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The New York Giants kicked off free agency by adding ex-Jet Brandon Marshall and ex-Viking Rhett Ellison. Big Blue has been active in recent days, but they aren’t the only NFC East team making noise. The Philadelphia Eagles added talent at a position where they've lacked it, the Dallas Cowboys appear set to make make a significant move and the Washington Redskins continue to implode. Let’s spin the NFC East for the latest.
Washington Redskins
Stories of general manager Scot McCloughan’s lack of involvement in Washington’s personnel decisions have dominated headlines for the Redskins in recent weeks. So has Kirk Cousins future with the team. Both of those situations came to a head Thursday when McCloughan was fired by the team and Cousins’ trade request was denied by owner Dan Snyder. Rumors swirled about McCloughan’s alcohol abuse, but an unnamed Redskin stood up for his now former-GM.
“I don’t know what their issue is with him,” one player told the Post. “All the players love Scot.”
Washington also lost their top two receivers Thursday, DeSean Jackson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pierre Garcon to the San Francisco 49ers. They did however upgrade their defense by adding tackles Stacy McGee (5 years, $25 million) and Terrell McClain (4 years, $21 million) and safety D.J. Swearinger (3 years, $13.5 million). They also met with Terrelle Pryor, according to Adam Schefter.
WR Terrelle Pryor visiting Redskins.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
Jabaal Sheard visiting the Dolphins.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are reportedly attempting to work out a trade which would send Tony Romo to the Houston Texans or Denver Broncos. Initial reports were Romo would be released, but it appears Dallas got potential suitors to show their hands at the 11th hour. The Houston Texans traded Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns for a draft pick Wednesday, a maybe not so subtle indication they’ll add Romo in the near future.
Dallas’ vaunted offensive line took a blow earlier Wednesday as well when the Cowboys lost Ron Leary to the Broncos. They’ve also lost McClain (Washington), Jack Crawford (Atlanta) and Barry Church (Jacksonville).
Philadelphia Eagles
In a matter of minutes, Philly went from fielding one of the league’s worst receiving corps to potentially one of its best. The Eagles nabbed Alshon Jeffery (1 year, $14 million) from the Chicago Bears and Torrey Smith (3 years, $15 million) from the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s Brandon Lee Gowton’s reaction at BGN:
Eagles WR depth-chart in 2017 already a major improvement | Bleeding Green Nation
It still doesn’t feel real. The fact that the Philadelphia Eagles have some actual NFL wide receivers now is just so ... refreshing ... after watching a painfully disastrous wide receiving corps each and every week last year.
They also added former-Tennessee Titan Chance Warmack (1 year, $1.5 million) to their offensive line and released DE Connor Barwin. The Eagles are obviously looking for Carson Wentz to take a big step forward in 2017.