Cowboys’ choices have left Dak Prescott with few targets

The Dallas Cowboys currently have just two reliable receivers for Dak Prescott to throw the ball to this fall. After receiver CeeDee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson on the depth chart, there are a lot of question marks.

The Cowboys chose to ignore filling the WR2 slot on the depth chart last week.

Despite Jerry Jones’ adamant stance that Jonathan Mingo was their fourth-round pick on Saturday, the WR2 was a need even with Mingo already on the roster before the draft.

That decision leaves Dallas, and Prescott especially, with few options going forward.

Roll the dice with what they currently have on the roster? Or, go out and land that WR2 in free agency or in a trade.

Let’s look at all three individually.

We Like Our Guys

“We like our guys” is almost as eye-twitch-inducing to Cowboys Nation as “we’re all-in” so this one is already off to a bad start.

Lamb is as good as a WR1 as the Cowboys could hope for. Despite being pretty much the only threat beyond the line of scrimmage in 2024, he still put up his fourth-straight 1,000-yard season.

It was also the third straight year of over 100 receptions for the latest member of the 88 Club.

After Lamb, Ferguson is the second option.

He had a down year in 2024, missing three games, and only had 494 yards on 59 catches. Despite going without a touchdown all year, Ferguson is still the top tight end in Dallas.

And here’s where it gets thin.

Since trading away Amari Cooper after the 2021 season, the Cowboys haven’t had a solid WR2 in the building.

Michael Gallup never fully returned from a leg injury suffered in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, he had 842 yards and six touchdowns on 73 catches in 31 games.

He was out of football in 2024 and has recently signed with the Commanders in a comeback bid.

Dallas has tried to replace Gallup with Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, and Ryan Flournoy. None of them have secured the WR2 slot with their play.

Last year, the Cowboys traded away last week’s fourth-round pick to Carolina for Mingo.

In 24 games over a season-and-a-half for the Panthers, Mingo put up 539 yards on 55 catches. In eight games in Dallas, he had 46 yards on five catches.

He enters his third season this fall still looking for his first NFL touchdown.

The good news is that he will be playing in his third year in the NFL. That seems to be the year receivers blossom, or crash and burn.

If Mingo blossoms, they made a great trade.

If he doesn’t, then Prescott has a serious problem.

This offseason, the Cowboys passed on drafting a wide receiver. They have added two as undrafted free agents though.

Could Oregon’s Traeshon Holden or Texas Tech’s Josh Kelly be the answer?

Probably not. So it seems unwise for Dallas to stand pat here over the summer at receiver.

The tight end room is overflowing after Ferguson though.

Luke Schoonmaker rebounded from his disappointing rookie year with an improved sophomore run. Brevyn Spann-Ford showed some flashes in limited time in his rookie year last season.

The Cowboys even added two more undrafted free agent tight ends to the mix in addition to hoping John Stephens Jr. returns from injury.

Picking Through The Free Agent Leftovers

So, what exactly is out there in free agency that would help shore up the WR2, and maybe even the WR3, slots on the depth chart?

There are some interesting possibilities out there.

Starting with the return of Cooper. He’s available and Prescott knows and trusts him from Cooper’s first go around.

Would Jerry Jones be able to swallow his Texas-sized ego, admit he screwed up in 2022, and bring Cooper back?

If he can, the Cowboys chances of a winning season and a return to the playoffs double from their current dismal state.

If not Cooper, Keenan Allen is also out there. As is Marquise Brown.

If Dallas could land two of these four? Prescott suddenly has plenty of playmakers to distribute the ball too. And NFL defensive coordinators will be ordering aspirin by the truckloads.

Let’s Make A Deal

The Cowboys were linked to a trade with Pittsburgh for George Pickens prior to the draft. But with the draft done, and no trade made, it seems less likely to happen.

Nor does there appear to be an abundance of WR2-type receivers who would be on the trade block either.

So it seems that Dallas is actually down to two options at this point.

Either sign at least one solid WR2. Or pray that Mingo turns into one in his third NFL season.

Otherwise, Prescott may be in for a very long year.