Cowboys WR position is loaded with risk/reward scenarios in 2024
The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room has plenty of questions and possibilities this season.
The Cowboys are putting a lot of faith in their returning talent at wide receiver this season. With Michael Gallup gone and no big additions to offset, Dallas is leaning on its veteran starters and homegrown depth chart to keep the passing game viable. There’s plenty of potential for it to go right, but also some risk at every level.
CeeDee Lamb is one of the league’s surest things at WR. If he’s healthy and happy, Lamb should continue the elite play we’ve enjoyed for most of his career. But that happiness factor is up in the air right now as the franchise receiver has held out of all offseason activities so far, seeking a new contract, and will reportedly continue that into training camp if he’s demands aren’t met.
While Lamb could miss the offseason and still be a top WR in Week 1, the missed practice time isn’t ideal. He’s the team’s only elite target and any rhythm or chemistry issues early in the year could be costly. The Cowboys are gambling with Lamb’s peak effectiveness in 2024 by extending this contract dispute further, and it seems pointless given the market’s been set and the need to keep Lamb is undeniable.
While troublesome, Lamb’s situation is still the least of their WR worries. Brandin Cooks turns 31 this September and his best traits are predicated on speed. While TE Jake Ferguson may emerge as the true second target in the passing game, Cooks will still play a key part this year. Dallas hopes to see him build on last season, where after some early injury trouble and growing pains with his new team, he became far more consistent in the back half. But if age starts to take a toll, Cooks may not have a versatile enough game to threaten opposing defenses.
Next up is presumptive WR3 Jalen Tolbert, who still has only 39 career catches despite being a third-round pick two years ago. We’re used to faster starts; Terrance Williams and Michael Gallup were both starters by their second seasons. Tolbert will have all he wants in terms of opportunities to emerge in this year’s offense, but there’s an appropriate fear that he won’t rise to the occasion given what we’ve seen so far. If not, especially if injuries or other issues happen with Lamb or Cooks, Dallas could suffer greatly if Tolbert starts trending further into bust territory.
Inexperience is an even greater issue as we go further down the WR depth chart. Jalen Brooks saw minimal action as a rookie, just six catches on as many targets, but that was more due to how many other mouths there were to feed. At the very least, Dallas would love him to become a clear WR4 with the ability to contribute as needed; the new Cedrick Wilson. But as with any young prospect, and especially a former seventh-round pick, you can’t count on anything until you see it on the field.
KaVontae Turpin got more touches last year than Brooks, 12 catches and 11 carries, but right now he remains more of a gimmick player than a full member of the WR rotation. Mike McCarthy at least did more to utilize Turpin’s athletic gifts than Kellen Moore did, but the return specialist has yet to establish himself as a consistent offensive contributor, especially if given a heavier workload.
Speaking of inexperience, sixth-round rookie Ryan Flournoy may have generated excitement in spring practices but we’re not even in training camp yet. The archives are full of articles declaring some late-round or undrafted prospect as the next Miles Austin, only to see them crumble in August and spend the season on the practice squad. Flournoy has a legitimate shot at making the roster given the numbers but will need to be truly special if the team asks him to take significant snaps in 2024.
It starts to feel like a house of cards, doesn’t it? Granted, it’s not that different from last season, and at least now guys like Tolbert and Brooks have more experience. But we’re doing a lot of hoping right now that Lamb’s holdout won’t hinder his play, Cooks still has another starter-worthy year in him, and those young guys will show sufficient development. If the bets all hit, the Cowboys’ offense could be better than last season. But if even one piece fails, there isn’t much cushion to work with.
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