Cowboys News: Dallas to meet with top WR prospect, host two veteran free agents

The Dallas Cowboys traded for Brandin Cooks to strengthen their receiver room, but that doesn’t mean they’re done adding to it.

While a free agent pickup is unlikely — or so it seems — Dallas is in a position to get greedy in the upcoming draft thanks to the Cooks and Stephon Gilmore trades. In fact, the pre-draft process indicates they’re intrigued by a number of prospects.

Just this week we learned UNC’s Josh Downs, a likely late-first or second-round pick, met with the Cowboys after the Tar Heels pro day. Shortly thereafter, it was reported Houston’s Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, a potential Day 3 target, had a private workout with Dallas on Tuesday.

Dell is the more likely target given where he’s expected to get drafted. Applauded for his acceleration and deceleration (stopping at full speed at the top of routes), Dell also has experience returning kicks and punts.

You can add TCU’s Quentin Johnston to the list of WRs Dallas is doing its due diligence on. Johnston revealed at his pro day that the Cowboys will be one of his top-30 visits. It’s not a huge surprise given Johnston is the top wideout in the class, but it’s not something that should be glossed over, either.

More Cowboys News:

• Johnston is an elite athlete at 6-foot-3 with 4.5 speed. In his final seasons at TCU, he caught 60 passes for 1,069 yards and six scores. He was a Biletnikoff semifinalist and took home MV honors of the CFP semifinal in the Horned Frogs win over Michigan with six catches for 163 yards and a TD.
• In keeping with the WR narrative, the Cowboys hosted veteran wideout Laquon Treadwell for a free agent visit at their Dallas Day workout. A former first round pick out of Ole Miss in 2016, Treadwell hasn’t topped more than 35 catches in a single season over his seven seasons. He was drafted by Minnesota and has since had one-year stints in Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Seattle.
• Dallas also hosted fullback (!) Tory Carter. A third-year player out of LSU, Carter played eight games (three starts) with the Titans last year.
• Free agent DT Carlos Watkins signed with the Cardinals. The Cowboys had hoped to retain Watkins after they reached an agreement with Johnathan Hankins. Watkins’ departure underlines the need for Dallas to add another interior defender in the draft.

NFL News:

• The Steelers agreed to terms with Keanu Neal on a two-year deal. A former first-round pick of the Falcons who was influential in Atlanta’s run to the Super Bowl as a rookie, Neal spent the 2021 season with the Cowboys, recording 72 tackles and four tackles for loss in 14 games.
• The Bills signed free agent safety Taylor Rapp to a one-year deal. The Cowboys were expected to show interest in Rapp if they couldn’t re-sign Donovan Wilson. Over the last two seasons, Rapp tallied 186 tackles, six interceptions and 12 passes defended with the Rams.

Meeting details indicate Cowboys have major crush on underrated RB

The Cowboys set a private workout with Tulane running back Tyjae Spears, which was ran by head of game management Ryan Feder.