IRVING, Texas – Now that the Dallas Cowboys' season has ended, the draft process begins.

With a 4-12 record, the Cowboys will have the fourth overall pick next spring and that could put the club in position to take one of the top quarterbacks available, such as Cal’s Jared Goff or Memphis’ Paxton Lynch or another quarterback who could jump into the mix as the evaluations gain momentum.

Jerry Jones believes Tony Romo has several good years remaining, but he also could look at a QB with the fourth overall pick. Richard Rowe/USA TODAY Sports

Tony Romo will turn 36 in April and played in two full games after suffering a fractured left collarbone twice.

The Cowboys last drafted a quarterback in 2009 when they selected Stephen McGee in the fourth round. They have drafted only four other quarterbacks in the Jerry Jones’ era: Troy Aikman (No. 1 overall, 1989), Steve Walsh (supplemental draft, 1989), Bill Musgrave (fourth round, 1991) and Quincy Carter (second round, 2001).

While Romo believes he will be play at an elite level again and owner and general manager Jerry Jones believes Romo has four or five years remaining at a top level, Jones acknowledged the team will look hard at a quarterback early in the draft.

Jones and Romo spoke the night before the Dec. 27 game at Buffalo about the possibility of adding a highly rated quarterback.

“We're going to evaluate everybody and the organization is going to look at who to take and they're going to take the best player,” Romo said. “If the best player there is a quarterback, then that's what our team needs. Our team needs good players. That's what we need. And if it's the best player at a different position … I'm just obviously a player on the football team and I don't have to make those decisions, and I'm glad. My job is go out and get better and make sure this team wins next year. And I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure that.”