Dallas Cowboys

Mincey on Cowboys drafting a DE: 'The more the merrier'

Published May. 1, 2015 2:09 p.m. ET

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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey had a bit of a career revival last season in his first year with the team. After six seasons of mediocrity, Mincey led the Cowboys in sacks with six. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with an additional 37 quarterback hurries and seven quarterback hits. 

Now entering his age-32 season, Mincey is not looking at the Cowboys' supposed pursuit of defensive ends as a negative.

“The more the merrier,” Mincey said at the Cowboys’ draft party on Thursday before Dallas selected cornerback Byron Jones with the team’s first-round pick. “We’ve got enough veteran leadership and presence to help mold these guys and bring the greatness out of them. That’s all I’m about, just bringing the best out of people. Whatever (the front office) decides, that’s good. You’ve got to understand I’ve been around for a while. I can’t do this forever. It’s good to shape and mold young guys.”

Mincey even looks forward to potentially playing the mentor role with an incoming draftee.

“Everybody listens to me,” Mincey said. “They value my opinion because they know out and give it my all and I just try my hardest and I lead by example. I speak up when it’s time to speak up but I mainly just lead by example.”

None of this means that Mincey is expecting his production to take a step back in 2015. Instead, he is preparing to build on the final stretch of the season where he was most productive by coming into training camp in better shape. He entered last year's camp at 300 pounds. Although he's down to 280 pounds now, he hopes to settle in at 265 pounds as his playing weight.

“As you noticed last year I started getting a lot better after six, seven games because I was shedding so much weight,” Mincey said. “This season I’m going to start in front of the eight ball instead of behind it.”

Look for the Cowboys to target a defensive end with their second or third round selection on day two.

(h/t Dallas Morning News)

Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

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