Dallas Cowboys receiver corps is still a giant mystery
The Dallas Cowboys biggest mystery is still their wide receiver corps as the team heads into training camp later this month.
Following Dez Bryant‘s third-straight underwhelming season, the Dallas Cowboys knew they needed to do something about their overpriced wide receiver. So in April, they opted to part ways with the eight-year veteran.
Prior to Bryant’s exodus, the Cowboys had already signed free agent receivers Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson. During the draft, Dallas added rookie wideouts Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson Jr., plus traded for veteran speedster Tavon Austin.
These new receivers are now mixed in with existing veterans like Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. Both of which are in a transitional period of their careers.
Williams is still recovering from a broken right foot but is expected to be ready by training camp. Terrance also suffered an embarrassing arrest for public intoxication and leaving the scene of an accident back in May. The 28-year old is coming off posting a career-high 53 receptions in Dallas. He also failed to get into the end zone even once in 2017.
Beasley led the Cowboys in receptions in 2016 with 75 catches. He followed that stellar performance up by posting a near career-low 36 receptions last year. Going into his seventh season in Dallas, and in a contract year, the diminutive slot receiver is entering a pivotal season in Big D.
To add more confusion to the chaos that is the Cowboys’ current wide receiver corps are players like Noah Brown, Lance Lenoir, and K.D. Cannon. These are young wideouts who have flashed potential but are considered fringe players. Will one of them shine bright enough this summer to land an impactful role within this positional unit in 2018?
With so many questions and so much change this offseason, is it any wonder that pundits around the league are doubting the production of this mysterious receiver corps on a team that has committed so much to their running game.
"“With former All-Pro Dez Bryant and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten out of the picture, Prescott’s established receiving threats are Jaguars castoff Allen Hurns, perennial tease Terrance Williams, 2017 disappearing act Cole Beasley, Rams draft bust Tavon Austin and third-round rookie Michael Gallup,” wrote Chris Wesseling for NFL.com. ” … the Cowboys are now counting on a collection of third and fourth receivers to engage in potential shootouts with the superior firepower of the Eagles, Giants and Redskins.”"
The fact the Cowboys are a run-first team and have running back Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield behind a heavily invested offensive line proves Dallas doesn’t plan on getting into many “potential shootouts”. Instead, they will play the time of possession game, limiting their defense’s exposure and the opportunities for opposing offenses.
Still, there are always times in a season when the Cowboys will be forced to pass the ball. And without big names like Bryant or Witten on the field, no one really knows how this group of current wideouts will perform.
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The Dallas Cowboys vowed to make some significant changes to their receiver corps in 2018. They have done just that. Whether they were the right changes is yet to be determined. For now, all we can do is wait for training camp and hope this group performs better than they look on paper.