The Dallas Cowboys have lost top Cornerback Byron Jones in free agency as he's reportedly signing with the Miami Dolphins. This unexpected ending comes after months of hints and clues that Dallas was not going to pursue re-signing Jones this offseason.
Byron's new deal with Miami is reportedly around $17 million per year, which would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Jones, a first-round pick in 2015, played out his rookie deal and then the fifth-year team option with the Cowboys. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and was one of the better coverage corners in football, despite his notorious lack of interceptions.
Source: The #Dolphins are getting #Cowboys FA CB Byron Jones. A massive deal for the now highest-paid corner.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Byron Jones will earn at least $17 million per year on new deal with Dolphins (via @RapSheet)https://t.co/WZZwz26a1o pic.twitter.com/7pkNtXV12V
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 16, 2020
The Cowboys apparently weren't trying hard to keep Byron, if at all, after comments from the front office. Team executives downplayed Jones' value to the team and spoke in a very different language regarding his free agency than Dak Prescott's or Amari Cooper's.
Dallas is reportedly interested in veteran CB Chris Harris as a replacement for Jones. They currently have just Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis as experienced corner under contract for 2020.
We'll have to wait and see who else the Cowboys add to player CB this season. For now, we can only confirm that Byron Jones won't be one of them.
