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Should the Dallas Cowboys claim Michael Floyd?

By Steven Mullenax

January 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) catches a pass for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers strong safety Morgan Burnett (42) during the first half in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) catches a pass for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers strong safety Morgan Burnett (42) during the first half in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Following his arrest for a DUI, should the playoff bound Dallas Cowboys consider claiming recently waived Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd?

In recent years, the Dallas Cowboys have been known to take chances on troubled players. The most recent and likely most infamous of these incidents took place last year when Dallas signed defensive end Greg Hardy, who is currently out of the league.

Lead by a talented rookie class, this year’s version of America’s Team has rebounded from last season’s poor 4-12 performance to an impressive 11-2 record through Week 14. But coming off a second straight loss to their divisional rivals, the surging New York Giants, in a game where their wide receiver corps struggled mightily, could Dallas be willing to take another chance on a troubled player?

On Monday, Arizona Cardinals’ fifth-year wide receiver Michael Floyd was arrested on drunken driving charges after he was found unconscious behind the wheel of his running vehicle in the middle of an intersection. According to NFL.com, Floyd was charged with two counts of DUI, one count of obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a police officer.

This isn’t Floyd’s first time to be in trouble due to alcohol usage. Back in 2011, while attending Notre Dame, he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). According to ESPN.com, that was Floyd’s third run-in with the law over alcohol in three years. Yet, those incidents didn’t affect his draft status as Floyd was the 13th overall selection in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft taken by the Cardinals.

At the time, Floyd was seen as one of the more dependable wide receivers in college football having recorded 100 receptions for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior season (13 games) playing for the Irish. Seen as both a deep threat and possession receiver, the 6-2, 220 pound wide out was the second player at his position taken in his draft class.

But Floyd never quite lived up to his draft status in Arizona, as consistency always seemed to be an issue. Nearing the end of his fifth-year as a Cardinal, this season has been no different. Out of his 70 targets, Floyd has managed only to make 33 receptions for 446 yards and four scores.  But that’s very comparable to Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant this season, who has only recorded 38 catches for 644 yards and six touchdowns on 80 targets himself.

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In fact, Floyd is exactly what the Cowboys were hoping find when they traded for former Oakland Raiders’ wide receiver Brice Butler last season. A wide out with the speed to stretch the field vertically and the size to be a quality end zone target. Struggling with inconsistent play himself, Butler is not a lock to make the roster next season.

In fact, looking at the Cowboys wide receiver corps, there certainly could be a place for Floyd in it. Wide out Terrance Williams is a free agent next season. And receiver/return specialist Lucky Whitehead appears to be on the edge of unemployment himself after he was a healthy scratch over the weekend for violating team rules. Apparently, Whitehead missed a team meeting and failed to communicate his absence with team officials. According to Ian Rappaport of NFL.com, this has been a recurring issue for Lucky.

So, if Dallas has a need for a wide receiver, and if Floyd’s lack of production doesn’t scare them, the only hiccup to a possible signing could be his recent DUI arrest. But let’ s not forget that rookie quarterback Dak Prescott was also arrested on DUI charges back in March. The Cowboys drafted him anyway. Two months after the NFL Draft, Prescott was found not guilty of the DUI after his two breathalyzer tests came back inconclusive.

Another possible obstacle to a landing in Dallas is the fact Floyd will be a free agent in 2017. But any team who signs the 27-year free agent wide out would also have options for retaining him next season, as they’ll inherit his current contract.

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Bottom line: Dallas does have a history of taking chances with troubled players. They also have a history of signing former highly ranked draft busts who are still young enough to turn around their NFL careers and a need for playmakers at the position. Floyd seems to check all of those boxes.

Yet, the Cowboys front office seems to be much more conservative now than in the recent past. And adding another potentially troubled player to their roster may not be the wisest move as they look to maintain a high level of play and team chemistry going into the postseason.

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