Cowboys Sign Byron Jones
The Cowboys announced that they have signed first-round draft pick Byron Jones. With Jones in the fold, Dallas has now inked everyone in their 2015 draft class.
Jones’ deal will call for him to earn a little under $8MM over a four-year period. The No. 27 overall pick comes to Dallas with experience at both cornerback and safety. He has already gotten a chance to show off his versatility during OTAs, getting reps at both positions.
Of course, having another talented cornerback in the mix is a strategic move by the Cowboys. Not only do they get stronger at the position at the short-term, but Jones’ presence should give them additional leverage for a Brandon Carr pay cut and give the Cowboys the upper hand in Orlando Scandrick‘s contract dispute.
The UConn standout garnered serious interest from teams all around the league leading up to the draft and the rival Eagles were one team known to be keen on him.
NFC East Notes: Murray, Eagles, Cowboys
Joseph Randle took a lot of heat for saying that DeMarco Murray could have gone for even more yards in 2014, but Andy Benoit of The MMQB says that he’s right. In many instances, Benoit found that Murray was making decisions that didn’t play to his strengths. If another Cowboys running back is able to capitalize on those gaping holes left by the elite offensive line, then someone could be in for a big year in Dallas. Here’s more from the NFC East..
East Notes: Mathis, Hardy, Eagles, Pats
Eagles coach Chip Kelly says that he has yet to speak with offensive guard Evan Mathis, who has not reported for OTAs, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
“We’ll take it as it comes,” Kelly said.
Mandatory minicamp starts on June 16th, but he could wind up in camp with another club as the Eagles have given him permission to look for a viable trade. The Eagles have said that they’re not shopping the 33-year-old, but Kelly has admitted that he is willing to listen on anyone. Earlier today, we learned that Mathis contends that the Eagles offered to boost his salary by $1MM per season but later pulled that proposal off the table. Here’s more from the East divisions..
- A ruling on Greg Hardy‘s appeal is expected to come this week, and Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News suspects the 10-game suspension for the Cowboys defensive end may not be reduced.
- Kelly says that so far, Eagles offseason acquisition Sam Bradford has done a “great job” so far in his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee, Berman writes. Kelly also reiterated that Bradford is still on track to return in a reasonable timeframe. There is no date for that return just yet, however.
- Following the release of UDFA cornerback Eric Patterson, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reset the Patriots‘ depth chart at cornerback. Logan Ryan, Bradley Fletcher, and Malcolm Butler are the top three cornerbacks on the chart, but Reiss notes that safety Devin McCourty came into the NFL as a corner and could concievably move back depending on how things unfold.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
NFC Notes: Meachem, Lions, Boone
Former Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem will be working out for the Lions on Tuesday, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). As previously reported, Detroit will also host receiver Brad Smith and running back Ben Tate on Tuesday. Here’s more from the NFC..
- 49ers lineman Alex Boone, who had not been part of the team’s offseason program to date, will be on hand for the veteran minicamp that runs Tuesday through Thursday, a league source tells Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The Niners’ starting right guard was away from the team for the entire 2014 offseason while fishing for a better deal. He wound up settling for a two-year pact, a deal that he’s ostensibly trying to upgrade from now. The 49ers lost their other starting guard, Mike Iupati, in free agency and last week learned that starting right tackle Anthony Davis would retire.
- Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote says the itch to play hasn’t hit him yet and he’s likely to coach this season, Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com tweets. The Cardinals added Foote to their coaching staff earlier in the offseason with the intent of signing him to the roster later in the summer if he decided to continue playing.
- Todd Archer of ESPN.com wonders if the Cowboys should lock up Tyrone Crawford now or later. Crawford finished with just three sacks but he had 29 quarterback pressures and four tackles for loss as he learned the defensive tackle position on the fly. Set to make just $675K in the final year of his rookie deal, it could make sense for Dallas to lock Crawford down for multiple years beyond 2015. Still, he’s rather unproven as those three sacks are the only sacks of his career.
- Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News wonders if Darren McFadden can get his second wind with the Cowboys. Dallas has always been enamored with the former Raiders back, but he has lost much of his luster due to injury in recent years. “He was a guy that was interesting to us,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said of McFadden. “Obviously he has some skill sets with his explosiveness and his speed. He can take it to the house if he gets the right seam. He’s an interesting back for us. We think he can bring something to the table here.”
Minor Moves: Monday
Here are Monday’s latest minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Cowboys have made a change at the running back position, waiving rookie Synjyn Days and signing former Baylor standout Lache Seastrunk, the team announced today in a press release. The pair of moves were first reported by Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). In a crowded Dallas backfield, Seastrunk may not be a strong bet to make the roster, but he’s worth keeping an eye on, after spending time on the Panthers’ and Titans’ practice squads in 2014.
- Meanwhile, having cut linebacker Kyle Knox last week, the Cowboys replaced him on their roster today by signing another linebacker, Justin Jackson, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Jackson became a free agent last month after being cut by the Raiders.
- In need of another body at wide receiver with DeVante Parker on the mend, the Dolphins re-added wide receiver Tommy Streeter to their roster today, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). A former sixth-round pick by the Ravens, Streeter spent most of last season with the Jaguars after starting on Miami’s taxi squad.
NFC Notes: Jordan, McDermott, Cowboys
Though Cameron Jordan‘s five-year, $55MM extension with the Saints compares favorably with Calais Campbell‘s long-term deal with the Cardinals, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap doesn’t believe that Jordan’s new contract will redefine the market for 3-4 defensive ends as did Campbell’s. While the two deals look especially similar at the back end, Fitzgerald writes that Campbell was handed more guaranteed money up front, and doesn’t have to worry about the type of per-game roster bonuses that are included in Jordan’s deal. Ultimately, 3-4 ends will still use Campbell’s deal as a starting point in negotiations, not Jordan’s, adds Fitzgerald.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- If the Panthers defense continues to produce at its current level, DC Sean McDermott could warrant consideration as a head-coaching candidate in the near future, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. After finishing last in DVOA in 2011 — McDermott’s first year on the job — Carolina has placed in the top 15 in the three years since, including a No. 3 finish in 2013.
- The Cowboys didn’t select a running back in April’s draft, but team executive Stephen Jones believes the club could find a back as the season progresses, naming the Patriots acquisition of LeGarrette Blount last year as an example, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Archer expects Dallas’ pro scouts to scour the trade and waiver market during the preseason in the hopes of adding another runner.
- Tackle Morgan Moses — once thought of as a potential first-round pick — ultimately slid until the third round of last year’s draft before being picked by Washington. And though the club selected Brandon Scherff with the fifth overall pick, John Keim of ESPN.com still sees a role for Moses, adding that the Virginia product could become a solid swing tackle at the very least.
NFC Mailbags: Washington, Glennon, Panthers, McClain
It’s Saturday, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s take a look at some interesting notes from the NFC…
- If DeSean Jackson struggles in 2015, John Keim could envision the wideout playing elsewhere in 2016. Washington selected Jamison Crowder in the fourth round, so they have young wideouts to move forward with. However, if the veteran produces, Keim could see the Pro Bowler sticking around.
- Pat Yasinskas believes Mike Glennon will spend this season with the Buccaneers, even if the quarterback has a good preseason and improves his trade value. The 25-year-old is a solid backup, and the writer believes the team would have already dealt Glennon if they had any intention to move him.
- With the Cam Newton deal wrapped up, David Newton would expect the Panthers to sign linebacker Thomas Davis to a new deal prior to training camp. Since Luke Kuechly will definitely be on the roster for the 2016 season, the writer believes the team won’t rush to sign the former Defensive Player of the Year.
- When asked why Rolando McClain took so long to opt for surgery, Todd Archer clarified that surgery is always a “last-case option.” However, the writer questions why the Cowboys linebacker hasn’t been at Valley Ranch for rehab.
NFC Links: Vereen, Foles, Cowboys, Vikings
It was presumably a tough decision for running back Shane Vereen to leave the Super Bowl-winning Patriots to join the Giants. The tough choice may have ultimately come down to the G-Men wanting the running back more, and the various recruiting calls, including one from Odell Beckham Jr., clearly left an impression with the 26-year-old.
“I asked around [about the Giants] with guys who played here, a couple guys in California I work out with, and previously I had met Odell [Beckham, Jr.],” Vereen said (via MMQB’s Jenny Vrentas). “So I hit them up, trying to talk to them and learn things I didn’t know. They filled me in.
“[Beckham Jr.] said it was a young team with a lot of talent. He loves it here, and he was excited for this upcoming season. That was really all I needed to hear. I love when guys are excited to be somewhere. That makes me want to be there and excited for the growth.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…
- Nick Foles may have wore out his welcome with the Eagles, but the Rams are excited to have him. The receivers are especially thrilled, writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. Two top targets, Kenny Britt and Jared Cook, both expressed their enthusiasm for the new quarterback’s abilities.
- The running back position for the Cowboys is in flux, and Lance Dunbar will be fighting Ryan Williams for a spot on the roster again this season, according to Bob Sturm of DallasNews.com. Dunbar’s a limited player, but his abilities on special teams should give him the edge on Williams in terms of a roster spot.
- New Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer walked into a tough situation amid the ongoing feud between Adrian Peterson and the organization. However, has has handled it quite brilliantly, without looking like a puppet for management or sucking up to Peterson, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. “A lot of it was … It was tough for Adrian. It was tough for the Vikings, as well. So trying to be fair to both sides was important,” Zimmer said. “I always want to support my players, and still do the best thing for our football team.”
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Friday
Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Browns have cut outside linebacker Keith Pough, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Pough had been cut with an injured designation last month, so today’s move removes him from the roster entirely.
- Having signed him to their roster in April, the Giants have waived/injured linebacker Ryan Jones less than two months later, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
- After being waived with an injury designation by the Raiders yesterday, linebacker Jacoby Hale has reverted to the team’s IR list, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Earlier updates:
- Offensive lineman Jon Halapio, drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round in 2014, has signed with the Cardinals, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). To make room for the guard, the Cards parted ways with another offensive lineman, tackle Tavon Rooks.
- As expected, sixth-round wide receiver Bud Sasser, who wasn’t cleared physically due to a heart condition, went unclaimed on waivers and has been placed on the Rams‘ non-football illness list, tweets Howard Balzer of TheSportsXchange. For what it’s worth, Sasser’s agent, Scott Thiel, tells David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune that doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota said the young wideout is “at little to no risk,” and should be able to play football. For now though, he’ll remain on St. Louis’ NFI list.
- The Cowboys have waived former Fresno State linebacker Kyle Knox, just a few days after signing him, tweets Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (Twitter link), the club will add another linebacker to its roster next week.
- The Dolphins have waived linebacker Jake Knott, the team announced today (via Twitter). The 24-year-old, who played his college ball at Iowa State, has had stints with the Eagles and Dolphins over the last couple seasons.
NFC Notes: Hardy, Saints, Cowboys, Peterson
It’s not yet known when offseason acquisition Greg Hardy will be able to play for the Cowboys this year, but coach Jason Garrett is impressed with what he’s seen so far in practice, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram writes. “He’s done a really good job,” Garrett said about Hardy’s work ethic. “Once we decided to sign him, we’ve certainly tried to embrace him in every way and he’s embraced the situation. He was here well before the off-season program got into full gear and guys were in the weight room and out on the field working and he embraced being a part of that once the off-season program started.” More from the NFC..
- Rita LeBlanc spent about eight hours on the witness stand Wednesday in the competency trial of Saints owner Tom Benson, as the staff at The Times-Picayune writes. LeBlanc was tabbed by her grandfather as his future successor until Benson announced in January that his third wife would be inheriting the Saints and the NBA’s Pelicans instead.
- Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee is back on the practice field one year after a knee injury wiped out his season and he’s confident that he’ll be good to go for training camp and the start of the season, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News writes.
- Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is cautiously optimistic about the team’s potential now that Adrian Peterson is back in the fold, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes.