Dallas Cowboys might not need to catch WR in draft

by Todd Archer

IRVING – The Dallas Cowboys need a wide receiver in the draft. And not anywhere in the draft, but early, possibly in the first round. Second round at the latest. They absolutely, positively need a receiver.

That's what I've been thinking until recently.

I'm not so sure anymore.

I know Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn will be a year older. I know Glenn had all of four plays last year in the regular season. I know Owens missed the final regular-season game with an injury. I know older receivers, you know, get older. I get it.

But this draft does not appear to be setting up well for receivers, especially top-of-the-draft, must-have, this-is-the-next-Larry-Fitzgerald type of guys. There are good receivers and guys that may become Fitzgerald types, but finding the right receiver is difficult for a lot of teams.

The Cowboys will meet with Texas' Limas Sweed, Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly and Indiana's James Hardy among others before the draft. But what could be realistically expected from a rookie receiver on a team built to win now?

The Cowboys should do what they can to pick up Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin or Chad Johnson for a first-rounder. One of those three would be able to give the Cowboys something they don't have. A rookie is not a guarantee. One of those three would be.

Now, I don't think there is a chance they will be able to get Williams, Boldin or Johnson from Detroit, Arizona or Cincinnati, but funny things can happen on draft day, so nothing gets ruled out.

Would a second-round receiver get on the field ahead of Owens, Glenn (and Jerry Jones keeps insisting Glenn will be back and healthy) and Patrick Crayton? If not, would a second-round pick be able to do what Sam Hurd and Miles Austin do on special teams? Despite seeing almost no action as a rookie last season, Isaiah Stanback is looked at by some as the future at the position. I'm not so sure, but if the Cowboys take a receiver in the second round, then Stanback gets pushed down the depth chart a peg.

Without Glenn – forget the last game – last season, Tony Romo had the best statistical season ever for a Cowboys quarterback. He has a top-five receiver in Owens. He has a top-three tight end in Jason Witten. He has a solid player in Crayton, if people can forget his ill-timed drop in the postseason. And if Glenn can come back close to form, then Romo has a reliable target.

Sure, teams have had success finding receivers late in drafts – Marques Colston in New Orleans for example – but the Cowboys don't need to take a receiver who could be good. They need to find the next go-to guy, the next No. 1 for whenever Owens is done.

If they can't get Williams, Boldin or Johnson, then they need to fill other needs first.