New Orleans Saints: Not signing Dez Bryant would be a mistake for New Orleans

The New Orleans Saints’ one big need is at the wide receiver position and the team may have the opportunity to bring in a former All-Pro receiver.

The one thing that the New Orleans Saints needed heading into the NFL trade deadline was a wide receiver. Despite having the best receiver in football this season in Michael Thomas, the Saints still looked dangerously thin at the position.

Ted Ginn Jr. is the team’s second-best receiver and he has not been great since a good showing in week one. Tre’Quan Smith has been hurt as well, leading to most of the passing yards either going to Thomas or to the tight end and running back position.

In theory, that is fine, that has been the Saints’ offensive gameplan for quite some time. Drew Brees has his history with connecting with tight ends as they have always been an integral part in the offense.

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The running game, especially the dual-threat ability to be passing targets, has been the motor of the offense the last three years.

When you have those things and a Hall of Fame quarterback, as well as a defense that has ascended from league-average to one of the best, you can get away with having just one elite receiver.

It is understandable why the Saints did not want to give up any assets for a receiver, especially because the team is already without its second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

However, the Saints should not pass on the chance to bring in a competent receiver without giving up anything other than a paycheck. That is the opportunity that the Saints have with Dez Bryant.

The former All-Pro receiver tweeted out that he is almost ready to contribute and he is going to start reaching out to NFL teams in two weeks. The last time we saw him on the field was in 2017 with the Dallas Cowboys, although his last team was the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints held the same philosophy last season and brought Bryant in on a one-year, $1.25 million contract in early November. Two days later, before he could suit up with the Saints, he tore his Achilles tendon in practice.

I get why some might be against bringing in Bryant. The experiment obviously did not work out last year because of injury so why should the Saints try again?

The answer is rather simple: why not? What is the risk of the Saints bringing Byrant in on another one-year deal with the hopes that he can be on the field and contribute? He does not need to be the Dez Bryant of old and does not even need to play every snap.

All he needs to be is another target for Drew Brees and if anyone is going to get the most out of Bryant it is Brees and Sean Payton. If he makes four catches a game for 50 yards, three of which coming on third and medium, then it is a signing worth making.

As fans, we are not paying our money for Dez Bryant and I can promise you that the New Orleans Saints have $1 million to spare. Even if he gets hurt again, that money will just be like a rounding error for the team.

And while Bryant might not be the perfect locker room presence and player, he is not someone such as Antonio Brown, who would cause more headaches than production.

In his last full season, Bryant still hauled in 838 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 69 receptions. He has value and the Saints would be foolish to pass on that opportunity.