Latest news with #JalenTolbert
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Camp Battle Pits Tolbert vs. Mingo
An interesting training camp battle is set to take place when the Dallas Cowboys begin their offseason work in Oxnard, California. When the Cowboys traded for wide receiver George Pickens, he instantly became the team's WR2. Advertisement And with franchise wideout CeeDee Lamb, Dallas its top dog. But … the WR3 job is open and up for grabs. The WR3 role in an offense has become essential to a team's success with 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRSs) being one of the most frequently used alignments in today's NFL. For the Cowboys, the two receivers primed to compete for the WR3 gig seem to be Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo. By the numbers? It's Tolbert's job to lose as he is coming off a breakout season where he recorded 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2024 season. Meanwhile … After being traded to Dallas midway through last season, Mingo posted just five receptions for 46 yards and no touchdowns in his eight appearances with the Cowboys. Advertisement And yet some have predicted that it will be Mingo who will start alongside Lamb and Pickens to form a revamped wide receiver trio heading into the 2025 season. One big reason Mingo gets mentioned here, frankly? Dallas surrendered a fourth-round pick to Carolina in that trade … And the front office would like to be proven right, While Mingo stands 6-2, 220 pounds and offers a big-bodied skillset that is arguably different than what the Cowboys currently have on the roster, Tolbert has proven to be more productive with his increased reps. There are other candidates, too. And the Dak Prescott-led passing attack with largely be about Lamb and Pickens. Advertisement But then comes competition. Training camp will determine who's ready to step up to the plate and secure the third starting wideout role. Related: Cowboys Fans Thrilled By Overshown Update on Thanksgiving Goal Related: Cowboys Make NFL Schedule History With Wild Number of Thursday Games
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inside What Pickens Trade Means To Cowboys Depth Chart Battle
FRISCO — Finally, the Dallas Cowboys have their No. 2 receiver for Dak Prescott. They have traded for George Pickens, adding the perfect complement to CeeDee Lamb and a downfield presence that this offense has lacked. Assuming the Cowboys manage the personality off the field, the talent on the turf takes them to another level and should help this group get back to a higher level of performance. Advertisement The addition of Pickens brings some additional relief because of the Cowboys' lacking talent behind Lamb to command that No. 2 spot. Now that Pickens holds that title, a battle for a new job begins. Similar to last offseason, the Cowboys are waiting on one of their young receivers to solidify himself as their No. 3 receiver. As far as his options, Prescott's top three are Lamb, Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson. Wide receiver KaVontae Turpin exists outside this conversation, able to be utilized in a variety of ways. But the Cowboys have invested in Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo and are positing some faith that at least one of the two will embrace that role. Both have their positives in the eyes of the franchise. Advertisement Tolbert has the connection with Prescott that never had the opportunity to flesh out for a variety of reasons. Mingo never really gained his footing when the Cowboys acquired him midseason, but there is an intention to get something out their investment. Tolbert's experience with the franchise and with Prescott gives him the initial edge. However, that position will need to be earned this summer. And while Tolbert and Mingo are the lead candidates here, the Cowboys have more pass catchers down the depth chart capable of making their own offseason splash. Dallas' bold move signals a vibe shift and a new standard for this offense going forward. The Cowboys have a very specific window to capitalize on with Prescott, so all facets of this offense will need to be on point. With that in mind, this battle for the No. 3 receiver spot becomes one to monitor as the Cowboys get closer to training camp. Related: Cowboys Dak Prescott Is George Pickens 'First Real QB' Related: Cowboys Scoop On Signing Nick Chubb Confirmed By NFL Network
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Skipping WR in draft will cost Cowboys $10M a year, and it was the smart move
Skipping WR in draft will cost Cowboys $10M a year, and it was the smart move Since no worthy prospects fell to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025 NFL draft, they were wise to avoid the temptation forcing something that wasn't there The Dallas Cowboys have a wide receiver problem they're going to have to deal with. Aside from CeeDee Lamb, no one currently on the roster resembles a starter. There is hope players like Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo can step up into the role, but that's more wishful thinking than expected outcomes. As things stand today the situation looks bleak. The 2025 NFL draft was supposed to solve this issue for Dallas. Sitting at No. 12 in the first round and loaded with 10 picks overall, the Cowboys were rich with resources easily spent on one of the many WR prospects entering the NFL. Yet, when push came to shove and the Cowboys were on the clock, the front office decided to go a different direction. They drafted a different position at No. 12, and they drafted a different position with every pick thereafter. And guess what... It was the right thing to do. The need at the WR may have been at the top of the Cowboys list this year, and picking one would've saved the club $10 million in surplus value each season, but the prospects available didn't match that need. After Tetairoa McMillan went off the board to Carolina, no WR was worthy of being the Cowboys' top selection. The tier below McMillan was either WRs who had seemingly already maxed out their potential or players who were too green to be depended on today. Pre-draft pleas to not settle and resist reaching for a WR went answered and subsequent mistakes were avoided. Forcing a WR would have forced a multiyear commitment to a player Dallas might not have believed in. It would come at an opportunity cost of Tyler Booker, Donovan Ezeiruaku or Shavon Revel and it may not pay off in the long-term or even the short term, for that matter. The need is still there on the Cowboys depth chart and unless something is done to address it, the 2025 season could be an uphill battle for Dallas, but other options exist. Free agents are still on the market and trade options appear to be dangling in the store windows. Teams such as Green Bay and Tampa Bay are extremely deep on their depth charts; there's a good chance they'll be looking to move some excess off their roster before the new season kicks off this September. Ideally a great WR would have been available at a time when the Cowboys were on the clock but sadly that didn't happen. Instead of forcing the issue and compounding the problem, the team took a responsible approach and moved on to Plan B. With any luck a veteran will be added in the near future and a worthy prospect is found early next draft. The Cowboys were wise not to force the issue in 2025 but that doesn't make the WR hole any less critical. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
