Cowboys: Trade For Martellus Bennett?
By Reid Hanson
The Cowboys need a tight end and the Bears are reportedly looking to trade former Cowboy Martellus Bennett. Should the Cowboys bring Marty B back to Big D?
The Dallas Cowboys need to add a proven tight end this offseason. Gavin Escobar is out with a torn achilles and James Hanna is set to enter free agency, leaving only unproven second year man, Geoff Swaim, to back up Jason Witten at TE.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears are ready to trade their discontent TE Martellus Bennett this offseason. With only 1-year left on his deal and a desire to get a long-term contract in place before the season begins, it’s difficult to tell what the market will be for the former Aggie.
Bears and Martellus Bennett's agent, Kennard McGuire, are working together to trade the tight end to an agreeable landing spot, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2016
Martellus Bennett began his professional career as the Dallas Cowboys second round pick in the 2008 Draft. His boisterous and generally odd personality made him a somewhat challenging player to deal with off the field.
In 2012, the Cowboys allowed “Marty B” to leave to NFC East rival, New York Giants. It was there he posted a then career-best 52 receptions, 626 recieving yards, and 5 TDs (more TDs than he totaled his his entire 4-year Cowboys career combined).
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After his solo year in New York, Marty moved on to Chicago and found even more success. In 2014, he exploded for 90 receptions for 916 yards and 6 TDs, earning Pro Bowl honors and prompting Bennett to give the full-court-press on securing a new deal. After sitting out much of the voluntary offseason program (including workouts), a rift began to develop with the team.
In 2015, Bennett continued his highly productive play, catching 53 ball for 439 yards and 3 TDs in just 11 games. In all, Bennett collected 2,114 yards, 14 TDs on 208 catches and 305 targets. The raw statistics say that Martellus is one of the NFL’s top pass-catchers and the scouting reports say he’s also one of the top run-blockers in the game as well.
The Dallas Cowboys use two-TE packages often. The TEs play a critical role in their running game and Martellus Bennett, once upon a time, was the best run-blocker in Dallas. Adding him to the mix would drastically improve the passing game as well as the running game.
At 6’6″ 273lbs, Marty has the size and athletic ability to be a jump-ball option opposite Dez Bryant in goal line situations. Adding him to the mix would drastically reduce the need to upgrade at WR in the draft this April and would allow the Cowboys to focus on other positions of need.
Bennett will be 28 in five days and is looking to cash in on his next contract. The Cowboys would have to be willing to offer him a market-value deal if they wanted to keep him happy and happiness is key when dealing with Marty B because he’s been known to be a distraction when discontentment sets in.
Trading for Marty doesn’t seem like a very savvy move since draft picks are gold this time of year. That’s why there’s a good chance the trade market will be nonexistent and the Bears may just cut the former Pro Bowler. The exact contract demands are difficult to predict as well but all indications are that he’s looking primarily for guaranteed money with long-term security.
Martellus Bennett’s game shouldn’t have any problems surviving the length of the deal. Choosing to sign him would likely indicate the Cowboys will not be re-signing Terrance Williams (who is a free agent after the 2016 season). And that’s probably a good thing.
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The signing would add another reliable receiving option, goal line option, and improve the running game in the process. Should the Cowboys trade for Martellus Bennett? Probably not since he’ll likely be cut anyways but he is definitely worth the headache as a free agent and would relish playing in the spotlight of Big D once again.