NFC East news: Commanders and Eagles rookies are showing up; Ex-Giant returns to New York as scout

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was already working after being drafted - Bryan Manning, USA Today

Washington's first-round pick didn't waste any time getting to work.

The Washington Commanders selected former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft last month. Daniels and his family flew to Ashburn for an introductory press conference with his new team the following day.

After his press conference, Daniels was on a plane back home and was already at work.

According to John Keim of ESPN, Daniels was already working on some plays he knew from Washington’s playbook on the plane ride home.

During his private plane ride home after his news conference in Washington, Daniels, surrounded by family and friends, spent an hour of the trip pretending to stand at the line of scrimmage, calling out checks or plays that he already knew from the Commanders’ playbook.

Far too often throughout the pre-draft process, critics have pointed out that Daniels’ success came from having two first-round picks as a wide receiver. While that helped, remember, Joe Burrow had the same scenario after transferring to LSU in 2018. Burrow was throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson and, when healthy, is now considered one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.

Instead of others pointing out Daniels had excellent wide receivers, they should point out the work he’s put in each and every day to become a top quarterback prospect. Unlike some quarterbacks, Daniels didn’t enter the season as a surefire top draft pick. He earned it.

Now, he’s bringing that work ethic to Washington.

Eagles rookie WR explains the advantage of unusual size - Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Johnny Wilson looks to make a difference as a larger-than-usual wide receiver.

When you hear about a 6-foot-6, 231-pound receiver, the next question is naturally about a potential move to tight end.

That’s not how the Eagles view sixth-round pick Johnny Wilson.

“I play receiver,” Wilson said at Eagles rookie camp last week. “A lot of people have their opinions on what I should be. But I’m on this team, I’m playing for the Eagles. There’s been no talk of me being a tight end.”

The Eagles really do see Wilson as a receiver. And while there aren’t many receivers as big as him in the NFL, they think his size can be an advantage and they see more quickness than you’d expect given that size.

After drafting Wilson in the sixth-round out of Florida State, the Eagles were consistent about their plan to keep him at wide receiver.

“He's — what's the word?” GM Howie Roseman said.

“He's unique,” head coach Nick Sirianni filled in. “He's unusual.”

Yeah, Wilson really is unusual. At the Combine, he measured in at 6-6 3/8 and 231 pounds, putting him in the 99th percentile in height among receivers and the 97th percentile in weight.

But the measurement that really stands out is his 84 1/2-inch wingspan. That’s the largest wingspan ever for a receiver at the Combine, according to ProFootballFocus.

“Being this size and being able to do some of the things I can do with my body, getting in and out of my breaks and having super long arms, sometimes it’s an advantage, especially against a lot of smaller corners and smaller defenders,” Wilson said. “Over the years, I’ve tried to do a lot of training and just use my body to my advantage.”

Chris Snee returns to New York Giants in scouting role - Ed Valentine, BigBlueView.com

Snee's return to New York has been a long time coming.

Chris Snee is back with the New York Giants — finally.

After multiple efforts through the years to work out a deal to return to the organization, Snee has been hired by the team as a scout.

Snee played for the Giants from 2004-2013. He was an All-Pro right guard in 2008, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

His role will likely be specific to scouting offensive linemen, though details of his exact role are reportedly yet to be finalized.

In recent years, Snee has worked as an offensive line scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars and then as a football analyst for Boston College.

The Giants drafted Snee out of Boston College in the second round in 2004.

The Giants have, of course, struggled to piece together a quality offensive line since the group Snee played with, including David Diehl, Shaun O’Hara, Rich Seubert and Kareem McKenzie, were forced out by age and injury.