Cowboys Rumors: Byron Jones Expects to Hit Free Agency, Won't Be Tagged

The Dallas Cowboys' focus on retaining wideout Amari Cooper and extending quarterback Dak Prescott could come at a cost. 

Cornerback Byron Jones is reportedly not expected to receive the franchise tag and will become a free agent when the new league year begins March 18.

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys and Jones' camp came to an understanding Friday:

"During a meeting that was characterized as amicable, there seemed to be a shared, underlying understanding that Jones will hit free agency, a source said. Jones can begin negotiating contracts with other teams on March 16 and formally sign a deal elsewhere as soon as March 18 upon becoming a free agent."

Placing the franchise tag on Jones isn't an option since the Cowboys will need a fallback plan if they're unable to agree to a deal with Prescott or later Cooper, who is projected to become one of the highest-paid wideouts in the game. 

Team owner Jerry Jones addressed the situation:

"It's not a given [Jones will leave]. But it's certainly pretty plain to see that, when you have the players we have right now under contract, plus we have arguably three of the top free agents that are out there and we have the prospects of this collective bargaining agreement, that we’ve got some work to do. That's a real challenge."

The Cowboys selected Jones 27th overall out of UConn in 2015 and developed him into a 2018 Pro Bowl corner. Now they may have to watch another team reap the rewards. 

Jones won't turn 28 until September and has missed just one game in his five-year career. Last season, he was a shutdown defender, deflecting six passes, forcing one fumble and recording 46 tackles. Teams completed just 53.1 percent of their passes when targeting Jones in 2019 and totaled just 135 yards after the catch. 

That type of performance is set to make him the third-highest paid corner, according to Spotrac's market-value tool that projects he'll fetch a five-year, $70.9 million deal ($14.1 million annually). That has him in the range of guys like Marcus Peters ($14 million annually), Trumaine Johnson ($14.5 million) and Desmond Trufant ($13.8 million).