NFC Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter says it is unrealistic for the Cowboys to afford QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Amari Cooper and S Jamal Adams.
• With this in mind, Schefter doesn’t think Dallas trading for Adams is likely at this point. 
• However, NJ.com’s Mike Kaye thinks the Cowboys are much better positioned than the Eagles to trade for Adams, as he would be less likely to press the issue with his contract. 
• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports Prescott never had any plans to hold out of training camp, despite the fact that he has not been participating in team meetings.
• Rapoport adds that while Prescott still has until July 15th to sign a long term deal, the news of him signing his franchise tag tender does not affect the contract talks.
• Prescott’s $31.5 million is now fully guaranteed for the 2020 season when he became the ninth player to sign their tender this offseason. This is due to uncertainty over the 2020 season, according to Rapoport.
• Rapoport also mentioned that Prescott and the Cowboys are not close in negotiations, as he wants a four-year deal, Dallas wants Prescott to sign for five years.
• A league source tells Ed Werder that there’s “plenty of incentive” for the Cowboys to sign Prescott to an extension: “They don’t want a $37M player next year on a shrinking cap so there’s plenty of incentive.”

Giants

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss says if the Giants move on from K Aldrick Rosas following his hit-and-run arrest, it would make sense for HC Joe Judge to reunite with former Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski. 
• NJ.com’s Zack Rosenblatt reports Judge and Giants GM Dave Gettleman are still gathering information before deciding what to do with Rosas. 
• Rosenblatt says Giants RB Saquon Barkley will likely want the team to treat him the same way the Panthers treated RB Christian McCaffrey, signing him to a market-setting extension once he’s eligible after his third season. That puts Barkley in line for a $16 million per year extension, minimum, going into 2021. 
• Rosenblatt adds the Giants are in a good position to let DL Leonard Williams play out the season on the franchise tag and then re-evaluate a potential extension in 2021. 
• Rosenblatt gets the feeling the starting center job is Giants OL Nick Gates‘ to lose, as Gettleman has raved about Gates multiple times this offseason.
• The former undrafted tackle out of Nebraska in 2018 is competing with veteran C Spencer Pulley and likely former starting C Jon Halapio who remains unsigned as he recovers from an Achilles injury. 
• SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano points out that while the Giants picked up TE Evan Engram‘s fifth-year option, it’s not guaranteed until next March, so Engram could be on the outs if he has another injury-riddled season. 
• Former Giants WR David Tyree, who was the team’s director of player development, is no longer with the team in that role: “I was honored to serve and impact the players for the past six years for the most iconic franchise in NFL history. I wish the Giants and Coach Judge the best moving forward into the 2020 season. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to my personal and professional growth along the way. Once a Giant always a Giant.” (Jordan Raanan)

Redskins

• Former NFL GM and analyst for the Athletic Michael Lombardi writes the most obvious question for the Redskins in 2020 is if QB Dwayne Haskins can prove he’s a legitimate NFL quarterback. 
• Lombardi adds another key question is if Washington can improve its pass defense from being among the NFL’s worst.