Dallas Cowboys: Who are their free agents and who will they re-sign?

Cole Beasley

Slot receiver

Cole Beasley, 30, plays primarily the slot position in the Dallas Cowboys WR ranks, but it would be a mistake to consider him the No. 3 option as many often do concerning the slot position. If 2018 taught us anything about the passing game, it’s that Bease is the undisputed No. 2 option and is a regular focus of opposing defenses.

The high regard many hold for Beasley around the league may actually inhibit the Dallas Cowboys’ ability to re-sign their favorite inside option. During the season, Cole addressed his impending free agency and stated quite plainly he expected to be paid among the best of them in the league.

If Cole Beasley demands to be paid anywhere in the top-2 territory, he’s going to have a long offseason. Even if it’s an average of the top-5 ($8.76M), I think it will have to be somewhere else. Not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because the Dallas Cowboys prefer an archaic run-heavy attack rather than utilize their most effective weapon

As you can see above, Cole Beasley was the Dallas Cowboys most efficient weapon last season and he could easily post top-5 slot receiving yards if he was only targeted more. Detractors will point to his season totals rather than real statistics that apply context like EPA. This is simply a case of counting stats leading the uninformed down the wrong path. Beasley is a beast.

Admittedly, a valid case can be made that the advantages a slot receiver has, make any option there viable, and since replacing that position is easier than most positions, the value is limited (much like a 1-tech DT, RB, or SAM big money is a waste of limited resources since they are replaceable parts).

It mostly comes down to money with this signing but his age isn’t doing him any favors either. Slot receiver is often filled with younger, more spry and cost effective options. The Dallas Cowboys happened to add one in the 2018 NFL draft when they picked up Cedrick Wilson

Can we expect Wilson to be as good as Cole Beasley in 2019? Definitely not, and chances are he’ll never be, but Cowboys brass may want to save a buck and therefore be willing to eat the inevitable loss in production as a digestible consequence.

Chances of re-signing: 30%