NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Vikings

Cowboys

• Todd Archer reports that the Cowboys have hired Ken Amato as a defensive staff assistant.
• In an article published Wednesday, Archer wonders how intense contract talks will be between the Cowboys and free agent LB Anthony Hitchens, given that Dallas may not be able to compete with other interested teams.
• Archer points out that even though the Cowboys plan to move Byron Jones back to cornerback, the fifth-year option will be based on the position he played in his third year (safety). Jones’ fifth-year option would cost Dallas $6.297 million for the 2019 season.
• The Steelers locked up FB Roosevelt Nix to a four-year, $6.975 million contract last week and Archer mentions that it’s possible that this deal could be used as a comp for negotiations between the Cowboys and FB Keith Smith.

Eagles

Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media takes a look at several offensive free agents who the Eagles’ could consider this offseason.

Shorr-Parks’ list consists of:

• Patriots RB Dion Lewis
• Patriots RB Rex Burkhead
• Vikings RB Jerick McKinnon
• Dolphins RB Damien Williams
• Bengals RB Jeremy Hill
• Titans RB DeMarco Murray (not a free agent but could be released)
• Jaguars WR Allen Robinson
• Cardinals WR John Brown
• Bills WR Jordan Matthews
• Seahawks WR Paul Richardson
• Cardinals WR Jaron Brown
• Redskins WR Terrelle Pryor
• Seahawks TE Luke Willson
• Broncos TE Virgil Green
• Patriots OT Cameron Fleming
• Ravens OT James Hurst
• Bengals OT Andre Smith
• Chiefs G Zach Fulton

Vikings

• Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports that DT Sharrif Floyd, who missed the entire 2017 season while on the NFI list, has a grievance pending against the Vikings in an attempt to recoup his full $6.757 million salary for last season.
• Sources have told Goessling that the Vikings paid Floyd $2 million of his base salary in addition to a $6,450 workout bonus last year.
• Floyd is reportedly arguing that his knee issues should have been classified as a non-football injury, given that they stem from arthroscopic surgery he underwent back in 2016 to repair his meniscus.
• Goessling says that settlement negotiations are ongoing, but it appears as though Floyd’s odds of ever playing in the NFL again are “remote.”