CALABASAS, Calif. — After eight seasons, one Pro Bowl nod in 2014, and a four-year, $40 million contract extension signed in 2015, Randall Cobb found his career in Green Bay coming to an end after the 2018 season. He signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Cowboys in March of 2019 and became Dallas’ primary slot receiver in an 8-8 season that was a major disappointment to all involved. Dallas’ 8-8 record and playoff miss marked the end of the Jason Garrett era following 2019, and cleared the way for ex-Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to take Garrett’s place.
Cobb will be a free agent when the new league year turns over on March 18, and he’s currently working out at Travelle Gaines’ Athletic Gaines facility near the Cowboys’ training camp location in Oxnard. The location is convenient, and there may be a reunion with McCarthy in the cards.
But for now, Cobb is just trying to stay on top of everything as he gets physically and mentally ready for the 2020 offseason.
“This is the cleaners for me,” he said Monday of his training regimen. “This is where you come in the offseason and get right. You get your body back, get back in shape, and prepare for off-season workouts with the team in April.”
Cobb was working on everything from speed drills to core exercises with Gaines, who also had NFL receivers Brandin Cooks and Kenny Golladay in his small, ancillary, strip-mall facility. It’s a humble place, but the work is real.
“This is my second off-season with Travelle,” Cobb said. “I met him through Instagram — saw him with a few people that he was working out with, and I knew a few people he was training. I heard good things, and I was new to the area, so I came and checked it out.”
Though Cobb didn’t like the way the 2019 season ended, and he’s uncertain about his future, he’s focusing on improving from a 2019 season in which he finished with 55 catches for 828 yards and three touchdowns. 50 of those catches, 716 of those yards, and all three of those touchdowns came from the slot.
“It’s just day-by-day,” he said. “I try to get lost in my training and worry about that first and foremost, because everything else will handle itself. Once free agency gets here, we’ll see what happens. There’s no telling, and there’s been a lot of crazy things happening in this business. I enjoyed my time in Dallas, and there could be a chance I’m back. We’ll see what happens.”
However, he did admit that as he becomes able to review the suitors for his talent, the presence of McCarthy — who was Green Bay’s head coach when Cobb was taken in the second round of the 2011 draft out of Kentucky — might be a significant factor in his decision-making process.
“I love Coach McCarthy. He was the first one who gave me a chance in the NFL. I remember him when I was at the combine, meeting with him in the room for the first time. He gave me a chance to end up having a great career in Green Bay. It was unfortunate what happened to him up there, but he’s got a second chance, and hopefully, he can end up like Andy Reid: Go to a new team, and find a way to make something happen.
“When it comes to free agency, you never know how it’s going to play out. But it could. You factor in all the different pros and cons to whoever’s offering and who wants you, and you find out where you’re valued, and how much you’re valued.”
As far as plays that defined his 2019 season, and the skill set he brought to the field, Cobb had a couple of favorites.
“One off this past year — it didn’t count, unfortunately because we had a holding penalty, but I had an ling touchdown early in the year against Miami where I made a big catch down the seam, made a couple guys miss, and raced to the end zone.”
Indeed, this 74-yard phantom touchdown against the Dolphins was negated by a holding call on left guard Connor Williams, who was busted for grabbing defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. Cobb ran an over route and blasted through Miami’s secondary, but it was all for naught.
Cobb also pointed to a touchdown reception against the Lions in Week 11 where he ran a post into traffic and was blown up by safety Will Harris, but was able to display his toughness regardless.
“There were two or three plays in Detroit — I caught one over the middle and took a big hit, and that’s kind of what my game’s built on — being able to be a threat in the middle of the field. Taking blows, and bouncing back from them.”
But if there’s one play I think defines Cobb’s athletic potential from last season, it’s this 22-yard touchdown catch against the Vikings in Week 10. This is a bang-on throw from Dak Prescott, but watch also how Cobb is able to bring the ball from the right slot despite the efforts of Minnesota cornerback Mackensie Alexander.
Cobb still has a lot to offer in a slot role for the right team, and given the presence of his old head coach in Dallas, the Cowboys may line up in all the right ways for his future.