Jess Haynie
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.
Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Source: The #Dolphins are getting #Cowboys FA CB Byron Jones. A massive deal for the now highest-paid corner.
Around The NFL on Twitter
Byron Jones will earn at least $17 million per year on new deal with Dolphins (via @RapSheet) https://t.co/WZZwz26a1o
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.
Unexpected where do you get that crap! You writers have been saying they weren’t gonna sign him all winter!
Looks like Harris may be a good replacement. Four Pro Bowls, 20 INTs, six forced fumbles, four defensive TDs in his nine years with the Broncos. But he should be getting many calls from other teams also.
Jones has a grand total of 2 INTs in five years. He got stupid money, way OVERPAYED, from the Fins.
If they don’t pickup a FA CB, the priority in the draft will be CB. Thankfully the CBs draft class is good and pretty deep. I was hoping for a DT in the 1st, but this departure changes things. Hopefully the second best corner, C J Henderson, will be there in the 1st round. Many other good players may be available in the second:, Fulton, Arnette. Gladney.