I really like Beasley and I think the Cowboys are better with him on the team, but I prefer the Beasley from previous years who seemed to be focused on making plays and wanting to win no matter who makes the play. I want the guy who defied the odds at his size to not only play in the NFL, but make game winning plays. I want the guy who was easy to root for and was a great role model for younger football players who may not check all of the boxes on the physical requirements of being an NFL wide receiver.
My concern has less to do with his ability and more to do with his attitude which is something I pointed out throughout the season.
He was in a contract season and was likely expecting (unrealistically) to be the top guy given the receivers we had when we started the season. When that did not work out, he seemed to mope and pout on the field. When teammates would score, he would not run over to congratulate them or even celebrate the score on his own. He would simply turn and walk back to the sidelines while everyone else was celebrating.
He likely knows that at his size, the moment he loses his quickness, whether to injury or age, his career is over at least new contract wise, so he was likely hoping to cash in on one big contract just in case that happens in the next 3-4 years. Because of how the season played out, his perceived value likely declined especially after the end zone drop on a simple pass earlier this season that everyone, including other teams, saw happen.
In any case, as a free agent, odds are good some other team is going to think to themselves, "He's a great slot receiver and in OUR system, he can make more plays for us than he did in Dallas" so they will sign him to a really nice 3-4 year contract. Dallas on the other hand primarily views him as a slot receiver and will value him as such.
My favorite memory of Beasley was on a play where he did not make a catch but rather celebrated the team's comeback win. In the first game of the 2015 season, the Giants took the lead late and with around 90 seconds remaining in the game, the Cowboys drove down the field. With 10 or so seconds remaining, Romo connected with Witten for the game winning touchdown. What caught my eye more so than teammates running to Witten to celebrate was Cole Beasley's reaction in the end zone. He held up his hands to signal touchdown and punched the air. That's the guy I want on the Cowboys.