Dallas Cowboys BREAKING: Jerry Jones to Skip Media Session Due to Medical Issue

The Cowboys have informed us that Jones, 79, will be skipping his usual session due to a "minor medical issue.''

INDIANAPOLIS - After a one-year hiatus, the future stars of the NFL are here in Indianapolis to display their skill, speed and brains at the NFL scouting combine. But among the "stars'' who will not make his usual "on the bus'' media appearance is team owner Jerry Jones.

The Cowboys have informed us that Jones, 79, will be skipping his usual session due to a "minor medical issue.''

While we hope for Jones' full health, we also look forward to him eventually sharing his thoughts on an assortment of headline-grabbing Cowboys issues.

Like ...

*Our scoop on Dallas attempting to trade Amari Cooper before he is cut.

*What Blake Jarwin’s serious hip surgery might mean to Dalton Schultz.

*Dallas' claim of a "solid culture'' as it regards the cheerleaders settlement scandal.

Oh, and of course, this combine and the NFL Draft.

Last season, rookies make an immediate impact on the Dallas Cowboys and across the league. Now, the Cowboys are trying to find their "next Micah Parsons'' and their "next CeeDee Lamb'' and their "next Trevon Diggs.''

And when it comes to the Cowboys' NFL Draft plan? In listening to COO Stephen Jones, there seem to be four areas of roster-building concern.

And we would add a fifth.

Jones has specifically spoken here in Indy about a) safety, b) defensive end, c) tight end, and d) offensive line.

By the time we add e) receiver ... it suddenly looks like the Cowboys have a lot of holes.

Obviously, those "needs'' are also tied to Dallas' free-agent group. Sign Jayron Kearse, Randy Gregory and Schultz and those first three issues are addressed.

Offensive line? That's going to be a draft focus.

Receiver? The Cowboys need to work their way through Cooper's contract before nailing that one down.

Dallas struck gold in back-to-back drafts to set the franchise up for a promising future. The 17th pick in the 2020 draft, CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and yards per catch this season en route to his first Pro Bowl. Parsons, the 12th selection in 2021, dominated opposing offenses with his versatility that earned him defensive rookie of the year. 

The Cowboys hold the 24th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, which begins April 28. Can they strike gold again? In a pivotal offseason, Dallas has big decisions to make in free agency and possesses six traditional draft picks (plus one projected compensatory pick).

Dallas' selections:

• Round 1: 24th-overall
• Round 2: 56th-overall
• Round 3: 88th-overall
• Round 4: 127th-overall
• Round 5: 166th-overall
• Round 5: 176th-overall* 
• Round 6: 201st-overall

Will Dallas add players who can contribute immediately? The Cowboys appear to have everything on paper to contend again in 2022. Once again expectations are high; Dallas is tied with the 49ers and Green Bay Packers for the fourth-best odds (+1300) to win Super Bowl LVII.

By the way, the 2023 combine could be in Dallas; after bids from Los Angeles, Indianapolis and "Dallas'' - though the Cowboys are of course technically grounded in Frisco and in Arlington - in consideration for next year's combine.

But first things first: We're not saying Dallas should or will "draft for need.'' We're simply noting that Stephen Jones is acknowledging those needs. And we look forward to a time soon when a healthy Jerry Jones can do the same.