Texas WR Devin Duvernay Would Solve Cowboys Slot Need

One of the biggest priorities for the Dallas Cowboys was making sure Wide Receiver Amari Cooper didn’t leave the building. They did just that by signing him to a five-year deal worth 100 million, keeping him alongside rising star Michael Gallup.

However, veteran slot receiver Randall Cobb stayed in the state of Texas but headed south to join the Houston Texans on a three-year, 27 million dollar deal. Now, the Cowboys have a need at that position and Texas’s Devin Duvernay would be an ideal fit in that role.

Duvernay showed flashes as a freshman in 2016 that he could be a productive player when he racked up 412 yards and three touchdowns on 20 receptions. His sophomore season was one to forget, though, as he only registered nine receptions for 124 yards. He bounced back with a solid junior season totaling 41 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns. His senior year would be his masterpiece as Duvernay amassed 106 receptions (second in the nation) for 1,386 yards (fifth in the nation) and nine touchdowns while receiving first-team All-Big 12 honors.

At 5’10 200 pounds, Duvernay is built more like a running back which probably attributed to the 23 missed tackles he created and the 719 yards (led all receivers in the draft class) he gained after the catch in 2019. He’s a straight-line speed demon as he displayed at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. His hands might be the best of any receiver coming out of the college ranks as he had the lowest drop percentage of any receiver in a power-five conference over the last two seasons and never dropped a pass in the red zone during his time at Texas. Also, he had a lot of production on screens.

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According to PFF, Duvernay finished second to LSU’s Justin Jefferson in catches (106) and first down conversions (68) for all slot receivers in 2019. That’s not his only value, though, as he can also provide help in the kick return game with his 550 yards on 26 returns (21.2 per return) in college.

Duvernay is fast, strong, versatile, and has excellent hands. He would be an instant replacement for Cobb and give the Cowboys a young three-headed monster at the receiver position.

Scouting report according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein