Jason Witten Thinks Dez Bryant Ends Up With Packers

Jason Witten mentioned during an appearance on “The Adam Schefter Podcast” that he thinks free agent WR Dez Bryant ultimately ends up with the Packers.

“I think he’s going to end up going to the Green Bay Packers,” Witten said, via the Star-Telegram. “I think that’s a great spot for him. Aaron Rodgers, he throws that back-shoulder throw so well, and Dez [can have] great chemistry with a good quarterback that can put the ball wherever he wants.

“I still think Dez can still high-point the football as good as any other wide receiver in the National Football League,” Witten added. “You partner him up with Jimmy Graham and Aaron Rodgers, and I think that offense can put up a lot of points. … I think it’s a win-win for the Packers.”

The market for Bryant has been far more limited than anyone expected, but the level of interest in him should begin to pick up after a team gets a feel for what they have at receiver and as injuries take place.

Shortly after Bryant was released, the Packers were mentioned as a team to keep an eye on for Bryant. However, they used three draft picks on receivers and it seems likely that Green Bay will give them a shot to replace Jordy Nelson this summer before considering free agents options like Bryant.

• A few weeks ago, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported (via Pro Football Talk) that there are “far more” teams unwilling to pay Bryant a league minimum salary than there are teams that would consider signing him to any contract.
• Ed Werder previously reported that Bryant turned down a multi-year offer from the Ravens and is apparently looking for a larger one-year contract from a team.
• Ian Rapoport later mentioned that Baltimore was offering Bryant a deal similar to the contract they gave to Michael Crabtree, who secured a three-year, $21 million contract that included $11 million guaranteed.

Bryant, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2010. He was in the third year of his five-year, $70 million contract that included $45 million guaranteed and was set to make base salaries of $12.5 million over the final two years of the agreement when Dallas released him in a move that freed up $8.5 million of available cap space.

In 2017, Bryant has appeared in 15 games for the Cowboys and has caught 66 passes for 814 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 45 receiver out of 116 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Top 50 Available 2018 NFL Free Agents list.