As recently as last season, Jalen Tolbert was the WR2 in Dallas, starting 15 of the Cowboys’ 17 regular-season games.
Fast-forward seven months, and Tolbert’s days on the roster in Dallas may be numbered.
Two trades, one late last year and the second in the off-season, have sent Tolbert’s stock tumbling. As has his position on the Cowboys’ depth chart.
It is a shocking transition for a player who had his best year in 2024, his third in the NFL, when most receivers finally click and get it, or get out of the NFL.
Tolbert’s Numbers
In 2024, Tolbert hauled in 49 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns. The year before, starting in six of 17 games, he only had 22 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
Still, it seemed he was on track to retain the WR2, even after the Cowboys traded a fourth round pick to Carolina for Jonathan Mingo.
Then Dallas swung a trade with Pittsburgh after the draft to bring in George Pickens.
With KaVontae Turpin a lock at WR3 that dropped Tolbert into a battle for WR4 with Mingo. Early returns from camp seem to indicate that Mingo is easily winning that fight.
That may be the least of Tolbert’s problems right now.
Up And Comers
Rookie Traeshon Holden out of Oregon is turning heads every day out in Oxnard. The Cowboys would probably have preferred to stash him away on the practice squad.
That option may be off the board with his practices so far.
Ryan Flournoy is also in the mix. Jalen Brooks could still put on a push as well.
If both Flournoy and Holden continue to put in good work out west, Tolbert could be the odd man out and get cut before camp ends.
Cutting Ties?
Tolbert is in the final year of his rookie deal and would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. He is due to make $3.6 million this year, with a dead cap value of a little under $250,000.
If he continues to tumble down the Cowboys’ depth chart at receiver, then it would make a lot of sense for Dallas to let him go.
It would be a surprising end for Tolbert, who at this point last year was poised to secure his long-term future in Dallas.
Judging by the chemistry already apparent between Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Pickens, Mingo, and Turpin, that opportunity may have already slipped through Tolbert’s fingers.
