NFC East Notes: Eagles, Leonard, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Del Rio

Shaquille Leonard‘s free agency decision brought additional intrigue due to its NFC East-only nature, and Jerry Jones said during an interview with 105.3 The Fan (h/t The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the chase did not come down to money. The Colts still owe Leonard $6.1MM guaranteed for the rest of this year. The sixth-year linebacker will collect $416K in prorated base salary from the Eagles, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. That checks in above the veteran minimum, and Yates adds the Eagles included a $100K incentive and $17K per game in roster bonuses.

Leonard played 2 1/2 seasons on a five-year, $98.5MM accord — one that topped the ILB market until the Ravens’ Roquan Smith deal earlier this year — but saw two 2022 back surgeries impact his career. Visiting both the Cowboys and Eagles (ahead of the NFC East powers’ rematch Sunday), Leonard said (via AllPhly.com’s Zach Berman) his bond with Nick Sirianni played a key role in the Eagles choice. Sirianni was the Colts’ OC from 2018-20, Leonard’s first three NFL seasons (all of which resulted in All-Pro honors). He will attempt to recapture that form ahead of another free agency run in 2024.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

• Mike McCarthy underwent surgery Wednesday for acute appendicitis, the Cowboys announced. The fourth-year Dallas HC is planning to be on the sidelines Sunday night, and NFL.com’s Jane Slater adds the surgery was successful. Dan Quinn, Brian Schottenheimer and ST coordinator John Fassel will run Cowboys practices while McCarthy is away, per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer.
• The Eagles are on track to have Dallas Goedert back against the Cowboys, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes. Goedert, who suffered a broken forearm during this season’s initial Philly-Dallas matchup, underwent surgery soon after that Nov. 5 matchup and has missed the Eagles’ past three games. The Eagles kept their top tight end off IR, in hopes he could come back before the four-week span. Goedert practiced fully Wednesday. Zach Cunningham logged a limited workout, but McLane notes that, in addition to Leonard, the Eagles should have Cunningham ready to go. The summer signee-turned-starter missed Week 13 with a hamstring injury.
• Despite having an experienced quarterback ready to go for Week 14, the Giants are sticking with rookie UDFA Tommy DeVito. Expressing disappointment over that choice, Tyrod Taylor confirmed (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) he broke four ribs, which required a hospital trip. The Giants are not expected to re-sign Taylor in 2024, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. During Taylor’s IR stay, it began to look unlikely the 34-year-old veteran — who is playing out a two-year, $11MM deal — would be back in 2024. DeVito will now attempt an audition for the backup job, though it is not certain Daniel Jones will be ready for the 2024 opener. The Giants also will probably be linked to first-round passers, setting up a complicated offseason.
• The Commanders ranked in the top seven in points and yards allowed last season, but they did not extend DC Jack Del Rio‘s contract, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and John Keim. Del Rio, who followed Ron Rivera to Washington in 2020, went into a walk year this season. While that is far more common in the coordinator ranks than a head coach becoming a lame duck, it left staffers uncertain, according to ESPN. Due to the Dan Snyder-to-Josh Harris ownership transition, the Commanders did not extend most of their other assistants’ contracts after last season. Rivera said this offseason the team had big-picture matters on hold for a stretch while the NFL reviewed Harris’ bid. Rivera fired Del Rio and DBs coach Brent Vieselmeyer following a Thanksgiving Day Cowboys romp, though the head coach is widely expected to be canned at season’s end.