Dallas Cowboys: Expectations for their cornerbacks in 2018

The biggest question mark is newly moved Byron Jones. I am a believer in his ability to return to form as a corner. Coming out of UCONN in 2015, Jones was a cornerback who’s immense athletic ability cursed him. The Cowboys fell in love with his measurables and thought his best fit was at the free safety position.

The free safety position requires quick processing and natural football instincts to allow the player to cover space sideline to sideline.

While measurables might show you a player physically can play the position, they do not measure instincts and natural fits. Even according to new defensive passing game coordinator Kris Richard, Byron is a natural outside press-corner.

Though he hasn’t played the position since his rookie season, Jones has been asked to do a lot of man to man coverage in his time at safety. Jones has always been known for his ability to lock up tight ends and bigger receivers.

And with an offseason of work under Richard and preseason games to get acclimated, there’s no doubt in my mind he can become an above average to borderline Pro Bowl caliber outside corner. It is, by the way, his natural position.

In a division with big outside receivers (Washington Redskins’ Josh Doctson and Philadelphia Eagles’ Alshon Jeffery), Richard’s plan to have big, strong, and athletic outside corners along with quick and aggressive slot guys will pay off.

Next: Dallas Cowboys - Projecting Dak Prescott’s next contract

The Dallas Cowboys will have its best and deepest cornerback group in years. The team’s opening-day starters at corner from 2016 are now either unemployed or playing elsewhere. In Dallas, their youth revolution has provided the defense with a significant upgrade. One, that with Kris Richard on the sidelines, can be expected to be a real strength for the Cowboys in 2018.