NFC Notes: Dallas Goedert, Eagles, Giants, Washington

Eagles

• NJ.com’s Mike Kaye writes both the Eagles and TE Dallas Goedert would benefit by waiting to really dig into talks on a long-term deal. For starters, Philadelphia still needs to figure out the situation with TE Zach Ertz and his $8.5 million base salary in 2021. 
• Because he’s split time with Ertz, Goedert’s numbers aren’t in line with getting a top-rate deal at his position, so Kaye says he could benefit by betting on himself in a contract year. 
• From Philadelphia’s perspective, they still need to see that Goedert can handle being a full-time starter, especially because he’s dealt with a number of minor injuries so far in his NFL career. 

Giants

• The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes he had a proposal earlier this offseason for the Giants to save cap space by extending G Kevin Zeitler rather than outright releasing him. His deal was similar to what Zeitler ended up signing with the Ravens but he says the Giants only showed interest in a pay cut, prioritizing maximizing cap savings this year over any commitment to Zeitler going forward. 
• Duggan mentions there are no indications that any serious negotiations with S Jabrill Peppers have taken place this offseason. Peppers is entering the final year of his deal and will play out the fifth-year option on his contract in 2021. 
• He also noted the Giants showed interest in WR Nelson Agholor in free agency before he signed with the Patriots. 

Washington

Washington HC Ron Rivera is excited about third-round CB Benjamin St-Juste and the potential he has to become a big contributor in the defensive backfield.

“He pretty much understands where his leverages are and where he needs to put himself in terms of understanding where my help is,” Rivera said, via Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic. “He has tremendous vision and understands how to play with vision. He can look through the receiver to the QB with one eye on the QB and still know where his receiver is, which allows him to have great anticipation, jump and make plays. He’s done a really good job showing us that he plays the whole play. There is no relaxing in his game. When the ball snaps, he’s in position, he’s got to get in phase. When he’s got to burst, he knows when to burst. Another thing is he has natural abilities that are created because of his physical stature. He’s got long legs, he’s got long arms, he’s got good strength and good core strength. He’s a pretty good package in terms of a nice, long, lean corner.”

St-Juste has the size to go against large receivers and tight ends, and could even end up playing at free safety. Training camp will likely determine where the rookie fits in defensively for Washington

“I think I was brought into this team because of my versatility and what I showed at the Senior Bowl and what I showed on tape at Minnesota,” St-Juste said. “So just playing corner, that makes it easier. That’s where I’m comfortable, that’s where I played in college. If I start out there and move somewhere, whatever, I’m open to it. I just want to have an instant impact and play in my rookie year. They emphasized last year was a really good year for the defense, so the price is going up this year. We’ve got a standard to meet.”

• A longtime NFL scouting executive thinks Washington will have to keep St-Juste in more man-to-man looks: “You have to drop your hips, get in and out of breaks, and the longer-legged you are, the tougher it is. It’s genetics. It’s the law of gravity. But all these receivers and tight ends are getting taller, which means big-time mismatches in the red zone. He’ll have some deficiency. (At that height), got to be a press guy. Man-off will be really tough for him.” (Ben Standig)