Dallas Cowboys 'need to move on' from Dez Bryant, says Jerry Jones

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has ruled out the prospect of Dez Bryant re-signing with the team.

The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver has been a free agent since the team cut him on April 13.

But despite having a big need at the position going into Thursday's NFL Draft, Jones insists a return for Bryant on a reduced salary is not on the cards.

"We need to move on knowing that we don't have Dez," Jones said.

Cutting Bryant saves the team $8.5m against the salary cap. In 2015, Bryant signed a contract extension worth $70m, and he was due to make $12.5m this season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said the delayed decision to cut Bryant, instead of soon after the NFL season, came because took "it took a while to get Jerry Jones on board."

Jones is sentimental about "his guys," Rapoport said, adding that "a lot of people inside the building wanted to do this earlier."

Bryant played in all 16 games last season, but he appeared to lack chemistry with second-year quarterback Dak Prescott.

Bryant's average yards per reception was a career-worst 12.1, and his 69 receptions were well below his peak years of 92, 93 and 88 from 2012 to 2014.