Dez Bryant wants to continue career with Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
Slowly but surely, the Arizona Cardinals are becoming the preferred destination for NFL players. Despite some offers from other clubs, five-time Pro Bowler J.J. Watt ultimately decided that Arizona was the place to be. Now, another all-time great is making a pitch to join up with a suddenly-popular Cardinals squad.
Dez Bryant, the Dallas Cowboys franchise leader in touchdown receptions, told TMZ Sports that he’d like to play for the Cards. On Thursday, the 32-year old revealed to the tabloid giant just how enamored with the team he really is.
“That would be dope being next to my boy D-Hop (Deandre Hopkins), Christian Kirk, Kyler Murray,” Bryant told the TMZ reporter. “I feel like they have a dope offense, a dope defense, a dope coach (Kliff Kingsbury). If I had to choose, yeah, if that opportunity presented itself, I think I would take it.”
Whether Arizona feels the same about Bryant is not yet known. Obviously, the 6’2, 220 pounder is well past his prime. There’s a possibility, however, that the outspoken Bryant could secure a role on the Cardinals as a third or fourth receiver.
Last fall, Bryant appeared in six games for the Baltimore Ravens. The former first-round draft pick caught just six passes for 47 yards, but turned two of those receptions into touchdowns. It was the first live action that Bryant had seen since 2017, the veteran’s last campaign with the Cowboys.
Bryant was regarded as one of the league’s best pass-catchers during his playing days in Dallas. In 113 contests (99 starts) with the club, the Oklahoma State University product totaled 531 receptions, 7,459 receiving yards and 73 trips into the end zone. Bryant was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 2013, 2014 and 2016 seasons.
It goes without saying that Hopkins is the undisputed leader of the Cards receiving corps. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald has not yet revealed if he’ll return for another run at a Super Bowl ring in 2021. Other wideouts like Kirk, Andy Isabella and KeeSean Johnson have much more to prove at the professional level.
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Does Bryant have anything to offer the Arizona offense at this stage of his career? The Texas native certainly feels that there’s gas left in his tank. We’ll find out soon enough if the Cardinals agree with that assessment.