Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys not feeling urgency to draft receiver without Bryant

Published Apr. 27, 2018 11:47 a.m. ET

FRISCO, Texas (AP) -- The Dallas Cowboys are feeling more confident that they might have replaced Dez Bryant in free agency, so another day of the NFL draft could come and go without them taking a receiver.

After picking linebacker Leighton Vander Esch of Boise State at No. 19 in the first round, the Cowboys have the 50th overall pick in the second round and the No. 81 overall selection in the third round Friday night.

Executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones says club officials talked extensively before selecting Vander Esch about how comfortable they were with the additions of receivers Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson in free agency.

Jones says the Cowboys "believe there's some receivers, one through seven, that have some unique traits." The final four rounds of the draft are Saturday.

The Cowboys released Bryant as a cost-cutting move earlier this month. The franchise leader in touchdown catches had three sub-par seasons after signing a big contract following an All-Pro year in 2014.