Throw Up the X to Dez? Why the Cowboys are Better Off Without Him
- Tyler Webb
- Jan 26, 2017
- 5 min read
Dez Bryant, former 1st round pick, and former All Pro (2014) wide receiver I believe has many people confused as hell. Many still consider Dez a top 8 wide receiver, and believe he is an elite offensive playmaker. My elite receivers include, in no order, Antonio Brown, OBJ, Julio Jones, and A.J. Green so those will be the main people I reference back to in this article. It would be the smartest decision for the Cowboys to trade away Dez Bryant right now before everyone else realizes what I am talking about. This upcoming draft is going to be incredibly deep in a lot of the needs for the Dallas Cowboys. With the struggles they had against the Giants already, and the Redskins being a few key pieces away from a good team as well, the Boys must use this head start to capitalize on the division. Big picture wise? Well I am currently finishing this sentence as the Falcons are finishing a 44-21 ass whooping over the Packers. Though the Cowboys seemed to handle them well, the Lions can score in bunches. Lets not forget the Panthers may have been pretty terrible this year, but they also were 15-1 a year ago and only seemed to gain more assets though getting worse.
This season Dez Bryant ranked 51st in receiving yards, tied for 84th in receptions, and was tied for 50th in targets. None of those numbers were anywhere near the top, let alone elite numbers. Though he does rank technically in the top 10 for touchdowns, 6 of the 12 games I consider him starting this season, he had no touchdowns. In two games he had 5 total touchdowns (1 passing) of the 9 all season, which is great for those two games but consistency is key in becoming elite. The wide receiver position is evolving before our eyes, and 750 yards is certainly not top receiver numbers. Julio Jones, had 7 games over 100 yards this season and, Odell, Brown, and Green had 4 each. Dez came close with 3, but this isn’t arguing him being a bad receiver; just that he is not going to perform like an elite receiver and will only drop from this point. To be fair AJ Green also only played in a total of 9 games, his last ending early in the first quarter, but still managed to have better stats than A.J Green. The receiver position is one of the most heavily flooded positions in the NFL in terms of talent. This season we had rookie Michael Thomas, and sophomore Amari Cooper both crack the top 10 in receiving yards. The value for Dez Bryant most likely won’t get too much higher than it stands right now, and the Cowboys should cut ties with Dez and think long term on a potentially great defense.
There are multiple teams that could use some help in their wide receiver core, and the Cowboys should be licking their chops at that idea. Dez for sure has proven before to be an elite receiver, and I do not believe he is a bad one now by any means. With his stardom though, has come many bumps and sideline moments. Ignoring any players involved with the trade, I personally think an offer of two 2nd round picks plus two 4th round picks, or anything of the same value. With those picks, you could easily find a replacement receiver in the 2nd round of this years, or next years draft. This year you can look towards Darreus Rogers, Malachi Dupre, Zay Jones or even a tight end like Jordan Leggett or Jake Butt in the second round. Those would be key players in a youthful offense that already has key pieces with Dak, Zeke, Jason “Fine Wine” WItten and sudden growth of Cole Beasley.
When you look throughout the NFC you see the top teams have stellar defenses that almost seem to carry the team. In no means do I think the Cowboys should fit a basic mold, but to get over the playoff hump it’s always been about the defense. The cap space that frees up with trading away Dez Bryant’s contract is roughly $17 million dollars to add to the $12 million already available. With a free agent class with names like Chandler Jones, Kawann Short, Dontari Poe, and A.J. Bouye, Jerry Jones should strongly consider clearing up cap space for a rebuild of average defense on a good day. In 2018 the free agency class will be weaker but still offers names like Eric Reid, Sharrif Floyd, and Ezekiel Ansah which could all be key additions to this defense. This is just thinking on defense, when the 2017 free agency will be loaded on both sides of the ball. Dallas could look towards Terrelle Pryor, or Kenny Britt to replace a big red zone target like Bryant. You can also look to DeSean Jackson as a nice plug until the pretty loaded 2018 wide receiver free agent class. If the Jaguars don’t seem to improve this season, I wouldn’t find it surprising if Allen Robinson decides to play ball somewhere else that is a contender. Allen Robinson finished with 73 catches, and 883 yards in an offense that struggled to much of anything for much of the season. I could see the same with other big name AFC South wideouts, Donte Moncrief, and DeAndre Hopkins, though i see Hopkins getting a big enough contract to stay in Houston. Moncrief coming off another injury plagued season, has a lot to prove in his contract year, if not Dallas could look to snag Moncrief on a low risk high reward contract.
Finding a trade partner for Dez Bryant isn’t going to be a top priority for Dallas as of right now, but if the right offer comes by they shouldn’t think twice on it. Dez has put up stats in the past and the Cowboys should use that to their advantage in the trade market. Clearing up cap space, acquiring new talent or picks, and getting rid of any bad influence he brings to the young talent. Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott are the future of this team, and need the best mentors you can get to mold them into model players. Dez doesn’t have terrible issues, but is still a bad role model for the faces of an organization. Showing up late to team meetings, skipping doctor check ups, and plenty sideline outburst positive or negative, is not "face of the organization" material. Dez by all means is a good receiver, but also is a replaceable asset to the team, and I believe it is time Cowboy Nation realizes it.
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