Why Dez Bryant in New Orleans is Perfect Match
As reported, the New Orleans Saints will work out WR Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall in hopes of finding an additional threat for Drew Brees. While Marshall has been a part of the Seattle Seahawks roster until late, Bryant hasn’t played a game since December of 2017.
Many are discouraged about Dez Bryant; whether it’s because of his drop rate, or perhaps his sideline antics. In result, the vast majority would claim that either acquiring Marshall, or neither receiver, is the best route for New Orleans moving forward. However, maybe a scenario in which Bryant joins the New Orleans Saints is a perfect match.
This season, New Orleans is among the elite in almost every offensive category. Ranked 7th in passing yards and 2nd in points per game, there is question as to whether a new receiver is even needed. On the contrary, outside of Michael Thomas, no pure wide receiver has stood out for the Saints.
Tre’Quan Smith holds 12 receptions this season, while injuries have sidelined Ted Ginn, Tommylee Lewis, and Travin Dural for the season. With minimum depth on the outside, defenses will eventually place their focus on Thomas and ultimately Alvin Kamara in the postseason.
The constant struggles of Dez Bryant date back to the 2015 season. After a broken foot kept him out for an extended period of time, the fact that Tony Romo was eventually replaced for Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott didn’t help his cause either.
In essence, Bryant is a product of the quarterback granted to him. There are few quarterbacks that can permit his receivers to become better, and Drew Brees is among them. Dating back to 2006, Brees has passed for 4,000+ yards in 11 consecutive seasons. This season, Brees is on track to finish with 4,000+ yards through the air once again, but the addition of Bryant would ultimately secure that milestone.
The route of not adding a legitimate threat is simply a band-aid for this Saints offense. With the acquisition of Bryant, defenses will be forced to respect the veteran receiver to a degree. Sure, the 30-year old will have rust after missing nearly a year of action. That being said, can Dez Bryant provide more to a football franchise than anyone currently listed below Michael Thomas on the Saints depth chart? I think so.
Even in the lowest point of Bryant’s career, he totaled 14 touchdowns in his final 29 games with the Dallas Cowboys. Let it be known this is all with Prescott, who ranked 20th in yards per passing attempt last season.
Before we judge the potential negative impact of Bryant, think about whether the positives outweigh it all. This is the best available wide receiver on the market who has been persistent on waiting to join a franchise who gives him a shot at the Super Bowl. The New Orleans Saints are the perfect destination for Dez Bryant, and Dez Bryant is possibly the perfect solution for the New Orleans Saints.
Featured Image: Andy Mills/NJ
