The Dallas Cowboys underwent some major changes at the wide receiver position this offseason. In need of some salary relief, they traded No. 1 receiver, Amari Cooper, to the Cleveland Browns. They also lost Cedrick Wilson Jr. as he decided to sign with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent.
The team re-signed Michael Gallup, but he needs a little more time to get ready as he recovers from an ACL injury suffered in Week 17 last season. James Washington was signed in free agency but landed on the IR early in training camp with a Jones fracture.
That has left the Cowboys dangerously thin at the wide receiver position behind CeeDee Lamb. Lamb is the only wide receiver on the roster that has caught a touchdown pass in the NFL in a regular season game and that inexperience showed during the team’s Week 1 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dallas was unable to get anything going as the Tampa Bay defense stifled them all night. Dak Prescott was 14-of-29 for 134 yards and one interception before exiting with an injury to his hand that turned out to be a fracture. Cooper Rush wasn’t much better, going 7-of-13 for 64 yards in mop-up duty.
Noah Brown was the team’s leading receiver on the evening, catching five passes for 68 yards. Tight end Dalton Schultz was right behind him, catching seven passes for 62 yards. Lamb managed only two catches for 29 yards as the Buccaneers blanketed him.
The team could certainly use some experienced depth at the position. It will take some time for Jalen Tolbert, the team’s third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, to acclimate himself to the league.
One player that would fit the bill for the Cowboys is Cole Beasley. Beasley spent the first seven seasons of his career in Dallas before playing the last three with the Buffalo Bills. He remained a solid slot receiver and chain mover last season for the Bills catching 82 passes for 693 yards and one score.
Beasley would provide some versatility as well as he can line up on the perimeter outside the numbers or in the slot, where he does most of his damage. Being able to create mismatches is something Dallas is unable to currently do given the lack of talent and experience on the roster as opposing defenses just aren’t worried about the players they are currently trotting out there to make plays.
While he has lost a step or two at age 33, Beasley is still a sure-handed veteran that has experience playing for the Cowboys. He spent three seasons with Prescott, so there will already be some chemistry built up when Prescott gets back on the field.
This offense needs a spark and Rush needs some help if he is going to keep things afloat. Bringing in a veteran of Beasley’s status would certainly help as the Cowboys’ season could quickly go off the rails.
