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During the 2019 NFL campaign, Lamar Jackson announced himself as one of the most dynamic players in modern football. The Baltimore Ravens’ offense, however, could get quite a bit more explosive. When Week 9 kicks off, Dez Bryant should hit the gridiron for the first time since 2017.

Given that lengthy layoff and his injury concerns, the receiver won’t be earning top dollar this season. You might be surprised, however, at just how little money Dez Bryant will be earning as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Dez Bryant looked like a legitimate star with the Dallas Cowboys

During their rich history, the Dallas Cowboys have boasted plenty of talented offensive players. In modern times, at least, Dez Bryant looked like one of the best.

Bryant played his college football at the University of Oklahoma. After a solid freshman season, the wideout exploded as a sophomore, piling up 1,480 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns; his junior campaign, however, was cut short, as the NCAA ruled him ineligible to take the field.

Despite that setback, Bryant entered the 2010 NFL draft and joined the Dallas Cowboys as the 24th-overall pick. After pulling in 45 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, it was clear that the receiver could still make plays in the pros.

Dez didn’t stop there, though. With each passing season, the receiver improved; before long, he and Tony Romo became one of the league’s top red-zone partnerships.

While Bryant’s production eventually tailed off due to some injuries, the receiver still posted some impressive numbers in Big D. He played 113 games for the Dallas Cowboys, snagging 531 passes and piling up 7,459 receiving yards and 73 touchdowns.

Mounting a comeback with the Baltimore Ravens

Despite his success in Dallas, Dez Bryant hasn’t seen the NFL field since 2017; the receiver joined the New Orleans Saints in 2018 but tore his Achilles before ever seeing action. His comeback, however, finally seems complete.

Earlier this fall, Bryant signed a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, joining the team’s practice squad. He’s apparently already proven his worth to the club; on Saturday, the receiver was promoted to the active roster. He’s expected to suit up for action on Sunday when the team visits Indianapolis.

With that being said, though, it’s not clear how much action Dez will see once the game kicks off. The Ravens, as we all learned last year, have no problem running the ball; Bryant will probably be, at best, Lamar Jackson’s third option behind Marquis Brown and Willie Snead IV.

How much will Dez Bryant earn with the Baltimore Ravens?

During his time with the Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant was able to command a massive salary. As a member of the Baltimore Ravens, though, his paycheck will look a bit different.

Based on Sportrac’s financial numbers, Bryant signed a $120,000 contract as a member of the team’s practice squad. Now that he’s been bumped up to the active roster, however, the receiver will score some extra cash. As spelled out in the league’s latest CBA, Bryant is entitled to the league minimum salary for a player with 7+ years of credited service, which is $1,050,000 per game on the active roster.

Come Sunday afternoon, Dez Bryant will add more than $1 million to his Baltimore Ravens salary. If he can stay healthy and recapture even a fraction of his past form, though, that bottom line will only keep increasing.

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference and Pro-Football-Reference

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Senior Writer, Programmer

Joe Kozlowski

Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he’s a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie.

Growing up loving Shaquille O’Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he’s continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives.

As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He’s barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe’s big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level.

Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.