Dallas Cowboys: What to do with receiver Noah Brown…

The Dallas Cowboys thought they were getting a project when they drafted Noah Brown but he’s proving to be much more than that.

In this past draft the Dallas Cowboys did what they seemingly always do, they took a late round flyer on a high-reward developmental player. Last season that guy’s name was Rico Gathers. This season it was Noah Brown.

Nearly halfway through the preseason Dallas Cowboys draft pick, Noah Brown, has proven he has a place in the NFL. Strength, play-making skills, and blocking ability all say he’s going to find an NFL roster this fall. The Cowboys better make sure that roster is theirs.

Noah Brown

Selected in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, Noah Brown was drafted to be a project player. The uber-athletic but equally as raw receiver out of Ohio State had limited experience. A horrific leg injury robbed him of most of his college career and ultimately led him to pursue an NFL career sooner rather than later.

"“That was one of the biggest parts of my decision [to go pro]. When I was hurt, I realized how quickly football could be taken away. This is the dream of my childhood.”"

Noah (un)like Gathers

It’s easy to see the parallels between Noah Brown and his wild card predecessor, Rico Gathers. Gathers too, was drafted in the late rounds as an unproven but supremely talented physical specimen.

As a project player from the start, the Dallas Cowboys limited Gathers’ rookie playing time – likely an effort to mold from the ground up and to protect from other teams’ prying eyes. By guaranteeing his money on the practice squad the Cowboys essentially proclaimed their dedication to him. As we all know, that strategy is paying off now.

And that’s exactly how things looked for Brown early on. With just 33 NCAA receptions to his name, the thought was the Cowboys would stash and develop young Noah. Especially since the Dallas Cowboys appeared stacked at receiver this season. But Brown started flashing in training camp. And in preseason game situations, he started looking like he could be a dominating force someday soon.

Don’t get me wrong, Noah Brown is light years behind the likes of Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Ryan Switzer, and Brice Bulter right now. Some would even say he’s behind Andy Jones. With the likelihood the Dallas Cowboys will only keep five receivers, that leaves Brown on the outside looking in. But Brown is showing something and if the Cowboys aren’t careful, they aren’t going to be able to hide him away on their practice squad like they did with Rico.

See also the situation they face with Cooper Rush: The case for keeping three QBs

Noah Brown is not as project-y as we first thought

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While Rico Gathers was every bit the project we thought he’d be his rookie year, Noah Brown appears to be considerably more game-ready. He’s every bit the playmaker we thought he could be with the ball in his hands. Plus he’s a pretty strong blocker. I don’t think any of us have seen enough of him execute routes downfield, or showcase a full route tree, but what he has shown is useable…now.

Getting stashed for an entire season on the practice squad may not be the nessesity we once tought it would be. And if Noah Brown continues to play like this in preseason games, the practice squad won’t even be a possibility. If the Dallas Cowboys left him off their final 53-man roster, another team would probably be happy to add him to theirs.

Hide him or groom him?

So the question now is should the Dallas Cowboys hide him and shield him from playing time or should they play him and try to make room for him on their 53-man roster. Because like we said, it’s becoming clear that they can’t do both. If they keep playing him, he’s going to keep making plays. And if he keeps making plays some other NFL team is going to scoop him up.

Next: How Ryan Switzer can help replace Zeke and the running game

Noah Brown is starting to look like he’s that high-reward player the Dallas Cowboys were hoping he’d be when they drafted him 239^th overall this year. Now are they going to give him the opportunity to realize that potential in Dallas or are they paving the way to do it all elsewhere? We shall see…