WR2 needs to be a real point of emphasis this offseason.
The next stop on our Dallas Cowboys offseason preview series is wide receiver. Unlike most roster positions, receiver is one where Dallas can proudly claim to have one of the NFL’s true elites in CeeDee Lamb. But as good as he is at the top of the depth chart, the rest of it has arguably held the team back over the last three seasons. Building this group up, particularly at the other starting position, is a top concern in 2025.
Under Contract
CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks
Ryan Flournoy, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Cropper
Seth Williams, Kelvin Harmon
Potential Departures
Brandin Cooks, KaVontae Turpin
The latest Cowboys star to get a big, new contract, Lamb isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And after gutting it out through much of last year with a shoulder injury, Dallas’ franchise receiver has more respect than ever as a leader and one of the team’s cornerstones.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much else at WR right now to lean on. Brandin Cooks’ contract is up and, after missing seven games last season and turning 32 this year, it’s hard to see him returning. He was never really a great fit in the scheme anyway, and though offensive changes are coming with Mike McCarthy gone, you’ll never see Cooks step up and carry the receiving load if Lamb were to go down.
It’d be great if we had more confidence in Jalen Tolbert after three years but that’s just not the case. His third season was the best yet with career highs across the board, and leading the team in receiving touchdowns with seven. But is that enough to trust Tolbert as Lamb’s primary wingman? Shouldn’t he at least have to compete for the job?
Competition will be hard to find from current options. Guys like Jalen Brooks, Jonathan Mingo, and Ryan Flournoy may help you fill out a depth chart but you wouldn’t feel good about any of them being in the top three. Even if these young prospects blossom in 2025, you’d rather have that be a pleasant surprise for your depth than a gamble you’re depending on with your key positions.
Dallas also has to deal with KaVontae Tuprin’s expiring contract. While best known for his First-Team All-Pro work in the return game, his offensive role grew in 2024 as he got the fifth-most targets of all pass-catchers. Turpin will be a restricted free agent this year and should draw plenty of interest for his return work alone, and even more if creative offensive coaches see ways to use his speed.
Free Agency
The Bengals’ Tee Higgins is one of the biggest names in this entire free agent pool, but does he want to remain a Robin to another team’s Batman? After four years in Ja’Marr Chase’s shadow, Higgins would still be behind Lamb in Dallas’ pecking order. He’s likely looking for a chance to be WR1 and earn the money that comes with it, neither of which the Cowboys would offer.
Next you have a bunch of older guys, some with injury issues on top of them, like Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, and Chris Godwin. Dallas should thoroughly investigate this group for good fits and positive medical reports, but any of them would come with a “wait and see” concern for how well they’d fit in with the Cowboys and find chemistry with Dak Prescott.
One prospective free agent who’s proven he can play with Prescott is Amari Cooper. In many ways, Cooper would be the next-best option on the market after Higgins. But how would all parties involved feel about getting back together? If Mike McCarthy was the driving force behind Cooper’s dismissal three years ago, could his departure open the way for a reunion?
Again, this is all about finding a true WR2 to enhance the passing game. There are only so many guys who are going to walk in as a starter; many would still have to prove they deserve the job more than Tolbert. At the very least, Dallas should replace Cooks with a potential starter and strong depth option in free agency before going into the draft.
2025 NFL Draft
Lamb’s next wingman may well be a rookie. The Cowboys should have several opportunities to land a talented WR with any of their first three picks. But if they don’t get one by the end of Friday night, not having a fourth-round pick means a huge drop in talent by the time they’re back on the clock. That puts a lot of pressure on Dallas to draft for need in the first three rounds, which is rarely ideal.
While Travis Hunter isn’t falling to the 12th pick, Arizona’s Tet McMillan could. If he’s gone, Luther Burden and Emeka Egbuka are consensus first-round guys who should be available. If the Cowboys go with another position on Thursday, someone from the likes of Elic Ayomanor, Tre Harris, and Isaiah Bond should be there at #44. Even if they wait until the third round, there are enough options in the class to still find solid talent.
But unlike at RB, DT, or some other positions in 2025, the WR class seems to go off a cliff after the first few rounds. That means Dallas either needs to make it a top priority with those early picks or use free agency to go into the draft without such a big need.
Final Thoughts
Cooks’ and Turpin’s free agency means Dallas can’t just sit on their hands at wide receiver. Even if those guys get new deals to stay, the Cowboys’ offense needs more firepower from previous years. They need a guy who can make teams pay for paying too much attention to Lamb and, ideally, one who can adequately fill those WR1 shoes should Lamb ever miss time.
That’s no small ask, meaning Dallas’ front office can’t be misers if the right veteran WR2 is out there. Waiting for the draft is a dangerous game, especially if you’re looking for a guy to come in and immediately boost the offense. An impact player like that may only come in the first round, and that would tie your hands more than most teams want on draft night.