ORLANDO, Fla. –The Cowboys were the last NFL team this March to sign a free agent outside their own roster.
In the last five days, they've signed five: wide receivers Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson; linebacker Joe Thomas; and offensive linemen Cameron Fleming and Marcus Martin.
"It doesn't mean we're through yet either," team executive vice president Stephen Jones said.
The team is starting to shift its focus toward the April 26-28 draft where it has 10 picks, including seven on Day 3 (Rounds 4-7). But Jones said he "wouldn't rule out all the other ways you acquire players, whether it's still in free agency, trades or whatever."
"We'll keep our eyes wide open," he said.
For the most part, the front office believes it accomplished its goals of covering their free-agent losses at linebacker (Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber) and the offensive line (2017 starting left guard Jonathan Cooper) while creating more depth and competition at wide receiver.
As the draft nears, safety is one potential area of need since Byron Jones seems likely to get a look at cornerback.
"There's a thought process we could still use a free safety if the right guy were out there," Jones said, "but up to this point we haven't really seen anything that makes any sense to us (scheme wise)."
Jones disagreed with the perception that the Cowboys sat out the first week of free agency, merely waiting for the market to settle. But they have continued their philosophy of signing players who can help them, and at the same time, won't hurt their salary cap flexibility.
"We were looking at some options. Those didn't work out," Jones said. "We're convicted about where we feel like we should be on certain players and what their values are, and we stick with that."
