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NFL Free Agency: Why Dez Bryant is available and who can sign him

By Wyatt Thomas Kimbrough

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 02: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys is seen on the field during warmups prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. Bryant was ruled out for the game due to injury. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 02: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys is seen on the field during warmups prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. Bryant was ruled out for the game due to injury. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Top reasons why Dez Bryant has remained a free agent since the spring:

Injury Prone:  Since Bryant’s infamous, “was it or was it not a catch” against Green Bay in 2014, he’s struggled with lower body injuries. It has been well documented that Bryant has not been the same since his string of both foot and ankle injuries, one of which truly derailed his 2015 campaign.

Pair his injuries with the emergence of a new star running back in Dallas, something the Cowboys haven’t had since Emmitt Smith, and Dez was on the hot seat.

Controversy: Postgame interviews, sideline reports, social media, and beyond. Dez Bryant is no stranger to the spotlight, but in today’s NFL, front offices and coaches want as little media presence that is not needed as possible.

Bryant is drawn to media attention, as is the media drawn to him, there’s nothing wrong with that, but at times, a player has to put the team before himself. Coaches looking to make an early season signing want team players, not players who still believe they are in their prime and can put up all-pro numbers.

Lack of Flexibility: As stated before, several teams have reached out to Bryant, amongst them Baltimore, Cleveland, and rumors of Arizona being another suitor. However, Bryant apparently has not liked what those franchises have offered him, thus still remaining a free agent.

At this point in his career, if Bryant truly does want to play bad enough, he’s got to come down off of his high horse. Bryant should absolutely be paid a fair value, but I fear his value in the eyes of prospective teams, and his own, are on two completely different ends of the spectrum.

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