After eight years with the Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant has been released during this offseason. The former All-Pro’s reputation has suffered serious damage after several disappointing years, but Bryant should still be able to clearly improve many of the league’s receiving corps. However, the free agent does not find a suitable customer or rejects inappropriate offers. SPOX explains the situation of Dez Bryant.
Speaking recently in an ESPN interview, Will McClay, Deputy Cowboy Player Representative, explained that “several factors played together” when it came to the decision to dismiss Bryant. He has “problems winning one-on-one situations and downfield duels. The inconsistency definitely hurt his game. It was the best decision for everyone involved and one based on the player’s performance.”
Bryant, who was an absolute elite receiver in his Prime, has been without an employer since April. The touchdown machine, which set an NFL record of 50 scores between 2011 and 2014 and caught an average of 84 receptions for 1,216 yards during the three seasons, has since trained on its own or in individual workouts with friendly receivers.
The Wideout, which once could not be controlled by the rare combination of body size and control and explosiveness for opposing defenders, is now too risky an investment for many teams. The exorbitant salary payments that prompted the cowboys to part with the $16.5 million Bryant (Dallas saved $8.5 million against the cap with the cut) are not the only reason why he is still a free agent.
The extravagant and ever-fizzling video out has not had a 1,000-yard or 10-touchdown season since 2014. In the recent past, the 29-year-old has not only lost his athletic advantages to defenders, but has also suffered a series of back and lower body injuries.
Bryant never really seemed to be able to build a working relationship with the new franchise quarterback in Dallas, Dak Prescott. But when Prescott took over from Tony Romo in 2016, not only the quarterback but also the entire offense became increasingly run-heavy and in favor of Running Back Ezekiel Elliott.
For Dec, who played all 16 games last season, this meant 69 receptions for 838 yards and 6 touchdowns. Not bad figures, but in view of the monster contract for the cowboys a much too expensive undertaking. The 10 drops counted by Football Outsiders were probably just as little in favour of Bryant as the pro-football-focus score of 75.2 and thus 47th among last season’s wideouts.
The Oklahoma State product is currently the top free agent among receivers on the open market, despite recent difficulties, and remains available after not having been sufficiently convinced of Baltimore Raven’s offering. The franchise, eager for help on the video-out position, is said to have offered Bryant a three-year contract for 21 million dollars. This was probably not enough for Dez.
He seems to be convinced that there will still be enough offers, although the time of his dismissal was not exactly happy. After the Free Agency and the draft, teams are already well advanced in their planning and train their offense according to the players they have acquired so far in the off-season.
In a tweet, Bryant explained that he would “not regret a bit” of rejecting the Raven’s offer, although he “greatly appreciates it. Bryant seems to be overvaluing his market value just a little bit. There are not exactly many teams that would pay him the salary he asked for. And what else can Bryant offer them?
At this point in his career, Bryant must be increasingly used via hitch or comeback routes, nine-route jump balls or slants. And even though Bryant is currently working on his route running, his focus should be on getting in with a team with an experienced quarterback. A quarterback who’s not afraid to throw the ball to him.
This is the key to fully utilizing Dez’s abilities. At least someone who needs to know best. As Bryant’s former quarterback Romo recently explained in the star telegram: “Dec’ special strength lies above him,” Romo says. “I’ve never seen a guy, maybe Calvin Johnson, but I’ve never really seen a guy who can do things like this. A rare quality he still has. He’s not really covered even when he’s actually covered.”
While Bryant may no longer be fast enough to create separation, he still knows exactly how to use his bounce and claim a ball in the end zone above the cornerback, for example. And not to forget: Bryant is one of the clutch receivers in the history of the game.
In the fourth quarter or the overtime of a one-possession game, Dez has already caught 16 touchdown passes. Since the NFL merger in 1970, only four more wideouts have succeeded!
“If you place the ball in a certain place, it will always get it,” Romo continues. “This makes it easier for your offense. A 15-20-yard pass three yards above him, only he can come and no one else. I worked hard on it and I worked with him for a long time.”
Green Bay Packers
There’s probably no quarterback who can bring out Bryant’s abilities better than Aaron Rodgers. It’s not hard to imagine Rodger’s Dez in close coverage and finding him in the end zone via Back Shoulder Fades or Tear Drops.
Recently retired Jason Witten chose the Packers as the most suitable landing spot for Bryant: “I think that Bryant can still keep up with the best receivers in the NFL. “An offense with him, Jimmy Graham and Aaron Rodgers can lay on a lot of points.”
A combination of Bryant’s and Graham’s similar skill sets could be a big problem for Defenses, but Bryant would have to settle for a situational role, as Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are also part of the Packers-Depth chart. And Rodgers himself had his last doubts: “I wouldn’t know why they would have cut Jordy Nelson if they wanted a veteran receiver”.
Indianapolis Colts
If Andrew Luck makes it back to the football field in time, he’ll be in T.Y. Hilton a top receiver. Otherwise, however, the Colts Receiving Corps consists of a lot of question marks. You need more breadth and talent.
Bryant would compete in the division with the best secondaries the NFL has to offer. He could take advantage of his economies of scale in post-up duels and have the right quarterback at his side with a healthy Luck, but only with a healthy Luck.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers recently suffered their first shock report of the season in Hunter Henry’s cruciate ligament injury. And that was just after a few weeks after Philip Rivers’ beloved target Antonio Gates had been separated.
One thing is now clear. The Chargers need size in their receiving corps. Bryant would be an ideal solution here and place him alongside one of the most fearless passers in the entire league. Another factor in Bryant’s favor is the harmlessness that has harmed the Bolts in the Red Zone over the past year.
In terms of Red Zone percentages, the season ended in 28th place. Dec alongside Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the man on whom hopes are pinned, could certainly help. In addition, Bryant as a big name player, who finally provides a little fire in the new fan base in L.A., would not hurt.
San Francisco 49ers
This is obviously Bryant’s favorite destination. And this statement is not based solely on an assumption. When asked about a post on his Instagram channel where he would like to play next season, Dez answered briefly: “49ers”.
The Niners even have the cap space to satisfy Bryant’s craziest salary requests, but they already have eleven receivers in their roster. Besides Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, they have signed two other wideouts in the draft.
But Bryant could also provide much-needed Red Zone support in San Francisco. Five of Bryant’s six scores came from here. He was one of the best Red Zone receivers in the league and would be the second worst Red Zone opener of last year, giving him more time to think about him as an option than Bryant gave his comment before deleting it.
Whichever option Bryant chooses at the end of the day. He already stated that he would only play under a one-year contract next season. Bryant wants to prove himself and rejoin the free agency in 2019.
A commitment would therefore have the advantage for teams that it entails only a low risk. For everything else, it means that Dez Bryant’s saga, even if it may soon come to an end, will soon be back.