Jerry Jones believes the young players on the Dallas Cowboys roster can get the job done this upcoming season. While speaking to DallasCowboys.com reporter Nick Harris, the team’s owner and general manager explained why he has a lot of faith in the youth on the roster.
“We had several younger players last year that should have played more normally, but you had those players, we call that progress stoppers, but of course Tyron Smith is a progress, but he isn’t. You want him on your team. You want [Tyler] Biadasz on your team,” Jones said.
“But the facts are we had a lot of players, a handful of players that should have played more and can play more. They’ll get their chance this year. It’s a lot of the reason why we didn’t step out and do more in free agency because we wanted those young players to get on the field and play this year.”
Jones mentioned Smith and Biadasz because they are no longer on the Cowboys roster. During this year’s draft, the team selected offensive linemen Tyler Guyton (first round) and Cooper Beebe (third round), and it’s possible both could be starting when the season kicks off. Another young player to watch is running back Deuce Vaughn who is cross-training to play wide receiver.
Jerry Jones sheds light on Cowboys’ free agency plan
Back in April, Jones explained why the Cowboys were relatively quite in free agency. “I think our structure and our involvement at every level that we are in our process of getting personnel is ideal for making good decisions,” he said, per the Cowboys’ official website. “I know what it’s like to make a mistake because I’m gonna be living with it 10 years from now. I’m not just here for a five-year session as GM, so I know what it’s like to have to live with how you’re doing that.”
Jones added: “With that in mind, I compare this to college and scholarships.
“And if you had, in college, a system that allowed you to get better players — let’s say you were limited to 30 — but you had the ability to get the player by giving five scholarships to that player, then you’d know that when you gave him the five it was going to limit you [elsewhere]. You just gave away five to get one guy.
“That’s the system that has really made the NFL the game that it is today. It has created such an opportunity for parity, and it works. … It is not a lack of money, under the premise. It’s not that at all. It’s a part of the rules.”