Cowboys still have a WR need: 4 potential draft picks who could help them

New York Times

14-04-2025

Dak Prescott said he's getting close to being fully recovered from the season-ending hamstring injury he suffered at Atlanta in November.
'If I had to play a game today, I definitely could do that,' the Dallas Cowboys quarterback said Friday at the 35th annual Children's Cancer Fund gala at the Hilton Anatole Dallas. 'It's about moving forward healthy to make sure I can play 17-20 (games), whatever we get to when the time's right.'
Dak Prescott: 'If I had to play a game today, I definitely could do that.'
More from Dak on working his way back from a season-ending hamstring injury: pic.twitter.com/JxatDRNLsM
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 11, 2025
Regardless of the exact timetable of Prescott's return, upgrades are still needed at the skill positions around him.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged as much two weeks ago at the annual league meeting in Florida. While he said they like their wide receiver room, he added that losing veteran Brandin Cooks in free agency has opened them up to 'looking at a really explosive No. 2 that could upgrade us.'
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They have their obvious No. 1 in CeeDee Lamb. They're probably in good shape at numbers three though six, if they want to keep that many on the 53-man roster. But the No. 2 spot is the one that could be in play as early as the first round of next week's NFL Draft.
'CeeDee is an incredible player,' Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said at the league meeting when asked about No. 2 wide receiver. 'Always looking to add depth in that room. Really proud of Jalen Tolbert. Talked about him since the time we started talking about it two years ago when he was improving to now we talk about him as the leading receiver touchdown-wise on our team.
'Along with finding guys and adding more pieces, it's our job as a staff to be a developmental staff. We need to get these guys, like Ryan Flournoy, (Jonathan) Mingo to take the next step. We have to do that. That's our job. One of the things that we're working on right now is an improvement plan for each guy. … Between developing those guys on the roster and always looking under every corner to add some speed, some more playmaking skills, we're always looking to do that.'
Tolbert is next on the depth chart behind Lamb, followed by some combination of Mingo, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Flournoy and recently signed Parris Campbell. The Cowboys are unlikely to keep more than six.
Tolbert enters his fourth season having improved in each of his previous three. He led the team with seven touchdown receptions last year after only having two in his first two seasons. Mingo is a 2023 second-round pick that Dallas traded for in November. At 6-2, 220 pounds, he has good size for an outside receiver. The Cowboys believe he still has a lot of upside.
'We're really excited about the traits,' Schottenheimer said. 'But at the end of the day, when you look at Mingo, you can't evaluate him based on last year. You come in late like that, it's really, really hard. Here's a guy with a lot of talent, he's back right now training and lifting, I think he's going to do a hell of a job.'
Turpin has an opportunity to have a bigger role in the offense in his fourth season. He doesn't have ideal size, but his speed is a weapon the Cowboys need to get more from beyond what he brings as a returner.
Dak Prescott on Cowboys players stepping up as leaders pic.twitter.com/m5FcxSlmEE
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 11, 2025
It would be a surprise if Lamb, Tolbert, Mingo and Turpin aren't four of the potential six. Add in a high-round draft pick and that probably only leaves one spot between Brooks, Flournoy and Campbell to battle for in training camp and preseason.
Beyond Jones' recent comments about the No. 2 WR spot, the draft prospects who have been part of the Cowboys' top 30 national visits also show a strong consideration in taking a wide receiver with the 12th pick. Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, Texas' Matthew Golden, Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka and Missouri's Luther Burden III are all considered first-round talents. They are ranked as the top four at the position in this class according to Dane Brugler, The Athletic's NFL Draft expert.
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All four are a little different, so here's a brief breakdown of what the Cowboys could be getting if they decide to upgrade the wide receiver position with their first pick.
• McMillan (6-4, 213 pounds): He's had 26 touchdown catches over the last three seasons while playing 78.1 percent of his college snaps on the outside.
'McMillan is only average in the speed and separation categories, but he is a long and limber athlete with exceptional tracking and ball-winning instincts,' Brugler wrote in 'The Beast,' his annual draft guide. 'He fits the Tee Higgins mold as a unique playmaker, because of his size and catch-point skills.'
• Golden (5-11, 191 pounds): After starting his college career at Houston, Golden had his best season last year with the Longhorns, catching 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.
'It might bother some teams that he doesn't have better size,' Brugler wrote, 'but Golden also doesn't have any glaring flaws to his game that would keep him from becoming a productive pro. He can play inside or outside and become the go-to target for an NFL offense.'
• Egbuka (6-1, 201 pounds): He's had 24 touchdown catches over the previous three seasons with 10 coming this past year for the national champion Buckeyes.
'Egbuka is a very quarterback-friendly target — not because he is bigger, stronger or faster than defenders,' Brugler wrote, 'but because he understands detailed subtleties to uncover and command the catch point. Though he can line up outside, he would thrive in a Rashee Rice-like slot role, where he can expand a play-calling menu with his diverse skill set.'
• Burden (6-0, 206 pounds): After recording 1,212 receiving yards and nine touchdowns two years ago, he finished with 676 yards and six touchdowns last season.
'Burden is still working on his undergrad degree in route setup and separation,' Brugler wrote, 'but he holds a master's in creating with the ball in his hands, because of his explosive speed and competitive toughness. For an NFL team targeting a (yards after catch) weapon with upside to be more, he will be an appealing option early.'
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When combining the potential of those four with what the Cowboys currently have on their roster, McMillan seems like the best bet at No. 12, if he is still available. He could instantly improve Dallas in the red zone, giving Prescott a large target to dominate in the end zone like Dez Bryant did in his prime. While the others could end up having better careers, No. 12 seems a little rich for them. They might be better options if Dallas traded back a few spots.
(Photo of Matthew Golden: Tim Warner / Getty Images)