3 Cowboys who are tumbling down the depth chart after recent moves
By Randy Gurzi
![Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and teammate cornerback Kelvin Joseph (1) run down the sidelines after Bland intercepted a third quarter pass by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16). The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Dallas Cowboys at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, December 18, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 21 to 7 at the half but came back to win 40 to 34 with a pick six by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) in overtime. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 121822 Bs Jaguars Vs C 47](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fe4a646120799a3673ae5367f09b2f8e70fff52c85e10ca15f9781657840f94f0.jpg "Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and teammate cornerback Kelvin Joseph (1) run down the sidelines after Bland intercepted a third quarter pass by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16). The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Dallas Cowboys at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, December 18, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 21 to 7 at the half but came back to win 40 to 34 with a pick six by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) in overtime. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 121822 Bs Jaguars Vs C 47")
During the first wave of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys were once again one of the least active teams in the league. They remain one of the only teams that have yet to sign an outside free agent but they did at least somehow keep both Donovan Wilson and Leighton Vander Esch.
Of course, stating the fact that they’ve signed no one from the outside is very misleading because they have finally been active. Dallas hasn’t gotten into the bidding wars for available players but they made two huge trades as they landed Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks.
The addition of these two stars will help the roster tremendously but isn’t great for these three players who are falling down the depth chart.
3 Cowboys who are tumbling down the depth chart after recent moves
3. Jalen Tolbert, WR
Since the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline was approaching, the Cowboys have been tied to Brandin Cooks. They were unable to come to terms on a deal last season and Cooks finished the year out with the Houston Texans.
Now in the offseason, the two sides started talking again and Cooks is now headed to Big D thanks to a very one-sided trade.
Not only did Dallas land Cooks in exchange for a mere fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-rounder in 2024, but the Texans are paying a third of his salary this year.
To complete the Brandin Cooks trade, Texans agreed to pay $6M of his $18M salary in 2023, a person familiar with situation said. So Cowboys acquire Cooks for two Day 3 picks and save one third of his salary. @AaronWilson_NFL first reported the financial element to deal.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 19, 2023
There’s not a single thing to dislike about this deal for the Cowboys. Unless you’re Jalen Tolbert.
After being selected in the third round last year, Tolbert managed just two receptions all season. And before Sunday’s trade, he was moving up the chart as Noah Brown left in free agency. He could have also benefited from the departure of Dalton Schultz who received a huge amount of targets from Dak Prescott.
Now with Cooks on the roster, Tolbert is again fourth at best and could find himself battling a rookie or even a second-year player such as Dennis Houston for a chance to be active on game day.