The Cleveland Browns officially brought in former Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant for a visit on Thursday after the last several days of reported significant interest in him.
Despite Bryant being in the building, Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network is reporting that the two sides did not work out a deal during the that scheduled visit at the team's facility.
This isn't promising for Bryant that he was unable to work out a deal with the Browns on Thursday, but it doesn't shut the door on the possibility that the team still signs him. It was a process that allowed them to talk in person with the 29-year-old to see what he is looking and what he envisions if he were to join Cleveland. The fact that he walked out of the building without a contract doesn't necessarily mean that he won't be able to get one done with the team.
Bryant certainly has much to offer being a dependable receiving option that has shown he can be a legitimate red zone threat. Although his production has declined notably over the last few seasons, he still has plenty left in the tank to play at a high level and step into a prominent contributor role in the passing game. Bryant could add another element to the Browns offense alongside their other two Pro Bowl talents at the position in Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon that could give them the most potent trio in the league.
This may simply come down to his willingness to take a step back as he will have to acquiesce to the game plan and role that the Browns believe he could fit. It also a chance for him to demonstrate that he can still perform at an elite level at this stage of his career in what could be the best opportunity to do so before the start of the 2018 campaign.