Have the Dallas Cowboys already replaced Dez Bryant?

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SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Wide receiver Michael Gallup #4 of the Colorado State Rams runs the ball 18 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter against the San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on November 26, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) /

Now, with an idea of what the team envisions schematically for the passing game in 2018, let’s take a quick look at their personnel.

Cowboys fans are all too familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of longtime receivers Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. So we will quickly key in on new wide receiver additions Allen Hurns, Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson and Tavon Austin.

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Hurns played previously with another quarterback maligned for accuracy issues in Jacksonville. In four seasons he accumulated 189 catches for 2,669 yards and 21 touchdowns. His best season came in 2015 where he had 64 receptions for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns.

With a rookie season in 2014 consisting of a solid 51 catches for 677 yards and six touchdowns, Hurns put together two strong opening seasons to his NFL career. Unfortunately, injuries and playing out of his desired position led to a decline in production the next two years.

I do still feel as though by watching him play and seeing what he’s capable of statistically if healthy, he is capable of beating one on one coverage on a consistent basis. As a competent route runner with good size and hands, Cowboy fans should feel secure with him on the field.

Third-round pick Michael Gallup offers another solid player without any major holes in his game.

Football analytics website Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Gallup as their number one wide receiver entering the draft and had this to say about him,

"“It’s no surprise that Gallup, our No. 1 wide receiver, won across the route tree in 2017,” wrote Cam Mellor of Pro Football Focus. “He finished the past two seasons in the top 10 in yards per route run among the draft class, including the eighth-highest total this past season … Most notable was his ability to separate off of a hitch route, where he hauled in 19 receptions on an average depth of 8.3 yards while averaging 4.4 yards after the catch.”"

Gallup is a nuanced route-runner with aggression at the point of the football and an angry after the run style reminiscent of Dez Bryant himself. He is one of the safer bets in the 2018 wide receiver class to contribute immediately.

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