Giants rookies get high grade from NFL.com
With the NFL Scouting Combine around the corner, NFL.com looked back at last year’s crop of rookies. Nick Shook and Gennaro Filice went division by division and graded the best and the worst of 2019. The Giants were part of the former, earning an A- grade.
“The Giants made the most of their haul from the Odell Beckham trade, which landed them, in part, the 17th overall pick, by selecting [Dexter] Lawrence, who had a solid rookie season,” Shook wrote. “New York also might have found its franchise QB in [Daniel] Jones, answering a huge question for the team’s foundation. [DeAndre] Baker had a tough start but finished strong and stands to make a significant improvement in Year 2. [Oshane] Ximines was effective in his first season despite making just two starts, recording 4.5 sacks. [Julian] Love is an exciting young player for the back end of New York’s defense. Darius Slayton was an excellent find in the fifth round. [Corey] Ballentine struggled with a position change to the slot, but he could improve with more time.”
Looking around the rest of the NFC East, the Washington Redskins also earned an A- from NFL.com. The Philadelphia Eagles got a B and the Dallas Cowboys received a C-.
Philip Rivers latest QB to shift NFL landscape
The Los Angeles Chargers and Philip Rivers have mutually agreed that the veteran quarterback will enter free agency and not return to the team for the 2020 season.
“After stepping back a bit from last season, we reconnected with Philip and his representatives to look at how 2019 played out, assess our future goals, evaluate the current state of the roster and see if there was a path forward that made sense for both parties,” general manager Tom Telesco said. “As we talked through various scenarios, it became apparent that it would be best for Philip and the Chargers to turn the page on what has truly been a remarkable run. We agreed that making this decision well before free agency would allow everyone to put themselves in the best position for success in 2020.
“I’ve said before that Philip can still compete at a top-starter level and, in a perfect world, number 17 is your quarterback forever. Obviously, we live in an imperfect world where the only constant is change. I think Philip’s tremendous perspective, both when it comes to football and when it comes to life, helped lend clarity to a very complex situation.”
Rivers will always be tied to Manning in the historic 2004 quarterback class that also includes Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger. Manning was originally the first overall draft choice by the San Diego Chargers in 2004. The Giants obtained him in a trade for Rivers (whom the Giants had taken with the fourth pick), the Giants’ 2004 third-round pick and 2005 first- and fifth-round selections. Rivers is set to enter a free agency pool that includes fellow quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Dak Prescott, Ryan Tannehill, and Jameis Winston.
“I do feel I have some emotional fire and passion still left,” Rivers told Sam Farmer of Los Angeles Times. “I know I have the passion for the game that I think is going to last my lifetime. And I think I have the ability left to go play at a high level.”
Free agency dates to keep in mind:
February 25 — First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players
March 10 — Deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players
March 16-18 — Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2019 player contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 18.
March 18 — The 2020 league year and free agency period begin at 4 p.m.
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