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Baltimore Ravens: 4 thoughts on a potential Dez Bryant signing

By Michael Natelli

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half at AT&T Stadium on October 27, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half at AT&T Stadium on October 27, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Ravens are hosting Dez Bryant for a workout this week, and if the dollars and health check out, signing him should be a no-brainer.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Baltimore Ravens hosted Dez Bryant for a workout this week, sparking speculation that Bryant could finally end up with the team he has been linked to on numerous occasions all the way back to the 2010 NFL Draft.

Having not suited up in an NFL game since 2017, it’s unclear what Dez Bryant still has left in the tank, particularly after posting what many considered to be three consecutive disappointing seasons prior to his Dallas departure. Bryant signed a one-year pact with the Saints during the 2018 season but ultimately tore his Achilles tendon before ever suiting up for a game, and the uncertainty around how well that injury has recovered only raises more questions about what Bryant can offer at this point. In spite of all that, giving Bryant a look should be an absolute no-brainer for the Ravens.

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Not a Locker Room Problem:

While Dez Bryant carries something of a diva reputation, it should be telling that despite never playing a down during his time with New Orleans, teammates including current Raven Mark Ingram were “throwing up the X” in touchdown celebrations as a tribute to their injured teammate. Unlike fellow free agent star Antonio Brown, famous for being a locker room cancer, Bryant has a recent testimony of being someone teammates want to win for, with one of those teammates being current Ravens “glue guy” Ingram. Former teammates including Lance Dunbar, Jon Kitna, and others, also took to Twitter to give their endorsements of the former All-Pro as a teammate this week. That’s not to say Bryant is immune from a temper flare-up, but he poses substantially less locker room risk than someone like Brown.

Realistic Expectations Are Crucial:

If Ravens officials, coaches, or fans, are evaluating Dez Bryant on the likelihood he repeats some of his prime seasons with the Cowboys, they’ll almost surely be disappointed. But one has to assume that Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh didn’t grade Bryant’s workout on a “Is 2014 Dez Bryant back?” scale. With Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews in the fold, the Ravens aren’t lacking for top receiving options. A “successful” Bryant signing would look like him stepping in to provide another quality secondary receiving option behind Brown and Andrews, likely catching 30-40 balls for 350-500 yards. In a run-heavy Baltimore offense, it’s worth noting that the more conservative end of those projections would be more likely. So can he do it?

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