NFC East Rumors: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Dallas executive vice president Stephen Jones said 2019 will be a big year for a lot of Cowboys, including HC Jason Garrett.  

“No one wants Jason to be around here for the long term more than the Jones family. No one thinks more of him than we do,” Jones said via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  “But at the same time, everybody’s back is against the wall right now.  We’ve got a really good young team. We’ve got high expectations for this young team. And everybody, from Jason to his staff, to our players, to ownership, to the organization, feels the pressure to take the next step. Our fans deserve that.”

• Jones would not discuss specifics of a likely pay cut for LB Sean Lee, but did say the team wants him back.  
• Jones said the Cowboys also plan to pick up the 2019 option on WR Allen Hurns as he recovers from a fractured ankle.  Hill said Hurns is another likely candidate for a pay cut.
• Cowboys HC Jason Garrett said in his interview Wednesday the team would like to bring back WR Cole Beasley, but they might be priced out on the open market.  (Charean Williams)
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer expects the Cowboys to eventually extend QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliot, WR Amari Cooper and DE Demarcus Lawrence with deals that all total more than $15 million a season.  
• Given that, there might not be cap space to sign LB Jaylon Smith or DB Byron Jones to extensions, particularly with deals for LB Leighton Vander Esch and CB Chidobe Awuzie looming in a couple of years. 
• A source told the Athletic that ESPN liked TE Jason Witten and was planning to involve him more in the network’s draft coverage to build his confidence, but Witten “missed the game and didn’t like the TV life.”  (Calvin Watkins)
• Per a Cowboys source, Witten contacted owner Jerry Jones about returning: “He wanted to play. (He) talked to Jerry, made it work.”  (Josina Anderson)
• Jason Garrett said about Witten: “I think he felt like there was still some meat on the bone, some things he wanted to accomplish. I think he loves it and he wants to be in this environment. There’s no doubt in his mind he can still play. There’s no doubt in my mind he can still play.” (Jon Machota)

Eagles

The Eagles have met or scheduled meetings with the following players:

• Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams.  (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Alabama RB Josh Jacobs. (Zack Rosenblatt)
• FAU RB Devin Singletary. (Rosenblatt)
• Alabama RB Damien Harris. (Shorr-Parks)
• Stanford RB Bryce Love.  (Shorr-Parks)
• Penn State RB Miles Sanders. (Mike Kaye)
• Temple RB Ryquell Armstead. (Kaye)
• Notre Dame RB Dexter Williams. (Shorr-Parks)
• Memphis RB Tony Pollard.  (Kaye)
• Oklahoma RB Rodney Anderson. (Rosenblatt)
• Miami RB Travis Homer. (Shorr-Parks)
• Washington RB Myles Gaskin. (Shorr-Parks)
• Kansas State OL Dalton Risner. (Kaye)
• Jimmy Kempski of the Philadelphia Voice believes the Eagles will tender restricted free agent QB Nate Sudfeld at the second-round level.  
• Kempski thinks the Eagles will add a third young quarterback behind Sudfeld. 

Giants

Tony Pauline reports that he has heard “for weeks” that the Giants are “very interested” in QB Nick Foles and pursuing him was a matter of whether the Eagles would franchise tag him. 

• Alabama OT Jonah Williams met with the Giants.  (D. Orlando Ledbetter)
• Florida OT Jawaan Taylor had a formal interview with the Giants. (Ryan Dunleavy)
• Ole Miss OT Greg Little also had a formal interview with the Giants. (Art Stapleton)
• Penn State RB Miles Sanders met with the Giants.  (Matt Lombardo)
• Elon OL Oli Udoh will meet with the Giants. (Stapleton)
• Oklahoma OL Dru Samia met with the Giants.  (Lombardo)
• Florida OL Martez Ivey met with the Giants.  (Lombardo)
• Oklahoma OL Cody Ford met with the Giants. (Pat Leonard)
• WVU OT Yodney Cajuste said he’s met with the Giants.  (Matt Lombardo)

Redskins

• ESPN’s John Keim believes Washington could cut CB Josh Norman for cap relief.  The veteran is in the team’s plans for 2019 currently, but the Redskins would save $11.5 million designating Norman as a June 1 cut.  
• TE Jordan Reed is another possible cut, freeing $6 million, but Keim thinks Washington is still trying to win next season and will hold on to Reed. 
• Washington would like to keep TE Vernon Davis, but will try to lower his $6.3 million cap hit.
• Keim believes the likely cuts are LB Zach Brown ($5.75 million savings) who was benched late in the year, LB Mason Foster ($4 million) who angered people in the building with comments on social media, and DL Stacy McGee ($2.275 million).  
• Redskins HC Jay Gruden says the Redskins will address quarterback this offseason, either through free agency or the draft.  (JP Finlay)
• GM Doug Williams said the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of whatever quarterback the Redskins add being a young player.  (Finlay)
• Using the team’s first-round pick, No. 15 overall, on a quarterback is on the table, according to Gruden.  (Finlay)
• Gruden added the team is talking with QB Josh Johnson‘s agent about bringing him back.  (Finlay)
• The team feels comfortable with QB Colt McCoy, but competition is never a bad thing.  (Finlay)
• Williams said Washington isn’t considering trading up, but will gladly take a QB they like at No. 15.  (Finlay)
• The Redskins have not made a decision on WR Josh Doctson‘s fifth-year option.  (Finlay)
• Washington has not made much progress on re-signing RB Adrian Peterson, as it’s a tricky deal with Peterson’s age and the return of RB Derrius Guice from injury.  (John Keim)