James Jones Says Green Bay Packers Should Sign Dez Bryant

NFL Network’s James Jones, recently suggested that the Green Bay Packers should sign Dez Bryant to boost their wide receiver position.

For the last year and a half or so, while the Green Bay Packers have been the national media’s punching bag, there is one analyst – and he just so happens to be a former Packer – who always has Green Bay’s back; James Jones of the NFL Network.

To my knowledge, he was the only analyst to correctly predict the Packers’ 13-3 season in 2019, and he is always quick to defend Aaron Rodgers. But on a recent segment, when asked where he thought the best landing spot would be for free agent receiver Dez Bryant, he chose the Green Bay Packers:

"“Everybody wants to get on Dez Bryant for his route running, Dez Bryant when he came into the National Football League, his routes were never great, but when the ball was in the air, or the ball is in his vicinity, he makes the play. Aaron Rodgers can put the ball anywhere he wants, you need another guy on the other side of Davante Adams that when they take him away, Aaron trusts in him no matter where I put the ball at, he is going to make the play.And if there is any guy out there that’s going to do that right now, it’s Dez Bryant and he still has a lot left in the tank when the ball is in the air. I am going to get Dez Bryant and put him on the opposite side of Davante Adams if I am the Green Bay Packers because I’ve seen him make too many tough catches over his career.”"

At his best, Bryant was one of the top receivers in the NFL. From 2012 to 2014, he averaged 1,311 receiving yards per season at 14.4 yards per catch with nearly 14 touchdowns each year. He was also a three-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro, and as Jones mentioned, we saw him make quite a few spectacular catches.

However, in football years, that was quite a while ago, and since then, Bryant battled injuries in Dallas, his numbers dropped, and oh yeah, he hasn’t played since 2017.

From 2015 to 2017, Bryant would appear in only 38 games out of a possible 48, although he did play in all 16 in his most recent season of 2017. But he wasn’t nearly as productive during this span.

Bryant averaged only 678 yards per season, about half of what he averaged the previous three years, with 17 total touchdowns, and his catch rate plummeted to 50 percent. In fact, Pro Football Focus credited him with 12 drops in 2017 alone, and a total of 21 drops over those three years.

From there, Bryant signed with New Orleans, but unfortunately, he tore his Achilles not long after and hasn’t played a down since.

Yes, the Green Bay Packers have question marks around the receiver position, but at this point in his career, I’m not sure Bryant is the answer. Above, Jones mentions Rodgers trusting Bryant no matter what, but I don’t think it’s that simple. Dez would have to learn a new offense in a very short amount of time, and over his last three seasons, he really wasn’t that reliable of a pass-catcher. And oh yeah, did I mention that he hasn’t played in two years?

As I was listening to Jones give his reasoning, I understood his logic, but all I could think about is the player that he was describing, Green Bay already has on the roster in Allen Lazard. On third downs and in big situations, Rodgers oftentimes went to Lazard, and he made the play. With another year in LaFleur’s offense and another year with Rodgers, the rapport and production between the two should only grow.

While everyone is trying to find ways to give the Packers an upgrade at the receiver position, I don’t believe this signing does that. In his prime, Dez Bryant was one of the best in the game, however, those days have passed, and as of now, I’ll take Lazard’s upside.