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Lionel Vital joined Cowboys off strong recommendations
3:28 PM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- When the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday for Paxton Lynch's private workout, they were met by senior director of college and pro personnel and senior personnel executive Lionel Vital.
Vital joined the Cowboys recently after a nine-year run with the Atlanta Falcons, including the last three as the team’s director of player personnel. His role with the Cowboys will evolve, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.
“Obviously we brought him right down in the middle of things because it’s a unique situation and we felt like it was great to get a guy like that," said Jones. "Obviously Jerry and I liked him but Will [McClay], it was important for Will to get him. We’ll go through the draft and we’ll look at the whole thing and there’ll probably be a little restructuring. Will will make a recommendation to Jerry and I and I’m sure that we’ll support it.”
Vital, who will report to McClay, who runs the Cowboys’ draft process and pro scouting, came highly recommended not only by McClay, but the Cowboys sought opinions from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.
He spent time with both organizations before joining Atlanta.
“We went to work, got the homework on him,” Jones said. “Will asked me to check on some places that I know I can get good, honest answers and heard nothing but incredible things about him. Some good people had a lot of good things to say about him.”
3:28 PM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- When the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday for Paxton Lynch's private workout, they were met by senior director of college and pro personnel and senior personnel executive Lionel Vital.
Vital joined the Cowboys recently after a nine-year run with the Atlanta Falcons, including the last three as the team’s director of player personnel. His role with the Cowboys will evolve, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones.
“Obviously we brought him right down in the middle of things because it’s a unique situation and we felt like it was great to get a guy like that," said Jones. "Obviously Jerry and I liked him but Will [McClay], it was important for Will to get him. We’ll go through the draft and we’ll look at the whole thing and there’ll probably be a little restructuring. Will will make a recommendation to Jerry and I and I’m sure that we’ll support it.”
Vital, who will report to McClay, who runs the Cowboys’ draft process and pro scouting, came highly recommended not only by McClay, but the Cowboys sought opinions from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.
He spent time with both organizations before joining Atlanta.
“We went to work, got the homework on him,” Jones said. “Will asked me to check on some places that I know I can get good, honest answers and heard nothing but incredible things about him. Some good people had a lot of good things to say about him.”
