Finding where he fits: Allen Hurns
Last year, the Cowboys tried to sell Allen Hurns as a No. 1 receiver. No disrespect to Hurns, but that wasn’t a good sell. Hurns has always been a good wideout, capable of making some big plays. However, he’s never been the guy as he excelled opposite Allen Robinson in Jacksonville before coming to Dallas.
With the Cowboys, he could be a solid player that provides veteran experience — however, there’s also no guarantee he makes the roster. 2018 was a tough season for Hurns as he put up the worst numbers of his career. In 16 games, with seven starts, No. 17 had just 20 receptions for 295 yards and two touchdowns.
His season ended with an ugly ankle injury which he suffered following a third-down reception early in their playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Now, he finds himself fourth on the depth chart which could be a bad thing considering his $6 million price tag.
Special teams will be key: Tavon Austin
Another player brought in last season that didn’t live up to the hype was Tavon Austin. The former No. 8 overall pick was looking for a new life in Big D but ended up finding the same struggles with the inconsistency that plagued his time with the Rams. He had only eight catches all season, but did average 17.5 per reception and had two scores.
Still, the key for Austin will be his ability to return the ball. He showed flashes in the playoffs as he had a 51-yard run back against Seattle as well as a touchdown prior to that which was called back for a penalty. He needs to prove that he can handle that job this season in order to stick around another year with America’s Team.