What should the Dallas Cowboys do about Byron Jones?
By Tyrone Starr
Over the next two seasons, Byron Jones was the team’s best safety, only to be moved back to corner in 2018. How did he respond? Jones allowed a 53.6 percent catch rate with 10 pass breakups. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and was named to Pro Football Focus’s All-Pro team.
Not only has Jones been the consummate teammate, he has also shown one of his best abilities to be availability. In four seasons, Byron Jones has played in every single game for the Dallas Cowboys. Those are the best reasons why Jones should be a Dallas Cowboy for a long, long time. As for why this is not exactly a slam dunk, well, there are few of those reasons as well.
The primary reason would center around the lack of playmaking that has surrounded his entire career. In four years, Jones has just two interceptions. None of those happened in his best season, which was easily 2018.
As a point of reference, 22 different cornerbacks posted three or more interceptions in 2018. The season before, 23 different cornerbacks did so. Some may find it difficult to justify paying top dollar to a player that does not create turnovers.
Another issue is the sheer number of players the Dallas Cowboys have to consider taking care of in the next couple of seasons.
Jones, Lawrence, linebacker Jaylon Smith, right tackle La’el Collins, receiver Amari Cooper, running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott all have some hefty pay increases coming their way.
Can the Cowboys take care of all them? To do so will take some major creativity and maybe even a little budging from a couple of these guys. We’re already seeing Lawrence’s turn at the payment window get dicey. Another Pro-Bowl caliber season from Jones and you can bet more teams than just Dallas will have no problems throwing bags of money his way.
Having a lockdown cornerback is a great thing, but given that the Cowboys gave up a first round draft pick just to acquire Cooper, it would be hard to see him not be a higher priority. Obviously Zeke and Dak are as well.
If Lawrence does get paid like he should, that’s four guys that are going to making serious money. The Cowboys may just choose to let Jones walk and load up on corners in the 2020 draft.