Simi Fehoko's name has been mentioned seemingly with increased frequency each day since the start of Dallas Cowboys OTAs.
Fans of Fehoko were hoping to see him make a bigger impact on the offense in 2022.
His progress was foiled, however, when he was placed on injured reserve early in the season.
The receiver presumably aggravated a shoulder injury that originally occurred in Week 3. He was out for the remainder of the season.
Still, the strength of his performance at last year's training camp was enough to keep many people interested in Simi as a contender in this year's wide receiver battle.
Conversations about who will take over the WR4 role revolve around Fehoko and 2022 3rd round draft pick Jalen Tolbert.
Both Fehoko and Tolbert have had great off seasons. Tolbert has been described as looking much more confident as compared to this time last year. He says he feels more prepared to take on the various roles he's expected play.
Recent discussions about Simi Fehoko, though, predict a familiar trajectory.
DAK PRESCOTT SAYS SIMI FEHOKO IS PROGRESSING LIKE CEDRIC WILSON
On Thursday, Jess Nevarez of the Dallas Cowboys produced podcast “Girls Talk ‘Boys Talk” relayed a conversation she'd had with quarterback Dak Prescott about Simi Fehoko.
“I asked Dak about Simi,” she said, “When Dak talked to me about Simi he said, ‘He's on the same kind of progression that I saw from Cedrick Wilson.'”
Jess described how Cedrick Wilson made a jump in minutes and production in his third season with the Cowboys. It is expected that Fehoko will make a similar jump.
But there are even more parallels than that.
BY THE NUMBERS
Wilson was drafted in 2018, 6th round. He didn't see the field that year because of a shoulder injury.
But during his second year, Wilson played in six games. He logged five receptions on eight targets for 46 yards, averaging just over nine yards per catch, but he ended the season on injured reserve.
Simi Fehoko was drafted in 2021, 5th round. He was on the field for seven offensive snaps and 48 special teams snaps. But he didn't produce anything that made it onto the stat sheet.
During the 2022 season, Fehoko played in 5 games. He was targeted four times and caught three of those passes for 24 yards, averaging eight yards per reception. He also finished his second season on IR.
The trajectories of Wilson and Fehoko going into their third seasons are definitely comparable. This might be why Simi was expected to fill the Ced Wilson role even before Dak recently conversed with Jess Nevarez.
In August of 2022, Sean Martin wrote, “Fehoko has fit nicely into the role Cedrick Wilson occupied last season, showing against their own defense that the Cowboys had some plan in mind when turning over the depth chart at receiver.”
So, according to at least one observer, if not for injury, Simi could have possibly seen that Wilson-like jump in production a season earlier.
ABOVE AND BEYOND
I'm inclined to believe that Simi will exceed the uptick in production that is expected of him. That is, if he's given the opportunity.
From a qualitative perspective, Simi's offseason performance has landed him on far more radars and in many more headlines than what we saw for Wilson during the Summer of 2020.
There's also the fact that all of Wilson's completed receptions in 2019 happened during a week when the Cowboys were without both Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb. If not for that situation, Wilson might not have seen any offensive snaps after Week 2.
But Fehoko had time with the offense for each of the first five weeks of 2022.
Obviously, when Dak Prescott spoke to Nevarez about Simi Fehoko's development, he was speaking about his own observation of Simi's performance, not specific minutes and stats.
But if we want to take that conversation further and do a bit of qualitative and quantitative evaluation of that comparison, we can see a future where Fehoko takes an even bigger jump in his third season than what some are anticipating.
TAKING ON THE NOAH BROWN ROLE
Another name that came up during the Girls Talk ‘Boys Talk discussion of Simi Fehoko was Noah Brown.
Simi, himself, has mentioned taking on Noah Brown's role on the offense.
When Simi Fehoko appeared on “The Gray Area” with Kevin Gray, he said of his own role, “I see myself as the big-bodied receiver, and someone's gotta do the Noah Brown blocking role.”
Cowboys WR @Simi_Fehoko Simi Fehoko talked with me about what his role in the offense will be this year & the new energy around OC Brian Schottenheimer & the offensive staff, great stuff here! #DallasCowboys
Podcast: https://t.co/f1SYtOVkR3
YouTube: https://t.co/FehDDyVIwQ pic.twitter.com/epECy1L5BV— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) May 19, 2023
As Noah Brown was, Fehoko has been on the field with special teams a good bit. It just hasn't been to quite the same extent.
Although not often discussed, Fehoko has the size, abilities, and awareness necessary to take on that blocking role. There have even been times during practices and games that he's shown flashes of proficiency as a blocker.
Simi Fehoko getting props from receivers coach Robert Prince for the way he held his own blocking Micah Parsons 1-on-1.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) August 24, 2022
So, I agree with Nevarez. Simi Fehoko will likely see a jump similar to Cedrick Wilson in his third season. But I think what we'll ultimately see from Simi is a very different type of player.
All of it might not make the stat sheet. Usually offensive players aren't highly recognized for their blocking abilities.
However, if he stays healthy, Simi Fehoko could be a productive WR4 who makes plays at important times during games.
He could also be the type of player whose presence on the field and blocking abilities create opportunities for his teammates.
