What the Dallas Cowboys Need in a No. 2 Receiver

With Terrance Williams set to be a free agent this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys are in the market for a new No. 2 receiver. Here’s what they need.

The Dallas Cowboys enter free agency with many decisions to make regarding their roster. One of those decisions is that of the receiver position opposite Dez Bryant. Terrance Williams, the Cowboys No. 2 receiver for the past four years, is now a free agent and likely to explore other options. This opens an important spot in the starting lineup.

As we assess the free agent market in coming days, and discuss how the Cowboys should fill the imminent void, we must first discuss what exactly the Dallas Cowboys are looking for in a No 2 receiver.

No. 2 isn’t really a No. 2

First and foremost, the No. 2 WR on the Dallas Cowboys really isn’t a No. 2 option on the offense. Dez Bryant is the clear first option, with Cole Beasley and Jason Witten serving as second and third respectively.

The second outside receiver on the Dallas Cowboys is, at best, the fourth option on this highly dynamic Cowboys offense. As such, whoever fills the role must be paid accordingly. This essentially means the Cowboys cannot break the bank in their search and pay the man like a real No. 2 WR.

This budgetary decision was made prior to the 2015 season when the Cowboys decided to sign Cole Beasley to a 4-year/$13.606M contract. As long as Bease, Jason Witten, and Dez Bryant were on payroll, the Cowboys would have to treat the No. 2 receiver as a cheap replaceable part.

Understanding the X and Z receiver positions

This explanation could probably warrant an article all unto itself but in order to keep this column flowing, I’ll simplify here.

With Cole Beasley solely occupying the slot receiver position, the Cowboys are in the market for an outside receiver (X and/or Z). The X receiver is the split end. He lines up on the line of scrimmage, and as a result, cannot move in motion.

Since going in motion is a great way to avoid jams from opposing cornerbacks, players like the X receiver who cannot motion must be able to fight through and around CB press coverage.

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The Z receiver, also known as the flanker, lines up on the opposite side of the field. But in order to keep the TE eligible he must line up off the line of scrimmage (a yard or so back).

Unlike the X, the Z can go in motion — testing coverage, beating press, generally gaining an advantage.

There are exceptions everywhere but in most cases these are the rules by which these two receivers play.

Skills required for the Dallas Cowboys No. 2 WR

This brings us to the skills portion of what to look for. The X receiver needs to be strong/shifty/fast enough to beat jams at the line of scrimmage. The Z receiver needs to be educated and versatile enough to run a variety of routes from a variety of different places.

Depending on what position the Cowboys are hunting for, the skills will vary. Dez Bryant, who plays a substantial amount from the X position, may want to play more from the Z to better exploit match-ups. Or maybe the Cowboys are content with Dez as the X and are just looking for a Z.

They’d be best served finding a replacement to Terrance Williams who has skills to play both X and Z. But at the very least, the player MUST be able to fill the role of Z.

Whatever route they take, speed is the common denominator. Whether they plan to lineup their No. 2 as an X or Z, they need a receiver with speed because deep speed is the only thing this offense is lacking. Dez isn’t a sloth by any means, but he’s not a burner either. Finding a complementary player with legitimate deep speed is extremely important.

Next: Why right defensive end is the most important position to address

While Terrance Williams had the speed, he wasn’t a very feared deep threat. He also lacked the concentration and follow-through when he wasn’t the primary target. Whoever takes the No 2 role in 2017 will need to go at 100% every time, knowing full-well they are probably no better than the fourth option on this offense.

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