NFC Notes: Cowboys, Giants, Washington

Cowboys

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones had some other interesting comments this week when he talked about going back on his decision to select DE Taco Charlton instead of LB T.J. Watt in the 2017 NFL Draft.

“Absolutely,” Jones said, via Pro Football Talk. “You always do that, if you’re truthful and you’re honest – what you might have had. The harder part of that is [Watt] was in serious contention [at No. 28]. I think the biggest issue was we were playing a 4-3 there with Rod, and Rod was concerned about how he’d hold up against the run in the 4-3. [He] didn’t have that same concern with Taco. Obviously, if you had that to do all over again, I wish we would have done that, and, of course, he would fit in probably better in some of the things we’re trying to do now with coach Nolan and our defense. So, you know, he’s obviously a great player. He’s already on his way to a great career, not unlike his brother, and congratulate the Steelers for getting him.”

Giants

• Jeremy Fowler notes that Giants WR Golden Tate, who is a healthy scratch for Week 9, has less than $4 million remaining for his 2020 salary and carries $7.5 million in dead money this year. New York could save $6 million in cap space by cutting him in 2021. 

• After just 20 career starts, Ralph Vacchiano notes that the Giants may want to move on from QB Daniel Jones, saying: “He is regressing so much and making some terrible decisions.”
• Vacchiano also says that the team should only be looking at the draft instead of attempting to get a free agent in 2021 such as Cam Newton or Philip Rivers. 
• If faced with a decision between Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State QB Justin Fields at either first or second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Vacchiano says the Giants would have a very tough decision to make.

Washington

Washington QB Alex Smith is unsure if he will continue playing football beyond the 2020 season and will wait until the offseason to make a decision.

“Those are conversations for an offseason,” Smith said, via Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington. “For me, I love lacing up my cleats every single day. I love throwing the helmet on every single day. I’m having an amazing time. There’s a long time I didn’t think this was ever going to be remotely possible. I love going out there and competing and so for me [it’s] about moving forward and getting better and getting ready to beat the Giants. I know you don’t want to hear that but certainly, there’s so much time in the offseason to obviously reflect and make those kinds of decisions and you leave that for that kind of time.”