The less said about the Dallas Cowboys' 2025 season, the better. However, if you can gloss over the defense's historic inability to execute -- easier said than done -- there were a lot of positives to take on the offensive side of the ball.
George Pickens evolving into an elite receiver was unexpected, but nobody ever questioned his talent. The more surprising development was the emergence of second-year wideout Ryan Flournoy, who morphed into a dependable WR3 by season's end.
When you consider that Flournoy was buried on the depth chart this time last year, his sophomore-year breakout becomes that much more impressive, and Cowboys fans are eager to see what the former sixth-round pick has in store for an encore.
While OTAs only just started this week, Flournoy's stock is already on the rise. Why? Because Pickens was not in attendance, per Mike Leslie of WFAA. Until Pickens reports, Flournoy effectively slots in as WR2 behind Lamb, giving him a golden opportunity to piggyback on the momentum he generated last year.
George Pickens' absence from Dallas Cowboys OTAs is great news for Ryan Flournoy
Flournoy didn't even have to lift a finger to see his stock trend upward. While he was already slated for reps with the first-team offense, Pickens' absence puts him in an even more prominent role opposite Lamb and gives him more chances to build chemistry with Dak Prescott.
That should do wonders for Flournoy's confidence and allow him to hit the ground running once September rolls around.
There's been no indication that Pickens will report until practices become mandatory during minicamp, which runs from June 16-18. That means Flournoy will have another three practices -- June 8-9 and June 11 -- to operate as Prescott's No. 2 target.
Flournoy finished last season with 40 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns. While an impressive line given he had to unseat Jalen Tolbert, it fails to underscore his efficiency.
Not only did 29 of his receptions result in first downs, but he finished 14th among receivers with a 111.8 passer rating when targeted and 20th with 5.0 yards after the catch per reception, per Pro Football Focus. He also dropped just one pass.
Did it help Flournoy that opposing defenses devoted most of their attention to Lamb and Pickens? Absolutely, but the film showed a player who was much more than a product of circumstance. He got open consistently, made tough catches in traffic, and was difficult to bring down in the open field.
Expectations for Flournoy have changed dramatically in the span of a year. Once an afterthought in the WR room, he's now a key piece of Dallas' passing attack and someone the offense will lean on in 2026.
Thanks to Pickens' absence, OTAs have already provided the perfect launching pad for what could be an even bigger year from the Southeast Missouri State product.
Add us as a preferred source on Google