Dallas Cowboys draft rumors have the team not targeting a quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft. These Cowboys rumors seem to have been confirmed by owner Jerry Jones, who spoke about what the team might do with its first-round pick. A report from NFL.com revealed some interesting information about the Cowboys and how the team is still committed to moving forward with Tony Romo under center. The article also quoted NFL expert Gil Brandt, who spoke with the Cowboys owner about the upcoming draft.
“Jerry told me recently that he will unequivocally not take a quarterback at No. 4, where the Cowboys draft this year. I believe him. It makes sense if you think Romo will make a full recovery from offseason surgery, will be your starter for at least three more years, and your team has a window of opportunity that will remain open by filling more glaring needs with the top pick in the draft.”
There had been previous Dallas Cowboys draft rumors about the team looking to go in a different direction, but never a specific comment from Jerry Jones about the exact intentions of his team at the 2016 NFL Draft. While likely ruling out the team selecting one of the tip-tier quarterbacks in the first round, it still leaves the possibility that the Cowboys could target a quarterback in one of the later rounds. With an extensive crop of quarterbacks coming out of college, the Cowboys could possibly look to groom a prospect behind Romo.
The 2015 NFL season was derailed for the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo when he got hurt. Romo would only play in four gamesduring the season, finishing with 884 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It led to the Cowboys finishing with the worst record in the NFC, at 4-12, and the team securing the No. 4 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. This gives the Cowboys a shot at drafting an elite college player to help at one of its weakened positions. If Jerry Jones is telling the truth, that player won’t be a quarterback.
So, why do these new Dallas Cowboys draft rumors point the team away from a new starting quarterback? The answer might begin and end with the hefty contract that Tony Romo still has with the team. The Cowboys have Romo under contract through the 2019 NFL season, though the team could save some money beginning with the 2018 NFL season. In 2016, Romo currently has a dead cap hit of nearly $32 million, with none of that money avoidable by the Cowboys.
A reality is that the Cowboys may need to stick with Romo for at least two more NFL seasons, giving the team a bit of time to find a new starting quarterback. This could give the team a chance to select someone later in the 2016 NFL Draft and then have him learn from Romo for about two years. Some possible quarterbacks that could work under these Dallas Cowboys draft rumors include Dak Prescott from Mississippi State, Cardale Jones from Ohio State, Jacoby Brissett from NC State, and Jake Coker from Alabama.
As previously reportedby the Inquisitr, one quarterback who has garnered a bit of attention in meetings and the Senior Bowl is Vernon Adams, Jr. The Oregon and Eastern Washington product could get selected late in the 2016 NFL Draft or signed as a rookie free agent soon after the draft. This is a name that could become more popular as the NFL offseason progresses. As for who the latest Dallas Cowboys draft rumors have the team looking at as a first-round pick, a reportfrom Sports Illustratedlinks the team to Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa.
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