Could the Dallas Cowboys trade Dez Bryant during the draft?

With the future of wide receiver Dez Bryant still up in the air, could the Dallas Cowboys be planning to use the veteran as a trade piece during the draft?

It’s been over three months since the offseason officially started for the Dallas Cowboys. And in that time, the situation surrounding the future of veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant remains unresolved.

The 29-year old Bryant has severely underperformed since signing a five-year, $70 million contract back in 2015. Dez has recorded an average of 50 receptions and 678 yards the past three seasons, slowed by injuries and inconsistent play.

Bryant has also racked up a total of 17 touchdowns in the past three seasons combined as well. In 2014 alone, Dez posted a career-high 16 receiving touchdowns. It really highlights just how far the three-time Pro Bowler has fallen.

Despite his overall lack of production, hope springs eternal for some, as their seems to be a belief the aging veteran, who will turn 30-years old this season, can regain his status as one of the league’s top receivers.

But after three seasons of disappointment, do the Cowboys still believe that? Although they have had ample time to do so, Dallas’ front office has yet to meet with Bryant about his future and a possible pay cut. Instead, they chased highly-sought after wide receiver Sammy Watkins in free agency last month. When that fell through, they inked veteran wide outs Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson to team-friendly deals.

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Despite this overflow of talent on their receiver corps, which as of now includes Bryant, that hasn’t stopped the Cowboys from bringing in some of the draft’s top prospects at the position on their limited 30 visits. Even projected first rounders like Alabama’s Calvin Ridley and Maryland’s D.J. Moore.

If the Cowboys opted to use their first round pick, 19th overall, on a receiver; that would seemingly all but seal Bryant’s fate in Dallas.

It appears to many that the Cowboys will wait to see how the draft falls before meeting with Bryant. But even if a deal is struck with Dez prior to the big event taking place in Arlington later this month, it doesn’t mean the eight-year receiver will wear The Star come the regular season.

In fact, a restructured deal could be the prelude to a draft day trade involving Bryant. Clearly, the Cowboys have not received a return on their investment for Dez. But based on the current free agent market for receivers, even his $12.5 million base salary could still be appealing for a team in desperate need for a former number one wide out. Obviously, any reduction in salary could make Bryant a more appealing trade commodity.

The Cowboys have 10 picks going into the this month’s draft. They are not expected to make 10 selections though. Dallas will likely be making several deals to move up and back in the 2018 NFL Draft. Having Bryant as a possible tradeable piece could be part of their draft plans as well.

For instance, teams like the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets, the Chicago Bears, the San Francisco 49ers, the Miami Dolphins, the Green Bay Packers, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks all have needs at wide receiver. They are also ahead of the Cowboys in the first round. Is it possible Dallas would be able to package Bryant and their top pick to move up in the draft to select themselves a defensive difference maker?

Many draft experts seem to believe players like Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Florida State safety Derwin James and Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are all out of the reach of the Cowboys at #19. Throwing a player like Bryant into a possible trade scenario could allow Dallas to land one of these prime prospects.

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If Dez Bryant could possibly be used as trade bait in the upcoming draft, it could be one of the reasons why the Dallas Cowboys are willing to string his uncertain situation along just a bit longer.

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