NFC East Roundup: Giants Suitors For Mathis?


The Eagles made headlines Thursday when they released Evan Mathis. Could he remain in the division? A look at what is being said around the NFC East.

The Giants as listed as one of four possible suitors by Around the NFL.

Nick Powell of NJ.com writes of the Giants’ potential interest:

Mathis, even at age 33, is a two-time Pro Bowl guard coming off a season in which he was the second-highest rated guard in the entire league, according to Pro Football Focus, with a robust +25.8 rating and a run blocking score of +17.3.

So it stands to reason that the Giants could use a player of Mathis’ ilk on their offensive line, which, despite plenty of tinkering over the last two seasons, is far from settled. The Giants have four offensive linemen who figure to start: Justin Pugh and first round pick Ereck Flowers at right and left tackle, Weston Richburg at center, and Geoff Schwartz at one of the guard spots.

Rich Tandler of CSN Washington explores the possibility of the Redskins signing Mathis:

A year ago, Eagles coach Chip Kelly decided to let go of DeSean Jackson, who was one of the best wide receivers in the league. Kelly said that letting Jackson go was a football decision, although clearly financial and other factors played into it. The Redskins moved quickly to sign Jackson, who clearly relished the chance to play against the Eagles twice a year.

Fast-forward to now and we again see Kelly cutting loose one of the best players at his position. Guard Evan Mathis was cut yesterday. He has been to the last two Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro in 2013 and the best guard in the game last year per Pro Football Focus.

So, will the Redskins pounce again and go after Mathis? It’s possible but it seems unlikely.

Speaking of Jackson, Mike Jones of The Washington Post reports on his absence from the first week of OTAs:

After joining his teammates for the first time of the offseason for last week’s voluntary practices, wide receiver DeSean Jackson missed Tuesday’s session to tend to a personal matter, Coach Jay Gruden said.

The coach said that he expects Jackson to return to action for Wednesday and Thursday’s practices.

Jackson had missed the first week of offseason practices, but had notified his coaches that he didn’t plan to attend. He said last week that he didn’t believe he owed an explanation to anyone beyond his coaches and teammates, but that he didn’t believe he had hurt his team by missing the first week to tend to personal matters.

Andy Benoit of MMQB thinks Joseph Randle could have a big year as the Cowboys feature back, although Jimmy Kempski strongly disagrees:

Randle averaged 6.7 yards a carry off the bench in 2014. He can average well over 5.0 getting 20-plus carries a game as a starter as long as he plays with the discipline that Murray sometimes lacked. Not to stoop to giving fantasy advice, but the third-year pro and first-time starter would not be a reach late in the first-round of your 12-team draft.

Randle’s only obstacle to 1,500-plus yards is Darren McFadden, a fascinating wild card in this backfield equation. In between hamstring pulls and ankles sprains, McFadden has proven to be an excellent straight-line runner. But if Murray is “plywood” on the stiffness scale, McFadden is “oak.” My good friend Greg Cosell of NFL Films once said it best: it’s like McFadden’s lower body and upper body are fused together. An inability to make people miss was something previous Raider coaching staffs didn’t like about the former first-round running back.