Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones raised some eyebrows earlier this offseason when he suggested that it was probably high time his Boys started planning for a future without Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo and thus that they'd likely look for a signal-caller at some point during or after the 2015 NFL Draft.
While it certainly doesn't seem a pressing need at first glance, Romo, despite his consistent Pro Bowl-worthy performance, is a 34-year-old with a lot of wear and tear on his body, most notably his back.
With Romo set to embark on his 13th NFL season, Jones is probably correct that it's time to draft and develop a player who can - eventually - take over for the long-time Cowboys signal-caller.
Could a player like UCLA's Brett Hundley be the right man for the job?
"The #Cowboys, apparently in the QB mix this draft, had a private workout with #UCLA QB Brett Hundley yesterday at UCLA, I'm told," Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted.
Hundley may actually prove a perfect fit for the Cowboys needs. He's a big, athletic, strong-armed quarterback who could use "a little time with the clipboard," as Jones so succinctly put it, before he's ready to assume a starting spot in an NFL lineup.
Yes, he's had consistent issues with turnovers and taking unnecessary sacks throughout his three-year collegiate career, but there's no denying his prodigious raw, physical gifts.
"Hundley flashes athleticism and talent, but his basic quarterbacking issues will take time to improve," writes Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. "In 2014, more than 54 percent of his pass attempts were from six yards and in, including 29 percent from behind the line of scrimmage, which is nothing like an NFL offense. Hundley is a 'flash' prospect who shows the physical tools to be a starter, but his internal clock and issues with reads and progressions must be improved to give him a shot at becoming a decent NFL starter."
Zierlein projects Hundley to be available somewhere between the fourth or fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Romo finished last season for the Cowboys with 3,705 yards and 34 touchdowns and just nine interceptions for a 113.2 quarterback rating, so it certainly seems fair to expect at least a few more seasons of elite play out of him.
Still, there's no telling when a player's body is going to betray him and simply call it quits even while the mind is still willing.
If Jones and the Cowboys believe Hundley can be the heir to Romo's starting spot, they should take him in the 2015 NFL Draft, even if it requires the investment of a fairly early selection.
