5 potential landing spots for Dez Bryant

If Dez Bryant is let go by the Dallas Cowboys, these five teams make sense as potential landing spots.

Once upon a time, Dez Bryant was one of the NFL’s best wide receivers. From 2012-2014 he averaged 91 receptions for 1,312 yards and nearly 14 touchdowns per season, with a league-high 16 receiving touchdowns in 2014.

But injury (nine games played in 2015) followed by a perceived lack of chemistry with Dak Prescott has brought a steep drop-off. Over the last two seasons Bryant’s catch rate has hovered around 52 percent, as he looks notably slower and unable to physically overpower cornerbacks like he used to. With a $12.5 million base salary and $16.5 million cap hit for this year, and offseason work set to start next Monday, it’s decision time for the Cowboys.

As first reported by 105.3 FM in Dallas, Bryant and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will meet on Friday. That discussion will surely start with being paid closer to what his recent production reflects, which Bryant previously said he was not willing to do.

So the Cowboys are likely to cut Bryant, as long as Jones listens to those around him and doesn’t succumb to sentiment. Once Bryant is available, here are five teams that should have interest.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars lost Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns in free agency, and the only move to fill that void as signing Donte Moncrief. As it is right now, Marqise Lee, Moncrief and Keelan Cole are their top three wide receivers, which does not look ideal even for a run-oriented offense with Blake Bortles under center.

Bryant would at least be a viable red zone weapon, even if he’s clearly no longer a No.1 wide receiver worthy of the volume he got last year (132 targets). That makes him a potential fit in Jacksonville, and if nothing else watching him reach a boiling point of frustration with Bortles’ ineptitude would be fun.