Cowboys 2021 free agent battles: Blake Bell versus Noah Brown

Yes, the Cowboys have plenty of important free agents in the 2021 offseason. The biggest is, of course, Dak Prescott. On defense they have some higher-profile guys like Aldon Smith, Chidobe Awuzie and Xavier Woods to make decisions on. But let’s take a look at some of the lower-tier free agents that could or could not return to Dallas. Specifically, we’ll look at two offensive players who technically play different positions, but serve the team in a similar way.

Noah Brown is a wide receiver. Blake Bell is a tight end. Yet they both primarily serve as blockers on offense, and spend considerable time on special teams. So which one would you rather the Cowboys re-sign? Let’s make the comparison.

Noah Brown

In 2020, Noah Brown played on 21% of the offensive plays and on 49% of the special teams snaps. That 21% of offensive plays was a career high for the wide receiver as he was finally given a chance to do a little more than just block on running plays. After years of getting single-digit targets, in 2020 he had 24 targets good for 14 catches and 154 yards.

The new coaching staff gave him a little more run as a receiver, but his primary use was still as a blocker and special teams player. Brown was among the five most-used players on special teams for the year. Brown also serves as the fourth/fifth receiver but with the starting trio in place, and Cedrick Wilson on hand when healthy, it’s hard to see Brown moving up the depth chart.

Blake Bell

Blake Bell played on 32% of the offensive snaps for the Cowboys in 2020 while also logging 36% of the special teams snaps. He has 15 targets for the season and caught 11 passes for 110 yards. He also famously lined up under center for one play running a QB sneak that converted a first down.

Bell was primarily brought in as a free agent last year to function as a blocker on offense while contributing to special teams. That’s pretty much what he did and did it pretty well. Last year he was the second tight end, but this year, with the return of Blake Jarwin, he would be the third tight end.

Who to keep?

Neither player should command a big contract on the market, so if the Cowboys wanted to keep one, or both, they could probably make that happen. They both have a very specific role, and thought they play different positions, that role is similar.

Let’s set the parameter that their free agent contracts will be similar in dollar amount. Given what you know about both players, which one would you prioritize for the Cowboys if you had to choose one?