During this week, from March 27 to 30, there will be the NFL meetings in Florida. After a two-year absence of in-person meetings, the format has returned since 2019 and the highest authorities of all the franchises have made an appearance at the venue. In large part, to discuss the current situation of their teams and possible new changes in the rules of the discipline.
Unsurprisingly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in the talks. And likewise, he was speaking with the media on various topics of interest. Among them, he gave some clues about the possible selections in the Draft by the Cowboys for this year.
“I think I wouldn’t rule out a great opportunity to get a pass rusher,” Jones said Monday. “Obviously, I would like to have a young offensive lineman who could come in and play right away.”
Jerry Jones confirms we should expect Cowboys to go OL early in draft. Unless best-player-available wrecks it like recent years, that is.
“We’ll get one unless a Lamb or Parsons is there,” Jerry tells us. https://t.co/A2IQT0A0e1
– Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) March 28, 2022
Of course, these statements go hand in hand with certain needs that the Cowboys have in some rigorous positions. With Randy Gregory leaving the Denver Broncos, thanks to a last-minute change of heart by both the player and his agent, the possibility of looking for a defensive end couldn’t be ruled out.
Likewise, with the departure of La’el Collins to the Bengals and Connor Williams to the Dolphins, it will be necessary to look for talent on the offensive line. The team has already given the go-ahead at right tackle for Terence Steele, who will enter his third year as a pro. But at left guard, Connor McGovern wasn’t very convincing during the 2021 campaign. So the option of an offensive lineman is imperative during the draft process.
Of course, as expected, Jerry always uses his jokes when he is with the journalists. “We’ll have one unless CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons is there,” the Cowboys owner joked. In reference to the fact that in the last two Draft processes they have selected the best prospect of those who were at the time. “And then add one more. I will accept the criticism when the time comes that we don’t know what we are doing.”
Clearly, Jones’s remarks have to do with Dallas having the 24th pick in the first round of the Draft. If such an offensive lineman is not selected at that time, a lot of criticism can fall on the organization. However, don’t forget that the franchise has a keen eye for its offensive linemen when they are drafted in the first round. As have been the specific cases of Tyron Smith (ninth selection in 2011), Travis Frederick (number 31 in 2013) and Zack Martin (number 16 in 2014).
Although it is true that the second has already retired, the other two are still undisputed starters in the team. Despite the fact that Tyron Smith handles a history of injuries in recent years. The point in question is that in the offices they have managed to manage the talent in the position when they have to select in the first round. So 2022 should be no exception.
After all, there are some interesting names out there like Zion Johnson of Boston College. Along with him are Tyler Smith from Tulsa or Kenyon Green from Texas A&M. Overall, there are a few options the Cowboys might take depending on what happens at the event.
Any of these moves for an offensive lineman could come before the Draft. But in this case it’s a little more complicated since they would have to sign a veteran who could cost around a million dollars for a single season. The smart thing to do would be to look for someone for the future and to stay long-term.
Jerry Jones on off-field attention: “When you spend 30-something years saying ‘Look at us. Hey, wait, wait, you’re looking away…We’re the Cowboys. Look at us.’ When it’s been that way, then when you have some things you might not want to look at, you get looked at. That’s good”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 28, 2022
Last but not least are the offseason controversies surrounding the Amari Cooper trade and Randy Gregory’s abrupt change of heart at the last minute. Of course, all this attention off the field is interesting for Jones. Whether it’s good or bad, they keep talking about them. “When you spend 30-odd years saying, ‘Look at us. Hey, you’re looking the other way, we’re the Cowboys. Look at us’. When it has been like that, and when you have some things that you might not want to see, they look at you. That’s good,” Jones said.
Either way, the Draft is only a few weeks away. So the Cowboys will have to evaluate the nine selections they have for this year. It is still a complicated job, but the result is expected to be correct. Just like the one seen with many of the rookies arriving for 2021.
