Cowboys in comfortable position as NFL Draft approaches

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
chill@star-telegram.com

IRVING -- When the Dallas Cowboys traded their 2007 first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, it was done with the hopes of parlaying the Browns’ pick and their own into a possible top-five selection in the draft.

Cleveland didn’t cooperate, as a team that finished 4-12 in 2006 improved to 10-6 in 2007. So instead of the pick acquired from Browns being a possible top-five selection, it is No. 22.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be the first to admit that things didn’t work out as he had envisioned a year ago.

But do not shed a tear for the Cowboys.

With two first-rounds picks -- the Cowboys also have the 28th selection -- Jones said his team is not only in an enviable position but they are looking at arguably their best draft positioning since he bought the team in 1989.

Jones bases his assertion on the quality of players at the bottom of the first round and the opportunity to move up or down via trades.

"I do like our spot, relative to the 2008 draft," Jones said Tuesday during the team’s annual pre-draft news conference at Valley Ranch. "I don’t think of a time that I’ve ever liked it better. We had three No. 1s going in ’91. That was good stuff in those times. I’d like to put that one right with it. Here with three picks on the first day, two in the first round, this is as good a spot. This gives us an opportunity."

The Cowboys head into the draft with three main areas of need -- receiver, running back and cornerback -- although they will always look to address the offensive and defensive line.

With three picks in the first two rounds, the Cowboys are looking to get immediate impact players.

Save for a receiver -- a position that historically takes two or three years to develop -- Jones is confident the Cowboys will accomplish their goals.

"There are some good running backs, that’s good," Jones said.” There are some good offensive linemen, that’s good. There’s a good, deep [group of] corners, that’s good. So those players are there. So as far as the Cowboys are concerned, this is a good draft. And with these two picks, the place we’re located right here, we should help our team."

After losing two cornerbacks in free agency, Jones acknowledges a need to shore up that position. He said there are several cornerbacks who will be available at No. 22 and No. 28 who would fill the bill.

Many draft experts have the Cowboys taking a running back in the first round to complement starter Marion Barber -- namely Felix Jones of Arkansas. Jerry Jones said the Cowboys can address running back at some point in the draft because of the depth at the position, but he said "there’s no gun to our head at all."

Jones also said Barber’s contract status will have no impact on their draft-day decision-making. Barber has yet to sign his restricted free-agent tender of $2.56 million, as the Cowboys remain in talks with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about a long-term contract extension. The Cowboys have offered Barber roughly $30 million over five years, while he is looking for a deal in excess of $40 million.

"Nothing is going to happen between today and the draft anyway," Jones said. "But I’m going to assume that we’ll get something worked out with Marion."

As far as the trade talks with the Tennessee Titans about suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, Jerry Jones said the two sides remain at an impasse. And while Jones’ agent, Manny Arora, expressed confidence that something will get done on draft day, Jones sounded pessimistic.

"As I said when the commissioner was in town last week, that thing is kind of quieted down as far as we’re concerned. No movement there," Jones said. "I don’t know that this draft is going to create any energy, either."