Potential Cowboys breakout WR details changes after disappointing rookie season

The Dallas Cowboys entered last season with some looming questions at the wide receiver position. Specifically with players like Michael Gallup, who was hoping to overcome a season-ending injury and a bit of a "next man up" discussion about the third wide receiver spot behind him and CeeDee Lamb.

One name that drew plenty of attention immediately after his name was called in the 2022 NFL Draft was the explosive playmaker from South Alabama, Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys selected Tolbert No. 88 overall. In retrospect, hoping he'd be able to emerge as the type of playmaker the team needed in the passing game last season was almost certainly unrealistic.

Tolbert struggled out of the gate during his rookie campaign, and things never seemed to improve. But as he heads into year two, with another full offseason under his belt and the chance to learn from players like Lamb, Gallup, quarterback Dak Prescott and offseason acquisition Brandin Cooks, the hype surrounding Tolbert is building once again.

The only difference is that he appears to be ready for it this time.

As Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News revealed, there's been plenty of positive comments and praise for Tolbert during the team's 2023 training camp. Cowboys wide receivers coach Robert Prince may have summed it up best with his comments on the second-year pass-catcher.

“Last year, he knew the plays,” receivers coach Robert Prince said. “He just run the lines on the paper. This year, he’s making the lines come to life. He can understand the DB is playing this technique, this is what I have to do to win. So he’s doing a much better job of that. His football IQ is way beyond last year.”

Tolbert sounds like a player locked in on turning the corner, and it's obvious he has no problem acknowledging where he's struggled and planning how he can improve in those areas.

“I’m still a young football player, I didn’t start playing [full-time] until late,” Tolbert said. “So I’m still learning every single day from all of these guys, whether it’s Cooks, CeeDee, [Michael Gallup], Dak, I’m learning something new every day. It starts with [what] coverages [the defense is] going to disguise. A handful of things, route running. I’m just trying to perfect my craft and get better every day. So you could say last year was a big learning year for me and going into this year I want things to be a lot different.”

Tolbert went on to admit that he "rebuilt" his mentality and confidence and put in work "every day" this offseason. It's hard not to buy stock in a potential breakout for the second-year wideout, even with a ton of competition on the roster, which includes Lamb, a healthy Gallup and Cooks, who's received high praise already during his short time with the team.

Regardless, don't be shocked to see a different player on the field this season when Tolbert's number is called, and it's a safe bet that we'll see quite a bit of the upside that many analysts and scouts raved about.