Over the last year the Dallas Cowboys have been rebuilding their wide receiver core from the Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler group that dominated the wide receiver room from the end of the Tony Romo era through the first couple years of the Dak Prescott era.
Last offseason, Dez Bryant was released and so far this offseason, Brice Butler was allowed to walk, then signed after being cut by the Arizona Cardinals and then cut after just a couple of weeks with the team. The Dallas Cowboys have released Terrance Williams to continue the wide receiver rebuild and Cole Beasley is expected to walk in free agency for the opportunity at more opportunities and more money.
The wide receiver room is now led by Amari Cooper, acquired in the middle of the 2018 season for the Cowboys first round pick, and Michael Gallup, drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
As the Cowboys continue reshaping their wide receiver group to better fit this new era of quarterbacking they will likely look to the draft to fill out their depth chart ahead of the 2019 season. In this year’s version of the draft, there are a lot of really good players that will be taken in the second and third rounds that could interest the Dallas Cowboys and complement their current group of receivers really well.
Here are five wide receivers that could be available when the Dallas Cowboys go on the clock at number 58.
Marquise Brown, WR, University of Oklahoma
If you were allowed to take one trait at wide receiver and add it to the Dallas Cowboys for the 2019 season, I think many of you would take a wide receiver who has the speed to take the top off of the defense. Let me introduce you to Marquise Brown.
There are several players in this draft that have speed, but none use their speed and change of speed quite like Marquise Brown from the University of Oklahoma. For two seasons, he constantly was able to get behind defenses, even though they knew what a threat he was.
In his two years at OU, Brown finished with two 1,000 yard seasons. Last year he finished with 75 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 17.6 yards per reception. For his career, Brown averaged 18.3 yards per reception and 8.5 touchdowns in his two years.
With his speed, he’s a player that could go as early as the late first round, because speed is a very difficult trait to replicate.
Read my full scouting report on Marquise Brown.
Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
No player did more for their reputation at the Senior Bowl than South Carolina Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel. He’s being looked at as a player that could step in and help the Dallas Cowboys in the slot. He provides good route running and hands.
At 5-11, 214 pounds, Samuel has the build to be an effective player over the middle of the field and the quickness to find open space. While his 3-cone drill only landed him in the 35th percentile among wide receivers, his 40-yard dash and 20-yard shuttle landed him in the mid-60th percentile.
In his senior season, Samuel caught 62 passes for 882 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 12 game. Like Marquise Brown and many of the other wide receivers that could be available in the second round, Samuel could also be a late first round option as well.
Read Kevin Brady’s Scouting report on Deebo Samuel.
Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
Size and strength is another quality that the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver group doesn’t have. Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler has that in spades. He’s strong at the catch point and has the strength to win 50-50 battles for the ball.
He’s excellent catching back shoulder fades and running down the sideline. Hakeem Butler’s huge frame gives his quarterback a lot to work with. Generally when we see a player that has the size and production that Butler has, you’re talking about a first round talent.
Other than running back David Montgomery, the Iowa State offense had very little talent, but was able to keep pace with a lot of their Big 12 counterparts because of the play of Hakeem Butler. If you go back and watch the Oklahoma game, it’s one highlight catch after another. He made the Sooners look like a bad high school team that day. The way Butler’s able to out jump everyone as well as run by a lot of his defenders is impressive. He has strong hands that make it difficult for defensive backs to rip the ball away after the catch.
His final season at Iowa State, he averaged 22 yards per reception on 60 catches to go along with 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns.
At 6-6, 225, he provides an excellent red zone and jump ball weapon for Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys offense. With his impressive combine performance (4.49 in the 40-yard dash), he may not be available in the second round. However, with how deep the NFL Draft is, you never know who could fall.
Andy Isabella, WR, University of Massachusetts
If there is a player that isn’t projected to be a first round pick that has become a fan and analyst favorite, it’s University of Massachusetts Wide Receiver Andy Isabella. He’s a diminutive, but speedy receiver that won all over the field in college.
He was very productive in his senior season, catching 102 passes for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the two seasons prior to his electric senior season, Isabella he caught at least 62 passes each year and averaged 910 yards receiving and 8.5 touchdowns.
He an electric player that can be a slot receiver, but also adds a dimension in the deep passing game as well as the return game because of his speed. His size will remind people of Ryan Switzer, but he’s a faster player than the former Cowboys wide receiver.
Read Brian Martin’s scouting report on Andy Isabella.
Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State University
Of all the players in this bunch, there may not be a player that will be available to the Dallas Cowboys at 58 with as much athleticism as Ohio State University Wide Receiver Parris Campbell.
Campbell combines size and speed at 6-1, 208 pounds, while running a 40-yard dash that put him in the 96th percentile among wide receivers. Not only did he test really well in the athletic measurables, Campbell brings really good production along with him.
In 2018, Campbell caught 90 passes for the Buckeyes for 1,063 and 12 touchdowns. In his first two years of playing regular time in 2016 and 2017, the Buckeyes gave him some carries too and he averaged more than 13 yards per carry on 14 rushes over those two seasons. As a returner his sophomore and junior season, he averaged 27.8 and 36.6 yards per kick return.
Campbell has the athleticism and quickness to have a year-one impact for the Dallas Cowboys in the slot and could be the guy they go to for their jet sweeps.
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As things stand now, the Dallas Cowboys could use some more speed at the wide receiver position and this draft is loaded with guys that can threaten a defense vertically. Even Hakeem Butler, who brings imposing size and strength has the speed to stretch the defense. At pick number 58, the Cowboys are going to have options available to them. Perhaps a couple of these guys could be available when they pick at number 90 in the third round. This draft may not be heavy on guys that are projected to be taken in the first round, but there are a lot of options for them to get a guy that can provide another dynamic element to this young offense.
