FRISCO, Texas – The month of February is always the transition period from one season to the next. The 2019 season is in the rearview mirror, especially with a brand-new coaching staff in place.
The next step for the team is player personnel, which mostly takes place in March with the start of free agency. The first day of the new league year is March 18, although the Cowboys will have several other decisions to make before then, thanks to 25 unrestricted free agents.
Before we get too far down the road, let's take an overview at each position, finding out what they've got, what they need and some big decisions to make.
Today, we'll break down the wide receiver position.
Coach in Charge: Adam Henry
Henry has been working with wide receivers since joining the coaching staff of his alma mater McNeese State. He most recently spent the last two seasons as wide receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns. His career has been linked to Odell Beckham Jr. because he has coached Beckham at LSU, the New York Giants and the Browns.
"I'm a guy who like to get on the grass, get with [the players], talk with them, talk through things and see what they know and what they don't know, because you can assume a lot of things on tape."
Biggest Question: Will Cooper and Cobb be retained?
The Cowboys have stated numerous times that bringing back Amari Cooper will be treated with the sort of urgency on par with retaining Prescott. Cooper has also claimed repeatedly that he wants to return to Dallas. It's possible that the Cowboys use the franchise tag or transition tag to retain him. Likewise, Randall Cobb's history with Mike McCarthy in Green Bay makes his return to Dallas appear likely. Still, words and appearances in December and January are different than names on a contract, and even if negotiations simply take longer than anticipated with either player, especially Cooper, it could affect the Cowboys off-season plans.
What They Have: Potential Firepower
Michael Gallup will return next season with the possibility of becoming a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver in his third season. Gallup battled injuries in 2019 but still managed over 1,000 receiving yards and finished the season with a three-touchdown game against the Washington Redskins. If free agents Cooper and Cobb both return to the team, it's hard to imagine a receiving trio in the NFL with a higher ceiling.
Immediate Need: Injury Insurance
After Gallup, Cooper, and Cobb, there was a considerable drop-off in chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott, which is surely the case for plenty of NFL teams once you make your way down their wide receiver depth charts. Still, all three have a history of lingering injuries, and the Cowboys could look to the draft to develop a receiver who could play in the slot and might be able to step into a larger role if needed.
