Dez Bryant’s Ravens tryout comes and goes without a deal
Dez Bryant is still seeking another chance in the NFL.
Dez Bryant played a full 16-game slate in 2017 with the Dallas Cowboys and finished with 838 yards and six touchdowns. However, the team decided to move on and the 31-year-old has not played in an NFL game since that 2017 season.
Bryant did sign with the New Orleans Saints in 2018, only to blow out his Achilles tendon right away in practice. He took 2019 off and enters the 2020 season looking for another chance after taking time to get healthy.
His latest shot came Thursday via a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens. While promising for Bryant, there is no deal being offered right now.
The workout for free agent WR Dez Bryant is over with the #Ravens, and source said nothing is imminent. No one has ruled anything out, but sounds like no immediate move.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 20, 2020
Dez Bryant is still hoping for a final NFL chapter
The Ravens only have around $5 million in cap space, but Bryant would likely come in on a minimum deal after what happened during his brief stint in New Orleans.
Even with a smaller deal, Bryant would not be relegated to a small role. The Ravens relied heavily on the run in 2019 and defense may be wiser in how to stop the two-headed monster of Lamar Jackson and an aging Mark Ingram. The two combined for 2,224 rushing yards last season.
The receiving corps did not need to do much, but the numbers were still a concern. Tight end Mark Andrews led the offense with 852 receiving yards, while Marquise Brown was next with 584 yards. Willie Snead, who is set to be the highest-paid receiver on the team in 2020, only had 339 yards.
Bryant taking all of 2019 off gives him an advantage over other players his age. He has invaluable experience and is capable of finishing with around 600-800 yards if he can play in all 16 games.
Giving Bryant a deal immediately after his workout would be a bit of a rushed move for the Ravens. The team likely just wanted to see where he was at physically and will take time to talk through a decision.
Next. Ravens have a secret reason for wanting to sign Dez. dark
This still appears to be a low-risk, high-reward move for Baltimore. He can be given a deal with very little guaranteed money and be forced to earn more through incentives. It would be hard to imagine Bryant turning down such a deal when it involves playing with a Super Bowl contender.