The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver group is the deepest it has been for a long time. Just last season, it was considered the weakest position group on the team. That was until the team traded a 1st round pick for Amari Cooper which sparked a 7-2 finish to the season, a division title, and a playoff victory. This year, Cowboys fans are much more optimistic about the wide receiver group but it is unclear how many the Dallas Cowboys will keep and who among them will make the 53 man roster.
There are three wide receivers widely considered as locks to make the roster. The aforementioned Pro-Bowler Amari Cooper is the #1 WR and Dak’s favorite target. Second year standout Michael Gallup is also guaranteed a roster spot and he is expected by many to have a breakout season. Last year, he and Dak Prescott failed to connect consistently on the long ball but their chemistry is expected to improve and Gallup has the ability to go up and get the ball which is a valuable trait in the NFL. The third guaranteed roster spot belongs to recent free agent acquisition Randall Cobb who will replace Cole Beasley as the slot receiver. Cobb is an upgrade who is more dynamic than Beasley. Concern over his ability to stay healthy is the only downside for Cobb.
Aside from the big three, there are a couple more receivers that are expected to make the roster and they are Tavon Austin and Noah Brown. Austin is not making a ton of money, which makes him less expendable than Allen Hurns who was cut earlier this offseason for salary cap reasons. Austin is valuable for his speed, experience as a runner, and his ability in the return game. In addition to his physical traits, he has become a team leader and has performed well in practices. Noah Brown is unique among the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers for his size and ability as a blocker. Due to his unique skill set and since he was on the roster last year, I do expect that the Dallas Cowboys will keep him around in 2019.
The Dallas Cowboys may decide to keep only 5 receivers on the team or they could carry as many as 7. Either way, there are some intriguing options available if they decide to go heavy at WR. The common theme with most of these guys is speed. Veterans Devin Smith and Reggie Davis and than there are the two undrafted free agents Jon’Vea Johnson and Jalen Guyton. Both Smith and Davis have been unable to make an impact on an NFL roster and are hoping to kick start their careers in Dallas. They came from vastly different situations, Smith was a high draft pick and Davis and undrafted free agent, but they are both fighting for a roster spot. The 2019 undrafted free agents Johnson and Guyton have been the most exciting players that Cowboys fans have followed but neither one has been able to consistently perform. They have both flashed potential and they have both also had issues with drops. Those two players are likely to become practice squad projects.
Another name, a player who generated excitement last season but fell off the radar after suffering an injury and missing his entire rookie season, is Cedrick Wilson. Another product of the Dallas Cowboys favorite college team Boise State, Wilson was impressive in training camp last season. This year he looked good in the first pre-season game before exiting with a head injury. A tough break for Wilson and hopefully it is not serious. Wilson is believed to be a versatile receiver who could play inside or outside. The Dallas Cowboys could use some depth in the slot behind Randall Cobb and for that reason I hope they keep Wilson on the 53 man roster this season.
The overall outlook for the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers in 2019 is much more promising than in 2018. They are a fast group of guys that have the ability to get open and that should help Dak Prescott, who is seeking a contract extension, immensely this season.
*Photo by Kieth Allison https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode