NFC Notes: Commanders, Cowboys, Brandin Cooks, Darren Waller, Giants

Commandsers

• Ben Standig of the Athletics notes that the commanders have moved up the deadline for signing bonuses and other guarantees for some new contracts signed this offseason to May 12, a departure from previous precedent. Typically, signing bonuses are due 15 to 30 days after the contract is signed.
• The belief among sources Standig has spoken to is that this indicates a timeline for the owner Dan Snyder to process team sales and not be responsible for cutting a guarantee check: “It’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?”
• The upcoming NFL owners meetings in late March are a potential date when a sale could be announced, according to Standig.
• According to Aaron Wilsonthe new agreement of the Commanders with the CB Danny Johnson is for two years at $5 million with $2.75 million guaranteed. The deal also includes a bonus of $1.75 million.
• Wilson also mentions that the team re-signed C Tyler Larsen to a one-year, $1.317 million contract that includes a $152,500 signing bonus and a $1.165 million salary.
• The Commanders hosted Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown in the first 30 visits. (Ryan Fowler)
• The Commanders will host the Florida G O’Cyrus Torrence in the first 30 visits. (Justin Melo)

Cowboys

• According to ESPN Ed Werdersource notes Cowboys trade for WR Brandin Cooks will likely knock them out of the WR race Odell Beckham Jr.: “Tough on Cooks and OBJ.”
• Cooks was thrilled to join Dallas after requesting a trade this offseason: “Man, honestly, I feel blessed to have this opportunity to contribute to something that’s already special. For the Jones family to believe in me, I look forward to joining something special and I carry that mindset everywhere I go.” (Aaron Wilson)
• Cooks added that he thinks he still has a lot left in the tank at 29: “No doubt, I don’t really talk about it, but my body feels better at this age (29) than it has ever felt. The way I take care of my body, there’s no slowing down at any point.” (Wilson)

Giants

Giants recently acquired TE Darren Waller said he was surprised to be traded from the Raiders and is preparing for their offseason program.

“I didn’t expect this to come,” Waller said, via NFL.com. “I was going to do everything I could to make myself available to the Raiders and get ready for everything starting in mid-April. It caught me off guard, but that’s the nature of the business.”

As for questions about his health after missing time in 2021 and 2022, Waller thinks those “legitimate concerns” but he is confident in his ability to stay healthy.

“I believe in myself with all my heart and I believe that through action and constant performance, the fans of the Giants will also believe.” Waller said. “I may have questions about my health at this time. Those are valid concerns, but I’m someone who I believe has dealt with those issues. I’m ready to come out here and be the best that I can be to be a weapon for this team, a tool that this team can use to get to the next level that they want to go to. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Waller wants to make sure it is “peak when the season starts” and is ready for quick execution.

“I feel great right now,” Waller said. “I know for me, the biggest adjustment I’ve had to make this offseason is making sure I’m peaking at the right time. Something that helped me elevate my game to such a high level was working so hard in those 2018, 2019 and 2020 offseasons, it was almost too hard, and it became my norm. Now it’s about becoming more efficient with it and making sure I’m at my peak when the season starts and I don’t show up to camp because I’ve been working so hard I’m almost exhausted.”

• Giants LB Bobby Church signed a four-year, $40 million contract that includes a $12 million signing bonus, base salaries of $1.9 million, $7.9 million, $5.8 million and $5.8 million and $3 million in bonuses due on the fifth day of the season in 2025 and 2026 (Aaron Wilson)
• Okereke’s base salaries for 2023 and 2024 are guaranteed. There are also $100,000 exercise bonuses in 2023 and 2024 and $200,000 exercise bonuses in 2025 and 2026.
• Tulane RB Tyjae Spears he faced the Giants before his pro day. (Ryan Fowler)