Cowboys will ask Dez Bryant to take pay cut, expected to return for 2018

Through the first couple of months of the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have danced around the discussion of star wide receiver Dez Bryant's long-term future with the franchise.

Through the first couple of months of the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have danced around the discussion of star wide receiver Dez Bryant's long-term future with the franchise. This conversation has centered on a possible pay cut proposed by the team in order to lower his cap hit for the 2018 campaign.

With that in mind, the Cowboys are expected to finally meet with Bryant to discuss the matter a greater extent on Friday in order to get it all situated. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the team is anticipated to push for a pay cut, but it should not impact his standing in Dallas.

From @NFLTotalAccess: The #Cowboys are likely to ask WR Dez Bryant to take some sort of paycut, but the expectation is that he returns for the 2018 season. pic.twitter.com/pjrnlqPbNk

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 11, 2018

“From what I understand, Jerry Jones is expected to ask Dez Bryant to take some sort of pay cut from his $12.5 million salary, but it's also the $16.5 million that counts against the cap this year. That is something that the Cowboys are not willing to go forward with. There is expected to be some sort of contract movement. There is wiggle room for Bryant as he is under contract not just for this year, but 2019 as well. From everything I am told, Bryant is expected to be a member of the Cowboys at the end of it.”

The Cowboys are looking to take a step down in pay for their star wideout, but they are still quite interested in keeping him in the mix for at least through the remainder of his deal. He is currently slated to make $33 million over the final two years of his five-year, $70 million contract.

The two sides will have to find some sort of middle ground for Bryant to remain on the roster, as he is still a highly valuable piece to their puzzle. He may not be putting up elite numbers like he used to, but his production is still a big part of their offensive game plan.

Hopefully, there will be some clarity once the two sides meet to discuss the contract parameters. In the meantime, Bryant's future in Dallas is still fluid.