Cowboys could reportedly move on from Dez Bryant after season

Dez Bryant is not pleased with the way things went for Dallas Cowboys this season, and the team could decide that the frustration is mutual and needs to be addressed when the regular season concludes.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Sunday that there is a possibility the Cowboys could look to trade Bryant or release the star wide receiver this offseason.

“This could be Dez Bryant’s last year with the Cowboys,” Schefter said. “He’s scheduled to make $12.5 million in each of the next two seasons, and if the Cowboys release Bryant they would save $8.5 million against the salary cap (in 2018). If he were a post-June 1 salary cap cut, Dallas would save $12 million, with Bryant still counting $4 million against the cap in 2019. With them having to come up with cap space and having to play other players, there’s a question of how the whole Dez Bryant situation will turn out, especially when he was as vocal as he was in saying he will not take a pay cut.”

Earlier in the week, Bryant hinted that he blames much of the Cowboys’ struggles this season on poor scheming. He said he wants to remain in Dallas but had a strong response when asked if he would be willing to take less money.

Bryant was one of the most dominant wide receivers in football when Tony Romo was under center for the Cowboys, but he has not enjoyed the same success with Dak Prescott. Ezekiel Elliott is now the focal point of the team’s offense, and we haven’t seen as many explosive plays from Bryant as we did a few years ago.

While Bryant is just 29 and would still sign for huge money if the Cowboys released him, it doesn’t make much sense for Dallas to pay him top dollar if they aren’t going to utilize him more. They may be better off spending that money elsewhere with the way their offense is constructed.