Dallas Cowboys need to upgrade the wide receiver position
With the lack of production this season, the wide receiver position should be a top priority for the Dallas Cowboys to upgrade this offseason.
Coming into this season, wide receiver seemed like a position of strength for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2016, Cole Beasley led the team with over 800 yards, and scored five touchdowns. Despite a down year, Dez Bryant was able to find the end zone eight times, and Terrance Williams came up just six yards shy of 600 on the year.
It’s hard to believe on the morning of the final game of the 2017 regular season, you could make the argument that wide receiver is the biggest position of need for Dallas this offseason.
It has been a horrendous year for Cowboys receivers, and it shows in the stats. Coming into to the final game of the season Sunday, Bryant leads the team with 66 catches for 814 yards, and has only been able to get into the end zone six times.
Williams has 51 catches and 563 yards, but after getting a new contract last offseason, has not scored one touchdown all year.
Beasley had the biggest drop off out of the Cowboys receivers, posting just 36 catches for only 314 yards, and four touchdowns.
In 16 regular season games, Dallas has only had one 100-yard game by a receiver, which came by Williams in Week 9 against Kansas City.
It is safe to say Americas Team needs to address the wide receiver position this offseason, and they will have some intriguing options to explore.
Although in recent years they have not been know to make a big splash in free agency, there are some receivers that would be very nice additions to the team that are set to hit the market in March.
Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins will probably be the best receiver that could hit the open market. In 15 games so far this season, Landry has posted a stat line of 103 catches, for 895 yards, and eight touchdowns.
Landry would add a dynamic component to the Cowboys offense, but the money he will command may be above the teams price range.
Another dynamic free agent to be wide receiver is the Los Angeles Rams Sammy Watkins. In 15 games, Watkins has only 39 catches for 593 yards, but he has found the end zone eight times, which shows his big play ability.
Watkins is known for his speed, which is something Dallas lacks greatly on offense. If the team is able to meet the money Watkins will demand, he could really add a spark on the offensive side of the ball.
The draft will also has some intriguing names that the Cowboys could add to strengthen their wide receiver corps. Calvin Ridley out of Alabama, a projected first round pick, would be a great option for the team.
On the season, Ridley has totaled 55 catches for 896 yards and three touchdowns. The quick wide receiver could again help with the lack of speed on the offense, and be a future replacement for Dez Bryant, when his time with Dallas is up.
Another draft option could be Arden Tate from Florida State. The 6-foot-5 receiver totaled 40 catches for 548 yards and ten touchdowns.
Although Tate is not a big speed guy, he has big play capability, and is a nightmare in the red zone with his jump ball ability. With the age of Jason Witten (35), and Bryant’s decline, Dallas could use a big threat once they get the ball into the red zone.
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Whether it is through forking up some money and signing a player in free agency, or selecting someone in the draft, one of the Dallas Cowboys biggest priorities this offseason should be to upgrade at wide receiver. If they don’t, and fail to give quarterback Dak Prescott weapons on the outside, there offense may struggle even more than it did this year in 2018.