Could Dez Bryant still take a shot at reigning his NFL career?
Jane Slater and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported Monday that Bryant is expected to travel to Baltimore this week for a training session with the Ravens, according to sources informed of the situation.
Slater added that Bryant reached out to Ravens coach John Harbaugh for the April draft about the possible training of Ravens John Harbaugh and recently replanted the seed. Bryant has continued to work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including catching passes from Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes this offseason.
The former first-team All-Pro has not played regular season snaps since 2017. The Dallas Cowboys cut Bryant in the spring of 2018. He signed a one-year deal in New Orleans in November 2018, but tore his Achilles tendon two days later, landing on injured reserve. He did not sign with a team last year.
During his sabbatical, Bryant indicated that he had no plans to retire and instead wanted to become completely healthy before attempting a comeback.
The Ravens will now see if Bryant is ready to return to the gridiron.
A hot target on his heiday, Bryant lived up to the 88-hype in Dallas, compiled 7459 yards and 73 TDs in eight seasons, earning three Pro Bowl bids along the way. During a 2012-2014 three-year stretch, in which he compiled 3,935 yards and 41 TDs, Dez was a field-tilting danger to defenses. His box-out ability made him particularly dangerous in the red zone.
Towards the end of his run, however, his athleticism proved to be exhausting, and he struggled to get separation from younger angles. His last season in Dallas, he earned 838 yards on 69 receptions with six TDs. Bryant could not get a step on defenders, and was not the same goal.
Two years out of football, what will the 31-year-old look like now?
Baltimore has been in the mix to add a veteran patient to his offense this offseason. The Ravens have overseen the introduction of Antonio Brown. Bryant would not bring as much talent as Brown at this stage, but the baggage of the field would be significantly less.
The Ravens have some speed in their receiving corps in Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin. If they bring in Bryant, he would play a reserve possession-receiver role, and probably have a focus on the red zone, where he can still use his big frame.
