Report: Cowboys hold private workout with LSU WR D.J. Chark

The Dallas Cowboys have already made a point of addressing the wide receiver position this offseason with the signings of Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson in free agency. It doesn’t look like they’re stopping there. There Cowboys have been meeting with top WR draft prospects like Calvin Ridley, D.J. Moore and others.

An argument can be made that the signing of free agents at the WR position, and the interest in top WR draft prospects, increases the chances of Dez Bryant being released. Regardless, Dallas had decisions to make. On Wednesday, it was reported that Bryant and Jerry Jones would have a meeting on Friday to discuss the future.

Dallas has a lot of difficult decisions to make in the future and despite having cheap, rookie contracts like Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott on the books. Dallas will not only have to pay them in a few years, but they also need to get the long-term deals of DeMarcus Lawrence and Zack Martin done. All of this could mean that if Bryant does not accept playing at a reduced rate, he could be playing elsewhere in 2018.

For those that are in the “Bryant should remain a Cowboy” camp, there seems to be less optimism given that Dallas reportedly met with LSU’s star receiver D.J. Chark on Wednesday, the same day the report of Bryant’s meeting came out.

Chark was not one of the 30 pre-draft visitors, according to our very own pre-draft visit tracker here at BTB. With a workout though, he is on their radar and all this WR activity could mean Dallas has made up their mind in terms of the Dez dilemma and are searching elsewhere to find alternatives.

Regardless, Chark is an intriguing prospect due to his size and athleticism. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Chark has a big frame who has the potential to put on mass and become a more finished product. To go along with his frame, Chark also has “wow” numbers like a 4.34 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical.

There are issues with his route-running ability and how he will be able to win in the NFL, but Chark has the size, speed, athleticism, and jumping ability that NFL coaches cannot teach. Something to note about the possibility of losing Bryant is that the Cowboys will lose their main redzone target. The jump-ball connection between Bryant and Prescott has not consistently been there over the past two seasons. But still, Bryant is the Cowboys’ most aggressive receiver.

While losing Bryant would be a blow to the redzone offense, adding a guy like Chark could help fix that void. Before becoming an every-down receiver in the NFL, Chark will need to put on weight, improve his routes, and better understand the nuances of the position. However, he can be a productive receiver from the start of his career in the redzone due to his size and athleticism.