Would You Rather (Cowboys Edition): Terrance Williams or Brice Butler?

The Cowboys have two receivers set to become free agents this March. If you can only sign one, would you rather re-sign Terrance Williams or Brice Butler?

Once again we embark on our traditional offseason game of “would you rather”. We will pit two similar players who are filling similar roles. We factor in expected pay discrepancy, expectations, reliability, and potential.

So who is it, Terrance Williams or Brice Butler?

I know what you’re thinking, “how about neither?” and I mostly agree. Especially after watching the film on the Dallas Cowboys playoff loss to the Packers again. Both Brice Butler and Terrance Williams had performances to forget. Dropped passes, sloppy routes, and costly penalties all contributed to the Dallas Cowboys loss this postseason.

But for better or for worse, the Dallas Cowboys remain interested in their soon-to-be free agent receivers. For the right price, they may both even come back to play in 2017 (not likely).

"“They’ll be guys that we’re looking at and we’d love to have them back, both of them,” Stephen Jones said. “And it’s just how we manage the economics in the business of their situations.”"

With both Williams and Butler hitting free agency simultaneously, the Cowboys are left with only Dez Bryant as a proven outside receiver. The other two receivers under contract, Cole Beasley and Lucky Whitehead, operate primarily out of the slot and/or special teams.

If the Cowboys think they can bring one back for the right price, the continuity could give them something to build on. Considering we’re only talking about the #4 (sometimes #5) option in the Cowboys passing game pecking order, no one is worth breaking the bank for.

Based on snaps taken and receiving stats, Terrance Williams is likely to command the greater dollar figure. Williams’ 48 catches for 662 yards and 4 touchdowns were considerably more than Butler’s 16 catches for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns.

But Terrance Williams had a down year with Dak Prescott under center. Some of it is the re-commitment to the running game and some of it is Dak just wasn’t looking his way very often. Regardless of reason, his 2015 and 2016 seasons were both better and Williams has seemingly plateaued.

The oft-scrutinized Williams simply is what he is (to use an expression I hate). He’s a mediocre #2 receiver capable of great yards after the catch and equally capable of dropping a perfectly thrown ball in a critical situation.

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Speaking of unreliable, Brice Butler gave the Cowboys a bi-polar highlight reel himself this past season. He made plays that caused Dez Bryant’s jaw to drop one moment, the next he appeared lost and without a clue. But while the stats didn’t show marked improvement, re-watching his film from the 2016 season did. Dak Prescott delivered some pretty tough balls to Butler in some pretty important game situations. And Bulter made the plays. I just can’t see Terrance Williams making those plays.

It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see them both go but at this point I believe there’s a much better chance that Brice Butler stays than Williams. Butler’s season was statistically hoo-hum and unlikely to draw much outside attention. But his raw ability and athleticism remain second-to-none as Butler’s numbers indicate: 6’3”, 215lbs, 4.37 40 time, 39” vertical, 10’09” broad jump, and 6.70 3-cone drill.

Those numbers are ridiculous and Brice Butler has shown some of that ridiculousness on the football field last season. He’s still a work in progress but watching his film he clearly developed this season.

As we’ll soon explore, the 2017 NFL Draft is loaded at WR and the Cowboys should have no problem finding a mid-round player capable of fighting for a starting spot. Money is key and if Brice Butler or Terrance Williams are content signing a small deal with a chance to compete, it could be a mutually beneficial re-signing.

Next: Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft V1.0

What say you? Assuming you had to pick one of these two receivers to re-sign, who would it be? What if Brice Butler came at half the cost? Whatever route the Cowboys choose, he’s likely to remain the #4 option in this offense and needs to come on the cheap.

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