Among the popular early pre-draft rumors is one that the Cowboys will look to draft a quarterback at No. 4 overall. Tony Romo is 36 and had a lost season due to injury, and the team fell apart without him. Jerry Jones, at least, is having none of it.
"I'm planning on Romo being the quarterback for the next four or five years," says Jones. "That's a fact. You won't see a decision on draft day that will fly in the face of not believing, from our standpoint, that he'll be our quarterback for four or five years."
The Cowboys are a popular team and it's exciting for media and fans to link them to a quarterback. Remember two years ago, when they were supposedly going to draft Johnny Manziel.
"When you've got this high of a pick and you have the circumstances we're in right now with where we are as a team and with the quarterback, you've got to look at what's available to us for sure and knowing that with these qualities of picks you can get some contributions, immediate contributions," Jones said.
That won't stop the speculation, and it's true that Romo is getting up there in years. Dallas having a top-5 pick and being in a position to select one of the draft's top quarterbacks isn't an opportunity they can be assured of a year from now, or 2-3 years, either.
But this is a team with considerable needs on defense, in the front seven; it could select a top pass rusher at No. 4. It lacks a dangerous receiver across from Dez Bryant. It could use help at running back (not that they'll take one at No. 4).
Perhaps the fact Jones is dismissing the idea of drafting a quarterback is because he really wants one. Or hopes to trade the pick to a team that does want one, worried about Dallas maybe taking their guy.
Personally, I believe Jones in this instance. Quarterback doesn't seem like a likely target for them at No. 4. Dallas plays in a weak division and wants to win now. Why use that top pick at a position where they've already got a great player?
--Andy Richardson
