Here we are, talking about the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers again. Instead of taking a wide angled look at the entire depth chart for the Cowboys, we’ll be focusing on one incredibly under the radar player that has a chance to work up this depth chart in his second training camp and make the team. This would be UDFA Wide Receiver Lance Lenoir Jr., from Western Illinois.
Lenoir is preparing for Oxnard as a battle tested player from last year’s competition at wide receiver. While intense enough to force Lenoir onto the practice squad, he did well to earn this spot through the preseason. This will mean little for Lenoir given this year’s increase in talent at WR for the Cowboys.
Dez Bryant may be gone, a player Lenoir compared himself to in my interview with him last summer, but new to the Cowboys receiving corps are Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, and Cedrick Wilson.
Throw in second-year receiver Noah Brown, an equal competitor to Lenoir whose effectively already beat the undrafted receiver for a roster spot once, speedster KD Cannon, and Tavon Austin, and Lenoir clearly has his work cut out for him.
Working on the assumption that Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Hurns, and Gallup are all roster locks, the Cowboys likely have room for only two more of these versatile pass catchers to make the final cut.
Sneaking on as much depth as possible with these spots will be of utmost importance to the Cowboys, who can find this value in Lenoir. Capable of returning punts and kicks, Lenoir’s difficulties on special teams halted his progress in the preseason, but another offseason of work in this area could justify the gifted receiver earning a spot in new WR Coach Sanjay Lal’s room.
I’ve already written about how important new Special Teams Coordinator Keith O’Quinn will be in deciding the final spots on the Cowboys roster, and this goes without mentioning how well Lenoir is suited to impress Lal, O’Quinn, and OC Scott Linehan as well.
The Western Illinois record holder for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, Lenoir is a lanky receiver with polished route running ability and a tenacity at the catch point that simply can’t be taught.
Lenoir was a favorite target of not only Dak Prescott in his first preseason with the Cowboys, but Cooper Rush as well. This should once again be the case for the pair of Cowboys QBs, now joined by rookie Mike White as well.
White is never afraid to test a defense vertically, something Lenoir has shown the ability to do both on the outside and from the slot, separating with ease to provide a big target to any quarterback.
There are more than enough reps to go around this summer for all of the Cowboys skill players, and Lance Lenoir should start out with an edge on the rest of the field. This could be all Lenoir needs to defy the odds once again and outlast even tougher competition at WR to make a real impact in the Cowboys new-look offense.
