Byron Jones Loaded Contract Made Re-Signing With Cowboys Impossible

Byron Jones had a huge asking price in free agency and it became clear the Dallas Cowboys likely had no shot of re-signing him.

The Miami Dolphins matched Jones' asking price and gave him a front-loaded deal. He is reportedly set to earn $57 million guaranteed, making it crystal clear that a reunion in Dallas was impossible.

The #Cowboys gave Ezekiel Elliott a six-year deal worth $90 million with $50.5 in guarantees. I'm sick. https://t.co/mgpnCVa5aV
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) March 16, 2020

The Cowboys placed the exclusive franchise tag on Dak Prescott that is worth over $30 million in 2020. Then the team has to pay Amari Cooper. Ezekiel Elliott is already on a $90 million deal and thus Jones became the odd man out. To be fair to the Cowboys, this is a record deal for a defensive back.

Farewell message to Cowboys from CB Byron Jones, who plans to sign with the Dolphins on Wednesday. https://t.co/wnTbt3rG9t pic.twitter.com/v9W0kpYDry
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 17, 2020

Dallas would have tied up nearly half of its available cap space in Jones and that is before committing to Cooper and a long-term deal for Prescott. Jones spent five years with the Cowboys and made one Pro Bowl. The team would have loved to keep him, but the Dolphins raised the price and made such a goal highly unlikely.