Cowboys' Stephen Jones Gives Insight on DC Search to Replace Eberflus, Teases NFL Draft Plans

The Dallas Cowboys are on the search for a new defensive coordinator, and executive vice president Stephen Jones outlined some of the traits the team is seeking in the new coach.

Jones said the Cowboys are hoping to find a defensive coordinator who can be a teacher and a communicator.

"When you have the interview, you look for those traits. Are they a great teacher? Can they communicate and verbalize complicated things in a way that makes it easy for the players so he doesn't have to be out there thinking?" Jones said, per Tommy Yarrish of the team's website. "He's using his skill set and playing 100 percent, playing fast, playing reckless in terms of being able to make plays and not having to think about what his assignments are because he does have a great feel for what he's supposed to do.

"All of those things are the traits that we're looking for, and certainly we're seeing that in a lot of the guys that we're interviewing, and certainly looking for how they're going to utilize some of the pieces we already have in place."

Jones also emphasized the importance of finding a coach who can work with young talent, since the team has two first-round picks. However, Jones made no promises that either of the Cowboys' first-round picks will be used on defensive players.

"We also want to know their vision for how they develop young guys because we've got two first-round picks," Jones said. "A lot of people, and probably rightfully so, think they may end up being defensive players, but at the same time we were going to draft a defensive player when we drafted CeeDee Lamb… I think it's just a work in progress, and I think it's coming together good for us."

The Cowboys ranked among the worst in the NFL on the defensive side this year, allowing the third-most yards per game (377) and the most points per game (30.1). Dallas fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after the season.