NFC Notes: CeedDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, Commanders, Cowboys, Giants

Commanders

Ben Standig of The Athletic updated his projection of the Commanders’ 53-man roster before the joint practice week with the Dolphins.

• Starting with QB, Standig believes they will go with Jeff Driskel because of his prior experience starting and they will try to retain UDFA Sam Hartman on the practice squad.
• Standig thinks RB Jeremy McNichols will make it for his experience as a pass-down back, leaving sixth-round RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. to be cut. 
• Due to the breakout of WR Brycen Treymayne, Standig has him on the roster over veteran WR Jamison Crowder. 
• On the offensive line, Standig feels centers Ricky Stromberg and J.C. Hassenauer‘s chances will be affected by C Michael Deiter‘s ability to play guard.
• Standig predicts LB Anthony Pittman will make it over LB Mykal Walker because of his contributions on special teams.
• At CB, Standig feels Noah Igbinoghene will make it along with UDFA Chigozie Anuseim over Kyu Blu Kelly because of his high singing bonus. 

Cowboys

• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports conversations are ongoing between the Cowboys and QB Dak Prescott, and while an extension is not considered close, Dallas does feel like it’s made progress from where things stood this offseason. 
• While Fowler doesn’t think Prescott is angling to hit free agency, he also doesn’t think he’s opposed to the idea if it comes to that. 
• Fowler adds the Cowboys think they’re closer with Lamb and multiple people think a deal will get done soon, inevitably for more than $30 million per year. 
• Regarding some of the other roster questions facing the Cowboys, Fowler notes Dallas would be more comfortable with veteran QB Cooper Rush if needed to win a game in a pinch than QB Trey Lance, making Rush the backup and Lance the No. 3. 
• The Cowboys are keeping an eye on outside options at running back, including Panthers RB Miles Sanders, per Fowler. Veteran RB Dalvin Cook has also indicated interest in playing for the team. Fowler writes the team wants to manage RB Ezekiel Elliott‘s snaps as the starter and likes backup RB Rico Dowdle, but the latter’s health will dictate how big his role is. They’ve also been impressed by veteran RB Royce Freeman as a physical runner in small doses as the No. 2 or No. 3. 
• Fowler mentions the Cowboys think first-round LT Tyler Guyton is ahead of where OL Tyler Smith was at this stage of his rookie year. He also says the Cowboys expect to field trade interest in their reserve offensive linemen which they could flip for help at defensive end, running back or cornerback. 
• Cowboys owner Jerry Jones clarified his comments about not being urgent to re-sign WR CeeDee Lamb: “No one appreciates CeeDee being on the field any more than I do. But let me say this, he wouldn’t be taking a snap out here today if he had been here. I understand completely the angst that’s happening when you’re anxious about and someone says anything about whether you’re missed or not. Well, CeeDee, you’re missed. But you’re not missed out here competing and it doesn’t put any pressure, any place on us.” (Jon Machota)

Giants

• Giants QB Drew Lock was able to throw on Sunday and is “100 percent confident” he’ll be ready to start the season. (Dan Salomone)
• Per Howard Balzer, New York worked out LBs Shaun Bradley, K.J. Cloyd, Trey Kiser, and Chapelle Russell but signed Cloyd.