Let’s Pump The Breaks On Dez Bryant Coming To Jacksonville
By David Levin
Let’s not get too excited about the recent tweet by Jalen Ramsey, asking free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant to join him at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
While there had been discussion in free agency about Dez Bryant joining the Jacksonville Jaguars after both Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns found new homes for the 2018 season, I am not sure adding the sometimes controversial pass catcher to the roster is the right move.
Ramsey, who has been known to be outspoken about his own teammates – going to bat for both Robinson and Aaron Colvin prior to the end of the 2017 season and after the team lost in the AFC Championship game – made his pronouncement on Sunday through his own Twitter account:
Yo @DezBryant What you thinking? We both can go to jax this week 😂
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) June 10, 2018
The Jaguars used a second-round draft pick this past April on LSU speedster D.J. Chark. Marqise Lee re-signed with the team and then Donte Moncrief joined the team, signing a one-year deal after playing his first four years in Indianapolis.
More from Jacksonville Jaguars News
- Jalin Hyatt named dream target for Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 NFL Draft
- 5 potential cap casualties the Jacksonville Jaguars should be in on in 2023
- The Jacksonville Jaguars got so lucky with the 2021 NFL Draft
- Jacksonville Jaguars opt for continuity at RB, re-sign JaMycal Hasty
- Jaguars Mock Draft: Huge trade for a WR, add more help on offense
The Baltimore Ravens showed the most interest in Dez Bryant this offseason, but a conflict over the contract negotiations ended the chance of the former first-round draft pick finding a new home. Bryant wanted to sign a lucrative one-year deal instead of a multi-year deal.
The New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers had also been mentioned as possible landing spots. His 2017 season was one of the worst of Bryant’s career, where he averaged a paltry 12.1 yards per catch. He did play in all 16 games for the first time since 2014.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Bryant was the Cowboys’ top selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars already have a crowded wide receiver unit under receivers coach Keenan McCardell. The former Jacksonville pass catcher acknowledged last week during a press conference that he liked the fact the Jaguars don’t have a true No. 1 pass catcher, but players like Antonio Brown and Julio Jones makes a coach’s job a lot easier.
My question is whether Bryant would be the right fit for a system with Blake Bortles as quarterback. Per spotrac.com, the Jaguars have over $6.2 million left in cap space to spend this season.
Dez Bryant has had a successful career in the NFL, having been a Pro Bowl performer in 2013, 2014 and 2016, and was an All-Pro in 2014.