The Dallas Cowboys have some big names they have to try to keep in free agency. Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Byron Jones are all expected to hit the market. It sounds like there is a plan in Dallas. Dak is expected to get franchised, they will fight like hell to keep Cooper, and Byron Jones is a goner. It sounds like the Cowboys have given up hope they can re-sign Byron Jones.
Michael Gehlken wrote a piece for the Dallas Morning News about where the Cowboys stand with Byron Jones:
“We’re going to have some challenges with our [salary] cap,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “We are. Certainly, it’s Dak and Amari that are going to shrink it in a hurry. We’re going to have challenges, but they’re not challenges that we can’t overcome.”
“Byron is a guy we think a lot of,” Stephen Jones said. “He’s had a great run at corner. He’s played really well, played at a high level. That’s the hard thing when you have quite a few good players on your football team is you get challenges. Byron understands that. But at the same time, he’s worried about Byron, as he should be. Certainly, we’ll visit with his guys while we’re here. Kinda see their direction, what they’re thinking. And we’ll have to keep moving.”
Yup, Jones is a goner. Sure, Byron Jones has only had two career interceptions, but this is one of the best corners in football. The Cowboys picked Jones in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft and he’s been nothing short of phenomenal. Jones gave up just 5.1 yards per target in 2019 which ranked 2nd among all corners. This is a special player. To make matters worse, Anthony Brown is a free agent too. The Cowboys have major issues to clean up in the secondary this offseason.
Here’s a thought? Franchise Byron Jones, re-sign Amari Cooper, and go draft a quarterback. Dallas is too chicken shit to do it, but it’s probably the right call.
