Why Jalen Tolbert is the Answer to the Cowboys WR3 Issues

Going into 2024, the Dallas Cowboys have quite a few questions to answer in this “all-in” season.  One of the primary questions that Mike McCarthy & Co. will have to answer is, who will fill Michael Gallup’s position as the WR3? 

Gallup was unproductive despite playing in an extremely potent offense, primarily due to a devastating injury in a game late in the 2021 season vs. Arizona. Gallup only managed 842 yards in the past two seasons, and the Cowboys need to get more production out of this position. I think the answer to this problem is already on the team.

The Cowboys made a big investment when they used a third-round pick on wide receiver Jalen Tolbert during the 2022 NFL Draft. They have not yielded much on this investment at this point.  Tolbert is a quick, lanky receiver who still has lots of potential that Dak & Co. can help him reach. 

The South Alabama product struggled to get onto the field in his rookie year. This was somewhat expected due to Tolbert making the massive jump from the Sun Belt Conference to the NFL. 

He only managed two catches for 12 yards as a rookie. In 2023, the hype began to build for Tolbert during training camp and leading up to the season. Again, Tolbert struggled to get on the field but did show improvement from his 2022 campaign. 

His numbers jumped up, but not to the makings of a consistent contributor.  In 2023, Tolbert put up 22 catches for 268 yards and scored his first two career touchdowns.  

Despite a slow start to Tolbert’s career, I believe he is the answer at the WR3 position. I believe the team has confidence in him due to Jerry & Stephen Jones not bringing in a solidified name to fill the role. 

Now entering his third year, with a full healthy offseason, this is the time for Tolbert to show he can fill Gallup’s shoes. 

Tolbert was a dominant player at South Alabama, posting 3,140 yards and 22 touchdowns in his four years there. His best year was in 2021 where he was the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, putting up 1,474 yards and eight scores. 

Tolbert can be the deep threat that Gallup struggled to be over the past couple of years. Tolbert’s quickness and frame could help him become the perfect deep threat for Prescott in the upcoming year. This will be a make-or-break year for Tolbert, and he will have every opportunity to make plays from the WR3 position this coming season.

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