Dallas City News

Is Tolbert positioned to be Cowboys’ WR3 behind Lamb, Cooks? Todd Archer, ESPN

The Cowboys need a reliable WR3, Jalen Tolbert is trying to make that happen.

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have become one of the NFL’s best quarterback-wide receiver combinations.

Lamb led the NFL in 2023 with 135 receptions, had a Dallas Cowboys’ record of 1,749 yards and added 12 touchdowns.

But as the voluntary offseason has gone along, Lamb has stayed away, waiting for a contract extension that would make one of the NFL’s best receivers one of its highest paid as well. Not that Prescott and Lamb haven’t gotten some work in away from The Star.

“He’s ready to go,” Prescott said. “He looks like CeeDee Lamb.”

Lamb’s absence has opened up opportunities for the Cowboys’ young wide receivers, such as Jalen Tolbert, their third-round pick in 2022. After releasing Michael Gallup earlier in the offseason and not addressing the position yet with a known commodity in free agency or early in the draft, Tolbert has the chance to take the No. 3 role behind Lamb and Brandin Cooks.

“That’s my goal, to go out and prove to myself; I am who I say I am,” Tolbert said. “Obviously, you hear that all the time. But just go out there and chase greatness. I have two guys who ride along with me in CeeDee and B. Cooks, and I’m looking forward to following in their footsteps and doing what I can to create value on this team.”

Fantasy Alert: Cowboys’ Jalen Tolbert Hyped by Brandin Cooks; ‘He’s Ready to Go’ – Adam Wells, Bleacher Report

Brandin Cooks thinks Tolbert is on his way to a great season.

The already-loaded offensive depth chart for the Dallas Cowboys could have another weapon in 2024 if fantasy managers are looking for a deep sleeper to keep an eye on. Speaking to reporters from Cowboys’ OTAs this week, Brandin Cooks likes what he has seen from Jalen Tolbert going into his third season.

“He’s ready to go,” Cooks said of his teammate. “Whatever the expectation is for him out there, I’m telling you he’s going to crush it. He’s ready.”

There is an opening at the No. 3 receiver spot in Dallas this season. Michael Gallup was released by the team in March after two disappointing seasons coming off a torn ACL in 2021.

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Tolbert, a third-round draft pick in 2022, should see the field more because Gallup is no longer on the roster. He played fewer than 50 percent of the offensive snaps in 15 of 17 games last year.

3 free agents who could help the Cowboys defense in 2024 – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star

There’s no such thing as too much help and the Cowboys can add a few players to fill some holes on the roster.

Earlier this week, Dallas Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy was asked his thoughts on a variety of topics from QB Dak Prescott’s contract negotiations to WR CeeDee Lamb’s absence from OTAs. He answered each question candidly but still made sure to downplay each situation and show that it’s just business and he’s not worried about how it will play out in the end. McCarthy has been a head coach for many years and certainly, those years of practice on the podium have taught him how to handle the media with grace. One of the topics that was brought up was a meeting between McCarthy and VP of Player Personnel Will McClay. The meeting was reported to discuss the remaining available roster spots before camp.

DE Shaq Lawson

Experience: 8 seasons

2023 Salary: $1.092 million

One of the positions circled as a need for the Cowboys in free agency and the draft this offseason was defensive end. Dallas lost two of their top players in the rotation to Washington. Dan Quinn, now the head coach of the Commanders, poached several players from the defense he led for the past three seasons. Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. were among those poached.

Dallas addressed the position early in the draft, selecting Marshawn Kneeland from Western Kentucky in the 2nd round to complete with Sam Williams at right defensive end. Shaq Lawson, a former 19th overall pick of the Buffalo Bills could come in and provide valuable depth behind those two or even help spell DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawson has seen his role diminish gradually over the past few seasons in Buffalo but he’s still just 29 years old with much left in the tank and worth a kick of the tires.

S Tashaun Gipson

Experience: 12 years

2023 Salary: $2.9 million

If there is one thing Mike Zimmer loves to have in his defense, it’s smart safeties on the back end. We saw that in Cincinnati with Jessie Bates and also in Minnesota with Harrison Smith. Veteran Tashaun Gipson could come in and add some of the savvy and coverage skills needed at the back of the defense.

Gipson is on the wrong side of 30 but he can still play. His snap count declined in 2023 after the emergence of Halanoa Tufanga, but he had a five-interception season just the year before. Dallas currently has Malik Hooker as their only true free safety. Donovan Wilson plays better near the line of scrimmage but the days of those packages might have left with Quinn.

Wilson has proven to be somewhat of a liability in coverage at times. Imagine Hooker and Gipson on the field together in obvious passing downs. Signing Gipson would also reassure the fanbase that prioritizing the safety position wasn’t just a passing phase. It also wouldn’t hurt to have some of that San Francisco toughness and mentality leak into the Cowboys locker room for a change.

John Stephens Jr., Brevyn Spann-Ford could push Luke Schoonmaker for TE2 job – Brian Martin, Blogging the Boys

The Cowboys are deep at the tight end spot and 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker may want to look over his shoulder.

Could it be possible? Could Luke Schoonmaker, the Dallas Cowboys second-round draft pick in 2023, already be in jeopardy of losing his job as the primary backup tight end for Jake Ferguson in 2024? Current circumstances certainly make it a possibility. News recently broke the former Michigan Wolverine’s TE will be sidelined for the remainder of the Dallas Cowboys Organize Team Activities (OTA’s) due to a hamstring injury. This is the latest of a long list of injuries Schoonmaker has sustained since arriving in Dallas last year. Sadly, it’s starting to put his availability into question.

It’s difficult for a player to see the field or be relied upon when they can’t stay healthy. The jury is still out whether or not Luke Schoonmaker should carry the label “injury prone”, but him being sidelined once again does open the door for players behind him on the depth chart to push for his TE2 job, particularly John Stephens Jr. and Brevyn Spann-Ford. John Stephens Jr. joined the Dallas Cowboys last year as an undrafted free agent and was looking like a roster lock up until the point his rookie season was cut short due to a season-ending knee injury. His rehab is currently on schedule for him to be good to go by training camp, at which point he could challenge Schoonmaker for the TE2 job.

Word is John Stephens has been working hard and has had a productive offseason, looking noticeably bigger/stronger due to his added muscle mass. Known mostly for his receiving ability last year, that added mass and strength should help improve his blocking, potentially making him a more complete player at the position. Like John Stephens Jr. last year, Brevyn Spann-Ford joined the Dallas Cowboys this year as an undrafted free agent out of Washington. Dallas liked him so much in fact, they made him one of the highest-paid UDFAs this year. Money speaks in the NFL, and it means there’s a possibility he could see the field as a rookie.

Spann-Ford was considered one of the best blocking TEs in the nation last year, but has some intriguing upside as a receiving threat in the passing game as well. With both Luke Schoonmaker and John Stephens Jr. currently doing rehab work off to the side at OTA practices, he has the opportunity catch the coaching staffs attention.