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Dallas Cowboys: The curious case of Cole Beasley in 2017

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 20: Cole Beasley #11 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after catching a pass for a first down during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 20: Cole Beasley #11 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after catching a pass for a first down during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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After a steep decline of production, the play of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley is one of the bigger mysteries of 2017.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley has been doubted his entire professional career. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, the diminutive slot receiver has had to prove himself every single year. And 2017 was no different.

That’s despite posting the best season of his career the year before. With a rookie passer under center in Dak Prescott, Beasley led the Cowboys in receptions recording 75 catches for 833 yards and five touchdowns in 2016. He was targeted 98 times. That was two more times than fellow wide receiver Dez Bryant and three more than future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten.

Viewed by many as the top slot receiver in the NFL, Beasley’s future looked bright in 2017. Possibly even Pro Bowl-worthy. Instead, the 28-year old’s role in the Cowboys offense all but disappeared. And that’s despite the fact Dallas was in desperate need of playmakers, especially since running back Ezekiel Elliott was forced to serve a six-game suspension midway through the season.

With 15 games played so far this year, Beasley has recorded just 36 receptions for 314 yards and four scores. He’s only been targeted 63 times this season. That’s 35 times less than last year. In fact, Beasley’s sudden drop in production has one Cowboys’ insider scratching his head.

"“Cole Beasley is one of the great mysteries of the season,” responded football analyst Bryan Broaddus to a mailbag question on the team’s official website. “I will say that opponents have made it a point to take him away at times but that’s not always the case. He and Prescott just haven’t been able to connect as they did last year and that’s affected other areas of the offense.”"

Purely looking at the numbers, one of the reasons why Beasley’s production has dropped is the fact a majority of his targets were shifted to Bryant, in order to try and get Dez going. With one game to go, Bryant has been targeted a whopping 124 times this season. That’s an increase of 28 targets from last season.

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But also consider that Dak Prescott has struggled behind an ailing offensive line for much of this season. The second-year quarterback needed a receiver who could quickly get open underneath. That was Cole Beasley’s specialty last season. Shifty and quick, getting open using his speed and excellent route running was his biggest weapon. For some reason, that simply wasn’t the case in 2017.

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