Dallas City News

The Dallas Cowboys had high hopes for wide receiver Jalen Tolbert in 2022 when he was taken in the third round. Unfortunately, his adjustment to professional ranks didn’t go as smoothly as planned, and Tolbert only appeared in eight games and caught two passes for 12 yards. Although he was the fourth guy in the rotation after the Cowboys acquired veteran Brandin Cooks, it was clear as last season went along that quarterback Dak Prescott was starting to trust Tolbert more. He ended up playing 477 snaps and logged 22 receptions (13 for first downs) for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

Entering training camp, there were still questions about who would be the WR3 in Dallas behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. Although Tolbert had the inside track just on time spent with the team, guys like 2023 seventh-rounder Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, Tyron Billy-Johnson, and Jalen Cropper weren’t going to make it easy. However, Tolbert was one of the bright stars for the Cowboys in training camp. As a third-round selection going into his third year, it was paramount that Tolbert make his mark and become a threat in this offense.

The Cowboys have left Oxnard, California, and are back in Texas now. Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan was in attendance for the entire month the team was in training camp. When he appeared on Will “Skywalker” Steele’s morning show for AtoZ Sports last Friday, he deemed Tolbert as the most improved player on the Cowboys roster when he was asked.

I’d have to start with Jalen Tolbert. I had my concerns about Jalen Tolbert’s toughness. His mental toughness. Maybe not the physical toughness but the mental toughness. I know that him and the other Jalen, Jalen Brooks, I felt like there was going to be a legitimate battle for that third spot. With Jalen Tolbert and Brooks, the first few days of practice it was very close of the way they both were competing, the way they were running their routes, they way they were finishing with their catches. You were like, ‘Okay, this is going to be a good one’. Then, as camp wore on, Jalen Tolebrt became a better player.

It’s no shot on Jalen Brooks because we’ve seen Jalen Brooks in various opportunities make big plays. You can go back to the Rams game he was able to make a catch from Copper Rush down the sideline, and he was making a lot of big plays. Jalen Tolbert was just that much better than him. The practices, the consistency, that’s what you’ve got to do. If you’re going to be a receiver in the National Football League, you have to have consistency. Practice after practice, game after game, and be that guy. I think that Jalen Tolbert solidified himself as that third receiver over Jalen Brooks.

With Tolbert taking the next step in his progression, the Cowboys could have a legit three-headed attack once again at receiver like in the days of Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup. The Cowboys are going with a running back by committee approach in 2024. So, the passing game will be the driving force for Dallas again this season, and the more options they have, the better.

The ascension of Tolbert is something that shouldn’t be surprising if you ask the aforementioned Cooks. Back in May, he predicted a leap from Tolbert.

The way that he’s able to talk about a route or the way he’s able to tell the quarterback the way he sees things, he’s not shy anymore. He’s able to go up to Dak (Prescott) and say, ‘Hey, I seen it this way,’ and it’s awesome to see him grow in that aspect.

He’s ready to go. Whatever the expectation is for him out there, I’m telling you he’s going to crush it. He’s ready.

Tolbert has certainly taken the ball and ran with it, and now it’s time for him to make an even bigger impact.