NFC East Notes: Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Eagles

• Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com writes that undrafted rookie RB Josh Adams could be a candidate for the Eagles’ practice squad if he’s unable to win a roster spot outright this summer.
• Kempski was asked if the Eagles may try to place him on injured reserve with a minor injury to stash for another year. Kempski doesn’t think they would have to do this with Adams, but names OT Jordan Mailata and DE Josh Sweat as two players that could be “hang nail” candidates.
• In a separate article, Kempski believes it could make sense for the Eagles to a place bid on Virginia Tech CB Adonis Alexander in this year’s Supplemental Draft based on the fact that they had just five draft picks this year. Although, Kempski suggests Philadelphia only use a late-round pick on him.
• Reuben Frank’s gut feeling is that the Eagles will open the 2018 season with Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby as their starting cornerbacks on the outside and Sidney Jones in the slot. From there, Frank believes Rasul Douglas will be the team’s top backup at outside cornerback with De’Vante Bausby or Avonte Maddox also in the mix.

Giants

• Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News says that Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr looked “impressively close to full strength” in the individual drills he did at the start of the practices last week.
• It remains to be seen whether Beckham will take part in the team’s voluntary practices this week, but Leonard says that the longer the Giants and GM Dave Gettleman wait, the closer they’ll be to a situation where Beckham could hold out for a long-term extension.
• Reports have said that Beckham could be targeting as much as $20 million per year as part of a long-term extension, but it’s possible the Giants could slow-play the situation knowing that they have the franchise tag available next year.
• We have him featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.

Redskins

Redskins first-round DL Da’Ron Payne’s college coach, Nick Saban, explained that controlling Payne’s weight will be important to ensuring his effectiveness as a player at the next level.

“With him controlling weight, working on initial quickness, getting to be a better technical pass-rusher, moving his hands and using his feet at the same time,” Saban said of Payne, via John Keim of ESPN. “He’s a driven guy, so he’ll do whatever you tell him to do, and he’ll work hard at it.

“As long as you keep his weight down. Bigger is not better with him. He’s big enough.”

Saban did, however, says that Payne made strides as an interior pass-rusher during his time at Alabama.

“He’s strong at the point. He’s very physical,” Saban said. “He uses his hands well, controls blockers and he’s got really good initial quickness for his size. He did a much better job this past season as an interior pass-rusher. He has initial quickness and is athletic enough to finish on the quarterback. The key with him is don’t let him get too heavy so he can stay quick enough to be an every-down player.”