The Dallas Cowboys offense was one of the bright spots in a lost 2025 season.
One of the reasons they became one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses was the emergence of wideout Ryan Flournoy. The 2024 sixth-round pick enjoyed a breakout in his second season with the Cowboys, grabbing 40 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns, and his play late in the season inspired some optimism going into next year.
Of course, things can change during the offseason, and for a player who will already turn 27 in October, it’s usually not for the better. But with how the Cowboys' offseason has played out so far, Flournoy may have the opportunity to build on his impressive year and perhaps come away with a starting role in three-WR sets as they enter the offseason program.
Ryan Flournoy Set to Take Off Following Cowboys' Offseason Strategy
The Cowboys’ offseason has been more about the defensive side of the ball, with four new starters and eight total players acquired, according to the Ourlads depth chart. But the offensive side received a minor tweak when Jalen Tolbert signed with the Miami Dolphins.
Tolbert was out of favor with the Cowboys’ coaching staff by the time last season ended, but Flournoy was able to take advantage with 23 catches for 275 yards and two touchdowns in the final five games. Flournoy also racked up 100-yard games in a Week 5 win over the New York Jets before that stretch and added a nine-catch, 115-yard performance with a touchdown in a Week 13 loss to the Detroit Lions, which effectively sent Tolbert out of town.
The departure put Flournoy into the starting role heading into the offseason, and while he’s still behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who was retained with the franchise tag, the rest of his competition doesn’t appear menacing with Jonathan Mingo, Parris Campbell, KaVontae Turpin, and Traeshon Holden on the depth chart.
From here, it’s a matter of holding on to the start of the season. But even as most veterans sweat out the draft, Flournoy may not need to worry thanks to the needs on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cowboys enter April’s draft with eight picks, but that number could change if they make a move up or down the board. With cornerback, linebacker, and edge rusher glaring priorities, Dallas could also choose to go all-in on defense in this draft, leaving the formula for last year’s success unchanged and giving Flournoy a shot at another solid year.
While he’s in his late 20s, other receivers have been late bloomers before, and Flournoy will have plenty of pressure taken off him as long as Pickens and Lamb are on the field. In an offseason that could have been stressful, Flournoy appears to be coming out on top and may have to wait for the draft and the second wave of free agency for his chance to take off in 2026.