Just as the fervor from fans and speculation from the media of a potential return of the Dallas Cowboys all-time leader in touchdown receptions began to wane with free agency a couple of weeks old, the buzz grew to a fever pitch yesterday when Dez Bryant announced that he and Dak Prescott had a practice session yesterday.
Though it’s unknown whether the Cowboys are interested in a Dez Bryant reunion under new Head Coach Mike McCarthy, there’s potential for a fit with the Cowboys. With Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup at the head of the wide receiver depth chart, that group lacks a legitimate third option or someone that could work from the slot.
Though it has been assumed that the Cowboys would go into the draft looking to fortify their wide receiver corp, Dez Bryant still makes sense as a veteran depth option for the Dallas Cowboys. He and Stephen Jones have spoken and Bryant remains interested in a return to the only team he’s ever played a game for.
This play serves as a reminder that it wasn’t all bad when Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant played together.
Indeed pic.twitter.com/nX3eHJYbGM
— jesus flores (@tvjflo) April 2, 2020
The front office with a new coaching staff to collaborate with has begun taking chances on veteran free agents that are 30 or older. Under Jason Garrett, the Cowboys rarely chased older players in free agency, opting to keep their team young and hope to develop draft picks. While it was great to have a young team, that youth didn’t take the Cowboys where they were hoping to go. Though things didn’t work out under Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan, a fresh start is possible with Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore.
Because of Amari Cooper’s versatility to be able to play in the slot and on the outside, the Cowboys can find a way to make a reunion work with Dez Bryant. Dez Bryant could back up both Cooper and Michael Gallup while offering some work in the slot as well. He’s not a slot wide receiver like we often think of in the Cole Beasley or Julian Edelman mold, but his size and physicality can help him win in the middle of the field against corners and his athleticism can help him win against linebackers.
Much like the signings of Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Aldon Smith, bringing Dez Bryant back wouldn’t keep the Dallas Cowboys from investing in a wide receiver in the draft, but it means they won’t feel forced to do so.
While players like Devin Smith, Noah Brown, and Cedrick Wilson offer some intrigue on the wide receiver depth chart, there’s nothing to their games that indicates they can step into 70% of the offensive snaps left available in the wake of the Randal Cobb’s departure.
Dez Bryant may not be the player he was in his prime, but he still has a lot to offer as a depth player in the Cowboys offense. Getting work in with the Cowboys franchise quarterback is certainly an interesting development in the possibility of Bryant’s return.
Bryant has always been vocal about his belief in Dak Prescott as a quarterback. Though at times during their time together it seemed they might not have been on the same page, it never affected their relationship on or off the field.
An offense with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Blake Jarwin, the Cowboys offensive line, and a healthy and reinvigorated Dez Bryant will be nearly unstoppable if the Dallas Cowboys decide to pull the trigger on a reunion with their former Pro Bowl wide receiver.
In the 29 games Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant played together, Bryant averaged four receptions on 7.86 targets for 56 yards, and half a touchdown a game. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but if you have Bryant, who was dealing with injuries for much of those two seasons, as your number three receiver he provides you really solid depth as the Cowboys hope to make a run in 2020.
They may not bring Dez back to the Cowboys, but it’s definitely an option that is worth exploring by the front office and the coaching staff.
