Cowboys Veteran Receiver in Danger of Being Cut, Says Analyst

The Dallas Cowboys could be moving on from their longest-tenured wide receiver.

Noah Brown, a member of the Cowboys since 2017, is a candidate for release by the time Dallas has to trim its roster to 53 players on August 30, according to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report.

Knox wrote in his July 18 story that the Cowboys’ lack of depth at wide receiver may push the team to keep one of the younger receivers with more upside than Brown, who has largely served as a special teams contributor in his four seasons on the Cowboys’ active roster.

“Working in Brown’s favor is the fact that he’s already well-versed in offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system,” Knox wrote. “Working against him is the fact that Dallas also added James Washington and rookie Jalen Tolbert in the offseason.

“With [Michael] Gallup, Washington, Tolbert and CeeDee Lamb firmly entrenched on the roster, there will be a fight for the final couple of receiver spots. 2021 fifth-round pick  could have an edge because of his draft status. 2021 undrafted free agent T.J. Vasher has flashed big-play potential during the offseason,” Knox wrote.

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Why Brown Is in Danger of Being Cut

As much uncertainty as there is facing the Cowboys’ group of wide receivers, the top four spots are essentially locked up with veteran holdovers CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, rookie draft pick Jalen Tolbert and free agent signee James Washington, who signed with the Cowboys after four years with the Pittsburgh  Steelers.

That leaves one or two roster spots open at wide receiver, where Dallas could opt for one of their younger options, including Vasher, who was arguably the breakout player of Dallas’ minicamp session in June.

“He’s made some really big-time flash plays, splash plays,” coach Mike McCarthy said, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. “He’s had some really [big ones], particularly in the red zone, which you can see his ability down there. Big plays in scramble drills and things like that. I just think like any young player, particularly in his development, it’s getting the details of the everyday situations.”

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Brown Has Never Proved to Be Viable Receiving Option

The 26-year-old Brown has never posted more than 16 receptions and 184 receiving yards in a single season. In fact, he’s never posted a single touchdown in his career. And though he’s carved out a career on special team — he played 48% of the special teams snaps last season — he does not have any career kick or punt returns and hasn’t particularly excelled in special teams coverage.

Gallup is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and could be sidelined the first two or three games of the season. So the Cowboys will likely opt for a younger receiver with potential, such as Vasher or Fehoko, over Brown.

For the second year in a row, Brown signed a one-year contract. This one is worth $1.18 million. But Dallas’ uncertainty at the wide receiver position will likely lead to Brown on the outside looking in.

The Cowboys’ training camp starts July 27 at the Star in Frisco, Texas.

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