It has been months since the offseason started but the Dallas Cowboys are still looking for upgrades in their wide receiver room. They haven't made any additions to their WR rotation despite losing Michael Gallup, and most recently Martavis Bryant before he could even suit up for the Cowboys.
With the number of available free agents dwindling fast, the Cowboys need to act quickly if they want to sign one of the few decent options left on the market. Let's take a look at who the best free agent wide receivers are.
Hunter Renfrow
After five productive seasons with the Raiders, Hunter Renfrow was cut this offseason. The 28-year-old playmaker is certainly not the player he was back in 2021 when he made his first and only Pro Bowl. That season, he recorded 103 catches, 1,038 yards, and nine touchdowns for Las Vegas. The two seasons since then left plenty to be desired and the Raiders decided to cut bait.
Renfrow is a specific type of receiver. He lines up in the slot and is very good at getting open and making difficult catches inside. However, the Cowboys used CeeDee Lamb in the slot last season and he did an excellent job. Signing Renfrow would mean that Lamb would move back outside but that shouldn't be a problem as he proved himself to be incredibly effective regardless of where he lines up.
Lamb will be the WR1 for this team regardless of who the Cowboys sign in free agency. Dallas is hoping for Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks to take a significant step forward next season but that is no guarantee. Moving Lamb to the outside and having Renfrow on the inside makes plenty of sense.
At this stage of his career, Renfrow is not going to change the fate of your franchise but he is a solid depth option. Out of all the remaining options in free agency, you can do much worse.
Mecole Hardman
One of the most accomplished receivers on the market is the Chiefs playmaker Mecole Hardman. The former Georgia product has been an integral part of the Chiefs offense on their way to three Super Bowl victories.
When he first came into the league, Hardman was an excellent deep threat, averaging a whopping 20.7 yards per reception in his rookie season. He earned Pro Bowl honors in his first year with 538 receiving yards and six touchdowns while being the primary returner for the team. He was one of the most dangerous return men in the league.
However, Hardman failed to fulfill the promise he showed early in his career. He has still been an important piece for Kansas City, even catching the Super Bowl-winning pass in the most recent Super Bowl win over the 49ers. Yet, he never went over 700 yards or six touchdowns in a season.
His stint with the New York Jets last season was a complete disaster. So much so that, he was traded back to the Chiefs mid-season. Now his contract has expired and the Chiefs have been looking elsewhere to find a replacement for him. At age 26, he still has plenty of promise, and the Cowboys could provide him the fresh start he needs.
Zay Jones
This one is already in the works. The former Jaguar visited with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week. However, Dallas is facing competition in signing the former ECU star as he also met with the Chiefs, Titans, and the Cardinals.
One could easily argue that Jones is the best wide receiver left on the market. He maybe didn't meet the lofty aspirations he created for himself after breaking the all-time record for most catches in a single season in his final year in college, but Jones is still a talented pass-catcher. In his two seasons in Jacksonville, the 29-year-old appeared in 25 games, registered 116 catches for 1,144 yards, and seven touchdowns.
Unlike a few of the other options on the market, Jones has the ability to play both in the slot and on the outside. His versatility could provide valuable depth behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks.
Considering that the Cowboys are competing against the Chiefs for his services, it may be difficult to lure Jones to Dallas. However, if Jerry Jones & Co. pull this off, they will be one step closer to salvaging this disastrous offseason for the Cowboys.