Dallas Cowboys Morning Links: La’el Collins In Dallas, Gregory Vs. Ray

In Thursday’s edition of our Morning Links, why was controversial, undrafted offensive tackle La’el Collins in Dallas on Wednesday? Plus Jerry Jones on the Cowboys upgrades on defense and will Shane Ray outperform Randy Gregory in 2015? All that and more as we dive in to the best Cowboys news from around the web.

Report: La’El Collins in Dallas to visit Cowboys by Curtis Crabtree, Pro Football Talk

"“Having fallen out of the draft altogether last weekend, La’El Collins can now take his time deciding where he wants to begin his NFL career. After a visit with Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan on Monday, Collins is now in Dallas for a meeting the cowboys, per Clarence Hill of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. There is a caveat, however. Teams are prohibited from meeting with players who were eligible for the 2015 draft at their own residence or on campus until finals are completed…”"

Stephen Jones: Veteran running back not a priority right now by Josh Alper, Pro Football Talk

"“Veteran running back Chris Johnson told a TMZ cameraman that he’d be a good fit with the Cowboys and invited the team to “holler at me,” but it appears the Cowboys plan to do their hollering in different directions at the moment. The Cowboys passed on taking a running back during the draft, making good on owner Jerry Jones’s assertion that the need to add a rookie back to Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar was “not urgent.” The team doesn’t seem to feel any different about veteran backs based on executive vice president Stephen Jones’s answer to a season ticket holder’s question about adding Johnson to the mix…”"

Cowboys postpone QB decision for another year — at least by Todd Archer, ESPNDallas.com

"“Remember all that talk about the Dallas Cowboys looking in the draft for Tony Romo’s possible successor or maybe even a future No. 2 quarterback? It didn’t happen. The Cowboys had private workouts with Bryce Petty, Brett Hundley, Garrett Grayson and Sean Mannion but did not pull the trigger on any of them. They will add UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers as an undrafted free agent and will have South Alabama’s Brandon Bridge in for a tryout at this weekend’s rookie minicamp…”"

Still Upbeat About Draft, Jerry Talks Romo’s Prediction & Expectations For CB Carr By Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

“A few days removed from last weekend’s NFL Draft, and just a couple of days away from getting to see the Cowboys’ newest players on the field for a rookie minicamp, owner Jerry Jones was still rather upbeat about his team’s draft, along with a few other topics of conversation. Minutes after his speech as the keynote speaker for a Salvation Army luncheon at AT&T Stadium on Wednesday, Jones spoke to reporters on several topics about his team, starting with the draft…”

Cowboys putting faith in line, not backs by Todd Archer, ESPNDallas.com

“There are a couple of chicken-or-the-egg theories in football. Does a pass rush make a secondary, or does a secondary make a pass rush? The Dallas Cowboys are hoping it’s a little of both by taking cornerback Byron Jones in the first round and defensive end Randy Gregory in the second round. But when it comes to the other theory – does the runner make the running game, or does the offensive line make it? – there is no doubt which way the Cowboys are leaning…”

Jeremiah: Ray will make bigger impact than Gregory as rookie by Bryan Fischer, NFL.com

"“Randy Gregory and Shane Ray both fell in the 2015 NFL Draft thanks to off-field concerns, although Gregory dropped all the way to pick No. 60 in Round 2, while Ray’s slide stopped at pick No. 23 in Round 1. Both players ended up slipping to Super Bowl contenders, with the Dallas Cowboys taking Gregory and Denver Broncos selecting Ray. So, which player will have a better rookie year? NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah says it’s Ray. “Randy Gregory will have some initial success, and then I think you’ll see him get all the attention of opponents and I think you’ll see his numbers decrease after that initial success,” Jeremiah said on NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft” Wednesday…”"

Next: Cowboys: Will Heavy 2015 Defensive Draft Payoff Immediately?