In 2018, the Dallas Cowboys front office went into an NFL season with a receiving corps that was totally undermanned. Following the release of Dez Bryant, there were people who are paid in actual United States currency to surround quarterback Dak Prescott with nearly nothing on the outside. The pu pu platter of pass catchers was predictably pedestrian, combining for a whopping 147 receptions, 1810 yards and nine touchdowns.
For a single player, that’s an all-time great campaign, with a similar stat line to Marvin Harrison in 2002 or Michael Thomas in 2019. As a group? They stunk. Their performance was such that the Cowboys traded a first round pick for Amari Cooper from the then Oakland Raiders midway through the season. Now the best wide receiving corps in the league resides in Dallas, at least according to Pro Football Focus.
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. The Cowboys’ passing offense has been far more efficient since Cooper came to Dallas in 2018, as evidenced by the 122.0 expected points added (EPA) on his 907 plays compared to just 2.95 EPA on 425 plays without him.
In recent years the Cowboys haven’t shied away from making their strengths stronger. This strategy has been noticeable along the offensive line, a spot into which the front office has continually thrown resources. In 2020, despite having Cooper and Gallup already in place, Dallas selected wide receiver CeeDee Lamb with their first-round pick, giving them an embarrassment of riches on the outside.
It’s impossible to field an entire team of quality starters, so while the top end of the Cowboys’ depth chart is rock solid, there’s a place in the wide receiver’s room for additional talent.
PFF mentions Devin Smith as “the most intriguing name of the group” but the rest of the wide receivers on the roster will have to prove themselves, not only against everyone on the roster, but against every remaining free agent and down-roster player throughout the league.
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