:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49207201/GettyImages-503289202.0.jpg)
Jason Garrett: Drafting a QB 'will certainly be on the table' for Cowboys - SportsDay Staff
In an interview with ESPN's NFL Live, Garrett held the door wide open to the idea of drafting a QB.
"I think it goes back to the evaluations of the players. Quarterbacks are certainly on the table for us, as are defensive linemen, linebackers, DBs and all the different positions on offense. You just want to bring a quality football player in who can help your team for a long, long time."
"You always want a developmental quarterback on your roster. So right now Tony's our starter. And Kellen Moore is on our roster, who's a young player, and Jameill Showers, who's a free-agent quarterback for us. That's all we have right now, so certainly the draft will be a big part of it."
Should the Cowboys draft a quarterback at No. 4? - Ben Standig, CSN Mid-Atlantic
In his latest mock draft, Standig ponders looming decisions for each NFC East team. For the Cowboys that decisions centers on Tony Romo, and Standig offers a succinct assessment.
This really comes down to the health of Tony Romo for 2016 and beyond. The quarterback's busted collarbone and recent surgery is of immediate concern, though Romo claimed Thursday's he'll be good to go for a full offseason.
If true and Dallas believes, as owner Jerry Jones previously stated, that Romo's reign isn't ending any time soon, then the Cowboys should pass on quarterback in the first round and go for immediate help. If we give everyone around the division truth serum, most probably say the Cowboys win the NFC East last season if Romo remained healthy. That's because he's good and their backups weren't. There's also Romo's positive impact on Dez Bryant; the impressive offensive line; and a sturdy defense that kept Dallas in games last season.
However, that said, [the Cowboys] could use a pass rushing force like Ohio State's Joey Bosa or a defensive back ace like Florida State's Jalen Ramsey. Add those pieces and keep Romo in one piece, and Dallas competes not just for the NFC East title but the bigger prize.
Cowboys should ignore Tony Romo's 'I'm healthy' pleas and draft a quarterback - Matt Mosely, SportsDay
Trying (a little too hard) to paint himself as a contrarian, Mosley shares his doubts about Romo's recovery and makes sure to refer to Jerry and Stephen Jones on a first-name basis throughout most of his piece.
Romo will spend this offseason letting everyone know how healthy his shoulder is, but we were reminded last season how fragile he can be. The Cowboys have to make an honest evaluation of Jared Goff and Carson Wentz without some unrealistic timetable for Romo's future in mind. Are Jerry and Stephen capable of doing that?
I have my doubts.
Cowboys might not draft well late, but Jerry Jones is good at finding rookie free agents - SportsDay
In a recent chat, Laufenberg dropped a nice bit of trivia:
Did you know...in the first 3 rounds in the last decade, the Cowboys have actually drafted 10 players who ultimately made a Pro Bowl (tied with KC and Minnesota). And in the last 6 years, they are the only team in the NFL to have drafted 3 All-Pros. For comparison, New England, viewed as the gold standard for all things NFL, have drafted two first round Pro Bowlers in the last 6 years and no All-Pros. That Tom Brady guy is a great deodorant.
[...] They have really not hit on any late round draft picks, with the exception of Dwayne Harris with a 6th round pick in 2011. Where they have excelled is finding rookie free agents. Barry Church, Cole Beasley, Dan Bailey, Jeff Heath.
How Benson Mayowa can opt out of Cowboys' deal in 2018 - Todd Archer, ESPN
Archer drtops some interesting contract details from one of the Cowboys' newest signings, DE Benson Mayowa.
Mayowa can opt out of the final year of his deal with the Cowboys if he plays in 60 percent of the defensive snaps over the next two seasons or records 10 sacks in 2016 and ’17. That would allow him to hit the market as a 27-year-old pass rusher with a much fuller résumé than he did as a restricted free agent.
Report: Cowboys free agent DE Jack Crawford visits with Jets - SNY
The Jets talked Thursday with Jack Crawford, according to the New York Post's Brian Costello.
Crawford has already visited Pittsburgh and the Cowboys might also be interested in bringing him back, according to reports.
Gavin Escobar: 'I'm getting better,' but no timetable for return to Cowboys - SportsDay Staff
The Cowboys reserve tight end was lost at the end of last season due to an Achilles tendon tear and the uncertainty of his rehabilitation process made re-signing James Hanna an even bigger off season priority for the club. The latest word is that Escobar is now walking without a boot, but that there is a long way for him to go before he will be ready for a return to the gridiron. A week one return would still seem optimistic for Gavin, and even at that he would be competing without the benefit of off season activities.
"Every week it progresses," Escobar said. "I kind of do what the trainers tell me to do. They don't give me a timeline, so I don't have a time. Obviously, anything can happen in recovery, so hopefully there are no setbacks."
The tone of things makes it sound like it will be much later than that before Escobar returns.
Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar taking day-by-day approach in knee rehab - Todd Archer, ESPN
The Dallas running back is taking things day by day as he attempts to come back from the second season ending injury of his career. His approach is that the team's medical staff knows best (did you hear that Mr. Ratliff?) and that they are doing what needs to be done to get him back on the field. Considering that Dallas is using the same approach that they took with Mo Claiborne last year, Dunbar has reason to put his faith in the Cowboys medical staff.
"They gave me an opportunity to play football and these guys really understand my body, how I healed and just my personality. What I'm going through right now, it's really hard to switch teams. People don't know who you are; they don't know how you healed. This is about Dallas knowing my history. I felt like it was probably the safest move for me."
For the second year running, Brandon Carr's contract is a hot topic for scribes throughout Cowboys Universe. In a recent conversation the Dallas corner addressed the issue personally.
"It is what you make it. It is how you view it, whatever your perception is of it. I don't look at it as a burden. It's pretty cool to have that challenge each and every week that teams know [I'm] the marquee guy so to speak or whatever you want to call it, so you've got the bull's eye on your back and you work hard to get that title and you've got to work even harder to keep it. That's just my process right now, continue to grind to get back to form."
BB got out of the office recently and attended the pro day at nearby TCU. Among the prospected he looked at were potential first round pick Josh Doctson and a later round safety, Derrick Kindred. Doctson will likely not be in play for the Cowboys unless they trade out of the fourth overall selection, but the safety prospect is very intriguing. With the position being one that has upgrade potential needed written all over it, Kindred could be somebody on the Dallas radar.
We are double dipping with Broaddus today. He gives us a Scout's Eye view of Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard who looks to be an interesting prospect. He does not bring the side you want in an outside man, but he fits the profile of a tough inside guy perfectly. Shepard is tough and catches everything near him. Come to think of it, Sterling Shepard looks like a bigger and stronger version of somebody already on the Dallas roster.
10 linebackers Dallas Cowboys could target in 2016 NFL Draft - Jon Machota, Dallas Morning News
Believe it or not there are linebackers in the draft this year. Machota gives us a look at some of the players the Cowboys might be interested in bringing aboard at various stages of the draft.
Here is a sneak peek at one of the prospects covered, Alabama's Reggie Ragland::
"Thumping inside linebacker with throwback size and tonesetting mentality. Ragland is a confident and capable early starter in league who has the temperament to become one of the premier run-stopping inside linebackers in the pro game. Ragland has some coverage and speed limitations, but his instincts and overall awareness should be able to mask those issues."
I suspect we could live with that.
Eagles, Cowboys working out QB Christian Hackenberg - Chase Goodbread, NFL.com
The quest continues as the Dallas Cowboys continue their due diligence on the top passer prospects available this year. Hackenberg has a lot of warts that the previous quarterbacks the team has worked out do not have, but the Cowboys feel they have time to groom whomever they select. That may make the Penn State passer a likely later target if Dallas does not opt for one of the top guys.