Predicting Cowboys 2022 Wide Receiver depth chart
By Riley Donald
The Dallas Cowboys will look to replace a significant amount of wide receiver production this upcoming season after some shuffling has taken place. As we know, Amari Cooper, Malik Turner, and Cedrick Wilson have all moved on to new homes. That leaves CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup as the only familiar faces that provided considerable output last year.
In the offseason, the Cowboys have added a plethora of pass catchers in hopes of replenishing the talent. They started by adding former Pittsburgh Steeler James Washington in free agency with the idea of the change of scenery helping him blossom more than he has. After that, they selected Jalen Tolbert in the third round of the NFL draft and signed four more undrafted free agents in Dontario Drummond, Ty Fryfogle, Dennis Houston, and Jaquarii Roberson.
Let’s dive into what we think the wide receiver depth chart will look like. For the purpose of this, we will go with the Cowboys carrying six receivers as they did to begin last year. They had two on the practice squad as well, so we will look into eight total receivers sticking around.
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Locks for the Cowboys’ 2022 WR depth roster
CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and James Washington
To exclude any of these three from the depth chart, there would have to be an apocalyptic type of event. Starting with CeeDee Lamb… he is practically the definition of a guarantee to make the roster. There is no world where he isn’t on the depth chart and is the clear-cut No. 1 receiver for Dak Prescott. No need for us to dive too deep into this one.
Now, who plays counterpart to Lamb can be a bit of a discussion. Gallup has a proven repertoire with Prescott and has been there for him throughout their careers. The late-season ACL injury does add a layer of questions, though. But, when push comes to shove, it’s fair to expect a healthy Gallup lining up opposite of Lamb providing a secure and reliable target for Prescott. It appears as though it may be a few weeks into the season until Gallup suits up, but with the new contract, that missed time plays no factor.
Michael Gallup said Dak Prescott came into the training room and gave Gallup a hug after the deal was done.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 17, 2022
Gallup: “Dak knew I was going to be here for the long haul. That man has had faith in me since Day 1.”
Dak to Gallup: “Get that (knee) right so we can get to work.”
Lastly, it seems almost unfathomable that the Cowboys would go add James Washington in the offseason just to have him miss the roster. While there is the slightest chance something extremely out of the ordinary happens, I see Washington opposite of Lamb to start the season until Gallup returns and eventually moving into the No. 3 receiver in three-receiver sets.