New Cowboys running back Ronald Jones reacts to being back home in Dallas

Dallas-area native Ronald Jones signed with the Dallas Cowboys this week, bringing him back home for good for the first time since 2015. The former Buccaneers and Chiefs running back opened up about the opportunity to play for his hometown team on Wednesday.

“I’m super excited to be here,” Jones told Cowboys reporter Hailey Sutton. “Opportunity to chase another ‘ship. I’ve got my mom and my uncle with me.”

Despite playing for just five seasons so far in the NFL, Jones already has two Super Bowl rings. Although he played a minimal role in the Chiefs’ journey to the championship game this season, he knows what it takes for a team to get there. He sees the makings of a Super Bowl team in the Cowboys.

“Just seeing the run they made last year, being one game away from the step to the Super Bowl, I think they’re right there,” Jones said. “I think I can help them get over the hump.”

Jones told reporters that he’s already begun watching Cowboys game film to get the lay of the land and see how he can fit in alongside Tony Pollard.

“I’m super excited, again they’ve got a great offense and great offensive coaches,” Jones said. “My style is similar, speed, power, change of pace.”

In 2022, Jones logged six regular season games for the Bucs, notching 17 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. His best season so far was in 2020 when he had a 978-yard rushing campaign. Jones also ran for 724 yards in 2019, and 428 yards in 2021.

Cowboys sign three free agents with veterans salary benefit

The Dallas Cowboys signed their first outside free agents this week, picking up Jones, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga and long snapper Trent Sieg. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, all three signed for the veterans’ minimum of $1.232 million for one year, however, each contract is slightly varied.

Sieg, a 27-year-old with five years under his belt with the Raiders, has $250,000 in guaranteed money in his deal. Meanwhile, Jones has a $150,000 guarantee. The base salary for all three is $1.08 million and they each count $940,000 against the 2023 salary cap.

The Dallas Cowboys cleared the cap space for these signings and much more with the release of former first-round RB Ezekiel Elliott. They also restructured deals for Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyron Smith and Michael Gallup.