Cowboys exec: Bryant was unable to win one-on-one matchups

Dez Bryant was far from his usual dominant self in 2017. The wide receiver's inability to win the kind of one-on-one matchups that made him into a star was one of the reasons the Cowboys opted to let him go, according to a Dallas front-office executive.

"It was a collective deal," Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay said Tuesday, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The (inability) to win one-on-one, to win downfield. There was inconsistency as well as some huge things in his play. So what's best moving forward for Dez Bryant (and) the Cowboys, we just made that decision. It's a production-based business."

Bryant posted the lowest yards-per-catch average of his eight-year career and produced just 838 receiving yards - his third straight season without eclipsing 1,000 yards and his lowest output for a 16-game campaign.

Related: Romo: 'Dez is a good teammate'

The 29-year-old decided not to sign before the draft, reportedly turning down a multi-year offer from the Baltimore Ravens as he seeks a big one-year payday that will allow him to reenter the market in 2019.

However, if other teams agree with the Cowboys, Bryant may find it difficult to get the level of contract he desires.

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