6 Cowboys Already on the Chopping Block Before OTAs

1. Jalen Tolbert, Wide Receiver

In 2022, the Cowboys made the unforgivable decision to trade Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick. They claimed his salary was the problem but then used the money he was making to pay Michael Gallup — who was coming off a torn ACL — and tight end Dalton Schultz.

Gallup was recently released after failing to live up to his five-year, $62.5 million deal. Schultz is also gone, leaving in free agency after playing on the franchise tag in 2022. Cooper, meanwhile, has been wildly consistent in Cleveland despite a revolving door at quarterback.

As bad as their move was, they believed they struck gold in the draft that year with Jalen Tolbert. The South Alabama product was seen as a sure-fire prospect but has yet to live up to expectations. During his rookie season, Tolbert had just two catches for 12 yards. Thankfully, he improved in year two but still had just 22 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

With OTAs around the corner, Tolbert is still the No. 3 wideout on the depth chart but could be in trouble. Dallas has been linked to Zay Jones, who was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones played in just nine games last year but still outperformed Tolbert with 321 yards and two touchdowns on 34 receptions. The year prior, he had 82 catches for 823 yards and five scores.

Even if Jones signs elsewhere, Tolbert will have to contend with rookie Ryan Flournoy who has the talent to make it in the NFL. There's also KaVontae Turpin, who has stepped up each time he's been given a chance.

Tolbert might not be a candidate to be released but there's a chance he falls down the depth chart and becomes a healthy scratch for much of the season.

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