Former Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dez Bryant might be working his way back into the NFL. The three-time Pro Bowler tore his Achilles late in the 2018 season but is looking to re-join the NFL in the coming weeks. Bryant obviously isn’t the player he once was, but he might be able to play a valuable role on a contender. Several teams should be interested in the former first-round pick if he’s finally healthy enough to play.
I’m not trying to go nowhere and be a starter on a team I want to contribute because I know I will be able too… I’m feeling good… in two weeks I’m going to reach out to teams and see what happens…. let’s go X
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) November 6, 2019
Top Dez Bryant Free Agent Fits
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles need help at wide receiver in the worst way. DeSean Jackson is done for the season, Alshon Jeffery is in the midst of perhaps the worst season of his career, Nelson Agholor can’t catch anything, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside isn’t ready for a major role in the offense. The Eagles are currently on the edge of playoff contention and need another weapon if their offense has any hope of carrying one of the worst secondaries in the league.
Dez Bryant won’t be the top option in Philadelphia’s passing attack, but he’d provide some much-needed reliability for Carson Wentz. The Eagles should consider taking a page out of the 2011 Patriots playbook and feature two tight end sets with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. If they do that, they won’t need Bryant to be anything more than the third or fourth option through the air. Bryant should be up for the task and help bolster one of the better offenses in the league.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers currently sit at 7-2 but could use some help at the wide receiver position. Davante Adams finally made his return to the field, but he didn’t look completely healthy in his first game back. Adams should improve with time, but the Packers still could use an upgrade on the depth chart. While players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison, and Allen Lazard have shown promise, all three players have battled inconsistency throughout the season.
Aaron Rodgers isn’t the quarterback he once was, but he’s still a top-10 passer. Rodgers excels at pushing balls down the sideline where only his receivers can get it, and Bryant is still a solid jump ball specialist. Using Bryant as a situational red zone threat should only improve this offense and could bring a Lombardi Trophy back to Wisconsin for the first time in almost a decade.
New Orleans Saints – Dez Bryant Reunion
The Dez Bryant Era in New Orleans was a short one, but the Saints might want to bring back their former wide receiver. Bryant never played a game with the Saints, as he tore his Achilles in a practice prior to his 2018 debut. However, despite his truncated tenure, the Saints reportedly enjoyed Bryant’s presence and displayed some interest in bringing him back when he returned to health.
The Saints might have the best roster in the league, but their biggest weakness is at wide receiver. Michael Thomas is a genuine stud, but the rest of the depth chart could use some help. Bryant should have some familiarity with the playbook and could help out sooner rather than later. Drew Brees doesn’t have too many seasons left in him, so the Saints should do everything in their power to give him another championship before he calls it a career.
Oakland Raiders
Dez Bryant wants to sign with a contender, and the Raiders are right on the edge of playoff contention. At 4-4, they’re only one game out of a wild card spot and 1.5 games out of the division lead. While they don’t stand a realistic shot at the division, they can certainly end up with one of the two AFC Wild Card spots. Derek Carr is having his best season since 2016, and Jon Gruden’s scheme is bringing out the best in everyone on the offense.
The fact that Oakland’s offense has been this productive with the current wide receiver depth chart is nothing short of amazing. The Antonio Brown experiment ended before it ever started, and Tyrell Williams has battled health ailments throughout the season. Dez Bryant should have a clear path to playing time and could be the missing piece that brings Oakland back to the playoffs for just the second time since 2002.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
