Dallas Cowboys: Expect Turnover at Receiver

The Dallas Cowboys have some tough decisions to make this offseason and wide receiver could be a position group that’s affected.

Before the 2018 season the Dallas Cowboys’ leadership tried to sell fans on a group approach to the wide receiver position. While some thought it might work, the consensus proved correct that there was not enough at the position to be successful. To remedy the situation the Cowboys gave up their 2019 first round pick for Amari Cooper.

Cooper was a success, and rookie Michael Gallup made huge strides. Cole Beasley was his normal fantastic self, but after him the position group was shaky at best. With the Cowboys grabbing Allen Hurns last offseason and making a trade for Tavon Austin, there initially seemed to be some depth at wide receiver.

Well, injuries hit both Hurns and Austin keeping them out multiple weeks, Terrance Williams‘ off-field issues indirectly landed him on injury reserve where he joined rookie Cedrick Wilson who was on IR since training camp. Long story short – there could be more than a few cap casualties.

If the Cowboys do move on from Williams it would provide about $2.25 million in cap relief, even if he counts for $2.5 million in dead money. If they decide to move on from Hurns, it would only cost about $1 million in dead money, but provide about $5 million in cap space. As the Cowboys look to resign DeMarcus Lawrence, and either sign or extend other players, Williams and Hurns could both be casualties.

That brings us to the most debated wide receiver this offseason, Cole Beasley. Beasley is a great slot receiver. However, Beasley will be looking for a new contract that may be out of the reach of the Cowboys. With a potential $22 million/3 year contract on the horizon, Beasley could find himself on a different roster if the Cowboys decide to use as much as they can to take care of other business.

If all three of these things happen, that leaves the Cowboys with Cooper and Gallup as the starters. However, after them there isn’t much even if they keep Austin. A collection of Cedrick Wilson, Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir, and Reggie Davis, isn’t exactly a murders’ row of talent. Some fans love Wilson, some Brown, and some still love Lenoir, however none of them have shown they can do what Beasley can do, or that they are ready to be a top two receiver should injuries arise.

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Now it is possible the Cowboys keep all three players or a combination of them. However, the more likely option will be some more change-over at wide receiver, even if it isn’t to the top two on the roster. Depth could look completely different by the start of next season. The Cowboys usually grab a receiver at some point during the draft or in free agency right after the draft. So the bottom of the roster could get churned.

Essentially, this is a game of money and where the Cowboys want to spend it. They need help in the kick and punt return games, and a young receiver could help in both. Some mocks have had the Cowboys grabbing a middle round receiver and others have one toward the end of the draft. Most do have wide receiver as a need. Not because they need the famous X receiver, they have that with Cooper. But because of the uncertainty behind the top two guys.

The moves they decide to make in free agency and who they allow to walk, could signal how they might move in the draft. I think most people agree that Amari Cooper is worth the first round pick. I also think many feel that wide receiver will not be the second round pick either. However, between the third and fifth rounds receiver could very well be the pick, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

• Published on 02/12/2019 at 19:01 PM
• Last updated at 02/12/2019 at 17:09 PM