Breaking down the candidates for Cowboys' all-important WR3 job

The Dallas Cowboys will be a pass-heavy team in 2024. With subpar running back depth, quarterback Dak Prescott is likely to shoulder the load of the offense yet again. That could turn into a record-breaking passing season.

As a result, Cowboys receivers will get a lot of volume. In a wide receiver room led by superstar CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, a handful of players behind them could be in the mix for targets. As it stands now, the team's true No. 3 wide receiver spot is up for grabs and it seems like four players will be fighting for the starting nod.

Jalen Tolbert (third season), Ryan Flournoy (rookie sixth-round pick), Jalen Brooks (second season), and KaVontae Turpin (third season) could be in line for breakout seasons.

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Of that group, most will say that it is Tolbert's job to lose. He was drafted in the third round in 2022 and coaches hoped he could be the speedy deep threat that Amari Cooper was when he first got to Dallas. Fans saw a hint of Tolbert's potential last season and with the departure of Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard (over 100 combined targets in 2023), he should be the frontrunner.

Tolbert has helped his case for a starting role with his hefty off-season improvement thus far. Tolbert has seemingly grown a lot on and off the field and he believes that he is ready to take that next step. From a skill-set perspective, Tolbert could be a really good NFL wide receiver. He can be a good possession receiver as he excels in the open field. The only thing standing in his way, are the other three receivers who also bring a lot to the table.

Flournoy is a rookie sixth-round selection and he turned heads during offseason workouts. Flournoy was a star receiver in college at SE Missouri State, catching the eye of many NFL scoutsthanks to his size and athleticism. He also displays reliable hands and could be dangerous after the catch, even more so than Tolbert.

Flournoy has a great chance at taking over as the team's No. 3 receiver and has already begun to develop a connection with Prescott. In a year where passing for over 4,000 yards is a real possibility again for Prescott, Flournoy could be a beneficiary. It is no surprise that Flournoy is starting to separate himself during training camp and if he is consistent he could earn himself a starting role.

Brooks is coming off of a rookie season where he appeared in just seven games, catching six passes. Brooks displays great catching ability and has been known to make tough/contested catches with ease. Brooks has also made his presence known during training camp and this could work in his favor as the season approaches.

Out of the four, however, Brooks could have the toughest path to secure a starting role. With his limited sample size with Dallas and in college (28 games in four years during college), and the stiff competition, Brooks is going to have to make an even greater leap of improvement soon. Brooks has the talent to uplift this offense. He just has to go above and beyond from here on out.

The old saying to "save the best for last" seems fitting for Kavontae Turpin and his chances at the WR3 role within this offense. A former USFL star, Turpin has made a lot of big plays the last two seasons. He is undersized but his speed and agility are what separates him from his teammates.

Turpin has the biggest sample size of these four receivers, which gives him a strong case for the starting nod. In 2023, Turpin caught 12 passes for 127 yards and ran for 117 yards on 11 carries. He reached the end zone an impressive five times.

Most notably, Turpin has been a force on special team, morphing into one of the league's best return-man since 2022. Ultimately, with Turpin's high reputation on the team and what he has already shown in his time in Dallas, he too could make the case to start ahead of the rest.

If you said that Tolbert and Turpin each have the best chance at a starting role, you could be right. But Flournoy and Brooks are not making it easy and the No.3 role is not officially settled quite yet. In the meantime, the battle between these players in camp is going to be must-watch.

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