NFC East Rumors: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cornerback stands out upon a quick glance at the Cowboys depth chart as a potential weakness. The Cowboys lost Byron Jones in free agency and didn’t really make any additions of note to replace him. That leaves the draft as a strong option but Dallas says it’s not locking in on any one position in the first round. 

“I just think it all depends on the board,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said via Pro Football Talk. “We try to, every year, in free agency do what we need to do to feel good about our team regardless of what we pick in the draft. I think we’ve done a good job of that. I’ve always said player acquisition is 365 days a year — it’s a lot more than just the draft so we just don’t feel the pressure to have to take a certain position early.”

One position the Cowboys seem to be leaning towards taking is a quarterback. While there still isn’t much movement on a long-term deal for QB Dak Prescott, Jones says this isn’t about finding a replacement for Prescott. Instead, they want to have a backup who HC Mike McCarthy can work with and potentially develop into a trade asset down the line. 

“We like to be developing a young quarterback,” Jones said via Pro Football Talk. “That’s always great. We’d like to have one that would develop to the level that would be somebody you could trade and built asset that way. Mike . . . wants a certain number of quarterbacks in the building, ideally, to be working with. One of the things Mike brings is, frankly, a really good background developing quarterbacks and working with quarterbacks and a very astute coaching perspective of what makes a good quarterback for what we hope to be his team for years to come.

“I’m looking forward to following quarterbacks with Mike as coach. All of that weighs into: Let’s make sure we have somebody here — or somebodies — who are getting those snaps that are precious. Whether they’re in preseason, practice or whether it could be in a ball game, make sure they’re going to someone who’s got the future in mind along with doing what we need to do to win the ball game should we not have Dak in there [because of injury].”

• The Cowboys are showing a lot of interest in Arkansas State DL Kevin Thurmon, per Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline.
• TCU CB Jeff Gladney had a video interview with the Cowboys. (Aaron Wilson)

Eagles

• ESPN’s Dan Graziano lists Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery as a potential veteran who could be traded during the draft. 
• However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in an interview on 975 The Fanatic he doesn’t see Jeffery being moved because of his salary: “There are always things that come up that you never see but I don’t see Alshon getting traded, I see him staying in Philadelphia.”
• Michael Lombardi said on Wednesday’s “GM Shuffle” podcast that the Eagles want to trade DB Rasul Douglas and are going to try to get a cornerback and linebacker in this year’s draft.
• Lombardi says they’ve also talked about trading Jeffery but he isn’t sure how they would be able to pull this off.

Giants

• Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, citing multiple NFL sources, reports that the Giants’ preference in the 2020 NFL Draft is to trade down from No. 4 overall and have had “preliminary conversations” with teams in hopes of setting up the parameters of a deal by Thursday night.
• An NFL source told Vacchiano that the Giants “extremely motivated” to trade down.
• According to Vacchiano, the Giants are “setting their sights” on a first-round offensive tackle and feel they could trade down “several spots” to land Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, or Louisville’s Mekhi Becton. 

Redskins

• NBC Sports’ JP Finlay says there’s nothing going on at the moment between the Redskins and Buccaneers for TE O.J. Howard, though that could change. 
• ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports the Buccaneers are more inclined to draft an offensive tackle after the trade sending Howard to Washington for LT Trent Williams fell through. However, it’s unclear what the future holds for Howard. 
• ESPN’s John Keim says Washington is content with holding Williams through the draft and getting picks in 2021 if no one meets their asking price. 
• Michael Lombardi explained on Wednesday’s “GM Shuffle” podcast that the Redskins want a first-round pick back in a trade for Williams.
• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says Redskins HC Ron Rivera had a one-on-one conversation with Ohio State DE Chase Young that was described as “very positive.” There weren’t any promises made but Fowler says the stage is set for Washington to draft Young No. 2 overall. 
• Regarding fielding trade calls for the No. 2 overall pick, Rivera made it sound like Washington wasn’t keen to move down: “We’ve just listened more than anything else. It’s all part of the due diligence. We’ve targeted a few players that we feel are worthy of that pick and we’ll see how things unfold. Thursday night.” (Josina Anderson)
• Rivera mentioned finding a defensive playmaker outside of the defensive line like other players he’s coached like Brian Urlacher and Luke Kuechly: “There are other positions that do impact the QB, not just straight from the line. It’s been part of the conversations I’ve had with Kyle Smith.” (Anderson)
• Washington hasn’t shown much interest in Memphis RB Antonio Gibson. (Keim)
• Washington has looked hard at receivers and tight ends in this draft class, but they also showed interest in TE Delanie Walker earlier this offseason and could revisit that after the draft.