NFC East Notes: Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Eagles

• Per NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Eagles GM Howie Roseman said infusing the team with youth is a priority and they anticipate having 10 draft picks. 
• Roseman told reporters Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery took a paycut this past season in exchange for guaranteeing part of his 2020 salary. (Jimmy Kempski)
• Roseman added, however, that no decisions about player’s futures have been made. (Jeff McLane)
• After a year in which the Eagles didn’t live up to preseason Super Bowl expectations, Roseman acknowledged he needs to be better in 2020: “First of all, I wasn’t good enough. We’re not playing right now. That wasn’t our goal, that wasn’t our expectation. I will do a better job.” (94WIP)
• Roseman mentioned he feels like he made a strong effort at the trade deadline for DB Minkah Fitzpatrick and CB Jalen Ramsey, but ultimately felt like it was in the best interest of the team to walk away from those deals. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Roseman noted the trade with the Browns for DE Genard Avery was made more with 2020 in mind to get Avery time to find a role with the team. (Kempski)

Giants

• According to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, while Matt Rhule was at the top of the Giants’ list entering their coaching search, former Patriots ST coordinator and new HC Joe Judge impressed them and rose throughout the process.
• When they started the search, eventual Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy and Patriots OC Josh McDaniels were also high on the Giants’ wishlist alongside Rhule. 
• Vacchiano outlines the timeline for the Giants, with McCarthy off the table by the end of the weekend and interviews set for Judge on Monday, Rhule on Tuesday and McDaniels on Wednesday. They also requested an interview with former Cowboys HC Jason Garrett after Dallas announced it was moving on. 
• On Monday, Judge “blew everyone away” with his interview and also was backed by a strong recommendation from Patriots HC Bill Belichick.
• When Rhule called to give the Giants the opportunity to match Carolina’s offer, the Giants declined, as seven years and $62 million was more than they were willing to spend on a first-year head coach.
• With Judge also receiving interest from Mississippi State, the Giants quickly pivoted to make sure they didn’t lose another top choice, with one source saying while the team was stunned it didn’t even have the chance to interview Rhule, it was happy with Judge: “It doesn’t matter how we got here. We feel we got the right guy. And I think everyone will be happy in the end.”
• An NFL source said Judge had a good chance of being a strong candidate during next year’s coaching cycle: “Giants got him a year early. Could be smart move for them. He’s a guy on a lot of radars next year.” (Art Stapleton)

Redskins

After spending a first-round pick on QB Dwayne Haskins last year, it would be logical to write in Haskins as Washington’s starting quarterback entering the 2020 season. But while new HC Ron Rivera has praised Haskins’ work and potential, he has notably stopped short of committing to Haskins as the starter when the season begins. It’s entirely possible Washington brings back either veteran QB Case Keenum or Colt McCoy to compete for the starting job, or Alex Smith makes enough progress in his rehab to return to the field. 

“What we’re trying to do right now is to develop that plan for his development as we go forward,” Rivera said via ESPN’s John Keim. “There’s a couple good veteran quarterbacks that [will] get some opportunities to play as well. We won’t know until we get ready to open up in September, so until then, everything is just a process. We can’t get ahead of it; we’ve got to stay to the plan and make sure we’re preparing ourselves properly to win football games.”

• According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the Redskins could target Panthers GM Marty Hurney following the 2020 NFL Draft, as he has a good relationship with Rivera. 
• Panthers DL coach Sam Mills III will join the exodus of Carolina staffers to the Redskins. (Joseph Person)
• The Panthers blocked an interview request from the Redskins for RB coach Jake Peetz. (Albert Breer)
• The Redskins hired DC Jack Del Rio‘s son, Luke Del Rio, as an offensive quality control coach. (JP Finlay)