Cowboys exec says team needs to give Dak Prescott a playmaker

It’s clear from his comments at the NFL Scouting Combine on Monday that Dallas Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones is a believer in quarterback Dak Prescott.

The team parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and shifted play calling duties to head coach Mike McCarthy. But as Jones sees it, Dallas can help Prescott out even more by surrounding him with more weapons via the draft.

"Offensively, we've just got to have, maybe add a playmaker to it," Jones said, via ESPN. "Add a little juice. Add a playmaker to it and see if we can do that."

This comes on the heels of Jones admitting to ESPN’s Todd Archer that the Cowboys “probably didn’t do enough” to replace Amari Cooper, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March of last year for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a swap of 2022 sixth-round picks.

Copper spent three-plus seasons in Dallas, totaling 292 receptions, 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns, including back-to-back 1,110-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020.

With Cooper gone, CeeDee Lamb enjoyed a breakout year (107 receptions, 156 targets, 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns). But Dallas saw little production from its other receivers. Michael Gallup recorded just 39 receptions and 424 yards while Noah Brown had 43 catches for 555 yards.

The Cowboys have the 27th pick in the first round of April’s draft. If they opt to take a receiver, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, Boston College’s Zay Flowers or SMU’s Rashee Rice could all be possibilities.

“We've been a good offensive football team,” Jones added. “That's the scary part. But we just hadn't been able to make the plays when it got right down to it in the playoffs."