PFF says Dallas Cowboys have NFL’s top wide receiver unit
Going into 2020, PFF ranks the Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver unit tops in the NFL
Just two years ago, it could be argued that the Dallas Cowboys possessed one of the weakest wide receiver corps in the NFL. Fast forward to 2020, and suddenly this unit is being touted as the best in the entire league.
That journey from worst to first has mainly involved three high-draft selections spent on the receiver position. The first being a third-round pick used to draft Colorado State wideout Michael Gallup in 2018.
The 81st overall selection joined a roster that had just parted ways with their top wide receiver and the team’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns, Dez Bryant. Instead of outright replacing Bryant, the Cowboys elected to try a receiver-by-committee approach that year.
Along with Gallup, the Cowboys’ wide receiver unit included Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, and Noah Brown. Unfortunately, this group underachieved as the team started the season losing five of their first eight games.
The trade that saved the Dallas Cowboys’ season in 2018
In an effort to try and salvage their season, Dallas traded away a future first-round selection during their Week Eight bye to acquire Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Oakland Raiders. That move paid off instantly as Cooper’s arrival is credited for the Cowboys’ swift turnaround that year, ending the season as the NFC East champions with a 10-6 record.
With Cooper and Gallup leading the charge in 2019, the Cowboys’ passing offense finished second in the NFL last season. And the unit only got better following this year’s draft.
With the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dallas found Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb still on the board. Arguably the top prospect at his position, the Cowboys couldn’t help but make a strength even stronger with the addition of Lamb.
Now, the football analytics website Pro Football Focus has ranked the Cowboys with having the NFL’s best wide receiver unit entering the 2020 NFL season. Here’s what PFF’s Steve Palazzolo wrote after ranking Dallas tops in the league.
"“Dallas had one of the most efficient passing offenses in the league in 2019, and it started with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup becoming one of the NFL’s best receiving duos … Now throw first-round pick CeeDee Lamb into the mix … Dallas now has three legitimate receivers for defenses to contend with, and each of them can line up anywhere on the field.”"
The excitement surrounding the trio of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb is palpable. This is a receiving unit that could legitimately each post over 1,000 receiving yards this upcoming season. After all, with 29-year old Randall Cobb in the slot last year, the Cowboys were only 172 yards away from reaching that unique milestone in 2019.
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In the end, whether Pro Football Focus is right or not about the Dallas Cowboys possessing the NFL’s top wide receiving unit will be determined on the field. And all the statical accolades matter little if the Cowboys can’t figure out a way to post a season-ending record better than 8-8 in 2020.