Dallas is looking to sign Dez Bryant to a long-term deal. (Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports)
Dallas Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said the team will use the franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant at the deadline Monday and also will let running back DeMarco Murray hit free agency.
Speaking to FOX Sports on Saturday, Jones said “we’re eyeing a franchise tag” for Bryant and Murray will “see what’s out on the market” when he becomes a free agent on March 10.
The Cowboys have been trying to sign Bryant to a long-term contract. Jones said he and his father, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, met with Bryant’s agent, Tom Condon, on Tuesday.
But, he said it “would be a stretch to think that we would have something done by Monday and beat the franchise-tag deadline. Looks like we’re eyeing a franchise tag on Dez, but certainly won’t stop us from working hard to get a long-term deal. … We’ve got a long period of time there where we can continue to work on doing something long term for Dez.”
The franchise tag would cost the Cowboys around $12.3 million for 2015.
“We just don’t want to lose his rights,” Jones said. “We think Dez is a unique player and certainly a big part of what we’ve done … and certainly going forward.”
Bryant, 26, caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and a career-high 16 touchdowns in 2014. It was his third straight season with at least 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
As for Murray, who led the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards in 2014, Jones said negotiations have been slow and Murray “is probably going to get some peace and see what’s out in the market, and then we’ll talk and see. I do believe deep down he’d love to stay in Dallas.”
