Even with a defense that could make Tom Landry roll over in his grave, the Dallas Cowboys remained competitive last season because of their elite offense.
Granted, Dak Prescott had to play at an exceptionally high level every week, and it certainly helped to have two of the NFL's best wide receivers in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. But Dallas' offense was about much more than Prescott, Lamb, and Pickens.
Look no further than Ryan Flournoy, who was let go during roster cuts before supplanting Jalen Tolbert as WR3 by the middle of the year. And by the end of the season, Flournoy had Cowboys fans wondering just how high his ceiling is.
Sure enough, Flournoy was among the team's biggest standouts during spring practices. He looks primed for another leap, and his newfound confidence suggests the best is yet to come.
"I think I'm neutral," Flournoy said, via DallasCowboys.com. "I'm not anxious, I'm just out there playing freely. I know what's on the play sheet, I know the calls, I know what play to run. For me, I'm not out there thinking, I'm just out there executing."
A confident Ryan Flournoy is exactly what the Dallas Cowboys need
Oh man. If 2025 was anxious Flournoy, the NFL might not be ready for the confident version.
Gone are the days of Flournoy scratching and clawing just to make the roster. He's now entrenched as the third receiver behind Lamb and Pickens, with the playbook mastered and the game finally slowing down. That is a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Flournoy's admission to playing more freely cannot be understated. In a lot of cases, young players play to not make mistakes. The 26-year-old's comments suggest he's graduated from that mindset, which will allow his athleticism and instincts to take over.
Instead of thinking through every route, Flournoy can now react and let his athleticism take over. This is a common turning point for young receivers who are ready to make a leap.
You wouldn't associate Flournoy's 2025 stats with those of a high-end WR3, but given that he didn't make the initial 53-man roster, was buried on the depth chart upon rejoining, and competed with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens for targets, 40 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns is a pretty impressive box score all things considered.
The stats don't even fully capture Flournoy's impact. He was sure-handed in tight windows and consistently created yards after the catch in traffic. It's no surprise he posted a 111.8 passer rating when targeted, with 72 percent of his receptions moving the chains.
Nobody's anointing Flournoy as the next great receiver, but is it crazy to think that the Cowboys have a legitimate WR2 operating as their third option? Absolutely not.
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