Tag: Jourdan Lewis

Reggie Robinson perfect fit as Cowboys secondary works to figure out identity

Will CB Reggie Robinson be the latest fourth round draft pick to become a contributor for the Cowboys?

During the 2017 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys doubled-dipped at the cornerback position, selecting Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis in the second and third rounds respectively. With the secondary in a state of flux after the free agency departures of Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, Dallas aimed to find stability in two young and promising corners.

Flash forward three years, and the Cowboys secondary still finds itself in transition, this time looking to replace the production of CB Byron Jones. Now under a new coaching staff, Dallas once again double-dipped at cornerback in the 2020 draft, selecting Alabama’s Trevon Diggs in Round 2 and Tulsa’s Reginald Robinson II in Round 4. Robinson seems a strong bet to be the next great Day 3 selection in Cowboys history.

Selected No. 123 overall, Robinson may not be as polished coming out of college as Diggs, but he’s an athletic and high-upside building block for the secondary under Mike McCarthy and new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

While his initial opportunities may be limited, Robinson can still contribute immediately, and also represents a possible longterm CB option going forward.

In 2019, Robinson led the AAC in pass defenses (13), and was named first-team All-Conference. He recorded 38 total tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, showing an ability to make plays on the ball. He was also a key special teams player over his college career, blocking four total kicks.

In coverage, Robinson holds up well, presenting an intriguing blend of size and athleticism.

While Diggs projects as an elite defender in press coverage, but questionable in other phases of playing corner, Robinson’s ability to excel in press, man and zone may actually give him a higher ceiling due to the diversity. With the right coaching, he can project to playing whatever aspect of a multiple defense.

He still has room to grow with his footwork, but it’s not hard to see why a team like Dallas believes he has the potential to eventually become a quality NFL starter.

The Athletic draft expert Dane Brugler had this to say after evaluating Robinson’s film.

Passes the eye test with his height, arm length and build at the position…staggers his steps and opens his hips to stay attached from press…excellent job squatting in zone coverage, reading the quarterback and working toward the anticipated throwing lane…dialed in and feels route combinations around him…outcompetes receivers at the catch point and he is always ball searching…high football IQ…aggressive run defender and powers his way through blockers…sets a hard edge in the run game…logged four blocked kicks on special teams over his career…excellent ball production as a senior with 17 passes defended and four interceptions, allowing only one touchdown.

Entering 2020, the Cowboys have a bevy of options at cornerback, but few long-term answers at the position. Robinson figures to factor into their plans in some way, but much depends on the play of Awuzie and Lewis, and the composition of the unit after this season. However, Robinson is also a potential option at safety, the position he played in high school. Dallas’s future at safety is equally uncertain, with only Darian Thompson and 2019 sixth rounder Donovan Wilson as the only listed safeties currently signed past 2020.

Wherever he fits, Dallas sees a player they can win with in Robinson. It’s never held him back, but Robinson is deaf in his left ear. His family discovered his impairment when Robinson was in elementary school, and he’s adjusted to the point where those around him almost seem to forget all about it. Said his coach at Tulsa, Philip Montgomery:

“Honestly, I didn’t know about [Robinson’s hearing loss] when we were recruiting him, and I didn’t find out until he got on campus. It was one of those deals where I was walking beside him down the hall and I said something to him, and he kind of turned his head to talk to me. He tells me, ‘Coach, you know I’m deaf in this ear, right?’ No, Reggie, I didn’t know that.”

Always adapting and improving, Robinson has all the traits necessary to become another mid-round gem for a Dallas team looking for contributors on a young and changing secondary.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. 

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant | Jon’vea Johnson | Blake Bell | Justin Hamilton |
| Cody Wichmann | Tyron Smith | Ladarius Hamilton |
| Neville Gallimore | Terence Steele | Joe Looney | La’el Collins |
| Zack Martin | Brandon Knight | Ron’Dell Carter | Wyatt Miller |
| Connor McGovern | Tyler Biadasz | Adam Redmond | Luke Gifford |
| Leighton Vander Esch | Justin March | Connor Williams |
| Bradlee Anae | Sean Lee | Jamize Olawale | Joe Thomas |
| Francis Bernard | Sewo Olonilua |

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2021 mock draft ships Cowboys TE with Rob Gronkowski comps

A mock draft gives the Dallas Cowboys a tight end at the back end of the first round.

The Dallas Cowboys tried to find, if not a replacement, a suitable facsimile of tight end Jason Witten for years. The front office drafted Gavin Escobar, Anthony Fasano and Martellus Bennett a round earlier than the future Hall of Famer. They tried finding hidden gems in the later rounds, hoping to steal some talent. Ultimately nothing they tried mattered, as Witten was able to outlast and outperform them all.

In Brent Sobleski’s most recent 2021 mock draft at Bleacher Report, he has the Cowboys trying their luck at the tight end position again, drafting Pat Freiermuth from Penn State with pick No. 28. Says Sobleski, “The 6’5″, 259-pound target, who caught 43 passes for 507 yards last season, continues to draw Rob Gronkowski comparisons.”

That’s high praise, to be sure. It would also be the first time that Dallas used a first-round pick on a tight end since David LaFleur in 1997. It’s not impossible to think that the Cowboys would continue to throw resources at weapons for quarterback Dak Prescott, but the team may already have their tight end of the future in the fold with Blake Jarwin, who signed an extension in March.

The team will likely have further pressing needs, particularly on the back end of the defense. And while Dallas eschewed the same needs for an offensive weapon in CeeDee Lamb in 2020, it’s hard to imagine them doing that in consecutive years when the sheer number of defensive backs scheduled to hit the free-agent market next off-season is mind boggling.

Four of the Cowboys’ projected contributors are free-agents-to-be. Cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie as well as the projected starting safety tandem of Xavier Woods and Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix could all be in different uniforms come next year. That’s without mentioning the rest of the depth the team could be losing.

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The NFL’s 11 best slot defenders

More and more, your slot defender is your third starting cornerback or safety. Here are the 11 slot defenders who do it best in today’s NFL.

In the 2019 NFL season, per Sports Info Solutions, there were 19,933 total quarterback dropbacks. Against those dropbacks, NFL defenses put four defensive backs on the field just 18% of the time (3,579 snaps), while nickel defense (with five defensive backs) ruled the league by far with 59% of all snaps (11,780). And if you want to know how much the NFL isn’t a base defense league anymore, consider this: Defenses lined up in dime coverage (six defensive backs on the field) on 20.9% of total dropbacks (4,091), which means that teams played more dime defense than base defense. The Seahawks were the only team to play base defense more than 50% of the time (67%), and the Cardinals finished second at 37%.

All this is to say that unless you’re the Seahawks, you’d better have some top-level slot defenders if you want to put a credible pass defense out there in a league where offenses are implementing more kinds of receiver sets and route combinations than ever before.

And it’s not as if the skill sets required to be a slot defender are the same as those for an outside cornerback. You might be up against a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end on first down who can body you right out of the paint, and on the next play, you may have to deal with a small, speedy option-route receiver whose job is to juke you right out of your shoes. And as Richard Sherman once told me in his Seattle days, the thing about playing outside cornerback is that the boundary is your friend. That’s not the case when you’re in the slot, where you’re defending in space pretty much all the time.

So, which slot defenders were the most effective and valuable to their teams in 2019, and thus should be set up to do the same in 2020? With help from Pro Football Focus’ metrics, and a whole lot of tape study, here’s one list. To avoid small sample-size results, each of these defenders played at least 50% of their snaps in the slot.

Mike Hilton | Chris Harris Jr. | Jourdan Lewis | Tramon Williams | Mackensie Alexander | Nickell Robey-Coleman | Marlon Humphrey | D.J. Hayden | Brian Poole | K’Waun Williams | Tyrann Mathieu

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Cowboys News: O-line’s rank, Gregory’s holdup, CeeDee’s legacy

How Patrick Mahomes’ deal affects Dak Prescott’s deadline, Cowboys moves, DeMarcus Lawrence registers voters, Oxnard wants Dallas back.

The Great Wall of Dallas is still standing strong, according to one respected outlet. The great cornerback debate rages on, and the great deadline to a Dak Prescott deal hasn’t changed despite Patrick Mahomes resetting the market. Oh yeah, and this just in: CeeDee Lamb was pretty great in college. Like, historically great.

The Cowboys’ star rusher did some good for needy Dallas families, and the team’s top pass-rusher did some good back home by signing up folks in his hometown to vote. All that, plus a look at the Cowboys’ “starting five,” a look at which Cowboys are poised for comeback campaigns, and a West Coast mayor is California Dreaming about America’s Team coming back to Oxnard. Here comes the News and Notes.

NFL offensive line rankings: All 32 units entering the 2020 NFL season :: Pro Football Focus

The Cowboys’ front five is seemingly always among the league’s best. Despite losing Travis Frederick and factoring in some uncertainty about Connor Williams, the O-line still ranks third overall in PFF’s list going in to 2020.

Kris Richard wasn’t the only Cowboys coach to favor Anthony Brown over Jourdan Lewis :: Blogging The Boys

Prior to Kris Richard, who joined the coaching staff in 2018, Matt Eberflus and Joe Baker also favored Anthony Brown over Jourdan Lewis.

Why the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott deadline hasn’t changed :: Blogging The Boys

Tom Ryle of Blogging The Boys breaks down how even with Patrick Mahomes getting a record-setting deal, it doesn’t change things for the Cowboys and Dak Prescott.

3 moves the Cowboys should make, but won’t: Dallas can do without a traditional fullback on the roster :: Dallas Morning News

John Owning discusses eliminating the traditional fullback, creating competition for punter Chris Jones, and signing a capable swing tackle as three moves the Cowboys should make.

Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, over COVID, donates $85K to families in need :: Cowboys Wire

In person and wearing a mask, the star running back made good on a spring promotion of exclusive merchandise and delivered a giant check to a Dallas-area food bank. The funds will help over 400,000 families in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

What’s the holdup in Randy Gregory’s reinstatement request? :: Inside The Star

Gregory officially applied for reinstatement back in March. After four months, why hasn’t there been a decision?

Bucky Brooks’s top 5 ‘starting fives ‘ in the NFL :: NFL.com

The network analyst examines each team’s primary playmakers. Say hello to Elliott, Pollard, Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb in the No. 5 spot.

Dak Prescott among top earners in NFLPA group licensing :: Inside The Star

The Cowboys quarterback finished fourth among NFL players in royalties for 2019.

NFL player from Aiken County gives out masks at voter registration drive :: WJBF.com

DeMarcus Lawrence got some love from his local news station after he returned home to South Carolina to hand out masks and help register citizens to vote over the July 4 weekend.

Oxnard mayor confident the Dallas Cowboys will be back again :: Ventura County Star

Coronavirus precautions are keeping the Cowboys in Frisco for 2020’s training camp, but the outgoing mayor of their summer home believes America’s Team will keep coming back to Cali.

Ravens announce attendance cap for 2020; what about Cowboys? :: Cowboys Wire

The Baltimore Ravens will allow their home stadium to be under 20 percent full this fall, per a team announcement. That same percentage would make for an awfully intimate crowd in JerryWorld.

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Cowboys News: Looking ahead to free agency 2021, predictions for 2020

Also in the news, Adrian Peterson complains about RB pay, Dez Bryant reacts to Cam Newton’s signing, and forecasting the Cowboys’ WR4.

It’s just weeks before the start of training camp, and there are so many questions the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL as a whole are facing. Some believe the season will take place, but a modified version- fewer games, no preseason, or some other change- seems increasingly likely.

If the coaching staff turnover is factored in, the Cowboys’ roster has certainly changed more this offseason than in recent years. The lack of in-person offseason programs doesn’t do them any favors, but all teams are having to adjust. Jourdan Lewis has a chance to break out, and a breakout may lead him to an expensive extension a year from now. HaHa Clinton-Dix could be a potential upgrade in the defensive backfield, and there’s a massive opportunity for the yet-to-be-named fourth wide receiver on the roster. All that and more; here are the news and notes for June 28, 2020.

After the big three, which wide receivers should make the Cowboys roster? :: Blogging The Boys

The Cowboys’ fourth receiver spot is one of the biggest roster question marks heading into training camp in Dallas. Dan Rogers from Blogging the Boys dives into all the potential candidates for the final wideout slot.

7 NFL players who should look forward to free agency in 2021 :: Bleacher Report

With the departure of Byron Jones, Jourdan Lewis has a great chance for a breakout year. If Lewis does step up this season, he could have his sights set on a big payday.

How NFL teams are managing the transition for this year’s rookie class :: Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer talks with a Los Angeles Rams coach on the differences and challenges this unique virtual offseason has created.

What will HaHa Clinton-Dix bring to the Cowboys defense? :: Inside The Star

HaHa Clinton-Dix signed a one-year deal in the offseason with the Cowboys. The former first-round talent out of Alabama hasn’t necessarily lived up to his potential, but his consistent production and ability to play both safety positions should prove valuable for the Dallas defense.

Most likely to least likely: Running through 10 Dallas Cowboys-related scenarios :: The Athletic

With the continuing pandemic, no one knows just how the NFL season schedule will unfold. The Athletic’s Jon Machota does his best to rank the most likely events that can happen for the Cowboys this season.

Six NFL pre-training camp predictions: Colin Kaepernick stays unsigned, preseason reduced or scrapped, more :: CBS Sports

Dak Prescott signed his franchise tag, though many believe that will be temporary while he and the Cowboys work out a long term deal. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports predicts that long-term extension won’t happen this season.

Adrian Peterson calls NFL’s RB pay ‘disrespectful;’ ‘we are valuable’ :: TMZ Sports

Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott had to hold out of training camp to land his megacontract; now the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook is threatening to do the same. The 35-year-old Peterson, in the final year of his current deal in Washington, says he’s fed up with NFL owners trying to short-change their backfield workhorses.

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Cowboys News: Tyron’s final star season? Best and worst of Dallas’ offseason

The NFL extends its virtual off-season program. Which Cowboys will determine the success of this Cowboys team? Lamb on special teams

Around this time every year,  global pandemic or not, the league gets a little quiet. Players and coaches alike plan on those last vacations before training camp is set to kick start in July. The virtual off-season will continue until at least June 26. Some coaches are cutting it early to give the players a little extra time to themselves to relax with their families or get themselves even more ready for the 2020 campaign.

Also right around this time every year, the media across all platforms start to zero in on making their predictions as to who will be in camp. There are plenty of storylines to go around for the Dallas Cowboys as camp nears. Some less noteworthy players will be the ones that determine if 2020 is a success or not. The coaching staff is completely new except for Kellen Moore sticking around. Find out why offensive line coach Joe Philbin might have been the most important hire of them all. All this and plenty more in todays Cowboys news.

Cowboys’ success in 2020 will be determined beyond star players :: ESPN

Typically most would say the success of this year’s Cowboys team is determined by guys like Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper. However it’s the under-the-radar guys such as Tyrone Crawford, Jourdan Lewis, Joe Looney and plenty of others to determine how successful this season is.

Could 2020 be Tyron Smith’s Last With the Dallas Cowboys? :: Inside The Star

In what can be considered one of the hottest takes of the day, due to the Corona Virus pandemic, it seems like the Cowboys may be in a position not to bring is as much revenue as in years past. This may force the Cowboys to make some tough decisions as early as 2021.

Three best acquisitions and three biggest losses for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason ::: Blogging The Boys

Two of the three best acquisitions came from the 2020 NFL Draft. The three worst come from two players signing with the highest bidder and one shocking retirement.

Ranking the 10 Biggest Fluke Seasons in NFL History :: Bleacher Report

Believe it or not, the Super Bowl XXX MVP falls on this list of biggest fluke seasons of all time. After Larry Brown made Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell look silly in the big game, he was forgotten about rather quickly.

5 Most Intriguing Dallas Cowboys to Watch in 2020 :: Inside The Star

The 2020 Dallas Cowboys have plenty of storylines heading into the next phase of the off-season, but for guys like Cee Dee Lamb, Blake Jarwin, Aldon Smith and a few other highly notable Cowboys, it’s their stories to pay close attention to.

Mailbag: How Many Spots Will CeeDee Play? :: The Mothership

Cee Dee Lamb was drafted at No. 17 overall not just to be the next stud wide receiver. Lamb would be a dangerous threat on special teams as well as Cowboys fans held their breathe on every return.

Cowboys offensive line coach Joe Philbin is quietly one of the best hires this offseason :: Blogging The Boys

NFL games are won and lost up front and for Mike McCarthy’s newly assembled staff, Joe Philbin will lead the charge and coach this offensive line. Philbin is one of five former head coaches to be on the 2020 Cowboys staff.

NFL extends virtual period through June 26 in place of minicamps :: NFL.com

Much like the headline reads, there will be no progress on getting players into the buildings until at least June 26. Players and coaches around the league knew this, but today it was made official.

If Michigan was fielding a starting team based on current NFL players, here’s what it would look like

Creating something of a fantasy football situation selecting from nearly 40 Wolverines who are currently on NFL rosters to form a team.

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According to ESPN, while not all of them are actively playing, Michigan has 40 players currently in the league, bolstered by the 2020 haul with ten draft picks — though it lists Charles Woodson as active, and we’re pretty sure that’s no longer the case.

So, as our colleague over at BuckeyesWire asked, what would an NFL team look like if comprised solely of the players who graduated from one school? Naturally, a Michigan contingent had our interest piqued.

Given that there are a variety of schemes, offensively and defensively, and some players perhaps played a different position in the NFL than they did at Michigan, we came up with our starting maize and blue team in the pro ranks, taking a look at what could be if all of those who wore a winged helmet joined forces to create a Wolverines super team.

Especially with the man leading the charge under center, we’d put this team up against anybody.

Offense

There’s an obvious player to start with, and lots of solid linemen. But otherwise, Michigan is lighter than in recent years with skill position players.

Regardless, with the top choice overall — a man that many pick in the first round of their fantasy drafts — the Wolverines NFL team could be formidable.

Quarterback – Tom Brady

Photo: Isaiah Hole

The most obvious selection of the bunch is the greatest of all time.

If you have Tom Brady as your quarterback, you’ve got a chance to win it all. He’s won more rings than anybody with six in his time with the New England Patriots.

While he wasn’t as beloved during his time in Ann Arbor as much as he is now, if you’re building an NFL team out of former Michigan players, the former team captain and over-achieving sixth rounder from the 2000 NFL Draft is like getting the No. 1 pick in your fantasy league — it’s just good business.

In his career, Brady has amassed 74,571 yards in 285 games, with 541 touchdowns to just 179 interceptions.

Brady is No. 2 on the NFL’s all-time passing yards leaders list, behind Drew Brees — but literally ahead of everyone else. He’s also just behind Brees at No. 2 in passing touchdowns, just six away from the top, however.

NEXT: The starting offensive line

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Cowboys News: Cooper doesn’t ever want to leave, trade-down scenarios

Dallas Cowboys news for April 12, 2020.

The NFL Draft is just 11 days away, meaning mock drafts are running rampant. Is there a way for the Cowboys to add an established superstar without sacrificing too much draft capital? There are always options for trading on draft day. Below is a deep dive into 12 potential trades the Cowboys could make. Where do you think the most value is? Plus, get to know the defensive end that has interviewed with Dallas before the big day in late April.

Cornerback is a need for the Cowboys, but one player on the roster already is being underrated, and could take over the position. A newly re-signed Cowboy wants to be in Dallas for life. And in non-draft news, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott ruffled some feathers when pictures surfaced that showed the pair at a gathering when social distancing rules are in place. Is there another side to this story? Here are the news and notes.

Amari Cooper says he wants ‘to be a Cowboy for life :: NFL

Since arriving in Dallas, Amari Cooper has been extremely vocal about where he wants to play out his career. A 5-year deal is a good start, and Cooper has no qualms with finishing his career with the Cowboys.

Police couldn’t verify whether Dak Prescott had party, violated coronavirus guidelines :: Star-Telegram

Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott made headlines Saturday for seemingly breaking social distancing guidelines. Now there are some conflicting reports.

5 teams, 12 trade-down draft scenarios for Cowboys, Jordan Love :: Cowboys Wire

Take a look at 12 possible draft day trades that the Cowboys could potentially make. What is your favorite potential trade? Or should Dallas just stay put?

Why cornerback C.J. Henderson being available at pick 17 is highly unlikely :: Blogging the Boys

No one quite knows exactly what position the Cowboys want at pick 17, but cornerback is as good a guess as any. After Okudah, Henderson is usually the 2nd corner available. Should he still be around when the Cowboys are on the clock?

Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Trading for Jamal Adams is worth it :: Cowboys Wire

The Cowboys will have a handful needs on draft day, but is there a chance they can get one of theist defenders already in the league, Jamal Adams, and fill those needs? The latest mock draft by CowboysWire’s own K.D. Drummond nets the Cowboys a haul many fans would be happy with.

Dallas Cowboys Interviewed Michigan State DL Kenny Willekes :: Inside The Star

The Cowboys should address the defensive line at some point during the draft. Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes is a potential mid round target that interviewed with the Dallas staff.

Will the Dallas Cowboys draft a wide receiver early? :: The Landry Hat

The Cowboys top two wide receivers are set in stone, but they could still use another threat in the slot and outside. Do any of the top receivers have a chance to fall to pick 17?

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The Cowboys may already have their top cornerback :: Blogging the Boys

Much has been made about the departure of Byron Jones, and for good reason. However, with a new defensive philosophy, the No. 1corner might already be on the roster in the form of Jourdan Lewis.

2020 NFL Cap Room By Team :: ProFootballRumors

There were a lot of moving parts in Dallas during free agency, so where exactly does the Cowboys cap situation stand?’

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Cowboys News Links: The fallacy paying Prescott will hurt team

The Dallas Cowboys are going to have to pay Dak Prescott. For some reason, there’s a vocal minority of Cowboys fans who refuse to acknowledge this fact. The other choice is a rebuild, and that’s not happening with all of the investments made at …

The Dallas Cowboys are going to have to pay Dak Prescott. For some reason, there’s a vocal minority of Cowboys fans who refuse to acknowledge this fact. The other choice is a rebuild, and that’s not happening with all of the investments made at other positions.

Bob Sturm of The Athletic recently took on one of the more supported nay-sayer positions, that paying quarterbacks a large percentage of the cap dooms a team from being competitive. He cuts through the noise of comparisons that have nothing to do with today’s NFL and dives into which teams have been the most successful, making conference championships. That leads off our news roundup.

Dispelling convention: Does paying a QB top-10 money really doom a franchise? (Pay attention, Cowboys) :: The Athletic (pay wall)

A popular fan theory states that an NFL team can’t win if they pay their quarterback more than 13 or so percent of their salary cap, but reality shows the curve is likely trending upward in a hurry.

Mailbag: Jourdan Lewis’ future with Cowboys? :: The Mothership

Two team staff writers disagree on whether now is the right time to lock up the services of cornerback Jourdan Lewis, before he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

Tony Romo to compete at Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritex Bank Championship :: veritexbankchampionship.com

The former Cowboys quarterback will be one of 156 golfers chasing a $600,000 purse at the mid-April tournament in Arlington and says, “I have been working hard on my game and hope to make a little noise during the championship.”

2020 NFL Transactions Tracker :: Rotoworld

Go team-by-team to see all the hirings, firings and signings of each NFL team; a handy resource for the offseason catch up.

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Cooper & Cobb: Clock now ticking for Cowboys’ WR free agents :: Cowboys Wire

Getting into the details of the offenses double-edged decision at what they will do as far as targets for Dak Prescott in 2020.

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News: Byron Jones to stay or go, Cowboys comp pick scenarios

Also, Jerry Jones wants to “make a splash” at the 2020 Draft, Dez Bryant wants to come “home,” and a look at college’s top wide receivers.

Byron Jones was a hot topic on Thursday. One outlet is imploring the Cowboys to re-sign him, while another says it’s time to let him go. A radio guy out West thinks he knows where Jones will wind up, and a draft expert makes a guess on what Dallas will do to fill the void Jones leaves behind.

Meanwhile, two of Jones’s defensive back mates just got hefty raises, DeMarcus Lawrence ranks toward the top of his class even without sacks, and Dez Bryant’s touchdown stats make a case for him coming “home.” All that, plus looking ahead to the draft with wide receivers, backup quarterbacks, and punters. That’s right: punters. We’re hitting all the News and Notes this time out.

NFL free agency: 9 guys who MUST be re-signed by current team :: NFL.com

Two members of the Cowboys make this list of free agents who must be retained. One of them is obvious: quarterback Dak Prescott. The other one, surprisingly, isn’t wide receiver Amari Cooper. Instead, it’s cornerback Byron Jones. It has felt for quite some time that Jones wouldn’t be returning to Dallas, as the team has its hands full with contracts coming due.

Adam Schein posits that Jones should be a higher priority than Cooper, though opinions differ widely there. The Cowboys offense has been a different animal with a true No. 1 receiver in the fold; finding someone to fill his shoes seems a difficult ask.

–TT

Cowboys free agents most likely to depart: Byron Jones is talented, but Dallas has other roster needs to address :: Dallas Morning News

On the other side of the Jones coin is this argument from Calvin Watkins, who says the numbers simply don’t add up in a way that keeps him in the silver and blue. Yes, Jones was the team’s best corner in 2019, missed only one tackle all season, and often forced opposing passers to look elsewhere with their throws.  But with zero interceptions logged, the $12 million average salary, or more, Jones will likely command is just too much buck for not nearly enough bang.

–TB

2021 Compensatory Draft Picks: 14 Cowboys most likely to qualify :: CowboysWire

In a few weeks’ time, Dallas will officially be awarded a fifth-round compensatory pick for losing Cole Beasley in 2019 free agency. Meanwhile, Dallas’ group of 25 unrestricted free agents means that there will be an abundance of opportunities to earn extra picks in the 2021 draft, if they play their cards right.

This is a look at how comp picks are awarded, how teams can play the game based on when they sign qualifying free agents, and a breakdown of the 14 Cowboys prospects who should qualify for the formula, and a prediction on what salaries they will see in free agency, hence what round draft pick they’d be worth.

–KD

Rumor Mill: Broncos poised to make Cowboys’ CB Byron Jones ‘top target’ in free agency :: Mile High Huddle

So where might Jones wind up? There’s buzz that the Broncos could be among the active suitors courting the former first-round pick. According to a tweet from tapped-in Denver radio host Cecil Lammey, “There have been rumblings since the Senior Bowl” that Jones could be a “top target” for Vic Fangio’s staff. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. is potentially on the outs in Denver, making a young talent like Jones a valuable asset for GM John Elway to consider pursuing.

–TB

Tony Pauline Mailbag: Are the Dallas Cowboys planning ‘a big splash’ in the NFL Draft? :: ProFootballNetwork

And if Jones does depart, where do the Cowboys turn at cornerback? Tony Pauline has a theory. He says team owner Jerry Jones “wants to make a big splash in the draft,” according to one team insider. Trading up from the 17th pick to select Ohio State corner Jeffrey Okudah- the highest-rated defensive player not named Chase Young- would certainly qualify.

With Byron Jones perhaps already packing his bags and former Cowboys corner Morris Claiborne now wearing a Super Bowl ring that he earned with the Chiefs, the Dallas brass may feel the time is right to shore up the CB spot in a big way.

–TB

The NFL’s top 10 DEs entering 2020: Where does Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence rank among the best? :: Dallas Morning News

Spoiler alert: Lawrence is, in fact, among the best in the business at edge rusher. But he doesn’t place as high as Cowboys fans would like, especially after signing a record contract last offseason.

In Lawrence’s case, though, sacks (or a lack thereof in 2019) don’t tell the whole story. His run-stop percentage, pressures despite a high double-team rate, and elite scores in ESPN’s Pass Rush Win Rate metric- all while coming off a major shoulder surgery- prove that Lawrence not only deserves his top-10 status… but could easily surpass it in 2020.

–TB

Defensive backs Xavier Woods and Jourdan Lewis will receive raises :: CowboysWire

Thanks to the proven-performance escalator available to players drafted in the third through seventh rounds, Woods and Lewis will earn an extra $1.5 million (or so) in 2020, according to Todd Archer. The big-time bump comes after both players logged more than 35 percent of the snaps on average in their first three seasons.

As per Over The Cap, Woods made $645,000 last year; Lewis earned $675,000. Both will see their take-home jump to $2.14 million next season.

–TB

2020 NFL Draft Digest No. 3: Incredible wide receiver group could reinforce Cowboys offense :: The Athletic

Just three wide receivers averaged one catch per game for the Cowboys in 2019. Reliable depth at the position, then, is a legitimate concern. And with Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb currently out of contract, it’s no stretch to think that, depending on how things unfold, Dallas could be looking long and hard at bringing in a rookie target for Dak Prescott, maybe even in the first round.

Bob Sturm breaks down Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, TCU’s Jalen Reagor, Alabama’s Henry Ruggs, and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault. Of that bunch, the top grade ultimately goes to the “scary” player who plays with “lots of nitro” and managed to put up All-American credentials with a different quarterback in each of his three seasons. (That theoretically means he’d excel out of the blocks with Prescott and then somehow get even better as their chemistry develops.)

–TB

Dez Bryant misses scoring TDs, will he get chance to flash again ? :: Cowboys Wire

“That’s home,” Dez Bryant told Fox 4’s Mike Doocy this week when asked about his wish of a return to the Dallas Cowboys. “I miss scoring touchdowns.”

The numbers indicate that Bryant has been among the best at it over the past decade. His TD-catch rate from inside the 20-yard-line is seventh among all players over that span, and among players with 100 red zone targets, he ranks third. Of the top 11 pass-catchers listed, Bryant is the only wide receiver; the rest are tight ends. He has been positively lethal… but will the Cowboys offer him the chance at a killer comeback?

–TB

The Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback position needs to be addressed :: The Landry Hat

A Dak Prescott holdout over his contract situation would immediately thrust his understudy into the spotlight. But even with Prescott locked in on the payroll, the backup QB is always one nasty hit away from suddenly being The Guy. (Dallas and Prescott know this all too well.)

So, Cowboys Nation, how are you feeling about Cooper Rush taking the reins? The team signed Northwestern alum Clayton Thorson to a reserve/futures contract, but Angel Torres suggests that Dallas might be well served to look to another proven SEC passer to be Prescott’s reliever. Georgia’s Jake Fromm is no stranger to big games; he led the Bulldogs to a Rose Bowl, two Sugar Bowls, and a National Championship in three college seasons.

–TB

Five college punters to know in the 2020 NFL draft class :: Blogging the Boys

Don’t laugh; the punt game is suddenly a sore spot for the Cowboys after Chris Jones finished dead last in the league in yards per punt in 2019. With John Fassel now on the staff in Dallas, there’s bound to be turnover among the specialists. And while there are always journeyman legs to be found before camp, the team may choose to utilize a late-round draft pick on a talented collegiate.

On this list of field-flippers is a punter who set an NCAA record in 2019 for most yards per punt in a game (five or more attempts). He averaged 63 yards per punt in that game; three of his five punts were in the 60-yard neighborhood, and one traveled a whopping 75 yards.

–TB

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