Could Byron Jones become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL?

It is extremely likely that when Dak Prescott ultimately gets his contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys that he will be the highest-paid player in franchise history. For now that distinction belongs to last year’s extension recipient, DeMarcus Lawrence, but prices are constantly on the rise in the NFL. What’s more is that Lawrence is a defensive end and Prescott is a quarterback and those are typically positions that see the next person to be paid ascending to the top of the market in their respective spot.

In any other offseason I’d feel confident saying personally that Dak Prescott’s eventual deal will make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league. With Pat Mahomes’ contract lurking, even if somehow that did end up happening for Dak it would shortly be outdone, but it’s possible that Dak isn’t the only player on the Cowboys currently that could set such a mark at his respective position.

Could Byron Jones end up as the NFL’s top-paid cornerback?

The big three names for the Cowboys this offseason are Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Byron Jones. It’s long been thought that the first two could command money at the very top of their positions, but there has been a bit of mystery surrounding Byron Jones’ potential.

So much of the confusion surrounds Jones’ career, really. He hasn’t technically been a cornerback for all five of the seasons that he’s been in the NFL but when he’s played there he has been very good. Committing to him isn’t exactly committing to purely potential, but the body of work isn’t the same for him as it is for others.

This past week The Athletic’s Sheil Kapedia offered up some bold predictions for this offseason. One of the predictions that he listed included Byron Jones becoming the game’s top-paid cornerback.

13. Byron Jones becomes the highest-paid CB in the NFL

That title belongs to Miami’s Xavien Howard, who’s earning more than $15 million annually. The Cowboys have to figure out how to proceed with Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Jones this offseason. Prescott and Cooper figure to be higher priorities, and if Jones hits the market, he’s likely to see a big payday. He’ll turn 28 next season, has cornerback/safety versatility (which coaches love), has missed just one game due to injury in five seasons and has played at a high level. Marcus Peters recently re-signed with the Ravens on a deal that will pay him $14 million annually. That’s the floor for Jones. But he could easily reset the market at $16 million or $17 million.

It is possible that Jones could reset the market considering that’s basically where we are at in the NFL - everybody resets the market. There is a world where Prescott, Cooper, and Jones see their annual values somewhere in the neighborhoods of $35M, $20M, and $16M, respectively.

That is a lot of money to commit to three players but these are obviously important positions. There are creative ways to pay people but it’s the eyes popping out of your socket right now that could lead the Cowboys to saying goodbye to one of these three.

Would you be alright if it was Byron Jones?