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3 Reasons the Dallas Cowboys should draft WR DeVonta Smith

By Adithya Prabakaran

Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) scores a touchdown against Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Shaun Crawford (20) during the first half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) scores a touchdown against Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Shaun Crawford (20) during the first half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Cowboys Draft: Personnel Groupings

The Dallas Cowboys have run 70 percent of their offensive plays from 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE). The three starting wide receivers are Pro Bowler Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb. On average, Michael Gallup seems to play more snaps than both receivers averaging roughly 85 percent of all offensive snaps. Amari Cooper comes in second around 82 percent and CeeDee Lamb averages around 65 percent.

Over the last two games, the snap percentages have gone down for Gallup and Lamb while hovering around the same for Cooper. Those extra snaps have been going to tight end Blake Bell and wide receiver Noah Brown. By no means have these players been game-changers, but their increased snap count does create challenges for opposing defenses. (Largely based on how they line up)

These two also happen to be in the final year of their respective contracts. Bell only signed a 1 year, $1.7 million deal at the beginning of the offseason while Brown is on the fourth year of his rookie deal. Both players likely won’t cost much to bring back but their salaries could see a spike because both are having near career seasons. (For both players, this also isn’t saying much as they each have receptions totaling 150 yards.)

However, if the team were to sign Brown, they have five wide receivers deep of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Noah Brown, and Cedric Wilson. Now imagine Devonta Smith infused into this group as a Z receiver or as an R option in the slot? The Cowboys could continue running more 11 personnel, even trying more 10 personnel, and could have all different wide receiver combinations on the field designed to attack different parts of the field.

Want to go deep? Use Cooper, Gallup, and Smith. Want to pick up a first down on 3rd and 3? Use Cooper, Lamb. and Smith. Need 10 yards? Roll with Gallup, Brown, and Smith. The point isn’t in the combinations themselves, but in the number of combinations I’m simply throwing out right now.

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