The Dallas Cowboys aren't replacing quarterback Tony Romo next season, but according to team owner Jerry Jones, the time has come for the franchise to map out a future that no longer includes their Pro Bowl signal-caller.
"We do have to look to the future relative to quarterback," Jones said at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, according to David Helman of FOX Sports Southwest. "It's starting a timeframe where a guy could come in and be a good backup."
With Romo having received a fair amount of MVP consideration during the 2014 season and under contract through 2019 it's unlikely the Cowboys are itching at the chance to move him out of the offensive driver's seat.
Still, Jones pointed to the four seasons that Romo spent as a back-up and clipboard-holder as main reasons both for Romo's eventual ascension to high-level NFL starter and a reason for the team to potentially spend a pick in the coming 2015 NFL Draft on his future replacement.
"Look at how Romo evolved into the guy he is today," he said. "He did a little time with the clipboard."
Romo, 34, finished last season with 3,705 yards passing, 34 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He'll carry a $27.7 million cap hit for the Cowboys next season, per Spotrac.com.
It's unlikely the Cowboys and Jones would look at a quarterback - or, more importantly, find one worthy - with the 27th overall selection in the first-round, but with six other picks - one each in the second, third, fourth and fifth and two in the seventh - it's very possible, per Jones, that Dallas will come away with a prospect at the game's most important position at some point.
"I think to really focus on lower rounds. We should really evaluate those lower rounds," he said. "We should feel good and I expect us to feel good about the third, fourth and fifth round picks."
Jones also acknowledged that the Cowboys, who have brought in, or will bring in five of the draft's top ball carriers for pre-draft visists, have their sights set firmly on the running back position as well after losing DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
