Cowboys may have struck gold with dart-throw WR in free agency

It is a tradition like no other to try and predict the surprise standout player from Dallas Cowboys training camp. Last year, seventh-round rookie Jalen Brooks caught folks by surprise. Even running back Deuce Vaughn popped enough to indicate he was ready to contribute in year one.

While there is hope that Brooks will carve out a role on the offense this season, Vaughn is seemingly fighting just to make the 53-man roster.

It is important not to get overly excited by surprise performers in camp. Setting realistic expectations is always the way to go, but there is one player in Oxnard who is standing out amongst his peers day in and day out to start camp and he's only started one game in five seasons a pro.

Cowboys WR Tyron Billy-Johnson making strong case for roster spot in training camp

If you are active on social media, odds are you have stumbled across a Billy-Johnson highlight reel since camp started last week.

An undrafted free agent in 2019, Johnson's 4.36 speed has given the Cowboys' secondary fits. He's gotten open at will and has caught several deep passes. Dak Prescott even trusted him enough to target him on 4th and 5 in team drills in Monday's first padded practice. Prescott targeted him again on a 4th and 3, though the pass wasn't completed.

It hasn't mattered whether Prescott, Cooper Rush or Trey Lance has been under center. Look no further than this long touchdown from Rush to Billy-Johnson. He burned standout rookie Caelan Carson on the play.

All Billy-Johnson has done since camp started is make plays. While there was hype behind fellow promising receivers Ryan Flournoy, David Durden and Jalen Moreno-Cropper coming into camp, Billy-Johnson has been the bust of the bunch. Among the plethora of WRs that are fighting for a roster spot, only Jalen Brooks and Jalen Tolbert can say they've had a better camp than Billy-Johnson.

Tolbert and Brooks are battling for the WR3 job, and the loser will presumably be WR4. We're hard-pressed to argue that Billy-Johnson currently doesn't deserve the fifth spot. The Cowboys may end up keeping six receivers, too, so the 28-year-old may be making a beeline for the 53.

It's still early, though, and Billy-Johnson has had a tough time sticking with one team. He broke out with the Chargers in 2020 to the tune of 20 catches for 398 yards and three touchdowns, but he failed to make Los Angeles' 53-man roster in 2021. The Cowboys are his sixth team since he was cut and he has played just 15 games since.

However, he has the most experience and production of any Dallas receiver not named CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. That has been on full display in Oxnard. If it translates into preseason, the coaching staff will have no other choice but to reserve a spot on the roster for Billy-Johnson.

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