WHO'S THE ODD MAN OUT?

Dez Bryant #88 (29/6'2"/222)

The Cowboys have pretty much said that Dez is not being replaced by Hurns, so that indicates that Dez is safe. He is still a legit #1 receiver, and he wasn't as productive last year in parts because he was never 100% healthy and him and Dak weren't on the same page. He has a huge cap number at $16.5 million, and he's still talented enough to avoid eating the dead money by cutting him. Bryant is a better route-runner than given credit for, he's one of the best receivers in the NFL when it comes to playing with the ball in the air, and he's terrifying with the ball in his hands in the open field, running with violence, aggression, ankle-breaking agility, and tackle-breaking power. Hurns will give the Cowboys' a legit #2, and Dez could have a big bounce-back year if he's 100% healthy.

Allen Hurns #? (26/6'1"/202)

Hurns signed a two-year, $12 million contract, so he's pretty safe to make the roster. Hurns isn't the biggest or fastest receiver, but he's ultra competitive and is almost as dangerous after the catch as Dez. Hurns is pretty quick and is an above-average route-runner who can separate with quickness in and out of his breaks. He's not as big or quite as fast as Terrance Williams, but he's much more reliable and consistent. He catches the ball naturally, is comfortable playing in the slot, and gives 100% effort on every play, whether it be after the catch or as a blocker. Hurns will be the best #2 receiver the Cowboys have has since 2010-2012 when the Cowboys had Dez and Miles Austin. Hurns is safe.

Terrance Williams #83 (28/6'2"/210)

Williams has been a serviceable #2 receiver for Dallas, and he's a good route-runner and excellent blocker. But he's not as fast as he once was, which has taken away the vertical talent that made him so useful in 2013-2015. He's good after the catch in terms of tucking the ball and accelerating towards maximum yardage, but he's not going to make guys miss or break tackles. He is an excellent blocker and team-first player, but Hurns was brought in because Williams drops passes, is a body-catcher, and isn't reliable. Williams is probably best as a #3 receiver, but the Cowboys should look to shed his salary, but his $7.25 million dead cap number makes him not worth cutting. The Cowboys will likely look to trade Williams around or during the draft, but may need to throw in their 4th round compensatory pick (#136 overall) in hopes of getting him for mid-4th from a team like the Redskins, Lions, etc.

Cole Beasley #11 (29/5'8"/177)

Beasley had a down year after an excellent 2016, and he will likely be the most-easily tradable receiver on the roster. He's approaching 30 with lingering hamstring issues, his replacement is already on the roster in Ryan Switzer, and he only has one year left on his deal. He seems to have lost his elite quickness and teams were able to focus on stopping him with Jason Witten not being the other dynamic threat in the middle of the field anymore. I feel like Beasley would be an excellent addition to the Patriots who lost Danny Amendola to the Dolphins, for a 4th or 5th rounder. He'll go to New England and look better than ever, but that's what happens when players go to New England.

Ryan Switzer #10 (23/5'9"/184)

Switzer didn't get many opportunities in the passing game before week 17 when Beasley was hurt, but flashed a lot of promise that game against the Eagles. Switzer isn't the athlete Beasley was in his prime, but he's going to replace, and potentially be a better player than Beasley. Switzer is a crafty route-runner who can separate with ease from the slot, and he's able to line up outside more than Beasley can. He's shifty and elusive after the catch, quickly changing directions and he's excellent in the open field with outstanding vision and feel for the cutback lane. If Beasley is out, it wouldn't surprise me if Switzer emerged as one of Dak's favorite targets from the slot. Switzer is safe.

Noah Brown #85 (22/6'2"/227)

Brown was used mostly as a jumbo-slot, H-Back, tight end rather than as a wide receiver outside the numbers, and I feel like his best role may be as more of a versatile, joker player and should be used the way the Eagles successfully used Trey Burton the last two years. He's a big-bodied pass-catcher and he's the best blocking receiver on the team. Personally, I think that his best position may be as tight end-wide receiver hybrid that can line up as a wing, in the backfield, or in the slot and make plays in the middle of the field and be an excellent blocker on the edge. Brown was only a 7th round pick, but he is fairly safe, as his special teams value and versatility make him the ideal #5 or #6 receiver.

Deonte Thompson #? (29/6'0"/198)

Thompson was a veteran free agent signing brought in to replace Brice Butler's ability to stretch the field, and Thompson is a journeyman who ran a 4.31 forty before the 2012 draft, but at 29, he's probably lost some of that speed. I believe the Cowboys signed Thompson because they didn't think they were going to get Hurns, but they did get Hurns and probably overpaid for Thompson for 1 year and $1.25 million. Thompson may have a hard time making the roster unless someone of the prior six receivers listed is cut or traded, and if the Thompson doesn't make the roster, it would suck to eat his $1 million dead cap number, but it's not awful. Thompson will have a battle to make the team.

So there's the likely seven receivers that will be competing for the likely 6 roster spots. Dez, Hurns, Switzer, and Brown are pretty safe, but the other three could all be cut or traded.

SLEEPER!

KD Cannon #81 (22/6'0"/186)

Cannon was an early entrant to the 2017 draft after thriving as a deep threat at Baylor with 27 receiving touchdowns and 16 yards per reception over his three years there. Cannon went undrafted surprisingly, as many were expecting him to be an early day three selection. He's bounced around the league the last year with the 49ers, Jets, and Rams before the Cowboys signed him to a futures deal, struggling to find a place to stick. Cannon is rumored to have had some consistency issues, but he's obviously talented. He ran a 4.41 forty at the 2017 Combine, as well as leaping 37" in the vertical. He can take the top off a defense, and he tracks the ball well vertically and can go up and attack the ball in the air. He's unrefined as a route-runner, as he's really only good at running go's, double-move's and other vertical routes. But he shows the explosive, choppy footwork and burst to improve in this are, and he struggled with concentration drops. Cannon is talented, but he's fast, explosive, and a legit deep threat. It wouldn't surprise me if he beat out Thompson for the final wide receiver spot as a deep threat specialist.

DRAFT TARGETS:

Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa (Sr./6'2"/210)

Fountain is a small school prospect who really only had one year of production, but he's an NFL-caliber athlete with reported low 4.4s speed, 40" vertical and broad jump over 11'. He also has 34" arms and is excellent at going up in the air and attacking the ball. He has the speed to be a vertical threat, but his routes are sloppy at this point and may need some time, but he could potentially develop into a very good #2 receiver with some development.

Round 5

Antonio Callaway, Florida (Jr./5'11"/200)

If it weren't for serious off field concerns, Callaway would be a top-100 pick, but he does have a lot of character questions. Callaway is a natural, explosive, twitched-up athlete with incredible speed (4.41 forty) and instant change of direction. And he's dangerous after the catch and he wins with suddenness on slants and crossing routes, something the Cowboys ask their Z receiver to do a lot of. Callaway plays big in big games and plays with excellent competitive toughness, both after the catch and as a feisty blocker. He's dangerous after the catch with explosive agility, contact balance, and home run speed. He's a legit vertical threat who tracks the ball very well and is a natural hands catcher. Callaway is the perfect Z receiver in the Cowboys offense as someone who can get open consistently, stretch the field vertically, and make plays after the catch. Callaway is troubled, but he's seriously talented and could develop into one of the NFL's best #2 receivers.

Round 4-5

Justin Watson, Penn (Sr./6'3"/213)

If the Cowboys want a big, explosive X receiver to develop, Watson would be an excellent target. At his pro day, Watson ran a 4.42 forty-yard dash and had a 40" vertical, showing off the speed and explosiveness you like from big receivers. He dominated the Ivy League for 33 touchdowns and over 4000 receiving yards in his career. Watson is raw as a route-runner, but he has the athleticism to potentially mold into a #3 or #4 receiver who wins contested catches and uses his big body and speed to win. Watson will need time but the upside is there.

Round 7