Dez Bryant is not the receiver he once was. His time as a dominant number one receiver in the NFL has come and gone. That being said the Cleveland Browns could still use his services.
Bryant is still a free agent and his visit with the Cleveland Browns will be shown on the third episode of Hard Knocks. If Cleveland and Bryant agree to a deal it could prove to be an interesting combination. What must be considered is how Bryant could be utilized in the offense in conjunction with the other receivers on the roster.
Everyone likes to play the “not able to count on Josh Gordon” thing and here is the deal, he is not suspended and is expected to play this season. Gordon is here and he counts. Gordon is the de facto number one receiver on the roster. Playing next to Gordon is Jarvis Landry, an incredibly reliable receiver who has averaged 100 receptions and 1,000 yards in his first four NFL seasons. After Gordon and Landry are Antonio Callaway and Richard Higgins. Higgins looks like he is ready to breakout and Callaway looks like he has a bright future ahead of him.
With all the receivers on the roster where does Dez Bryant fit in?
Bryant fits in as an inside slot receiver that can take advantage of smaller defensive backs. In this scenario Bryant would be in between being a receiver and a tight end. Bryant would not be on the outside whatsoever. Keeping Bryant in the middle of the field where can use his frame as leverage would be best. This is due to the fact that Bryant is big enough to box out smaller defenders and still quick enough to outrun a linebacker.
What this does is create mismatches. One of the keys to a successful offense is creating mismatches and exploiting them repeatedly. Bryant in the Browns offense may be quite the mismatch. What also needs to be considered is that Bryant is another large target to throw to. Bryant and Gordon along with David Njoku could give opposing defenses fits.
There is no such thing as too many receiving targets. As much as people want to play up this angle it is completely false. Even if Bryant only sees the field in a small capacity it is entirely possible that he could be effective in this manner. Playing alongside Gordon and Landry may bring Bryant back to playing at a high level.
Would Dez Bryant actually want to sign in Cleveland?
Here is the deal, Bryant has been a free agent for a while now and is not necessarily in high demand. If Braynt were to sign a one year deal now in Cleveland it would allow him the chance to reestablish himself as a productive NFL receiver. His other option is to sit and wait for the phone to ring, which really does not seem like it will happen. Rather than watch his career disappear in front of his eyes he would be wise to do everything he can to revive it.
Would Cleveland want Dez Bryant?
It appears that the Browns want Bryant in some capacity. Adding depth to the roster can only help the Browns over the course of the season. One issue that Cleveland has had over the last few years is receiver depth.
There is some concern over Bryant’s attitude and whether he can fit in with the Browns. Part of the concern comes from free agent misses Dwayne Bowe and Kenny Britt. Both were colossal wastes of money and did not really help whatsoever. The general fan consensus is that Bryant is the next guy in this bad trend of receivers. If Cleveland signs Bryant to a one year deal and it does not work out they can just cut him. The success or failure of Bryant will not dictate the outcome of the Browns season.
Best case scenario Bryant plays well and takes his career off life support and signs elsewhere next season. Worst case scenario he is a free agent bust and the Browns cut him. For the first time in a long time the Browns are in a situation where they can make a signing like this and not worry about the long term ramifications of it.
In the short term it gives the Browns quarterbacks another target to throw to. Whether that is Tyrod Taylor or Baker Mayfield does not matter. All that matters is that the quarterback is not throwing to practice squad players or players who do not belong on an NFL roster. Bryant can surely help in that department.
John Dorsey and Hue Jackson would be wise to consider bringing in Bryant to round out their receiving corps. Coming off of one win in two seasons all avenues must be explored.
