Cowboys take advantage in race to land perfect Michael Gallup replacement

The Dallas Cowboys were always expected to bolster their roster following the NFL Draft. Sure enough, they signed old friend Ezekiel Elliott while the ink from the last pick was still drying. Though Elliott is a solid pickup, the Cowboys needed to pivot quickly to shore up other positions.

This roster is crying out for a veteran defensive tackle, but another running back and wide receiver for depth purposes would move mountains.

It seems Jerry Jones understands the urgency to upgrade the team. The Dallas Morning News reported on Wednesday that the Cowboys are hosting free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones for a visit at The Star.

A former second-round pick of the Bills, Jones' market is beginning to heat up as he's already taken visits with the Cardinals and Titans.

Cowboys meeting with free agent wide receiver Zay Jones

Jones would be a great pickup for the Cowboys. He was injured last year so his production wasn't great but he has the skillset to become Dallas' WR3 from day one. The team is bullish on former third-round pick Jalen Tolbert, but the 29-year-old Jones is far more proven and accomplished than Tolbert.

A Dallas native, Jones had a breakout year with the Jaguars in 2022. In 16 games, he caught 82 passes for 825 yards and five touchdowns. Cowboys fans might remember Jones taking the form of Michael Irvin against Dallas that season in a game that Jacksonville won in overtime. Jones finished with eight catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the second half.

Beyond being a Dallas native, Jones' father Robert Jones was a former first-round pick by the Cowboys in 1992. He finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and started 44 games in four seasons with the team, culminating in three Super Bowl victories in 1992, '93 and '95.

Money obviously talks, but Jones' ties to the Cowboys should give them a leg up in winning the bidding war for his signature. At 6-2 and 200 pounds, Jones would give Dak Prescott another big-bodied target. He's comfortable lining up in the slot and out wide, which makes him an ideal pairing with CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, who can also play both positions.

Jones isn't a burner in terms of speed but he knows how to get open. In 2022, he finished fifth amongst WRs with a 59.9% open-target percentage.

In short, Jones would be an upgrade over Michael Gallup. Now that Gallup has signed with Jones' former team in the Raiders, it makes perfect sense for the Cowboys to bring Jones back home.

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