CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens (rightfully) lead the pack. Ryan Flournoy is establishing himself as the third fiddle. KaVontae Turpin has blossomed into an All-Pro return man.
Where does that leave Jalen Tolbert in the Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver room? There isn't a clear role for him, evidenced by a corresponding dip in playing time regressing from near-every-down contributor to fringe rotation piece in 2025. He's becoming an afterthought, and it's fair to wonder if his time with the franchise is coming to an end.
Tolbert is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract and slated for unrestricted free agency this coming offseason. The Cowboys have all but told us they're ready to move on from the 2022 third-round pick with their actions. He's become expendable in every way with increased competition for opportunities, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him donning a different uniform in 2026.
Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert is falling out of favor and running out of time in Dallas
Since Week 8, Tolbert has been on the field for just 19 percent of Dallas' offensive snaps and drawn only three targets. He was a healthy scratch for the first time since his rookie campaign in the Cowboys' 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The lack of usage signals that the Cowboys have seen everything they need to.
Barring any unforseen developments, Tolbert and the Cowboys are likely headed toward an unceremonious split. It's a little surprising, considering he made tremendous strides in 2024, setting career-highs across the board as the team's de facto No. 2 wideout. Nevertheless, as we're seeing firsthand, a lot can change from one season to the next in the NFL.
Pickens is staring at a massive extension the Cowboys are seemingly willing to pay. He looks like the long-term Robin to Lamb's Batman, though it's become an interesting debate which of the two is the alpha of the group. Moreover, Flournoy's emergence gives Dallas another mouth not named Tolbert to feed, which further complicates matters.
Through 11 games this season, Tolbert, who turns 27 in February, has caught 14 of 25 targets for 172 yards and a touchdown. His 44.0 receiving success rate is the lowest since he first entered the league, though that was a two-catch sample size.