IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys have completed signing their 2015 draft class, as Byron Jones inked his rookie contract on Thursday afternoon.
The official terms of the deal aren't yet available, but the slotting of rookie contracts under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement make things relatively easy to sort out. Last year's No. 27 overall pick, Arizona safety Deone Bucannon, signed a four-year contract worth roughly $7.7 million.
Jones' contract should be worth something similar.
It's not surprising to see Jones as the final rookie draft pick to sign, as the Cowboys typically work backward – securing their most inexpensive contracts before moving on to their early-round picks.
Late-round picks like Mark Nzeocha and Ryan Russell signed as far back as May 9, in the days following the NFL draft. Second-round pick Randy Gregory signed on May 20, while third-round pick Chaz Green signed on May 26.
The decision to draft Jones came after a tense wait for the Cowboys' turn at 27th overall in this year's draft. Dallas, which had a big need at cornerback, had to sit and sweat while top prospects like Kevin Johnson and Marcus Peters were taken off the board, before Jones eventually fell to their spot.
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The big talking point around the Connecticut standout – aside from his world-record broad jump at the NFL Combine – was his experience at both cornerback and safety. That flexibility has showed to this point in the offseason, as the athletic rookie has gotten reps at both positions during the team's OTAs.
Regardless of where the Cowboys ultimately decide to play him, they'll have four years – and potentially a fifth -- to sort out his best course. As a first-round pick, Jones' four-year deal comes with a team option for a fifth season. The Cowboys have exercised their option on Tyron Smith in recent years, though they declined to pick up Morris Claiborne's fifth-year option this past spring.
