How Cowboys can get WR Jalen Tolbert involved right away
The Dallas Cowboys waited until the third round to get a wide receiver and it paid off big time. With the 88th pick, the Cowboys got Wide Receiver Jalen Tolbert, who could've been in play for the 56th pick one round earlier. In Tolbert, the Cowboys are getting Dane Brugler's 59th best prospect and the […]
The Dallas Cowboys waited until the third round to get a wide receiver and it paid off big time. With the 88th pick, the Cowboys got Wide Receiver Jalen Tolbert, who could've been in play for the 56th pick one round earlier.
In Tolbert, the Cowboys are getting Dane Brugler's 59th best prospect and the ninth-best wide receiver coming into the NFL Draft. What could his role in Kellen Moore's look like?
Tolbert falls in line with the current trend for wide receivers in the NFL. As defenses have focused their efforts on taking the deep game away with two-high defenses and quarters coverage, most teams have focused on the running game and short passing attacks.
But NFL offenses won't give up on the deep game anytime soon, so traditional X-receivers are back. Tolbert provides that vertical element for the Cowboys with a knack to win those 50/50 balls thanks to his strong hands.
Although Tolbert played as the isolated receiver most of his career in South Alabama, he lined up everywhere as a senior gaining experience on the inside too. Not only is he a vertical receiver, but Tolbert racked up 7.1 yards after the catch per reception, per Marcus Mosher.
On The Athletic's NFL Draft Live show, Nate Tice talked about how he fits what the Cowboys like to do in 3×1 formations. Counting receivers from the outside in, with the nearest to the sideline being the "1" receiver, Tice pointed out how Tolbert could be used best in Dallas.
"Cowboys love flipping their receivers, have their receiver at 3, their tight end at 2, I could see Tolbert in there […] You´re getting more of that long speed, even if he didn't test like that, that's what he does."
The Cowboys will have plenty of options at WR as CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup can do a little bit of everything themselves. Lamb shines in the slot but can man the outside at a WR1 level as well.
Tolbert also buys the Cowboys some time in case Gallup is not ready to go in September after he had ACL surgery in the offseason.
Featured image via Bryan Lynn-USA Today Sports
