Dallas Cowboys third-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert’s career has gotten off to a slow start. Now possessing a pathway to more snaps and success than ever before, Tolbert is slated to enter a make-or-break campaign in 2024. It's legitimately now-or-never for the former South Alabama wideout.
Tolbert was one of the more intriguing small-school performers heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. The Jaguars standout posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2020 and 2021 while rewriting the program’s record books along the way. The Cowboys were convinced of Tolbert's potential, drafting him with the 88th overall selection.
Tolbert's rookie campaign was a complete write-off. The Mobile native suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him through the majority of the spring. He initially struggled to master an offense that asked him to play multiple positions. He repeatedly made mental mistakes and was eventually a healthy scratch for Dallas' final seven games. He caught two passes as a rookie.
Tolbert did showcase growth throughout his sophomore campaign, though playing time and opportunity were still difficult to come by. He appeared in all 17 games, recording 22 receptions for 268 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Tolbert played 477 snaps (388 more than his rookie season), accounting for 40.29% of all Cowboys offensive plays, according to Pro Football Reference.
There's a clear pathway to career-high targets and snap counts for Tolbert in year three. CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks will be the Cowboys' starting boundary receivers, but the franchise did release Michael Gallup from his contract earlier this offseason. Gallup appeared in all 17 games for the Cowboys last season, accumulating 34 receptions for 418 yards.
#Cowboys Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert are back together, training in the offseason like they did last year.
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) April 8, 2024
Tolbert, along with other WRs on the team, attributed their success in 2023 to Cooks' tutelage 🤟
(🎥: @Jalen8Tolbert on IG) pic.twitter.com/S3Sk8sNMBN
Gallup was Mike McCarthy's preferred No. 3 receiver in 11 personnel last season. He played 612 snaps, more than 50% of all Cowboys offensive plays throughout the campaign. Dak Prescott must acclimate to a new No. 3 wideout this season. Tolbert should be considered the favorite to replace Gallup, though he'll face competition from a pair of intriguing playmakers.
Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy will attempt to push Tolbert for playing time throughout training camp and the preseason. A sophomore seventh-rounder, Brooks appeared in six games for the Cowboys as a rookie last season. The former South Carolina native hauled in six catches for 64 receiving yards.
Flournoy was Dallas' sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's a small-school product from Southeast Missouri State who previously played at Central Missouri and Iowa Western Community College. Flournoy enjoyed a fruitful pre-draft process, even earning himself an invite to this year's Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, but it's difficult to see him playing a major role in the offense this season. Tolbert's development should be well ahead of his.
An initial injury and mental errors derailed Tolbert's rookie season, but he bounced back as a sophomore to flash real NFL potential. He's now entering a campaign where there's less standing in his way than ever. Tolbert could thrive in a make-or-break year.
