Peter King: Dallas Cowboys would be smart to cut Dez Bryant

One longtime NFL writer believes the Dallas Cowboys would be better off simply cutting wide receiver Dez Bryant this offseason.

The topic of Dez Bryant is a hot one this offseason. The Dallas Cowboys top wide receiver took to the radio waves last week to air his frustrations out and defended himself against his critics. In the interview on 105.3 The Fan, the passionate Bryant admitted to underperforming in recent seasons pointing to injury and mental mistakes as the reasons why.

Although the Cowboys have made it clear they want Bryant to be on their roster in 2018, they certainly have an issue with the fact they are currently paying the 29-year old receiver as one of the best players at his position. Unfortunately, they are not seeing the return on their investment that they’d like.

At some point this offseason, it’s believed Bryant will meet with the Cowboys brass to discuss a possible salary reduction. Despite Dez’s poor play as of late, he does possesses a rare skill set that Dallas no doubt hopes will allow him to elevate his game once again.

But one longtime NFL writer thinks the smart play would be for the Cowboys to simply cut Bryant this offseason and better invest those monies elsewhere.

"“I think I won’t understand it if the Cowboys keep Dez Bryant and pass up saving $8.5 million in cap space on a declining 30-year-old receiver,” wrote Peter King on MMQB.com. “It’s smarter, for many reasons, to cut him.”"

With a salary cap number of $16.5 million, Bryant is scheduled to be the Cowboys’ second highest paid player in 2018. That amount would also make him the second highest paid wide receiver in the entire NFL this year.

Last season, Bryant recorded 69 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns. His 2017 catch total was tied for 24th most in the league despite having the 12th most targets.

What would the Cowboys’ offense look like if Bryant wasn’t on the roster anymore? Obviously, his 132 targets from last season have to go somewhere. Chances are those looks would be more evenly distributed across the offense, with tight end Jason Witten and wide receivers Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley being the biggest recipients. Younger players like Ryan Switzer and Noah Brown would undoubtedly benefit as well.

A Bryant-less offense would likely also led to more passing targets for running back Ezekiel Elliott, something fans have been clamoring for. Coming out of Ohio State, Elliott was touted as one of the best receivers in his draft class by the Cowboys’ scouts. And it’s an aspect of his game we haven’t seen utilized enough.

Next: Dez Bryant has some harsh words for his critics

The Dallas Cowboys have invested heavily in their offensive line and running back position to make this team a run-first offense. Passing is supposed to be secondary. The days of forcing passes to Dez Bryant in an attempt to appease the passionate receiver are likely over. Or at least should be. Many question whether the Cowboys can find a suitable replacement for Bryant if they decide to part ways with him this offseason. Maybe the question should be: Do they really have to?