Most of the excitement around the Dallas Cowboys’ offense heading into 2017 has been generated due to their stunning level of continuity carrying over from 2016. This will be seen mostly at the WR position, where the Cowboys are set with Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, and Brice Butler once again. This has not stopped Dallas at all from evaluating their depth at receiver though, drafting both Ryan Switzer and Noah Brown before signing UDFA Lance Lenoir – now working out Marquez North.
North, a Tennessee Volunteers product, spent 2016 on the Rams’ injured reserve and was waived outright last week.
Entering the 2016 NFL Draft as a Junior, there was some intrigue with North thanks to his physical traits that led to a solid freshman season with 38 catches in 11 games. However, this production would only drop as North battled injuries in the SEC and started just 14 more games over his college career.
CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler graded Marquez North as a sixth round WR, having this to say about his skills as a prospect:
A three-year starter, North lined up mostly as the Volunteers’ “X” receiver and flashed NFL-level talent, but his production dipped each of the last three seasons, mostly due to injuries and inconsistencies in the Tennessee passing game. He is rocked up with the size/athleticism profile that is highly intriguing, showing strong hands and the body control to contort his body mid-air. North is also one of the most physical blocking receivers in this class, but is a below average route runner and his athleticism doesn’t consistently translate to football production.
If you squint hard enough while reading part of this summary, North may come off as a lesser version of current Cowboys’ “X” target Dez Bryant. Lacking the consistency and all-around game of course, it makes sense that the Cowboys are at least exploring what another big bodied wide receiver that can block could bring to this team in training camp.
Watching the Cowboys build their roster into one of the best in the league has been a truly fascinating exercise for those that follow the team so closely in recent years. No possible areas of slight improvement have been ignored, and the level of competition that exists for roster spots on America’s Team is something entrenched in this team from the top down to Head Coach Jason Garrett.
The perfect example of this is currently the Cowboys’ depth chart at WR, where Dallas is looking to add as much quality depth as possible – in order to play to their strengths – by working out a prospect that’s yet to find his footing in Marquez North.
Dallas Cowboys worked out wide receiver Marquez North today, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 26, 2017
North’s workout reportedly comes on the same day that the Cowboys worked former Baylor QB Seth Russell as well.
