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How Allen Hurns could complement Cowboys receiving corps

The Cowboys haven't been busy in the free agency market but that could change with a visit from wideout Allen Hurns.
Credit: Andy Lyons
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 22: Allen Hurns #88 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs with the ball after a reception defended by Nate Hairston #27 of the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns visited the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday. If the Cowboys are able to convince the former Miami Hurricane to leave the Sunshine State for The Star in Frisco, they will ostensibly upgrade their receiving corps with wideout Brice Butler hitting free agency.

The undrafted free agent in 2014 had a noteworthy 2015 campaign with 64 catches for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns. After that, Hurns, who played his second-ever pro season with a sports hernia, inked a four-year, $40 million extension with the perennial AFC South basement dwellers in 2016. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to live up to the contract with 35 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns in 2016 and 39 grabs for 484 yards and two touchdowns in 2017.

Why would the Cowboys want someone else's under performer?

The Miami born, raised, and educated receiver, who turns 27 on Nov. 12, is entering a point in his career where the returns may finally culminate. Since 1999, there have been 79 receivers who have had 1,000-yard seasons while age 26-27. Big deal, you say. The usual suspects are on the list with the likes of Reggie Wayne and Hines Ward and Demaryius Thomas, guys who were consistent before age 26 and were thereafter.

Raise your hand if you took Golden Tate on your fantasy team this season. Tate's first ever 1,000-yard season was 2014 when he was 26 years old and changed scenery from Seattle to Detroit. Tate's former Seahawks teammate, Doug Baldwin, turned 27 the season after Tate departed and produced his first 1,000-yard season with 1,069 yards on 78 catches. He's never had a season under 950 receiving yards since.

For receivers such as Roddy White, Donald Driver, and Dwayne Bowe, the 26-27 age range is where they came into their own and became staples of their respective offenses in Atlanta, Green Bay, and Kansas City. Admittedly, Bowie had a 1,000-yard season in 2008, but really didn't breakout until 2010 when he caught 15 touchdowns.

Even if the Hurns signing doesn't turn into a career-changer for the former Jaguar and he's a one-season rent-a-receiver, Michael Westbrook's 1,191 helped win Washington the NFC East in 1999, and Antonio Bryant threw a jersey in the face of opposing coaches with 1,248 and seven touchdowns on 83 catches in Tampa Bay. Brian Hartline produced two straight 1,000-yard seasons with Miami from ages 26-27 in 2012-13. Darnay Scott caught 68 passes for 1,077 and seven touchdowns with Cincinnati at age 27.

Dallas will take Hurns' production in the 26-27 age range if it helps the Cowboys return to the postseason. It is the front office's job to craft a contract that protects the team from any drop-off in production, which may occur when Hurns has his breakout year in Dallas. If it does happen, look for the Cowboys to continue to upgrade the receiver position.

After all, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones says -- he's said this so much in our interviews I'm murmuring it down the hallway on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night -- "Player acquisition is 365 days a year." In other words, the club isn't going to be content with Hurns' production and anoint him the Dallas No. 1 to lead them into the 2020's.

Look at Hurns as more of a complementary piece. He's the new Brice Butler, who by the way, played his final season with the Cowboys at the age of 27. The Cowboys are looking to maybe cultivate some production out of a once promising receiver that another squad could not, a la Butler in 2015 when Dallas made the trade with the Oakland Raiders.

Allen Hurns looked like a rising star in 2015 before battling injuries over the past two seasons. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he should definitely be on the #49ers’ radar. pic.twitter.com/MG4N4d0XxL

— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) March 20, 2018

Hurns would be quite the complement too for the Dallas receiving corps. At 6-3, 210 pounds, he would no doubt be a red zone threat to go along with Dez Bryant, whose biggest strength has always been as a target inside the 20's. Among his 10 touchdowns in 2015, six of them were inside the red zone.

12/21 of his career receiving touchdowns have been inside the red zone. Since 2015, Hurns has the most third-down receiving yards with Jacksonville with 550 and the most third-down conversions for the team in that span with 34.

This is from a guy who has missed 12 games in that time.

Like the rest of the sports world, we will wait and see if the Cowboys are able to bring Hurns back to the Metroplex after Wednesday's visit. Otherwise, he would indeed be an economical, dynamic pickup for Jim Garoppolo in San Francisco.

How would you feel about Allen Hurns joining the Cowboys? Share your thoughts with Mark on Twitter @therealmarklane.

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