Dallas Cowboys: Five assumptions to make after Week One
By Carl Daley
2. The Cowboys need a number one receiver
I thought this was true well before Week One of 2018. I am happy the team passed on D.J. Moore, Calvin Ridley, and most of the other highly rated receivers in this draft as none of them had that “it” factor that made them a true number one option.
The Dallas Cowboys whether it be in the draft or via free agency have to find a main wide receiver they can rely on in late game situations, the wide receiver by committee situations does not work.
Even if Dallas experiences mild success with this rotation of receivers, they will not have the level of production needed to compete with playoff caliber teams. There is also the negative factor that not having a true number one receiver has on the teams ground attack; Ezekiel Elliott will face stacked boxes until the cows come home.
It also seems interesting that Cole Beasley, Tavon Austin, Terrance Williams, and Deonte Thompson could all be free agents during the 2019 offseason. So realistically the Cowboys will be in the market for a receiver at some point and may even attempt to overhaul this receiving corps.
Players like Randall Cobb, John Brown, Golden Tate, Kevin White, Kelvin Benjamin, Robby Anderson, and Josh Gordon could potentially be free agents. While that is not the most elite crop of receivers, Dallas realistically can take all the help they can get. As far as finding a number one in the 2019 draft, it is still very early but only two prospects really jump out, Marquise Brown (Oklahoma) and A.J. Brown (Ole Miss).
Those two players should be in the top five of receiving prospects entering the draft and depending on how the Cowboys finish could play a major role in next years draft plans. There was a sense during the 2017 offseason that the Dallas Cowboys have devalued the wide receiving position somewhat from a front office perspective, that should not continue to be the case.
Finding a player that defenses have to account for in the passing game is highly important if the front office wants Dak Prescott to succeed because as of right now, he has no one getting open and making plays for him down the field.