The Dallas Cowboys signed Allen Hurns to a deal worth $12 million on Friday afternoon. What does that mean for the future of Dez Bryant.
After signing Allen Hurns to a two-year deal worth $12 million, rumors of the Dallas Cowboys moving on from Dez Bryant began to spill out across the Twitterverse.
Bryant, 29, hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2014 and while he led the team in receiving yardage last year with 838 yards, it’s not exactly a number worth $16.5 million. The former Oklahoma State star could be cut by Dallas for a savings of $8.5 million this year and $12.5 million in 2019 before the contract runs out.
The Cowboys have enough cap space to keep Bryant in the fold, but it would be tight. Most teams want to have a few million to play with during the season for injuries and the occasional trade, and Dallas currently sits just north of $5 million. Only the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers have less cap space.
Smart money says that Bryant is going to be playing elsewhere if he doesn’t restructure his contract. Dallas needs money, Bryant isn’t worth his cap hit and Hurns can likely replace his production.
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If the Cowboys were to move on from Bryant, he would have a litany of suitors. While he’s no longer the player who was routinely penciled in for a Pro Bowl berth, he can still help out a team in need of a big-bodied receiver. The Carolina Panthers would be one choice, while the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens would also be expected in the mix.