As May continues, so does the 2025 NFL offseason. The Dallas Cowboys' spring hit the next phase over the weekend when they held their annual rookie minicamp, offering the fanbase a glimpse at an incoming rookie group that features Alabama's Tyler Booker, East Carolina's Shavon Revel, and Texas' Jaydon Blue.
Now that the rookie minicamp action is over, Cowboys fans have a better idea of where the team is heading. The promising potential of Dallas' latest rookie class will spell bad news for certain veterans on the roster bubble, including one recently failed draft pick who could be cut before May is over.
Cowboys Could Cut WR Jalen Brooks Following Rookie Minicamp
Former 2023 seventh-round pick Jalen Brooks is one of many Cowboys veterans who opened the offseason on thin ice. Although the 6-foot-2 receiver's determination and drive to overcome being a late-round pick are admirable, his inability to consistently perform on the gridiron could see him kicked to the curb.
Since being drafted 244th overall two years ago, Brooks has played 21 games (1 start) in a Cowboys jersey. His rookie season was unremarkable, to say the least, as he only mustered six receptions for 64 receiving yards without a touchdown in seven games, leaving fans to wonder if he could take his game to the next level in Year 2.
Brooks' workload increased during the 2024 NFL season, as his games played and targets increased from seven and six to 14 and 30, respectively. Unfortunately, the ex-South Carolina only hauled in 12 of those opportunities (40.0%), converting them into 177 receiving yards and his first NFL touchdown.
The abysmal performance also saw Brooks finish as the 105th-graded wideout on Pro Football Focus in terms of receiving (58.6) and overall offense (59.2).
Even though the Cowboys don't have the deepest WR room, Brooks' job is far from safe. The likes of Parris Campbell, Jonathan Mingo, Ryan Flournoy, and KaVontae Turpin will all be competing for the wideout roles that follow CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert on the depth chart. That's without mentioning the competition that undrafted rookie receivers Traeshon Holden and Josh Kelly will provide.
If the Cowboys want to cut ties, Spotrac lists America's Team as saving just over $1 million in cap space by waiving Tolbert before May is over. Those savings could be used to upgrade another roster area, or even help bring in another WR with more upside than the Harrisburg, NC native.
With how quickly the NFL offseason is flying by, don't be shocked if the Cowboys decide on Brooks' future sooner rather than later.