s going to ask for a lot more opportunities to make plays on the ball this year  and he will get it if he’s healthy.”

• The Redskins won’t be in attendance for Washington State S Jalen Thompson‘s workout ahead of the supplemental draft, but will be represented by BLESTO scouting service. (John Keim)