Cowboys news: The two Jalens, Tolbert and Brooks, will battle for WR3

The latest and greatest Dallas Cowboys offseason news.

Updates: ‘Big jump’ expected for Tolbert, Brooks – Staff, DallasCowboys.com

The Cowboys are optimistic about what these two young receivers can do with a lot more reps.

May 20 Updates

Michael Gallup and the Dallas Cowboys parted ways this spring and that kicked the door wide open for someone to step up and fill the role as WR3 behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks.

Jalen Tolbert, the former third-round pick out of South Alabama, could be viewed as the rightful frontrunner in that race, especially considering the strides he made in 2023. There is another young horse in the stable ready to run, however, and his name is Jalen Brooks.

Both will be pushed hard this summer to see who wants it more.

“We expect all of those guys to make a jump,” said wide receivers’ coach Robert Prince. “It starts with [Jalen Tolbert]. He made a big jump from Year 1 to Year 2, and we expect the same thing to happen for him going into Year 3. And Jalen Brooks, he works hard and he’s one of those guys that’s always studying, and he can play all of the [WR] positions — so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do this year as well.”

NFL Rumors: Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb, Bengals’ Tee Higgins Expected to Miss OTAs – Zach Bachar, Bleacher Report

This isn’t exactly surprising.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb will both be absent.

Higgins previously requested a trade from the Bengals after he received a franchise tag, while Lamb is set to enter the final year of his contract after Dallas picked up his fifth-year option.

Lamb also did not participate in the Cowboys’ voluntary offseason workouts as he awaited a new deal. Dallas has been patient when dealing with extensions for key contributors such as Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Dak Prescott.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones mentioned that the team would be taking things slowly in long-term contract discussions when speaking to reporters ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

“We’d like to see more leaves fall,” Jones said, per Patrik Walker of the team’s official website. “We’d like to see more action. It’s called option quarterback. I’ve spent my life [playing] option quarterback. I want to see some more cards played.”

Lamb is coming off a career year in 2023, setting multiple single-season franchise records with 135 catches for 1,749 yards. His production has steadily increased in each year since he was drafted in 2020, earning three Pro Bowl nods.

Former New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas named as logical fit for Dallas Cowboys – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys

The Cowboys still have a chance to add a veteran that can help them at a position of need this late in the offseason.

Given that we are a stone’s throw from Memorial Day, there are obviously not a lot of options on the open market at any position. That is simply where we are at in the NFL schedule.

Dallas isn’t in a dire situation, but having more hands on deck could help in a significant way given the serious question marks on the depth chart after Brandin Cooks.

Recently ESPN connected some free agents to places that made sense in their mind and they chose the Dallas Cowboys for former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Michael Thomas, WR

Best team fit: Dallas Cowboys

When healthy, Thomas can still uncover and work multiple levels of the field. However, the injury concerns are legit, as the 31-year-old wide receiver has played in just 20 games over the past four seasons. And while Thomas could wait until after camps start to find the best landing spot, let’s focus on Dallas as a possibility; he could make an impact there on a one-year deal.

In Mike McCarthy’s offense, Thomas could compete with Jalen Tolbert for the No. 3 role alongside CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. He could align as a boundary X and show his ability to work the seams out of the slot. He caught 39 passes in 2023 for 448 yards and a score.

Thomas first entered the NFL in 2016 and immediately took the league by storm. New Orleans was experiencing the final seasons of Drew Brees at quarterback and he capitalized on all of the talents within Thomas, so much so that the wide receiver led the league in receptions in both 2018 and 2019. He also led the league in receiving yards in 2019, too.

But things have been extremely different ever since. Thomas played in five games in 2020, missed the entire 2021 season, only played three times in 2021 and managed to return for seven games last year.

Cowboys coach hopes injured Tight End can pick up where he left off – Mario Herrera Jr, Inside The Star

The depth chart is stacked against him with star TE Jake Ferguson at the top, but John Stephens Jr. is still a player to keep an eye on at OTAs and training camp.

One of those players with high expectations is wide receiver turned tight end John Stephens Jr.

Stephens burst onto the scene as an undrafted free agent last year and immediately showed his athleticism and raw traits that could turn him into a star with some coaching.

After a strong training camp and preseason, it appeared Stephens was pushing for a roster spot over incumbents, Peyton Hendershot and Sean McKeon.

Unfortunately, that opportunity was snatched away from him after suffering a torn ACL at practice, the same fate suffered by CB Trevon Diggs just a few weeks later.

Dallascowboys.com journalist Patrik “No C” Walker caught up with TE Coach Lunda Wells and he was gracious enough to share some of his thoughts on Stephens for the upcoming season.

Is Stephens ahead of schedule recovering from injury?

“I think he’s ahead of schedule, physically. He’s been working his behind off with Britt (Brown) all season. And one of the best things that happened for him was God took away his legs to force him to get into the weight room and build that upper body strength.”

Being ahead of schedule from a physical standpoint is great news for both Stephens and the Cowboys. It should come as no surprise under the rehabilitation program that Britt Brown provides; one of the best in the business.

Wells continues:

“If you look at his physical structure right now, he’s built pretty good right now going into Year 2. His biggest attribute is his athleticism and being able to stretch the field vertically.

“He understands route details, how to get in and out of breaks and he’s tough, which gives him the added ability to develop as a blocker for us.”

2024 NFL season: Buccaneers, Cowboys among most vulnerable reigning division champions – Judy Battista, NFL.com

The Cowboys have not repeated as NFC East winners since 1995-96.

Rank 1B

Dallas Cowboys

NFC East · 2023 record: 12-5

This ranking should definitely be read as concern about the Cowboys’ offseason, which has been … quiet? Underwhelming? Setting aside the odd approach to Dak Prescott’s contract, the offensive line and running game have changed significantly (goodbye, Tyron Smith; welcome back, Ezekiel Elliott), and likely not for the better. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles gave their offense an injection with the addition of Saquon Barkley and used their first two draft picks to rebuild the secondary, adding Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The Eagles’ confounding second-half collapse last season opened the door for Dallas to finish with one more win and, thus, the NFC East title. Barring a repeat of that faceplant, the Cowboys figure to face a far more difficult path to repeating as the division champions.