The Amari Cooper draft: What Cowboys, Jerry Jones plan to do without a first-round pick

FRISCO, Texas — The Cowboys front office wants to make two things clear.

First: The team has no “buyer’s remorse,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said Wednesday, in the aftermath of its Amari Cooper trade. Dallas shipped its 2019 first-round selection to the Raiders in October to acquire the Pro Bowl receiver. Owner Jerry Jones said he “would do it tonight again.”

Even so, the Joneses say, it is “painful” to draft without a first-round pick. So they don’t want to forfeit a future first-rounder next week to move this year’s initial selection earlier than pick 58.

“I’m not interested in stacking up these one-less draft days,” Jerry Jones said. “They’re no fun.”

The Cowboys also aren’t desperate enough to do that. The team shored up most areas of need in free agency with cost-effective signings of receiver Randall Cobb, safety George Iloka, defensive end Kerry Hyder and defensive tackle Christian Covington. All four veterans are on one-year deals. They also traded for Miami pass rusher Robert Quinn as insurance for suspended defensive end Randy Gregory.

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Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper and quarterback Dak Prescott celebrate a touchdown. (Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)

Hall of Fame talent evaluator Gil Brandt said Wednesday roughly 17 prospects are sure first-rounders. The tier below them is deep.

“You’re going to find a whole bunch of players from about 17 to 70 that all look alike,” Brandt said. “So it’s an interesting draft and a draft that really benefits the Cowboys or teams that do their homework because it can really work out well. 

“And if you’re looking for a safety, there are more safeties in this draft of quality than I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Cowboys know they've invested fewer resources in safety than most positions.

Good news from @Gil_Brandt: "There’s more safeties in this draft, of quality, than I’ve ever seen in my life."

The Cowboys will look to capitalize. Expect them to consider safety at pick 58.

Sure, defensive tackle, a backup running back and a long-term tight-end solution are among positions they’ll consider improving.

But the Cowboys have invested arguably fewer resources in safety than any other position. The depth chart currently features 2013 undrafted free agent Jeff Heath, 2016 sixth-round selection Kavon Frazier and 2017 sixth-round pick Xavier Woods. Byron Jones, whom the Cowboys drafted in the 2015 first round, moved to cornerback ahead of 2018. He thrived as a corner in defensive coordinator Kris Richard’s system and made his first Pro Bowl.

Twenty-five teams intercepted more balls than Dallas’ nine. The Cowboys' run defense ranked fifth; their pass defense 13th.

Head coach Jason Garrett on Wednesday touted versatile safeties who could play both in the box and deep.

“I think a playmaking safety (is) few and far between in terms of guys who actually make plays on the ball, who are very productive in terms of tackling and that type of situation,” Stephen Jones added. “I mean they’re rare.”

Find a prospect at the right price and the Cowboys will value the ballhawk, Stephen Jones said. But they don’t want to overextend for a safety when they’ve found productive contributors in later rounds, including second-rounders Sean Lee (2010), DeMarcus Lawrence (2014), Gregory (2015), Jaylon Smith (2016) and Chidobe Awuzie (2017).  All produced in 2018.

Jerry Jones doesn't discount value of Cowboys' second-round pick.

"Where those Sean Lees can pop up or Randy Gregorys can come," Jerry said.

Even though the Cowboys value their second-round pick, it doesn't mean they can risk their 2019 pick on a player with question marks.

“I’m confident we’ll have a decision as to whether or not get a Jaylon Smith type or try to sit there and get one that can immediately step in and help,” Jerry Jones said. “[Without a first-round pick], logic would dictate slowing down a bit there.”

Logic also dictates the Cowboys draft a running back to follow All-Pro Ezekiel Elliott, on whom Dallas will exercise a fifth-year, $9 million option for 2020. That Elliott hasn't missed a game due to injury in three seasons factors into how highly Dallas will draft a back. The team would rather draft in positions of need but also realizes how heavily the run-first offense, with rich offensive line resources, depends on Elliott. Dallas let Rod Smith walk in free agency this spring and didn’t sign a replacement.

“We all know, if Zeke’s healthy, there’s not going to be a whole lot of touches going to that player,” Stephen Jones said of a 2019 running-back draft selection. “At the same time, you never know when you’re going to need a player like that if Zeke were to a miss game.”

Production from late-round draft picks this season will be crucial, Stephen Jones said, as contract extensions loom for quarterback Dak Prescott and Cooper, both of whom will become free agents in 2020. Add in expiring contracts for Elliott, Awuzie and Jaylon Smith, and the Cowboys know they won’t have cap space to keep them all.

Jerry Jones explained how he views that conundrum.

Stephen Jones said Russell Wilson's contract doesn't put pressure on Dak Prescott extension: "Russell deserves to be paid at that level. He's wearing a Super Bowl ring."

Cowboys QB is not

“It’s really never about the money,” he said. “You’re going to spend the money in our system. It’s about how you allocate and do you allocate any of that for an opportunity. And that’s just instincts there: That’s just saving it.

“Not for a rainy day, but a brilliantly sunny day that you might get a chance to do something special.”

Follow Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein

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