NFC East 2020 Draft Rumors: Eagles trade for elite receiver? OL or Simmons for NY? Washington trade down?

The NFL Draft is today. The Cowboys are likely looking at adding a defensive back or an EDGE with their first pick of the draft. Trading back is an attractive route for the Cowboys to take, but there is certainly no guarantee that the team can find a suitable trade partner.

Meanwhile, both the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants pick within the first four selections of the NFL Draft. Chase Young is all but a lock to join Washington’s impressive front seven, while the Giants would be smart to add one of the draft’s elite offensive tackles to protect Daniel Jones. Philadelphia is slated to pick just a little bit after Dallas, but there are whispers that Howie Roseman could get aggressive on draft night.

Let’s take a look at what the internet is saying each of the other three NFC East teams are planning on doing next week.

Eagles could trade up for a star receiver.

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Looking from the outside in, there are two glaring needs for the Philadelphia Eagles: wide receiver and cornerback. Linebacker is another position of need, but Philadelphia has not shown much interest in investing too much there, much like the Cowboys and safety.

The Eagles’ receiving corps was depleted towards the end of last season. Former Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was one of the Eagles’ main pass catchers while Alshon Jeffery struggled to stay healthy. It would be smart for Philly to want to add a playmaker to surround Carson Wentz with, especially with the talent there is at the wide receiver position in this year’s class.

Justin Jefferson out of LSU is the consensus WR4 and has been a popular name connected to the Eagles with their 21st pick; however, reports are suggesting that the Eagles have their eyes on one of the elite wideouts in the draft.

Brandon Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation is skeptical that this move actually happens, though.

For as awesome as it would be to pair Lamb with Carson Wentz, though, Roseman isn’t in the best position to trade up. The Eagles are entering the draft with only the 20th most valuable picks capital and a bunch of needs to address beyond the receiver position. Moving up is hardly a no-brainer decision; the downside of consolidating picks must be considered.

I’m not holding my breath when it come to the Eagles making a major move up in this year’s draft. Even if Roseman tries his hardest to move up for Lamb, it’s entirely possibly a team will love the Oklahoma product enough to spurn any offers and take him for themselves.

Meanwhile, The Draft Network’s Benjamin Solak has Philadelphia adding the former Oklahoma star in the first-round via trade:

Eagles send: 21 + 53

49ers send: 13

The Eagles are at the center of many aggressive trade-up rumors while the 49ers have made it clear that both Nos. 13 and 31 are on the market. Is CeeDee Lamb good enough for San Francisco to rebuff all offers and make the pick? With Philadelphia moving from No. 21 to No. 13, the 49ers are almost guaranteed to get pick No. 53 in return, so I think the price is right. The Eagles get an X-receiver who can replace Alshon Jeffery on the outside while providing infinitely more juice after the catch.

Washington is likely to add the best overall player in the draft.

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Chase Young is the best overall player in this year’s draft class. No, he does not have the value of a franchise quarterback, but Young is a dominant football player with freakish traits. He is deemed the safest pick in the draft that will almost surely make an impact on whichever defense he joins as soon as he steps on the field.

However, it appears that Washington is still taking calls about trading the number two selection in the draft, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson:

It remains to be seen if the Washington Redskins are serious about trading away from Young, or if the team is just making sure that a team won’t overpay to get a quarterback. That is not the only potential trade Washington could be involved in. Trent Williams has long been on the trade block. Rapoport reports that the team has had discussions about a trade:

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Cowboys rival has “closed the window” in regards to the offensive tackle and his agent finding a trade partner. This is worth keeping an eye on to see if anything comes to be.

If Washington does take Young, they will have one of the elite young elite front-sevens in all of football. Young and 2019 first-rounder Montez Sweat coming off of the edge with fellow first-rounders Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne manning the middle is not a pretty sight for opposing offenses.

Is New York eyeing a quarterback? Will the Giants take a defensive weapon over an offensive tackle?

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There are many rumors on the eve of the 2020 NFL Draft surrounding the New York Giants. Many assume that they are down to two players (or positions): an offensive tackle or Isaiah Simmons. An offensive tackle would help keep Daniel Jones upright while paving the for Saquon Barkley, while Simmons is a freak of nature that can take over a game from nearly every inch of the football field.

Giants beat writer Dan Duggan of The Athletic sees Dave Gettleman choosing the tackle over the defensive star, writing that Wills “fits what the Giants want to do with Saquon Barkley in Jason Garrett’s offense”.

4. N.Y. Giants: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

The Giants tried to trade down, but couldn’t find any takers. There’s a very real possibility that’s how things unfold on draft night. The Giants will have their pick of offensive tackles (or Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons) at No. 4. It won’t be an easy decision since the top four tackles are grouped so close together. Wills gets the edge because his strength as a run-blocker fits what the Giants want to do with Saquon Barkley in Jason Garrett’s offense. Wills can step in at right tackle on Day 1 and he has the athleticism to eventually transition to the left side. A recommendation from Joe Judge’s mentor, Nick Saban, could push Wills over the top. — Dan Duggan

Wills might be the target, but there is no guarantee he will be there for the Giants to grab. Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the Miami Dolphins, slotted to pick at five, could trade up and jump New York for a tackle.

Our friends over at Big Blue View detailed what this means:

Maybe the Dolphins could be the trade partner the Giants have apparently been seeking in an effort to move down and acquire at least one more pick in the top 100 of the draft. GM Dave Gettleman and the Giants need to be warned, though, that swapping with the Dolphins here might end up costing them the offensive tackle they want most.

One other thing to note here is that Ian Rapoport’s remark that “We could see a run on tackles in the Top 10 like never before” might be more motivation for the Giants to simply grab the best offensive tackle on their board and not wait until later in the draft to try and find one.

It will be interesting to see what route the Giants ultimately decide to take. Will they take Wills if he is on the board? Do they choose Simmons if Wills is off the board, or would they grab a different lineman?

All of these storylines are worth monitoring as we inch closer to the draft. Each of these moves have a direct impact on the Cowboys.