The Cowboys held a pre-draft press conference that featured unexpected moments, including a surprise visit from a former U.S. president. The team provided few concrete insights into their draft strategy or potential trades.
Key points
Cowboys held a pre-draft press conference
Former U.S. president made a surprise appearance
Jerry Jones spoke about draft options
Team avoided giving concrete draft strategy details
Mentioned in this story
Jerry Jones
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys' annual pre-draft press conference on Wednesday was a completely surreal affair, even by the Cowboys' circus-like standards. It started with Tad Carper, the team's PR man, actually making an announcement that the content to follow "may be truthful, and it may not be truthful." And it ended with a former U.S. president simply walking into the room, interrupting questions, and pulling owner Jerry Jones away from the assembled media.
Perhaps apropos on an afternoon when a career politician made a cameo appearance, there was some serious tapdancing going on when it came to giving any straight answers or inside information. Pointed questions about which individual prospects the Cowboys are eyeing or whether the team is actively trying to move up or down in the draft order via trade didn't result in many concrete takeaways.
Suffice it to say the front office is keeping their options open.
That is largely due, by Jones's own admission, to having two first-round selections this year. But while draft analysts have pushed the narrative that the Cowboys will use that extra capital to move up in the order to get one of the relatively few blue-chip defensive prospects, Jones seemed to downplay any urgency to be the one making trade calls on Thursday night.
"I don't know that," he said. "I don't know that. They're usually, candidly, better coming in than going out. The results are better for us."
Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones revealed that the team has given "at least a dozen" first-round grades in this draft. So the team apparently believes at least one of them will certainly be available to them with the No. 12 overall pick.
It'll be up to them to choose wisely.
Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay and head coach Brian Schottenheimer both credited newly-hired defensive coordinator Christian Parker with giving them a preferred type when evaluating the draft class's defensive prospects.
"He's done a great job of telling us what he's looking for and how he's going to use it," McClay offered.
Q&A
What surprising event occurred during the Cowboys' pre-draft press conference?
A former U.S. president unexpectedly walked into the room and interrupted the press conference.
What did Jerry Jones say about the Cowboys' draft strategy?
Jerry Jones indicated that the team is in a position to explore various options but did not provide specific details.
How did the Cowboys respond to questions about potential draft trades?
The Cowboys' front office was vague and did not give concrete answers regarding any potential trades to move up or down in the draft order.
What was the tone of the Cowboys' press conference?
The press conference was marked by a surreal atmosphere, with a mix of humor and evasiveness in response to media inquiries.
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"He's very clear about how he wants to play," agreed Schottenheimer.
But as for which of this year's top prospects actually fit that mold, the brain trust is playing things close to the vest and waiting to see how the board falls on Thursday.
It does seem, though, that players who are coming off injury or who have an injury history may have a slimmer chance of getting a call from the Cowboys this year.
"We're looking for players that can come in and help us win now," Schottenheimer explained. "That doesn't mean they have to be ready to go for the start of the offseason program or when they get here, but we want guys who can come in here and contribute to our football team."
"Availability bit us good last year," lamented Jerry Jones. The owner added that so-called redshirt players who "may not get out there until the latter part of the year or playoffs," he said, have been "pushed back, in my thinking."
Having two picks in the first 20 is no doubt huge. But then the Cowboys will have an awfully long wait until their next selection, at No. 92. That pick came courtesy of the Osa Odighizuwa trade, but as Stephen Jones says, "The thought is it'd be great to have two" Friday-night picks, "if not more."
While Dallas may try to come up with a way to get more trips to the plate, either in Round 1, on Friday, or over the course of late rounds, Jones admitted that giving up that third-rounder would not be ideal.
"My leanings would be more toward having a pick on Friday," he said.
The George Pickens situation, however, could be a monumental wrinkle to any draft strategy.
Jones revealed that the team plans to let the veteran wideout play on the franchise tag and with no further contract negotiations. But if an elite wide receiver is sitting there at either No. 12 or No. 20, the Cowboys could pull another CeeDee Lamb surprise and draft him.
And then all bets are off. The countdown clock would start immediately on how much longer Pickens would ostensibly be a Cowboy, with some even wondering if the team might end up trading him this weekend as part of a blockbuster draft deal.
Or not. Schottenheimer says he's not worried about any uncertainty when it comes to Pickens, who is coming off a career year and set to make nearly $28 million this season.
"There's different scenarios that these guys play under," Schottenheimer explained. "They love the game of football; George is no different. We're thrilled that George is here, and we expect him to have another great year. He's a huge part of the success that we had last year, and that's not going to change."
But the unspoken reality is that it could change, with a single phone call. Schottenheimer and Jones raved about Pickens, his work ethic, and his attitude coming into the offseason program (even though he has not signed his tag or committed to participating), but there are no guarantees.
It's all part of the politics of this time of year, something the assembled reporters got a good reminder of when Bill Clinton opened the door and walked right into the Q&A session.
Jerry Jones practically faceplanted trying to make his way over to the former president. And after the two shared a few stories about Arkansas football, the entourage was whisked away, with Jerry in tow.
And the leaders of America's Team were left to keep deflecting about their true intentions once they settle into their own situation room come draft night.
"But that was pretty cool," Schottenheimer said of Clinton's pop-in.
As the NFL's smokescreen season comes to an end, that may have been the most honest and truthful statement anyone in the Cowboys press room said all afternoon.
