Archer: Nate Burleson could make sense for Dallas

Cotton

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Nate Burleson could make sense for Dallas

February, 14, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- When the Detroit Lions released safety Louis Delmas and wide receiverNate Burleson on Thursday, most of the attention of Dallas Cowboys' fans went to Delmas.

It makes sense. The Cowboys need safety help. Delmas is young, though a bit injury prone. He had a career-high three interceptions in 2013 and was set to make $5.5 million in 2014.

When considering any free agent, you always have to factor in cost. There will be a team with more cap space than the Cowboys willing to pay Delmas more. I wouldn’t expect the Cowboys to be huge players in the free agent market.

To me, however, Burleson makes more sense.

Let’s go with the premise that Miles Austin will not be around in 2014. We have talked about that a few hundred times already. The Cowboys have Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams ready to be their top two wide receivers. They like Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley, but both of those players have limitations. They could look at a receiver early in the May draft, like they did in selecting Williams in the third round, but most of the time receivers don’t hit the ground running. Williams and Bryant did, however, hit the ground running in their rookie years.

To me, adding a veteran receiver makes sense should the Cowboys lose Bryant, who has had back troubles no matter how minor they have been, or Williams for a good stretch.

Burleson caught 39 passes for 461 yards and a touchdown in nine games last season. He suffered a broken forearm in a car accident when he was attempting to stop a pizza from sliding off the seat. He suffered a broken leg in 2012.

Burleson’s defense of Calvin Johnson last year came at the expense of Bryant before the Cowboys and Lions made some headlines, but it meant little.

He is 32, which might be too long in the tooth, but the connection with Scott Linehan, who is the Cowboys’ new passing game coordinator and playcaller, is interesting.

Burleson and Linehan spent five years together with the Lions, and Burleson caught 194 passes for 2,083 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His price might be a lot more palatable to the Cowboys, especially compared to what Delmas should get.
 

mcnuttz

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I would prefer they sign a veteran safety, but don't know much about Delmas other than he was highly touted at draft time.
 

Simpleton

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I'd be fine with a cheap, veteran WR who would basically just be insurance.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I would prefer they sign a veteran safety, but don't know much about Delmas other than he was highly touted at draft time.
He had a better season last year then any of our safeties. The problem is the prior couple of years were filled with injuries. So basically he is an injury risk which I'm not thrilled with but he is at least capable of putting together a healthy season which is more then I can say for Sean Lee.
 

Cowboysrock55

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The problem is we are horrific at safety. We don't have any money to spend in free agency. So you are either going to need to sign a flawed player or force a draft pick in the first round on Haha Clinton-Dix or Pryor. Both guys I would have no problem if we took but I certainly don't want to feel like we have no choice but to take one.
 

boozeman

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The problem is we are horrific at safety. We don't have any money to spend in free agency. So you are either going to need to sign a flawed player or force a draft pick in the first round on Haha Clinton-Dix or Pryor. Both guys I would have no problem if we took but I certainly don't want to feel like we have no choice but to take one.
Since my feh was in general to the theme of the post about Burleson, I do not understand why you are defending your post.

But since we are on Delmas now...

Feh.
 

Bob Roberts

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I would prefer they sign a veteran safety, but don't know much about Delmas other than he was highly touted at draft time.
I'm thinking we can talk Darren Sharper out of retirement for one more season, I think he's ready to go
 
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