NFL Notes: Cowboys, Saints, Titans

Cowboys

• A source has confirmed to Jori Epstein of USA Today Sports that the Cowboys met with CB Byron Jones‘ representatives at the combine. Jones is set to become a free agent and the team has expressed the challenge of paying his next contract. 
• Ian Rapoport adds that Jones is expected to reach free agency in the coming weeks: “This is really not a surprise. The Cowboys like to keep all of their players. They just have a lot of other financial responsibilities here. Dak is one. Amari Cooper is another. Byron Jones is expected to be a highly paid corner and could end up as the highest-paid corner in the NFL when it’s all said and done.”
• Jane Slater spoke with Randy Gregory regarding a report that he applied for reinstatement. According to Gregory, he is “hopeful of a return to football in 2020 but papers haven’t been filed yet.” (Jane Slater)
• Rapoport also reports that Dak Prescott will likely receive the exclusive franchise tag from the Cowboys worth roughly $33 million. Rapoport adds that Dallas will likely try to work out a deal before the deadline.
• Calvin Watkins reports that Cowboys S Jeff Heath is garnering interest from teams including Dallas.
• According to Watkins, free agent CB Byron Jones thanked the Cowboys via his agents for helping him become a better player. Watkins says Jones doesn’t believe he’ll be back with the Cowboys in 2020 unless he gets big money.

Saints

Saints GM Mickey Loomis mentioned that they have a clear plan for QB Taysom Hill moving forward. 

“We’ll figure out something. He’s unique, he’s not the only one that ever existed but he’s unique when you look around the league, so we’re going to have to look at it in that way. I don’t have an answer for you right now,” Loomis said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “But I do know this — we love Taysom love what he’s done for us. He’s got a bright future. We have a vision for him. I think he feels the same way, I think he feels strongly about his experience in New Orleans and would love to be back with us. That’s 90 percent of the battle.”

Titans

• According to Turron Davenport, the Titans have met with the following offensive line prospects at the 2020 NFL Combine: Houston OT Josh Jones, USC OT Austin Jackson, TCU OT Lucas Niang, LSU OT Saahdiq Charles, Charlotte OT Cameron Clark, Temple OL Matt Hennessy, and Michigan Jon Runyan.
• As for running back prospects, Davenport also reports that the Titans have met with the following players: FSU’s Cam Akers, ASU’s Eno Benjamin, Ohio State’s JK Dobbins, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Utah’s Zack Moss, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, Boston College’s AJ Dillon, and Maryland’s Anthony McFarland.
• The Titans also met with several cornerback prospects, including UCLA’s Darnay Holmes, TCU’s Jeff Gladney, Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson, Pittsburgh’s Dane Jackson, and Georgia Southern’s Kindle Vildor, per Davenport.