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Dallas Cowboys: Is Allen Robinson a Dez Bryant replacement?

By Steven Mullenax

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 25: Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Field on September 25, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 25: Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Field on September 25, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Could the Dallas Cowboys find themselves a replacement for wide receiver Dez Bryant in pending free agent Allen Robinson?

When it come to Dez Bryant‘s future with the Dallas Cowboys, we’ve seen the organization move on from players unwilling to take a pay cut in the past. Just ask DeMarcus Ware. But the fear is what if the Cowboys can’t find a suitable number one wide receiver to replace Bryant in Dallas.

Maybe they can.

If Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson is allowed to hit free agency, the Cowboys might be able to find themselves and younger, cheaper alternate to Bryant. The 24-year old receiver is coming off a torn ACL in 2017. Yet, Robinson is still considered by many to be the top wide receiver available in free agency.

Prior to his season-ending injury, the 6-foot-3, 211 pound Robinson was considered one of the top up-and-coming receivers in the NFL. The former second round pick out of Penn State posted 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. His 17.5 yards per catch was the second highest in the NFL among receivers targeted 100 or more times.

And according to one football analytic website, the Cowboys and Robinson could be a perfect match this offseason.

"” … [Allen] Robinson’s future could run through Dallas, as Cowboys’ Dez Bryant has been rumored to be a cap casualty this offseason with the $16.5M he’s due in 2018 and the talent behind him is nothing to call home about,” wrote Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus. “Robinson could step into Bryant’s shoes as Prescott’s top target and, if he can tap back into his 2015 prowess, perhaps outperform Bryant on a cheaper deal.”"

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the Jaguars are willing to let Robinson go, vowing to use their franchise tag on the talented receiver if need be. And even if he was allowed to hit the open market, there are still many questions to answers.

Not only is Robinson coming off a major injury, but his catch percentage of 48.3% in 2016 is far worse than Bryant’s 52.3% from last season. So there would be lingering questions about trading one problem for another in this scenario.

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One thing is for sure though. The Dallas Cowboys need to get better play from their wide receiver corps. And their young quarterback must improve his accuracy, the ability to throw his receivers open and making proper reads downfield. I’m not sure adding Allen Robinson to this group changes any of that.

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