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While it appears likely the Dallas Cowboys will move on from former Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones, he might not have to leave the state of Texas to find a fresh start.

Jones moved from free safety to cornerback in 2018 and responded with a Pro Bowl selection after defensing 14 passes and earning second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press despite not recording an interception.

Last season, Jones started 14 games and appeared in 15, with six passes defensed, a forced fumble and 46 total tackles. Opponents threw at Jones 64 times last season, with 34 completions for 395 yards and three touchdowns, a rating of 87.7. In 2018, Jones surrendered 42 catches on 80 targets for 586 yards and two scores and an 84.7 passer rating.

But according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys are prepared to let Jones walk, with team vice president Stephen Jones saying Monday the team has some financial restrictions to deal with, specifically mentioning pending unrestricted free agents Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper from the offensive side of the ball.

"“We’re going to have some challenges with our cap. We are. Certainly it’s Dak and Amari that are going to shrink it in a hurry. We’re going to have challenges, but they’re not challenges that we can’t overcome.”"

But even as the team talks about defensive upgrades, it’s prepared to move forward without the player who has been their best player in the secondary.

"“Byron is a guy we think a lot of. He’s had a great run at corner. He’s played really well, played at a high level. That’s the hard thing when you have quite a few good players on your football team is you get challenges. Byron understands that. But at the same time, he’s worries about Byron, as he should be. Certainly, we’ll visit with his guys while we’re here (at the scouting combine). “Kinda see their direction, what they’re thinking. And we’ll have to keep moving.”"

Jones played last season on the team’s fifth-year option as the 27th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Connecticut.

If Jones does become an unrestricted free agent, the Houston Texans could use the help in the secondary. The Texans won the AFC South title despite finishing 29th in passing defense and allowing 33 touchdown passes, tied for 27th-worst in the league.