The Dallas Cowboys reportedly made a strong push to sign talented wide receiver Sammy Watkins before he inked a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jean-Jacques Taylor of 103.3FM ESPN Radio quoted a source as saying, “It was very close . . . as in money couldn’t have been the reason.”

Of course, Dallas could simply be leaking information like this to placate fans.

Watkins was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He had a solid rookie season before a breakout sophomore campaign in which he caught 60 balls for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns.

But after three injury-hit years in Buffalo, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams last offseason.  Watkins recorded 39 catches for 593 yards and eight touchdowns in what turned out to be his lone season in Los Angeles.

Watkins signed a three-year, $48 million deal with Kansas City earlier this week.

As for Dallas, the Cowboys are not expected to re-sign wide receiver Brice Butler. Not to mention the fact that Dez Bryant‘s future remains in doubt because of his $16.5 million salary cap number.

Bryant has not been the same receiver that he once was over the last few years. After three-straight years with at least 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns from 2012-14, he has failed to break 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons.

With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, and the league fully entering rumor season, it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys try to acquire another receiver in free agency or in the draft to provide Dak Prescott another weapon.