The Dallas Cowboys, and owner Jerry Jones in particular, have received a great deal of criticism this offseason for the way they have decided to build their roster ahead of the 2024 season. Tony Pollard, who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons, left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency and was replaced by Ezekiel Elliott. While Elliott is one of the best running backs in Cowboys history, he is coming off of the worst season of his career with the New England Patriots.
Eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith departed Dallas to play for the New York Jets. The Cowboys decided to use their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Tyler Guyton, but otherwise planned on filling the left tackle role internally. Chuma Edoga, the lineman the Cowboys started at left tackle in their last preseason game, suffered a significant toe injury and will most likely start the season on injured reserve.
And then, of course, there are the ongoing contract negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker Micah Parsons that have dominated headlines.
There is certainly a great deal of questions that surround the Cowboys roster right now, and Jones added more of them with his most recent comments to a Dallas sports radio show.
Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Hints that the Team Is Not Done Adding Players
Earlier this offseason, Jones generated a great deal of blowback from fans when he said that he was definitely “all in” to win in 2024. Looking at the state of the Cowboys’ roster, it is easy to see why fans were upset with the comments.
However, Jones also recently told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that he is not done building the Cowboys’ roster. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Jones said, “Sometimes in the interior (defensive) line, you get a chance to do some things with other clubs right at the end of training camp, in that area. What you’re seeing right now is important. It’s important to see these guys take reps. But tonight won’t be the final pieces to the puzzle.”
A few days ago, the Cowboys acquired interior defensive lineman Jordan Phillips in a trade with the New York Giants.
It does not sound like Jones is done trying to make trades.
Could Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys Bring in a Former NFL Draft Target?
If interior defensive line depth is what Jones is looking to add on the trade market, Mark Heaney of Inside the Star suggests that Dallas could go after Taven Bryan, whom the Cowboys were thinking about drafting in 2018.
“If you can remember all the way back to the 2018 NFL Draft cycle, you will remember just how much the Cowboys loved then-Florida Gator, Taven Bryan,” Heaney wrote. “He tallied just 5.5 sacks in his Jacksonville career, and has started only 40 out of 96 games at this point in his career.
“Yes, he is considered a bust, and considering how much he is playing for Indianapolis early in the preseason, it seems possible he could be cut before the season starts.
“With how much this front office loves to target guys they liked in old drafts, a Cowboys trade for Bryan would not shock me in the least.”
One has to wonder why Dallas would trade for a player that is going to get cut anyway, but if they do not want to risk losing him to a different team on the open market it could possibly make sense.
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