Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams have the top two spots on the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver depth chart pretty much locked up - assuming, of course, that Bryant's contract doesn't become the kind of lingering issue that rankle the two sides well into the season.
Beyond the first couple of slots in the depth chart though, questions abound for the Cowboys at wideout and positions very much seem to be there for the taking.
Yes, slot receiver extraordinaire, Cole Beasley, signed a new contract extension this offseason, meaning he's likely to see some significant snaps as a pass-catcher for the Boys, but his diminutive stature and versatility mean he's just as likely to line up in the backfield as he is to line up at one of the receiver spots.
With special teams maven Dwayne Harris Jr. off to rival New York in free agency, could an undrafted free agent like George Farmer make a name for himself catching passes from quarterback Tony Romo next season?
"Dallas doesn't have a definite third receiver though, unless you count Cole Beasley," writes Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. "Farmer will be in a stiff competition for two or three roster spots with a group including Devin Street, Chris Boyd, Deontay Greenberry, Antwan Goodley and a few others. Given Farmer's lack of development from college, he looks more like a candidate to earn a spot on the practice squad. There he will have time to see if he can develop his craft before being called on to contribute on the field for Dallas or another team."
While fellow undrafted free agent Antwan Goodley, formerly of the Baylor Bears, has come with much more hype attached to his name and thus seems much more likely to garner a roster spot during his initial NFL season, Farmer very well could become another receiving contributor to emerge from all the new Dallas additions if things break his way in training camp and he develops at a rate quicker than expected.
Of course, as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes in his pre-draft profile and Campbell echoes above, that seems like an unlikely outcome at this early point. Still, Farmer's projected NFL future seems to lineup well with what the Cowboys offense is currently missing.
"Solid but unspectacular possession receiver who is missing the speed and twitch to work from the outside and will probably have to prove himself as a slot receiver," writes Zierlein. "Farmer is more than tough enough and has the hands and body control to make tough catches over the middle, but he lacks the athletic traits and production on tape to make it easy for a team to say 'yes' on draft day."
None of the league's 32 teams said "yes" on draft day as Farmer wound up going unselected and signing with the Cowboys as a free agent.
It was shocking that Goodley went undrafted as he certainly seems to possess legitimate NFL ability. His special skill set - he's a tough, quick receiver built more like a running back - combined with the lack of established depth in Dallas mean he's likely to lock up a roster spot. Beyond Bryant, Williams, Beasley and Goodley though, nothing is certain.
Street probably has the best shot at making the team considering he was a fifth-round pick last year, but two receptions for 18 yards his rookie year certainly doesn't warrant a spot in the lineup. He's got work to do this offseason if he wants to stick with the Cowboys.
If Farmer's able to develop a rapport with Romo in training camp, he could end up on the practice squad, or, potentially, latch onto the back-end of the roster his rookie year and make more of a push for playing time in the slot as the year progresses or even next offseason.
