The Dallas Cowboys selected UConn cornerback Byron Jones with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
One of the most freakishly athletic prospects in the draft class, Jones blew the lid off the NFL Scouting Combine with a record-setting broad jump of 12 feet, three inches and vertical leap of 44.5 inches.
He added a 4.36 40-yard dash at UConn's pro day, impressive for a cornerback who measured in at 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds.
Far from simply a workout warrior, Jones ranked in NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 even before the combine. After watching Jones' 2013 and 2014 tape, Jeremiah believes Jones can handle press-coverage responsibilities as a rookie.
The selection of Jones reflects the uncertain futures of former first-round pick Morris Claiborne and overpaid veteran Brandon Carr.
The Cowboys are not expected to pick up the fifth-year option on Claiborne's contract. They have also been discussing a pay cut with Carr.
The presence of a promising rookie cornerback such as Jones would theoretically provide leverage for the team in contract talks.
Whether Carr stays or goes, the Cowboys did well to add one of the draft's most intriguing prospects.
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