![Dez Bryant and Dak Prescott talking during a game against the Redkins. - [Image via Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/4/8/660x290/b_502x220x82/dez-bryant-and-dak-prescott-talking-during-a-game-against-the-redkins-wikipedia_1932515.jpg "Dez Bryant and Dak Prescott talking during a game against the Redkins. - [Image via Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons]")
Dez Bryant's future with the Dallas Cowboys may be decided as soon as this Friday (April 13). Mike Fisher, from 105.3 The Fan, reported that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Bryant plan to meet this Friday or later this weekend to discuss whether Bryant will remain a Cowboy.
Jerry Jones acknowledged weeks ago that he wants Dez to be on the team this season because he loves Bryant's passion and his will to win. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has expressed his feelings about Bryant and the passion he brings to the team. Stephen Jones also made note of the financial situations the Cowboys are in and how they need to fix those issues to improve the team.
Stephen Jones told the media that Jerry Jones will be the one to decide what is next for the Dallas Cowboys and Dez Bryant.
Bryant's contract numbers
Dez Bryant has been the focal point of the Cowboys offseason as the front office figures out what to do with Bryant and his contract. As of now, as he is still currently on the team, Bryant's cap hit for this season will be $16.5 million, which is nine percent of the team's cap for this season. The Cowboys look at that nine percent as a way to possibly talk Bryant into taking a pay cut and the rest of the money could be used to fill other holes on both sides of the ball.
Bryant has publicly stated he will not take a pay cut. He feels he earned his contract when he signed it back in the 2014 season when he posted 88 catches for 1320 yards and 16 touchdowns.
His on-field play from 2012-2014 is when Bryant was dominant and arguably a top-five receiver in the league, but over the past three seasons, his production has dropped and injuries have taken a toll on his body.
Bryant hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since signing his long-term contract and he's had foot and knee injuries that failed his body.
These are the reasons as to why the Cowboys front office wants Dez to take less money. His production on the field has not lived up to his contract over the past few seasons. In Dez's defense, there are other players currently on the team who have high cap salaries such as Tyrone Crawford, Jason Witten, and Sean Lee, who all could free up money.
Ways to free up more cap space
Believe it or not, Dez Bryant isn’t the only contract that needs to be dealt with in order to create cap space. Players such as Tyrone Crawford, Jason Witten, and Sean Lee have contracts the front office should be looking at as well.
Tyrone Crawford counts $9 million towards the cap this year. The Cowboys signed defensive end Kony Ealy, who can play Crawford’s position and could possibly be his replacement at a cheaper price.
Sean Lee will count $11 million toward the cap this season. We all know Sean Lee is a difference maker when he is on the field, but history shows he will always miss time. Your best ability in football is your availability, and that is the one major concern that Sean Lee gives you.
He could be another player who the front office could ask to take a pay cut to help improve the team.
The reason those names were brought up was that Bryant shouldn’t be the only player that should be asked to take a pay cut on this team. He still has two years remaining on his contract, so it isn’t like they have to necessarily make that decision right away.
If the Cowboys were really serious about creating cap space they would look at other positions on the team other than Bryant. We will have to wait until Friday or later during the weekend to see what the next step is.
