Dallas Cowboys: Would cutting Dez Bryant actually improve the team?

The notion of releasing one of your top players in order to improve the team seems illogical. But that’s exactly what NFL.com believes the Dallas Cowboys should do.

At this point, whether the Dallas Cowboys should keep wide receiver Dez Bryant on their roster in 2018 has been debated ad nauseam. Obviously, Bryant has underperformed his massive contract, turning in underwhelming numbers since signing the five-year, $70 million deal nearly three years ago.

But on the other end of the heated argument is the fact high-end receivers are hard to find. And at 29-years old, many still believe Bryant has plenty left in the tank and a chance to get his old game back. But do the Cowboys feel the same?

Naturally, owner and general manager Jerry Jones wants Dez throwing up the “X” in Dallas in 2018. But his son, and the Cowboys’ director of player personnel, Stephen Jones, is singing a bit of a different tune. The junior Jones recently described Bryant’s passionate sideline antics as potentially distracting and has acknowledged Dez’s lack of production in recent seasons.

Bryant’s shortcomings are not lost on the Cowboys’ front office. And it’s clear that the two sides are nearing a crossroads, as Dallas is expected to ask the veteran wide receiver to take a pay cut to remain in Big D. Although Bryant has already publicly refused to consider taking a reduction in salary, he could easily change his mind. Especially if he thinks no one else will pay him as much either.

But if Bryant refuses to budge, one NFL insider over at the league’s official website believes cutting Dez would actually improve this Cowboy team.

"“Releasing Bryant wouldn’t single-handedly improve the Cowboys and put them back on the path to the Super Bowl,” wrote Gregg Rosenthal on NFL.com. ” … Retaining Bryant at a $16.5 million cap number after three straight seasons under 1,000 yards is the type of old-school decision you’d only see from a franchise that is old-school enough to have ownership making personnel decisions. At some point, the process has to change, or the results never will.”"

Bryant was targeted 132 times in 2017. He was only able to come down with the ball 52.3% of the time, posting 69 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns last year. That 63 passes that were either uncatchable or dropped.

Removing Bryant from the Cowboys offense would free up those targets to go elsewhere. But would Dallas’ other receivers have been more productive if given those same opportunities? Probably.

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One of the biggest concerns about Dez Bryant remaining in Dallas is his lack of chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott. The two often appear out of sync despite having had two full seasons to figure things out. If the Dallas Cowboys feel their relationship can not improve, moving on from Bryant might be the best move for everyone involved.