5 things to watch at NFL Scouting Combine from Dallas Cowboys perspective

The NFL Scouting Combine is this week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

While evaluating prospects is the top priority for all NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys often use the week to evaluate the state of the team, which finished 4-12 last season.

Here’s five things to watch for from a Cowboys’ perspective:

Quarterback hunt

The Cowboys are seriously hunting for a quarterback in the NFL Draft for the first time since they took Troy Aikman first overall in 1989. Although they might not take a quarterback in the first round, they will do their due diligence in taking a close look at all the quarterbacks as possible options for the fourth overall pick as well the second, third or fourth rounds.

Wentz rise

North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz has dominated the headlines as the hottest quarterback on the rise since the end of the college football season. Now the question is can he keep that momentum at the combine where he will be go against Cal’s Jared Goff and Memphis’ Paxton Lynch? One will likely be taken second overall by the Cleveland Browns, leaving the Cowboys a top quarterback option at No. 4 if they choose to go that route.

Jack medicals

UCLA linebacker Myles Jack is a consensus top-five prospect in the draft. He has been linked to the Cowboys with the fourth overall pick. He will attend the combine, but won’t work out because he is still recovering from a torn lateral meniscus that ended his 2015 season early. His medical records, rehab and recovery will be under scrutiny at the combine.

Free agency

The combine is the unofficial start of free agency. In addition to analyzing draft picks, teams use the combine to talk to agents about their respective free agents. The Cowboys have a number of needs to fill and won’t be able to get everything done in the draft. Intriguing names to watch include defensive end Olivier Vernon, running back Lamar Miller, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, and quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Robert Griffin III

Jerry Jones talks

Owner Jerry Jones usually uses the combine to conduct his annual state of the union on the Cowboys. Jones openly laments passing on a quarterback two years ago when the Cowboys chose guard Zach Martin over Johnny Manziel. It was the right thing to do at the time. Martin is a two-time Pro Bowler. The right thing to do now is to take a quarterback to groom behind an aging Tony Romo. Will Jones sacrifice an immediate impact player at No. 4 for one to groom for the future?

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 4:59 PM with the headline "5 things to watch at NFL Scouting Combine from Dallas Cowboys perspective."