Dallas Cowboys, Stephen Jones looking at potential trades ahead of NFL Draft
It’s a busy week for the Dallas Cowboys and executive vice president Stephen Jones.
In addition to his duties as co-chairman of the competition committee at the three-day annual league meeting in South Florida, he also remains active in looking to improve the team’s roster ahead of the NFL draft.
After making 10 acquisitions in the opening two weeks of free agency, including two trades, Jones is still keeping a close eye on the free agent market and the potential of making a third trade in the coming weeks. With holes still on the roster, Jones is looking to be in a position to take the best player available with the No. 12 overall position in the draft rather than press for a position of need.
“Part of what we do in free agency is to make it to where hopefully there’s a great player sitting there with each pick that we really like,” Jones said. “[We] don’t want to be nailed down to, ‘Hey, it’s got to be a defensive lineman or it’s got to be a receiver or it’s got to be a linebacker or a running back.’ Let’s see what comes to us.”
Cowboys looking at more trade possibilities
The Cowboys have already made two trades this offseason in acquiring linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. and cornerback Kaiir Elam, and Jones has the door wide open for more in the coming weeks.
“We’ve got several things we’re looking at from a trade standpoint,” Jones said. “But certainly not to the point where we have a deal yet.”
At the league meetings, Jones will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with owners and executives of all 32 teams which could allow for development in some of those trade conversations.
“It’s a good opportunity to sit down and visit,” he said. “It’s like a negotiation. It can happen quick or it can take time to marinate. Getting your hands around what we’re willing to do versus what a team is willing to take for somebody or vice-versa. If they’re looking at one of our guys, sometimes it takes time.”
Cowboys ‘feel good’ about Micah Parsons extension
Arguably the biggest task on the agenda for the Cowboys this offseason is getting a contract extension done for Micah Parsons. Highly regarded as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, Parsons could land a contract north of $40 million per season in the coming months.
As negotiations power on, Jones feels confident that a deal will get done.
“We’ve had visits with Micah, Jerry [Jones] and I have,” he said. “Feel good about that...I don’t want to get into any details. It’s not fair for anybody other than we’ve got a great working relationship with Micah and think the world of him. Like I’ve said, we’ve had good visits with him and feel good about where we’re headed.”
The Cowboys have had gritty contract extension negotiations in the past. Jones says some players like to have their representation do all of the talking, and some like to talk themselves. With Parsons, it is certainly the latter.
“If players want to come in and talk to us, we’ve got an open-door policy,” he said. “Whether it’s Jerry or myself, and Micah likes to visit. So that’s a good thing.”
Cowboys ‘not done yet’ in free agency
After making eight free agent acquisitions last month, the Dallas Cowboys are still eyeing more holes to fill ahead of the draft. An active free agency period compared to years past for the organization has put them in a decent spot moving forward. Jones would like to be in an even better position in the coming weeks.
“That was our plan, to take care of some areas where we felt like we needed to shore up in terms of places where we had holes,” he said. “Didn’t do it as much last year as we have in the past but can say, yeah, it fits right in line with what we’re trying to get accomplished. We’re not done yet. Still got some things that are outstanding out there that we’re trying to get done.”
One of those outstanding things could be the backup quarterback spot. After losing Cooper Rush to the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month, the Cowboys are officially in the market for a No. 2 to Dak Prescott.
“Yes, still an option that we’re looking at,” Jones said about signing a veteran quarterback. “We could do it via trade, we could do it via what’s available out there. There’s a lot of ways player acquisition occurs. Trade is one of them and certainly so is signing available guys.”
Dak Prescott progressing well in injury recovery
After seeing his season end prematurely with a torn hamstring in week nine of the 2024 season, quarterback Dak Prescott is continuing to progress well in his recovery. He has returned to running and throwing on the field, and is approaching a limited participation in offseason team activities (OTAs) in May if everything continues to go smoothly.
“Dak’s doing great,” Jones said. “He’s very thrilled with where he is, and I know the trainers are too. I feel like he’s doing a hell of a job.”
“He’ll have some limitations [in OTAs], but knowing Dak, he’s a worker. He’s thrilled with where he is.”
NFL Draft quickly approaching for Cowboys
The NFL Draft is less than a month away, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his staff have been on the road at Pro Day events over the last few weeks seeing prospects in-person. Next week, they will welcome in local Dallas-area prospects for a workout and 30 out-of-area prospects for facility visits.
“This is the grind time,” Jones said. “Obviously, they went on the road last week and got to see a lot of good football players with their trips they made between going to [Texas] A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss, to name a few. They’re getting their hands around it. Still got a month before the draft, so we got a lot of work to do.”
The running back position is one that the Cowboys will have a close eye on come draft weekend, but Jones offered optimism in the two additions that they made in free agency with veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders.
“We like the two running backs we signed in free agency,” he said. “We’ll see if there is a young back there as well that can help us in the draft, we’re certainly wide open to that. Just see what comes our way.”
