NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Washington

Cowboys

• Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, Cowboys WR Amari Cooper expects Dallas to have an insanely productive receiving corps with first-round WR CeeDee Lamb joining him and WR Michael Gallup: “I think it was a great pick up. You have to draft the best player on the board. Everybody understands that. He’s a great receiver. I think with me and Michael Gallup going for 1,000 yards last year, the expectation is to have three 1,000-yard receivers this year.” 
• Washington made a hard run at signing Cooper this offseason, but he says he decided staying in Dallas was worth more than a few extra million: “I just like everything about being a Dallas Cowboy. Everything we created here, the atmosphere.” (Jon Machota)

Eagles

• The Athletic’s Bo Wulf says he expects the Eagles to use a lot more play-action on offense given the influence of new senior offensive assistant Rich Scangarello, who comes from the coaching tree of 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan. 
• Eagles QB Carson Wentz says the offense will look fairly similar but Scangarello’s influence will be visible: “Just with his ability to marry up the run game with the play-actions with the naked game and all those things. So I think some things look a little different. But I’m really excited about it, I think it’ll really complement what we do as an offense and who we are identity wise. I think coaches really have a good grasp of who we are and how we can get the most out of me and out of the rest of the supporting cast.”
• With two strong tight ends and questionable depth at receiver, moving to a more Shanahan-influenced style of offense could be a smart move for Philadelphia.
• Per NFL Media’s Michael Giardi, new Buccaneers RB LeSean McCoy said he turned down a few other interested teams because Tampa Bay was the best fit. 
• McCoy added a return to the Eagles was on the table but the Buccaneers won out: “Tom Brady. Tampa. Warm weather. C’mon.” (Rick Stroud)
• Because Eagles HC Doug Pederson is away from the facility after testing positive for COVID-19, assistant HC/RB coach Duce Staley is in charge of day-to-day operations at the team facility while Pederson is gone. (Mike Kaye)

Washington

• Per NBC Sports’ JP Finlay, Washington HC Ron Rivera said he was “pleasantly surprised” to see how far QB Alex Smith has progressed in his recovery: “He’s looked very fluid, he really has.”
• Rivera mentioned Smith knows about 75 percent of the playbook at this point and 2019 first-round QB Dwayne Haskins isn’t far behind. (Ben Standig)
• Rivera added he could “envision” Smith becoming a factor in the team’s quarterback competition if he can get healthy: “He did some really good things last week, went through all four workout days and had no residual effect.” (Nicki Jhabvala)
• In order not to overwhelm third-round RB Antonio Gibson, Rivera says the team is just giving him the plays they want him to focus on at running back and receiver and will gradually add more. (Jhabvala)
• Rivera is excited to see how the left tackle battle plays out and specifically mentions former third-round OT Geron Christian and fourth-round OT Saahdiq Charles. Center, right guard and right tackle appear set. (Standig)
• Asked about players who stood out to him watching film this offseason, new Washington DC Jack Del Rio named DT Daron Payne, 2019 fifth-round LB Cole Holcomb and EDGE Ryan Anderson.
• Anderson is notable, as his scheme fit in a 4-3 is somewhat questionable and he had come up in trade rumors previously. But Del Rio loves the toughness he plays with and says he has a place as a defensive end on the team right now: “I like Ryan Anderson a lot. His toughness, the juice, he brings off the edge, I think he’s gonna really flourish in a 4-3 approach, and he was the fourth one to get mentioned at defensive end (in the question).”