The Dallas Cowboys now have one of the most talented wide receiver rooms in the NFL -- a three-headed monster in All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, a healthy Michael Gallup and veteran trade acquisition Brandin Cooks.
While Dallas is set with the top three, the other spots are up for grabs; this includes a battle between two young receivers for the number four spot.
Jalen Tolbert and Simi Fehoko are the two names that will likely be battling for that fourth slot. Each has a lot to prove on who deserves that role the most. So let’s break down the two players who will head into competition in training camp.
Jalen Tolbert
Taken in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jalen Tolbert was brought in to give the Cowboys depth and a potential number three option last season. With Gallup still recovering from injury, it allowed Tolbert to step into a bigger role early on.
The Cowboys were high on Tolbert, and his film was proof of why. He is a good athlete and route runner and had a productive final season at South Florida in 2021.
Unfortunately, that didn't immediately translate to the NFL as Tolbert appeared in eight games and started one of them. He finished his rookie season with just two receptions for 12 yards and never found the end zone.
To make matters worse, his most memorable rookie highlight was a lowlight when he lined up offsides in the overtime loss against Green Bay, which proved to be a killer penalty.
Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert was called for offside. The problem was not that he failed to check with the down judge. It was that he waited. Tolbert didn't look over until 11 seconds left on play clock. Snap came at nine. He moved too little, too late. Learning experience for rookie. pic.twitter.com/xlt23GbBhh
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) November 14, 2022
Still, we should never be quick to judge a player just off his rookie season. Tolbert is young and can easily turn it around in year two.
So far, the turnaround is off to a nice start. Mike McCarthy raved about Tolbert to reporters at OTAs, saying he "made some really nice plays, particularly in the seven-on-seven and two-minute situation."
According to reports out of minicamp, Tolbert has piggybacked off his strong OTAs and caught two touchdowns in Tuesday's practice.
Injuries can happen at anytime and this is the season where the former South Alabama Jaguar must prove he was worth that third-round selection and can be the guy to step up as a fourth option behind Lamb, Cooks and Gallup.
Simi Fehoko
A fifth-round draft selection in 2021. Fehoko has seen very little action since being drafted. Injuries have played a factor in that, as he was placed on IR in October but returned later in the season.
Like Tolbert, Fehoko has not seen much action and, per PFF, played just 134 total snaps in his first two seasons, with 90 of those snaps on special teams.
A skill player taken in day three will likely see the majority of the action early on special teams. However, in the NFL, injuries will happen; opportunities will rise, and chances to step up will come in.
Fehoko has yet to show the impact he can make on offense, with just three receptions for 24 yards and zero touchdowns. He most certainly looks the part of a wide receiver at 6’3” and 220 lbs, but can he produce like one when called upon?
The former Stanford Cardinal will hope to stay healthy this season and see more action when his name is called upon. At some point, Fehoko hopes to be more than just a special teamer and contribute more offensively.
Which player is facing more pressure?
While both have much to prove in 2023, Tolbert is expected to contribute more when considering how high he was drafted. A player taken on day three of the draft will rarely see his name thrown in the fire.
Media and fans rarely mention Fehoko, but the expectations are much different when it comes to Tolbert. Fehoko has shown he can at least contribute to special teams. However, Tolbert overall had a disappointing rookie season and wants nothing more than to prove to fans and critics why the Cowboys invested in him.