The Dallas Cowboys are 4-11 this season and they are looking at a high first-round pick in the draft for the first time since 2012. Even though the team already has a franchise quarterback in Tony Romo, they will give strong consideration to using their top pick on a QB.
NFL Media’s Albert Breer wrote in his column Thursday that the Cowboys are “ready to draft [a quarterback] high.” He says the team will consider a quarterback in the top 10.
“Yeah, we gotta look at that,” Jerry Jones said via Breer. “Obviously, it’s a bigger deal now, with Tony injured. And I’m sure he’d understand it. But if we draft the guy [in the first round], we’re drafting him to watch. And that’s the hard thing. He could be watching for three years, but that’s not all bad. It can be a good thing for them. Tony got to watch for a long time — it helped him. Steve Young, Aaron Rodgers, players like that — guys that have stepped in and played great — got to watch.”
Romo will be 36 next season. He is recovering after breaking his collarbone twice this year. Though he is aging, Tom Brady is older than he is and playing like an MVP this season. Drew Brees and Carson Palmer are also older but still playing well.
There is no reason to believe Romo will not be able to succeed as a quarterback for another couple of seasons. When he is healthy, the Cowboys have a great shot at a deep playoff run. If they want to compete for a Super Bowl while he’s on the team, they would surely benefit more from using their first-round pick this year on a player who can provide an immediate impact, not one who will sit on the bench for a few years. That’s why it would be very surprising if the Cowboys ultimately use their first pick on a QB. However, the Cowboys are likely to use at least one high pick on a quarterback; you know Jones doesn’t want another backup situation like this next year.
