(Editor's Note: With the NFL Draft fast approaching, DallasCowboys.com is taking a comprehensive look at each position on the roster: free agency additions, departures, and what the draft might hold. Today, we begin the series with wide receiver.)
Need Meter (1 lowest, 5 highest): 4
Depth Check: Lead receiver? Check. Quality No. 2 receiver? Check. And after that … well, who knows just what the rest of the receiver position will look like come next season. That uncertainly alone is why wide receiver is a sneaky big need for the Cowboys as they enter next week's draft. Sure, Amari Cooper has been re-signed to a three-year deal that makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in NFL history. And Michael Gallup is blossoming into a star in the making after posting over 1,000 yards last season as the second receiver. But with the loss of Randall Cobb (Houston) in free agency, there is a void for the third receiver, especially one that can play in the slot. There are some in-house options such as Devin Smith, Noah Brown, Jon'vea Johnson and Cedrick Wilson, but all of them are still unproven. Look for the Cowboys to address this need in the draft, especially since wide receiver might be the deepest position of them all.
Prospect Preview: The fact there are so many quality receivers in this draft could force teams such as the Cowboys to think one of two ways. Either you appreciate the value of a player available at No. 17 and realize a wide receiver could be the best on the board, or you count on the depth of this positon and figure one will be available to take in either the second or third round. Either way, it's a position of need. If any of these three receivers – Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) or Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) are on the board at No. 17, it would make sense for the Cowboys to take one. Still, there are some other receivers that might fit if they decide to either trade down in the first or wait for the second, including TCU's Jalen Reagor, LSU's Jordan Jefferson or Tee Higgins from Clemson. Baylor's Denzel Mims and Colorado's Laviska Shenault Jr. are other possibilities of talented receivers that could help right away.
Memorable Pick: In 1988, Tom Landry was conducting his 29th and final NFL Draft. The mild-mannered, sophisticated head coach ended up drafting one of the more flamboyant players in team history. With the 11th overall pick, Michael Irvin joined a Cowboys team that was short on talent, resulting in a 3-13 season. But Irvin proved to be one of the best players to ever wear the star, finishing his career in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and an All-Decade performer in the 1990s.
Series Schedule
- Monday, April 13 – Quarterback
- Tuesday, April 14 – Running Back
- Wednesday, April 15 – Wide Receiver
- Thursday, April 16 – Tight End
- Friday, April 17 – Offensive Line
- Sunday, April 19 – Defensive End
- Monday, April 20 – Defensive Tackle
- Tuesday, April 21 – Linebacker
- Wednesday, April 22 – Cornerback
- Thursday, April 23 – Safety
