NFC Notes: Seahawks, Panthers, Giants, Eagles

The Seahawks are in the market for a No. 2 quarterback, meaning Russell Wilson‘s 2016 backup might not be on their roster right now, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. Considering Seattle attempted to claim Connor Shaw off waivers earlier this week, its desire to land a signal-caller is no surprise. As Roster Resource shows, the only QBs under Seahawks control behind Wilson are undrafted rookie Trevone Boykin and second-year man Jake Heaps, who went unpicked in the 2015 draft and then spent time on the Jets’ practice squad and with the Brooklyn Bolts of the Fall Experimental Football League.

Free agent Tarvaris Jackson backed up Wilson from 2013-15, but he’s currently mired in serious legal issues. Fellow ex-Seahawks Charlie Whitehurst and Matt Flynn are also among those on the market. The biggest name without a contract is Michael Vick, who Phil Savage of ESPN believes is a logical fit for the Seahawks. Nick Foles could be an option if the Rams are willing to trade the 27-year-old to a division rival or if they ultimately release him, as PFR’s Dallas Robinson wrote last month.

More from the NFC:

  • In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link), Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy likened quarterback Cam Newton to two of the greatest athletes ever, NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, in the way he challenges teammates in practice and brings out their best. Regarding how the Panthers have weathered the departures of standouts performers like Steve Smith, Jordan Gross, Greg Hardy and Josh Norman in recent years, Ealy told hosts Zig Fracassi and Phil Savage, “People change. The environment doesn’t,” before crediting the examples owner Jerry Richardson, head coach Ron Rivera and his staff, and the core leadership group of Newton, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson and Greg Olsen have set.
  • While the Giants have shown interest in veteran free agent offensive tackles during the offseason – most recently Eugene Monroe – they haven’t added any, leaving Paul Schwartz of the New York Post perplexed. The Giants don’t want to shift 2015 ninth overall pick Ereck Flowers from the left to the right, which has turned off potential veteran acquisitions, per Schwartz. For now, Marshall Newhouse is in the incumbent starter on the right and will work this summer to retain the job. Newhouse started there in all 14 of his appearances last season and failed to impress Pro Football Focus’ evaluators, who ranked him 68th among 77 qualifying tackles.
  • With the July 14 supplemental draft 10 days away, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com took a look at the six-player class and concluded that the Eagles should steer clear of surrendering a 2017 draft choice for any of them.
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