Cowboys’ Sean Lee Retires From NFL
Sean Lee is calling it a career. The longtime Cowboys linebacker tells ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter) that he will retire after eleven seasons in the NFL. 
As recently as late March, Lee was said to be in talks with the Cowboys for a return. Even though the oft-injured ‘backer is long removed from his days as an elite defender, he still could have been a solid rotational option for Dallas. Lee played in just nine games in 2020, but had perfect attendance (including 13 starts) in 2019, including two double-digit tackle games down the stretch. All in all, he had 86 stops, a sack, an interception, and four passes defensed in ’19, leading to a one-year, $4.5MM re-up for 2020.
Unfortunately, last year’s sports hernia surgery wiped out the early part of his season. Between that, his early career ACL tear, and other injuries, Lee felt that it would be best to move on from football. Without Lee, the Cowboys will move forward with Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and recently acquired safety/LB Keanu Neal in the group.
Despite all of the injuries, Lee was a two-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2016. And, throughout his tenure, Lee was regarded as the leader of the Dallas’ defense. We here at PFR wish Lee a happy and healthy retirement.
Cowboys Won’t Trade Up From No. 10
The Cowboys may be high on Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, but they won’t trade up to land him or any other player, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. With less than one week to go until the NFL Draft, it sounds like Jerry Jones & Co. will be standing pat at No. 10. 
[RELATED: NFL Suspends Cowboys’ Rashard Robinson]
Drafting Pitts would require the Cowboys to move up several spots — perhaps as high as No. 4. Of course, that’d be costly, especially after the 49ers set the market by sacrificing a 2022 third-round pick and two future first rounders in order to advance from No. 12 to No. 3. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have much more pressing needs to address in the draft including cornerback, offensive tackle, and safety.
Pitts, a quarterback in high school, moved to tight end at UF and quickly put himself on the NFL radar. Last year, he snagged 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games, finishing out with an eye-popping 17.9 yards per grab. Right now, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins will allow him to fall beyond No. 6. Meanwhile, many prognosticators (and PFR readers) expect the Falcons to snag Pitts at No. 4.
Updated 2021 NFL Draft Order: Round 1
The Ravens sent Orlando Brown to the Chiefs on Friday, shuffling the first-round order of the NFL Draft once again. Now, the Ravens are one of four teams to hold multiple first-round picks, joining the Jaguars (Nos. 1 and 25), Jets (Nos. 2 and 23), and Dolphins (Nos. 6 and 18). In turn, Chiefs no longer have a top-32 choice, joining the Seahawks, Texans, and Rams.
As we look ahead to Thursday, here’s how the first round currently stands:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. San Francisco 49ers (from HOU via MIA)
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. Miami Dolphins (from PHI)
7. Detroit Lions
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. New York Giants
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from SF via MIA)
13. Los Angeles Chargers
14. Minnesota Vikings
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Las Vegas Raiders
18. Miami Dolphins
19. Washington Football Team
20. Chicago Bears
21. Indianapolis Colts
22. Tennessee Titans
23. New York Jets (from SEA)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)
26. Cleveland Browns
27. Baltimore Ravens
28. New Orleans Saints
29. Green Bay Packers
30. Buffalo Bills
31. Baltimore Ravens (from KC)
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: WR Cedrick Wilson (RFA), DL Antwaun Woods (RFA)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Bruce Hector, LB B.J. Bello, DB Chris Jones, DL Woodrow Hamilton
The first two defensive players the Titans took flyers on, Hector and Bello, both spent a little bit of time in Philadelphia with new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Jones started three games for the Vikings last year.
NFL Suspends Cowboys’ Rashard Robinson
Rashard Robinson has incurred another suspension. The NFL handed the Cowboys cornerback a two-game ban for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This is familiar territory for the veteran defender. Robinson received four- and 10-game suspensions in 2018 and ’19, respectively. Both bans were for substance abuse. This marks the five-year vet’s first PED ban.
The Cowboys signed Robinson in September, adding him to their practice squad. The former fourth-round pick has also played for the 49ers and Jets. San Francisco traded Robinson to New York at the 2017 deadline.
While Robinson was a 13-game starter with the 49ers, he has not received extensive playing time since. The Cowboys used the 25-year-old cover man in four games last season, though he did start three of those, shuttling him on and off their active roster. Robinson is signed through the 2021 season.
Cowboys Receiving Calls On No. 10 Pick
It’s been quiet on the Cowboys trade front, but chatter is starting to pick up. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones revealed that the team has started to receive hits on the No. 10 pick.
[RELATED: Dolphins Considering Trading Down Again]
“It’s really just starting to pick up,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic on Twitter). “We’re starting to get a few calls.”
Teams are always sniffing around at deals in anticipation of the draft, so this tidbit of news isn’t necessarily shocking nor telling. However, Dallas could see the pick become a hot commodity if any one of Mac Jones, Trey Lance, or Justin Fields falls to the 10th-overall pick. The Cowboys have mostly held on to their first-round picks in recent years; the last time the team moved back in the first round was 2013 (the team also traded their 2019 first-rounder in a 2018 trade for Amari Cooper).
Of course, the Cowboys could also just keep the draft pick and fill one of their key needs, whether it be cornerback, offensive tackle, or safety. We heard earlier this month that Jerry Jones was “infatuated” with tight end Kyle Pitts, but Dallas would surely need to make a trade up the draft in order to acquire the highly touted prospect.
'A Lot' Of Cowboys At Workouts
- Despite the Raiders being one of the teams to join the boycott, some of their players reported to their facility Monday, according to The Associated Press. Some members of the Cowboys, Panthers and Patriots did as well. The Pats also indicated many of their players would not attend. Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said “a lot” of players were present Monday.
Malcolm Butler, A.J. Bouye Expressed Interest In Joining Cowboys
As the draft approaches, cornerback continues to be a need area for the Cowboys. While they re-signed Jourdan Lewis this offseason, the Cowboys received interest from multiple veterans with more experience.
Both Malcolm Butler and A.J. Bouye expressed an interest in joining the Cowboys, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes, and each third-contract-seeking vet was willing to take a discount to do so. However, Dallas was not open to that prospect — even at lower rates than the corners ended up signing for — and moved on, Hill adds.
The Titans and Broncos, respectively, made Butler and Bouye cap casualties this offseason. Butler ended up signing a one-year, $3.25MM deal with the Cardinals. Bouye joined the Panthers late last week, agreeing to a two-year, $7MM pact. Butler’s contract is fully guaranteed, while Bouye will receive $3.5MM fully guaranteed. That will tie him to the Panthers for the 2021 season. These third contracts represent steep downgrades. Butler, 31, signed a five-year, $61.25MM deal with the Titans in 2018; Bouye, 29, landed with the Jaguars on a five-year, $67.5MM deal in 2017. They joined many free agents in taking major discounts this offseason, which featured a near-$20MM salary cap reduction.
The Cowboys communicated to both defenders they did not have the money to sign them, Hill notes. The team has added a host of free agents, but they have largely been on low-end contracts. As of Monday, Dallas holds just less than $8MM in cap space. Much of that will go to signing draft picks.
Dallas drafted Trevon Diggs in last year’s second round and used a fourth-round pick on Reggie Robinson. Slot corner Anthony Brown is signed through the 2022 season. Lewis re-signed a three-year, $13.5MM deal; only $4.75MM of that is fully guaranteed. Despite these investments, the Cowboys are expected to add a corner early in the draft, Hill adds, perhaps with the No. 10 overall pick.
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones “Infatuated” With Kyle Pitts
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is “infatuated” with tight end Kyle Pitts, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (via 24/7 Sports). Pitts probably won’t be available at No. 10, so Jones would have to move up the board to get his man.
The Cowboys have several key needs to address in the draft including cornerback, offensive tackle, and safety. The tight end position isn’t among the most glaring holes, but Pitts’ off-the-charts athleticism and pass-catching ability has caught Jones’ attention in a serious way.
To snag him, Jones may have to move up as high as No. 4 overall, after the Jaguars, Jets, and 49ers take their quarterbacks. The Falcons could be willing to move that pick, but they’ll need to be blown away by an offer — especially since new GM Terry Fontenot wants a quarterback while new head coach Arthur Smith wants to stick with Matt Ryan. Also, the Falcons are pretty fond of Pitts themselves.
Right now, it seems unlikely that Pitts will get past the No. 6 overall pick. To get there, the Cowboys would probably have to sacrifice their 2022 first-round pick.
Pitts, a quarterback in high school, moved to tight end at UF and quickly put himself on the NFL radar. Last year, he snagged 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games, finishing out with an eye-popping 17.9 yards per grab.
Cowboys Sign TE Jeremy Sprinkle
The Cowboys added a piece to their tight end room Wednesday, poaching one from rival Washington. Four-year Washington contributor Jeremy Sprinkle signed with Dallas.
Washington used Sprinkle as a frequent starter, trotting him out as a first-stringer in 33 games. The former fifth-round pick will join a Cowboys team that saw blocking tight end Blake Bell head back to the Chiefs this offseason.
Logan Thomas emerged as Washington’s top receiving tight end in 2020, but Sprinkle still played an extensive role. He suited up for all 17 Washington games, making six starts, but only caught two passes. The second came in Washington’s playoff loss. Sprinkle, however, played 64% of Washington’s snaps in 2019, when the team lost Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis to season-ending injuries. He caught 26 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in his third year.
The 26-year-old blocker/occasional pass catcher will join Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz at tight end in Dallas.