Wide receiver is perhaps the deepest position on the Dallas Cowboys right now, as they prepare for a week-long minicamp that will reportedly simulate the preparations of a game week. Offensively, this means preparing Cowboys’ QB of the present and future Dak Prescott with even more specifically designed plays for him – although Dak will be throwing to some unfamiliar names. An undrafted free agent out of Western Illinois, the Cowboys have signed WR Lance Lenoir after working him out last week.
Lance Lenoir… #HowBoutThemCowboyshttps://t.co/NltZeXirfG pic.twitter.com/n2OD5r3tuT
— WIU Football (@WIUfootball) June 12, 2017
Lance Lenoir, listed at six feet and 199 pounds, joins America’s Team after acclimating to the NFL with the Chicago Bears during their rookie minicamp. A model of consistency for the Western Illinois Leathernecks, Lenoir recorded 41 consecutive games with a reception over a three-year starting career.
His 273 receptions, 3,796 yards and 28 touchdowns are all school records for Lenoir, who will not only face the uphill battle of making his NFL impression from a FBS school a lasting one, but will have to do so in a hurry on a Cowboys team that drafted two big name receivers to stack with their core of Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, and Brice Butler.
Americas team….
— Lance Lenoir Jr. (@successfulj7_) June 12, 2017
Also stacking up the depth chart at WR is intriguing second-year player Andy Jones along with Lucky Whitehead, fringe roster players that at least have experience in Scott Linehan’s offense that Lenoir simply does not.
Lance Lenoir does have experience both on special teams and as a runner, which could allow him to lighten the immediate load on fellow rookie Ryan Switzer along with Whitehead in these important roles.
Until the pads come on and the intensity picks up at training camp though, the offseason programs for the Cowboys’ and every other team are typically dominated by offense. An immensely deep group of wide receivers are going to get their chance to shine against Dallas’ young defensive backs, including the Cowboys’ most recent addition of UDFA Lance Lenoir.
