Cowboys free agents 2023: Wide receiver Noah Brown

The former sixth-round pick’s time in Dallas could be coming to an end.

Today we continue our 2023 Dallas Cowboys free agency profile series. Our next profile flips things back to the offense as we take a look at wide receiver Noah Brown.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Stats: 16G, 43 Receptions, 555 Receiving Yards, 12.9 Y/R, 3 TDs, 58.1% Catch%

Year Review: The Cowboys showed a lot of faith in Noah Brown last offseason when they brought him back. Brown earn a much-increased role in the offense this past season after the training camp injury to James Washington and slow recovery of Michael Gallup, which paid off in a career year for the 27 year old.

Brown’s 43 receptions and 555 receiving yards were career-highs, and his 74 targets were tied for the third-most in Dallas’ offense.

Brown started the 2022 season red-hot, recording 25 receptions for 339 yards in Dallas’ first seven games. After that, things took a turn. Brown would go on to catch just 18 passes for 216 yards in the Cowboys’ final nine games of the season.

For making just a little over $1M on the year, Brown overproduced for what he was getting paid. You could argue that 74 targets are too much for a receiver of Brown’s caliber, but he did have a decent season, especially in the first half of the year.

Free Agent Outlook: While Brown had a career year, it’s hard to see him earning a big-money, long-term deal on the open market this spring.

One thing that will likely keep teams from offering Brown a long-term deal is his lack of separation. According to Next Gen Stats, Brown was tied for the league’s sixth-worst separation rate (2.3) this past season.

In today’s NFL, you need receivers that can separate and create space, especially if you don’t have a great quarterback. While Brown is a decent contested catcher, his lack of ability to create separation will likely cost him in free agency.

A couple of comparable receivers to Brown who signed in free agency last year are listed below. In all likelihood, the former sixth-round pick will sign a similar deal this spring.

• Cam Sims = One-year, $2.5M
• Ray-Ray McCloud = Two-years, $4M
• Ty Montgomery = Two-years, $3.6M

Final Verdict: Noah Brown always seemed to somehow find his way back to Dallas for the past six seasons, but there’s a good chance that will finally come to an end this year.

The Cowboys need receivers who have elite speed and can separate, neither of which Brown excels at.

In a perfect world, Dallas would bring Brown back at the $1M they did last offseason and have him serve as their No. 4 or 5 wideout, but he will get a bigger offer elsewhere in free agency, causing his tenure in Dallas to come to an end.

Prediction: Brown signs a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.