Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant reunion actually make sense

Dez Bryant rejoining the Dallas Cowboys might seem like a pipe-dream but with Jerry Jones mentioning the possibility, it would actually make sense.

The split between Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys was less than harmonious. However, it’s become clear in the years since that the former first-round pick was very clearly unhappy with then-head coach Jason Garrett, who was fired after the 2019 season. And now that Mike McCarthy is heading the team and Bryant a free agent, perhaps a reunion is in store.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked about the possibility of Bryant coming back to America’s Team during the week of the NFL Combine. While there are more pressing issues at wide receiver, namely re-signing Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb, Jones wouldn’t close the door on the possibility.

In fact, Jones said he’s thought a lot about it… in the shower, per Jon Machota of The Athletic:

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Odd phrasing aside, it’s something that should be considered. Bryant spent the 2019 season rehabbing a torn Achilles, which he suffered after signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints in 2018. Now the 31-year-old is ready for a return and his former team would be a natural fit.

With Dak Prescott at the helm, Dallas saw big years from Cooper and second-year receiver Michael Gallup while Cobb joined the fray and performed well also. However, the depth at the position is lacking, which was apparent whenever injuries arose. Bryant would give the Cowboys some high-quality, veteran depth in that group.

Furthermore, Bryant’s skill-set would fit well into a void in the Cowboys receiving corps. Though he’s not the same physical matchup he once was, his size and strength make him a fantastic asset in contested-catch and red-zone situations, which is a matchup advantage they don’t wholly have even if they retain Cooper for 2020 and beyond.

When the Cowboys released Bryant, it was a move that split the fanbase as it was clear Bryant was being misused by Garrett and not being put in positions to succeed but he was also not producing at the level that his paycheck would say he should’ve been.

But with Bryant now coming off of two years of not playing and coming off an injury, he’s in need of proving himself. That will drive down his cost quite a bit, meaning he could fit in the Cowboys’ increasingly tight budget while also offering them great value on the field. And for good measure, he also has some familiarity with Prescott.

Not ruling out the possibility of bringing back Dez Bryant and actually doing it are two different things. However, in a crucial offseason where the Cowboys must navigate the salary cap deftly while improving the team, the veteran wide receiver coming back to Dallas could fit right into their plans.