DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones joined the K&C Masterpiece on Tuesday to discuss what the team needs more - pass rusher or secondary help?
The Cowboys have question marks at both positions with the departure of cornerback Byron Jones and defensive end Robert Quinn. The team hopes it can adddress Quinn's void with the addition of former All-Pro Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory. Both players have yet to hear back from the NFL on their petitions for reinstatement into the league, clouding their futures for 2020.
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As for the secondary, the Cowboys have replaced safety Jeff Heath with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, which seems to be the route they'll go next season, unless they can swing a deal for Jets anchor Jamal Adams. At cornerback, the Cowboys have only brought aboard Saivion Smith, who just appeared in the XFL. So, there are obvious needs at both spots, but which is more important?
"At the end of the day, you want to have a little bit of both. I will say there are some anaylitical studies out there (that say) more resources should go to the corner and then to the pass rusher," Jones said. "Personally, I think it's a flip of the coin. You gotta have good, solid cover guys and you gotta be able to get pressure on the passer. Obviously, we paid one of the best in the business, DeMarcus Lawrence, who had another great year last year. Of course, we're trying to take some risk here and have some guys who've done it well before in Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory. And, then, of course, we'll look in the draft. The same holds true for the coverage guys. Obviously, you're hitting in a spot ... we're going to be looking at the back-end and the front-end on defense."
Among the players who fit the Cowboys needs who may be available when they make the No. 17 overall selection are LSU defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson, and a trio of cornerbacks: Alabama's Trevon Diggs, Florida's CJ Henderson and LSU's Kristian Fulton.
Diggs, Henderson and Fulton all cracked Bryan Broaddus and Jeff Cavanaugh's top 10 corners list.
