The names Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks have almost become morphed into one player this offseason for the Cowboys. Both are being given a clear opportunity for more reps after the team moved on from Michael Gallup in free agency and only add sixth-round pick Ryan Flournoy to the WR room in the draft. Luckily for the Cowboys though, they have two unique players in Tolbert entering his third year with a real chance to establish himself as WR3, and Brooks going into his second season after limited opportunities as a rookie.
Brooks did make the most of these reps as a seventh-round rookie out of South Carolina, catching all six of his targets for 64 yards over the four games he appeared on offense. Brooks also played in three other games where he didn’t see a snap on offense by way of special teams, and now the opportunity in front of him could see a massive lift to these numbers in year two. Under the coaching of Robert Prince, Jalen Tolbert took a real step forward from an absent rookie season in 2022 to finding new confidence in Mike McCarthy’s offense in 2023. If the same can be expected of Brooks, the Cowboys group of pass catchers will remain a strength that keeps them in plenty of games, even if the offense is somehow more dependent on Dak Prescott’s arm without a true bellcow running back on the depth chart right now.
Prescott was already fourth in the NFL in passing attempts last season, and of these top four QBs he led them all in yards per passing attempt as the Cowboys became something of a feast-or-famine offense relying on big plays down the field. All of the groundwork for the offense to better control the ball and find consistency in the short to intermediate passing game in year one of McCarthy calling plays was clearly in place, but just as clear was the lack of finish and ability to execute these plays – particularly on the road where the Dallas offense was a shell of what they were at home all season.
Tight end Jake Ferguson was a true bright spot in the middle of the field for the passing game, but spreading these opportunities to the likes of rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker, RB Deuce Vaughn, or Brooks as a big 6’1”, 205 pound receiver did not go as planned. Veteran Michael Gallup was still good for a few clutch plays in these situations as well as red zone opportunities, and this is yet another area Jalen Brooks should be eager to prove he can step up in 2024.
Brooks is a tough matchup for linebackers or smaller defensive backs out of the slot, with a suddenness to his game that helps him use his lanky but thick build to win with leverage and make plays on the ball well outside of this frame with very strong hands. This is a player that catches the ball on the move well, and can turn up field with the footwork to escape defenders and fight for extra yards. With a QB like Prescott that has shown he has no fear holding onto the ball on a broken play, looking for an outlet until the last second, Brooks can be his QBs best friend just behind the big two in CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks this season.
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Earlier this week, BTB’s Matt Holleran had similar praise for Jalen Brooks as one of three candidates on either side of the ball to exceed expectations for the Cowboys in 2024:
The South Carolina product has received praise this offseason from numerous people connected with the Cowboys, including 105.3 The Fan’s Bobby Belt. From the outside looking in, it appears Brooks has a legit shot to beat out Jalen Tolbert for the third wide receiver spot. While Tolbert did have some encouraging moments last season, his status as the team’s third wideout is nothing close to certain. Brooks has enough intriguing traits, and a great rapport with Dak Prescott, that it’s legitimate to project he will surpass Tolbert on the depth chart and have a breakout season.
With so many marquee names on the Cowboys roster having uncertain futures with the team, like Prescott, Lamb, and Micah Parsons, it’s been easier than ever this offseason to lose sight of the possible under-the-radar players that inevitably help define each season. Every team will have at least two or three players that outside fans aren’t familiar with at the moment that end up deciding games on Sundays, and the Cowboys are no different with a free agent and draft class that shows their level of trust in players already in the program to rise.
Jalen Brooks is a great example of one of these players, and with a year’s worth of film now out there for defenses to prepare for the duo of Lamb and Cooks, the opportunities are going to be there for other receivers to step up for the Cowboys and see plenty of targets this season. Already a player that maximises his opportunities and catches the eyes of his coaches whenever given the chance, it shouldn’t come as any surprise when Brooks is mentioned as a flash player throughout training camp while getting some starting reps along with plenty of preseason game action.