There will be no encore for Dez Bryant in Dallas.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s draft in Arlington, Texas, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones preemptively put rumors of a potential reunion with the polarizing wide receiver to bed.
“We need to move on knowing that we don’t have Dez,” Jones said, per ESPN.
The Cowboys released Bryant, 29, on April 13 after eight seasons, saving $8.5 million in cap space by cutting him. Eleven days as a free agent, and Bryant’s future is still completely unclear. There was some reported interest by the Ravens, but they signed former Saints receiver Willie Snead eliminating them as a potential suitor.
Former ESPN reporter Ed Werder said on Wednesday that Bryant received a multi-year offer from the Ravens, but passed on it because he is seeking a one-year, prove-it deal to cash in big next offseason.
Though Bryant has all but knocked on the front door of the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to announce his Giants’ interest, The Post’s Paul Schwartz reports the team will look elsewhere to fill the void of Brandon Marshall, who was released last week following a failed physical.
It’s possible the Cowboys releasing Bryant so late in free agency has hurt his chances of landing a significant contract, as some teams already have spent their free-agent dollars.
“I have no thoughts about the timing of when we decided to move on,” Jones said. “For everyone concerned, that was as good a time as any from the end of the season.”
Once this week’s draft passes and teams have a more clear idea of their rosters, Bryant can perhaps become the focus of a receiver-needy team again.
As for the Cowboys, they don’t plan to fill Bryant’s cleats immediately.
“I think we recognize that we’ve got a hole to fill with Dez,” Jones said. “We, actually, in general know right now that and have known that we probably won’t have what we would call a pure X receiver to take the place of Dez.”
The Cowboys select 19th overall in this year’s draft.

